ABSTRACT
While virus effluent limits are yet to be promulgated through wastewater discharge permits, consideration for regulations and their resulting impact on current and future wastewater disinfection systems have long preceded the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Further, the pandemic has prompted significant pubic interested in the presence and threat of pathogens in waterways. The wastewater industry has proven its adaptability through the implementation of influent monitoring to predict coronavirus outbreaks and the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has ushered in a new perspective on both virus monitoring and potential regulation. As a result, disinfection projects occurring during the pandemic have been privy to the influence of virus-based control considerations, irrespective of official discharge regulations impacting the UV design dose for secondary effluent applications. Copyright © 2022 Water Environment Federation.
ABSTRACT
The world is currently experiencing a crisis, caused by SARS-CoV-2 and a viral mutation. Given this, the mechatronic system is proposed that allows disinfecting contaminated surfaces. This device makes it possible to disinfect polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles by applying short-wave UVC rays from 200 to 280 nm, which generates a germicidal effect. The machine consists of a UVC chamber, transport, and a control system. For this, the methodology of the Association of German Engineers (VDI 2206) was used, taking into account the Inventor, TIA Portal, and Factory IO software, managing to develop the system whose light-emitting diodes inside the camera project type C ultraviolet light, camera protected by strips of plastic sheet (ABS) acrylonitrile butadiene styrene anti-ultraviolet light that blocks the projection wave up to 98% of the radiation;the recycled PET bottles are moved through a linear conveyor belt that supports a maximum weight of 200 kg, controlled by a control panel. Obtaining the results in this research focused on the design of the prototype, with a feasible structural system thanks to its maximum efficiency in the disinfection process. It is concluded that it is feasible to design a machine that projects ultraviolet rays to disinfect recycled PET bottles to eliminate viruses, parasites, fungi, and bacteria. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
ABSTRACT
Since the SARS-CoV-2 transmission can occur by contact with surfaces contaminated with respiratory secretions and other fluids like faeces or saliva, the superficial disinfection has been one of the main problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cross-contagion has been observed between health personnel and cleaning staff from hospitals attending COVID-19 patients. The problem was solved through the implementation of a contact-less disinfection system that reduces the COVID-19 exposition of sanitation workers from healthcare facilities. This work presents the results observed from the implementation of an Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) disinfection method controlled and monitored using an Internet of Things (IoT) scheme. Also, implementation experiences obtained from the application of the proposed solution at the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán (INCMNSZ) are discussed in this article. The main contribution of this work relies in the fulfillment of a disinfection proceeding that helps reducing the cross-contagion between the cleaning staff of hospitals attending the COVID-19 pandemic. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
ABSTRACT
Society is under tremendous tension and pressure due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Coronavirus pandemic-2019 is a critical health emergency with respect to the international concern. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-1) disease first came in 2002 and then Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) affects us in 2012. SARS-CoV-2 is the third coronavirus to emerge in the past two decades, which are acting as a serious warning to humans. These pandemic presents major challenges to scientist and international medical agencies to save the earth by this global life-threatening pandemic. Fighting with these major issues, scientists and doctors pointed out the solutions for COVID and Related pandemics, in which the most populated solution, such as ultraviolet (UV)-based disinfection systems. This article is presenting a unique technology for the COVID-19 infected surfaces to either sides. The proposed research is the providing the solutions with the integration/merging of two different technologies in the portable form to provide a unique disinfection system to disinfect the infected/suspected surfaces by ‘Coronavirus disease’ from top and bottom side by exposing the specified samples like currencies/hand held devices/mobile phones/various types of cards, etc. According to the various literatures, ultraviolet-C light as well as 650 nm laser light has the power to destroy the COVID-19 and related viruses. The proposed system is developed to disinfect the above-mentioned items surfaces from COVID-19 like issues and has the ability to disinfect the items in few second (within 3–5 s). The proposed system has the capability to serve the nation at different level as it may be designed and developed in different sizes as per the application. This integrated technology can serve the society in most of the applications like, the major field for disinfection is food and agriculture sectors. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
ABSTRACT
Epidemic viruses seriously affect human health and the normal operation of society, so it is particularly important to effectively kill viruses. In this work, a thermoelectric air disinfection system is studied. Utilizing the characteristics of semiconductor thermoelectric sheets with both cold and hot ends, the system can simultaneously sterilize the air by heating and reduce the temperature of the air by cooling. The measurement results show that the air temperature can be increased to 80 ℃ for disinfection, and then cooled to 35 ℃, and the total energy utilization rate of the system can reach up to 1.2. In addition, combined with the measurement results and numerical calculations, the parameters such as the number of thermoelectric element series, input power, air flow, and boundary insulation can be used to analyze their effects on the system performance. The system has broad potential applications in public health, medical care, and household disinfection. © 2022 中国物理学会 Chinese Physical Society.
