Method and apparatus for decontamination of automotive HVAC systems

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of passenger vehicles, including light and heavy truck, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, particularly HVAC systems, using oxidants to reduce contaminants and increase passenger comfort levels in such vehicles.

1 . A decontamination system for a motor vehicle comprising: 
 a cockpit or passenger compartment;    a sensor means for detecting oxidant levels located in the cockpit or passenger compartment of a motor vehicle;    an HVAC unit having at least one heat exchanger element;    an air distribution system including at least one duct for inputting air into and distributing air out of the HVAC unit;    an oxidant generation means;    a controller means; 
 wherein the disposition of the HVAC unit allows exposure of the interior of the HVAC unit to a concentration of an oxidant at a level sufficient to be septicidal to micro-organisms.  
   
   
   
       2 . An decontamination system as in  claim 1  wherein the heat exchanger element is in the interior of the HVAC unit.  
   
   
       3 . An decontamination system as in  claim 2  wherein the sensor means is located at a low level of the cockpit or passenger compartment.  
   
   
       4 . The decontamination system as in  claim 3  wherein the level of oxidant concentration within the cockpit or passenger compartment is controlled via a feedback loop mechanism to maintain an oxidant concentration in the cockpit or passenger compartment of between 0 to 0.06 ppm.  
   
   
       5 . The decontamination system as in  claim 3  wherein the oxidant is ozone.  
   
   
       6 . The decontamination system as in  claim 4  wherein the oxidant is ozone.  
   
   
       7 . The decontamination system as in  claim 6 , wherein the ozone concentration within the HVAC functional environment or system is maintained between about 8 ppm and about 1 ppm.  
   
   
       8 . The decontamination system as in  claim 7 , wherein the ozone concentration level is maintained between about one hour and about six hours.  
   
   
       9 - 14 . (canceled)  
   
   
       15 . A decontamination system for controlling the effects of micro-organism contaminants in a vehicle HVAC functional environment comprising: 
 a sensor;    a controller;    an HVAC unit having at least two heat exchanger elements;    an oxidant generator; and    a vehicle owner/operator control switch for manually shutting off oxidant production;    wherein the oxidant produced by the oxidant generating means is directly introduced into the HVAC unit from the generating means.    
   
   
       16 . A decontamination system as in  claim 15  wherein the oxidant is ozone and the oxidant generator is an ozone generator.  
   
   
       17 . A decontamination system as in  claim 16  wherein the controller means is a vehicle body controller.  
   
   
       18 . A decontamination system as in  claim 17 , further comprising a timer, an ozone and vehicle sensor in a feedback loop mechanism wherein ozone generation is regulated or controlled by means of a series of actions involving the switch, ozone and vehicle sensors, a timer, and vehicle body controller, and wherein the heat exchanger elements of the HVAC unit are perfused or enveloped with ozone.  
   
   
       19 . A decontamination system as in  claim 18 , wherein the ozone generator is located above the heat exchangers of the HVAC system; the vehicle controller activates and times the ozone generator operation; and the ozone within the HVAC system is distributed by gravity feed.  
   
   
       20 . A decontamination system as in  claim 4 , further comprising a seat occupant sensor for detecting the presence of a person or animal on the seats.