KR-20260067816-A - Device and method of evaluating the inactivation performance of airborne microorganisms in duct

KR20260067816AKR 20260067816 AKR20260067816 AKR 20260067816AKR-20260067816-A

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for evaluating the inactivation performance of microorganisms in the air inside a duct and an evaluation method using the same. The present invention relates to a technology capable of objectively evaluating the performance of an air purification device for air conditioning by performing an evaluation of the inactivation performance of biological contaminants or airborne microorganisms homogeneously supplied inside a test duct.

Inventors

이정훈
김환
박서현
정상빈

Assignees

한국산업기술시험원

Dates

Publication Date: 20260513
Application Date: 20241106

Claims (13)

An air purification main body in which a sample to be evaluated for airborne microorganism inactivation performance is located inside a test duct; A test microorganism injection part provided on one side of the air purification main body, into which a test microorganism supplied to the air purification main body is injected; A blower unit comprising a blower located on one side of the test microorganism injection unit and injecting external air into the test duct through the blower to generate airflow; and A sampling unit provided on the other side of the air purification main body, for collecting air injected with the test microorganism that has passed through the air purification main body; including, The above sample is It is an air purification device for air conditioning or an air purification module, and The above sampling unit A suction nozzle for capturing air injected with the test microorganisms that has passed through the above air purification main body; and A sampling probe connected to the above-mentioned suction nozzle to measure the concentration of airborne microorganisms in the captured air; A device for evaluating the performance of inactivating microorganisms in the air within a duct, further comprising
In Article 1, The above-mentioned device for evaluating the inactivation performance of microorganisms in the air within the duct is A filter provided on the other side of the blower unit to filter suspended matter from the external air; A device for evaluating the performance of inactivating microorganisms in the air within a duct, further comprising
In Article 1, The above test microorganism injection part An injection port into which test microorganisms supplied from the outside are injected; and An ejector that mixes injected test microorganisms into the injected air inside the test duct; Includes, The injection port above A device for evaluating the inactivation performance of microorganisms in the air within a duct, configured to align with the centerline of the bottom surface or side wall of the test duct.
In Article 1, The above suction nozzle is A device for evaluating the inactivation performance of microorganisms in the air within a duct, configured to align with the centerline of the bottom surface or side wall of the test duct.
In Article 1, The above-mentioned device for evaluating the inactivation performance of microorganisms in the air within the duct is In the case of a sample requiring power for operation, an external power supply unit that supplies power to said sample; A device for evaluating the performance of inactivating microorganisms in the air within a duct, further comprising
In Article 1, The above-mentioned device for evaluating the inactivation performance of microorganisms in the air within the duct is In the case of an ultraviolet-based sample, a shield that blocks ultraviolet rays between the test microorganism injection unit and the air purification main body and between the air purification main body and the sampling unit; A device for evaluating the performance of inactivating microorganisms in the air within a duct, further comprising
In Article 1, The above-mentioned device for evaluating the inactivation performance of microorganisms in the air within the duct is Depending on the control signal of a management means connected externally, operations are performed for the sample before operation and after operation, respectively, and The above management means is A device for evaluating the inactivation performance of airborne microorganisms in a duct, which receives airborne microorganism concentrations measured according to each operation result, compares them, and performs an evaluation of the inactivation performance of airborne microorganisms.
As a method for evaluating the inactivation performance of microorganisms in the air within a duct according to Article 1, A pre-operation evaluation step (S100) that performs an operation at least three times repeatedly before operating the sample, according to a control signal by a management means connected to the device for evaluating the performance of inactivating microorganisms in the air within the duct; A post-operation evaluation step (S200) in which, according to a control signal by the above-mentioned management means, the sample is operated and the operation is performed repeatedly at least three times; and In the above management means, a performance evaluation step (S300) for performing an evaluation of the inactivation performance of the corresponding sample of airborne microorganisms using the average value of the airborne microorganism concentration measured by the pre-operation evaluation step (S100) and the average value of the airborne microorganism concentration measured by the post-operation evaluation step (S200); A method for evaluating the inactivation performance of microorganisms in the air within a duct, including
In Paragraph 8, The above pre-operation evaluation step (S100) and post-operation evaluation step (S200) are A method for evaluating the inactivation performance of microorganisms in the air inside a duct, wherein the operating state of a blower is controlled according to a control signal by the above-mentioned management means so that the air flow state inside the test duct maintains a preset flow rate condition.
In Paragraph 8, The above method for evaluating the inactivation performance of microorganisms in the air within the duct When performing an evaluation of the inactivation performance of airborne bacteria, The above pre-operation evaluation step (S100) and post-operation evaluation step (S200) are A method for evaluating the inactivation performance of airborne microorganisms in a duct, wherein the operating state of a test microorganism injection unit is controlled according to a control signal by the above-mentioned management means so that the concentration of airborne bacteria, which are test microorganisms supplied into the test duct, is maintained at a preset first concentration value.
In Paragraph 8, The above method for evaluating the inactivation performance of microorganisms in the air within the duct When performing an evaluation of the inactivation performance of floating viruses, The above pre-operation evaluation step (S100) and post-operation evaluation step (S200) are A method for evaluating the inactivation performance of airborne microorganisms in a duct, wherein the operating state of a test microorganism injection unit is controlled such that the concentration of airborne viruses, which are test microorganisms supplied into the test duct, is maintained at a preset second concentration value according to a control signal by the above-mentioned management means.
In Paragraph 8, The above method for evaluating the inactivation performance of microorganisms in the air within the duct In the case of samples requiring preheating or preliminary operation during operation, A method for evaluating the performance of inactivating microorganisms in the air within a duct, wherein the above post-operation evaluation step (S200) is performed before performing preheating or a preliminary operation.
In Paragraph 8, The above performance evaluation step A method for evaluating the inactivation performance of airborne microorganisms in a duct, using the following formula to evaluate the inactivation performance of airborne microorganisms of a corresponding sample. Inactivation performance (η) = 1 - C on / C off (Here, η is the performance value of suspended microorganism inactivation, C on is the concentration of airborne microorganisms captured and measured after operating the sample (average value of at least 3 operations), C off is the concentration of airborne microorganisms captured and measured before operating the sample (average value of at least 3 operations).