ABSTRACT
In this work, a cost-effective disinfection system for Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) is proposed to be used inside public transport. The disinfection system is twofold, firstly containing a tower unit where UV-C (Ultraviolet type-C) lamps are positioned in parallel, in such a way that, 360-degree space is covered, and secondly a power unit that incorporates robotics and electrical parts. The UVC unit is a separate and movable tower that can be placed anywhere inside a vehicle horizontally or vertically. UV lamps in the tower have a 254 nm wavelength with a total power of 180 Watt. The system can provide a dose of it 16.9 mj/cm2 within 26.83 seconds if the distance of the targeted surface inside a vehicle from the UVC light source is 1.5 meters. Various distances from the UV source to the targeted surface inside the vehicle are chosen and calculated the required corresponding times to achieve the required dose to inactivate all viral concentrations. The developed disinfection system not only minimizes the growth of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by performing robotic features ensuring human detection auto turn off but also utilizes minimum labor work which is vital in the current Covid-19 pandemic. © 2022 IEEE.
ABSTRACT
SARS-CoV-2 traveling through ventilating pipes in high-rise buildings present an urgent concern to address. This paper describes an IoT monitoring system designed to disinfect the air traveling through the pipes. Site tests demonstrate that the system provides a cost-effective solution for pathogen inactivation in ventilating pipes of high-rise buildings, and that it can play a positive role in mitigating the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in built environments. © 2021 IEEE.
ABSTRACT
With this work we propose a guideline for the development of efficient and effective UVC surface disinfection systems for SARS-CoV-2 based on LED technology. The work analyzes the optical and electrical characteristics of state of the art UVC LEDs. From the most recent scientific literature, optical simulations, and laboratory experiments we propose guidelines for the design of high efficiency LED based antiviral system for the treatment of contaminated surfaces. To validate the guidelines two different UVC-LED irradiation systems, for spherical and flat surfaces, have been designed, manufactured and tested. Results indicate a log-4 inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 in few minutes. © COPYRIGHT SPIE. Downloading of the is permitted for personal use only.
ABSTRACT
To prevent the spread of the covid-19 pandemic, health experts have recommended protocols such as social distancing, proper hand washing and regular temperature checks. Regular touching of face with the hand is also discouraged. To be effective however, these rules have to be well enforced and monitored. This paper presents an Arduino-based solution for monitoring and ensuring that several of the protocols are adhered to. Specifically, the protocols being monitored and enforced by this system are handwashing, Hand Sanitizing, body temperature measurement and social distancing. This provides a better solution compared to existing ones which mostly focus on enforcing fewer selected protocols. © 2021 IEEE.
ABSTRACT
In this study, a low-cost Ultraviolet disinfection system is proposed to be used inside ambulances for minimizing the cross-infection of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) during patient transfer. The disinfection system consists of a tower unit that contains the Ultraviolet type C (UVC) light fixture and a control box where the power unit is placed. The UVC tower unit is portable, lightweight, and can be easily placed anywhere inside an ambulance. Two ultraviolet (UV) lamps used in the tower part have 254 nm wavelength with a total power of 180 Watt. The disinfection system can provide a dose of 16.9mj/cm2 within 1.06 seconds and 26.83 seconds if the distance of the targeted surface inside the ambulance from UV sources are 0.3 meters and 1.5 meters respectively. We have chosen various distances from UV source to targeted surface inside an ambulance and calculated the required corresponding times to reach the required dose to inactivate all viral concentrations. The designed disinfection system not only reduces the spread of SARS-CoV-2 by the semi-autonomous way inside ambulances but also requires the least labor efforts which are crucial in the current Covid-19 pandemic. © 2021 IEEE.
ABSTRACT
Robots are being increasingly used in the fight against highly-infectious diseases such as Ebola, MERS, and SARS-CoV-2. Many of these robots use ultraviolet lights mounted on a mobile base to inactivate the pathogens. While the lights are generally effective at irradiating open spaces and walls, they are less effective when it comes to horizontal surfaces, because of the orientation of the light sources. This can be problematic for pathogens such as Ebola, where transmission via contaminated work surfaces, which are often horizontal, is a concern. In this paper, we describe the design, implementation, and testing of an ultraviolet light disinfection system implemented on a mobile manipulator robot designed to address the problem of horizontal surface disinfection. A human supervisor designates a surface for disinfection, the robot autonomously plans and executes an end-effector trajectory to disinfect the surface to the required certainty, and then displays the results for the supervisor to verify. We also provide some background information on Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) and describe how we constructed and validated models of ultraviolet radiation propagation and accumulation in our system. Finally, we describe our implementation on a Fetch mobile manipulation platform, and discuss how the practicalities of implementation on a real robot affect our models. © 2021 IEEE.
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 virus outbreak led to the need of developing smart disinfection systems, not only to protect the people that usually frequent public spaces but also to protect those who have to subject themselves to the contaminated areas. In this paper it is developed a human detector smart sensor for autonomous disinfection mobile robot that use Ultra Violet C type light for the disinfection task and stops the disinfection system when a human is detected around the robot in all directions. UVC light is dangerous for humans and thus the need for a human detection system that will protect them by disabling the disinfection process, as soon as a person is detected. This system uses a Raspberry Pi Camera with a Single Shot Detector (SSD) Mobilenet neural network to identify and detect persons. It also has a FLIR 3.5 Thermal camera that measures temperatures that are used to detect humans when within a certain range of temperatures. The normal human skin temperature is the reference value for the range definition. The results show that the fusion of both sensors data improves the system performance, compared to when the sensors are used individually. One of the tests performed proves that the system is able to distinguish a person in a picture from a real person by fusing the thermal camera and the visible light camera data. The detection results validate the proposed system. © 2021, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.