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Purifying Air and Destroying Airborne Bio-Contaminants

Purifying Air and Destroying Airborne Bio-Contaminants

It is not uncommon for outside contaminants, including odors and allergens, to find their way migrating into a building. Restaurant odors, manufacturing off-gassing, diesel fumes from idling trucks, and even jet fuel from helipads can be pulled into the make-up air and distributed throughout the HVAC system and building.

Sanuvox Technologies line of in-duct UV air purification systems are the ideal solution for these often troublesome issues. Sanuvox offers exceptionally cost-effective systems that can address IAQ issues that filters and absorption media cannot. The proprietary system eradicates biological contaminants such as mold, bacteria, viruses, germs and allergens; reduces chemicals, VOCs and biological odors. Installed PARALLEL to the air-stream results in greater « dwell time » between the air and the UV lamps.

The equipment

The duct-mounted units are installed in the return or supply side of the HVAC system parallel to the airflow, and are supplied with multiple germicidal UV-C lamps, each with a section of oxidizing UV-V that can be adjusted (covered or removed) depending on the concentration of odors.

Typical installation on the HVAC return side:

installation en toiture

Operating the equipment

The UV lamps disinfect the recirculating air in two ways:

  1. The oxidizing UV-V section of the lamp reduces the chemical components in the air through photo-oxidation. The selected units are designed to be “dosed” on site according to the need.
  2. The germicidal UV-C section destroys airborne biological contaminants (viruses, bacteria, mold).

Process on biological and chemical contaminants

1- ACTIVATION PHASE: H2O + O* –> OH* +OH*
The ultraviolet photon energy (170-220nm) is emitted from a high-intensity source to decompose (break-down) oxygen molecules into activated monoatomic oxygen. The rate of production or effectiveness of this process depends on the wavelength and intensity of its source.

2- REACTION PHASE: OH*+ P –> POH
The activated oxygen atoms (O*) are then mixed in the airstream; the process will react with any compound containing carbon-hydrogen or sulfur, reducing them by successive oxidation to odorless and harmless by-products. If airborne contaminants are outnumbered by the activated oxygen atoms, then there will be formation of residual ozone (O3), which will occur following the oxidation of normal oxygen molecules (02).

3- NEUTRALISATION PHASE: (also germicidal) O3+UV(C) –> O2+O*: O+O –> O2

CHEMICAL DECOMPOSITION

Formaldehyde CH2O +OH* –> CO2 + H2O

Ammoniac NH3+OH* –> N2 + H2O

Styrene C8H8 + OH* –> CO2 + H2O

Mercaptans H2S + OH* –> SO2+ H2O

Where to install

Many buildings and facilities can be equipped with these in-duct units, like buildings near airports and helipads, buildings with adjoining warehouse (diesel), printing shops, restaurants, mechanical workshops, and crematoriums.

Find a Sanuvox Specialist

To find the nearest installer or distributor in Canada or the United States

North America

North America