Description

Device and method of evaluating the inactivation performance of airborne microorganisms in duct The present invention relates to an apparatus for evaluating the inactivation performance of microorganisms in the air within a duct and an evaluation method using the same. More specifically, the invention relates to an apparatus for evaluating the inactivation performance of microorganisms in the air within a duct and an evaluation method using the same, which can objectively evaluate the performance of an air purification device or an air purification module by performing an inactivation performance evaluation of biological contaminants or airborne microorganisms homogeneously supplied inside a test duct. An air conditioning air purification device or air purification module refers to a device that inactivates airborne bacteria, viruses, and mold in the air passing through ducts (air transport passages) using ultraviolet rays, plasma, photocatalysts, ion sterilization devices, etc.—that is, a device that inactivates microorganisms through biochemical treatment—and is a device distinct from air conditioning air filters that purify air using filters. An air filter for HVAC is a device that purifies air by filtering particulate pollutants such as dust, fine dust, ultrafine dust, and airborne microorganisms—that is, through physical inactivation. Air purifiers can be used for various purposes depending on their performance. As their use increases and the importance of their performance in the prevention and management of infectious diseases grows, there is a demand for technology capable of evaluating and objectively verifying the performance of air purifiers. Furthermore, while methods for evaluating the airborne microbial inactivation performance of air purifiers within a space are already widely available, there are few reported methods for evaluating the inactivation performance of airborne microorganisms in duct-mounted air purifiers or air purification modules. In this regard, Korean registered patent No. 10-1327522 ("Method for evaluating the removal performance of airborne bacteria in an air purifier") discloses a method for evaluating the removal performance of airborne bacteria in an air purifier with minimized error range by performing the test in a test chamber of 30 m³ to 120 m³ equivalent to an actual living space, spraying a test strain into the test chamber before and after testing the test product of the air purifier, measuring the natural reduction behavior of airborne bacteria over time for the sprayed test strain, and correcting the natural reduction rate of airborne bacteria calculated therefrom with the experimental value obtained when the air purifier is operated. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an evaluation device for the inactivation performance of microorganisms in the air inside a duct according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an apparatus for evaluating the inactivation performance of microorganisms in the air within a duct according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for evaluating the inactivation performance of microorganisms in the air within a duct according to one embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, an apparatus for evaluating the performance of inactivating microorganisms in the air within a duct according to the present invention, having the configuration as described above, and an evaluation method using the same will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. The drawings presented below are provided as examples to ensure that the concept of the present invention is sufficiently conveyed to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the drawings presented below and may be embodied in other forms. Furthermore, throughout the specification, the same reference numerals indicate the same components. Unless otherwise defined, technical and scientific terms used herein have the meaning commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains, and descriptions of known functions and configurations that could unnecessarily obscure the essence of the invention are omitted in the following description and accompanying drawings. Furthermore, a system refers to a set of components, including devices, mechanisms, and means, that are organized and interact regularly to perform necessary functions. An apparatus for evaluating the inactivation performance of microorganisms in the air inside a duct and an evaluation method using the same, according to one embodiment of the present invention, are related to a technology for evaluating the inactivation performance of an air conditioning air purification device or an air purification module by supplying airborne microorganisms homogeneously inside a test duct and using the same. The evaluation of inactivation performance is c