Reducing the Lingering of Coronaviruses in Air using Alfaa UV’s UVGI Solutions

The Coronavirus has brought the need for safe, disinfecting technology into the spotlight. Next generation UVGI disinfecting system created a few years ago for the purpose of disinfecting hospital rooms, offices, shopping malls and restaurants using UV-C light has been gaining significant attention enabling hospitals to protect patients, medical professionals, and front-line cleaning staff from infection while simultaneously bringing greater operational efficiency.
Recently, after finding SARS-COV-2 in drinking water, sewage, and hospital walls, scientists have now isolated the virus from air samples collected from designated Covid-19 wards. Researchers at the city-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) and Chandigarh-based Institute of Microbial Technology (IMT) have studied three hospitals each in Hyderabad and Chandigarh to find if the novel coronavirus was present in the atmosphere. They found the virus was circulating in the special Covid-19 wards or hospitals, while those treating non-Covid-19 patients did not contain any traces of the virus.

The Fight Against COVID-19 in Hospitals

Infection control is a major focus in healthcare, owing to its enormous, worldwide financial and social burden. One in every 25 patients will acquire an infection being while hospitalized. In fact, hospital-acquired infection (HAI) is the most common hospital complication, resulting in billions in excess healthcare costs.

Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) is one of the techniques that can be used to reduce airborne pathogens in healthcare environments. With this technique, light in the 250nm to 280nm wavelength range (also referred to as the UVC range) disrupts the DNA of harmful microorganisms and renders them unable to reproduce, eliminating the spread of infection including Coronaviruses.

Dr Chih-Chuan Kao of Tung’s Taichung Metro Harbor Hospital in Taiwan also noted, “With the deployment of UVGI, the infection rate in our hospital dropped significantly. We are happy to have the most advanced UV technology, enhancing our hygiene standard not only in the OR but also in COVID patient rooms.” Ultraviolet (UV) lights have been used for years to kill microorganisms and prevent the build-up of dust, dirt, and contaminants on coils in HVAC systems. UV light fixtures have become a routinely ordered component of HVAC systems, particularly in hospitals and other health-care applications.

The Need of the Hour

With new research stating that SARS-CoV-2 – which is causing COVID-19 – can remain infectious for up to 3 hours as it floats in aerosol droplets less than 5 microns, moving beyond the standard disinfectants and sanitization is important. ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) recommends the following strategies of interest to address disease transmission: dilution ventilation, laminar and other in-room flow regimes, differential room pressurization, personalized ventilation, source capture ventilation, filtration (central or unitary), and UVGI (upper room, in-room, and in the air-stream). Alfaa UV’s Ultra Coil and Ultra Duct UVGI systems use world-class UVC lamps and unmatched Reflector Technology with UL Certification to ensure that all air passing through the system is disinfected as it re-circulates in indoor spaces. The design ensures 100% exposure of the air to the UVC system. The UltraCoil UVGI system not only fights viruses to create safer spaces, but it also ensures cleaner cooling coils, resulting in greater efficiency and lower running and maintenance costs.

UltraCoil

Due to humidity and hospitable environment microorganisms grows rapidly on cooling coils. These microorganisms produce sticky substances due to which a thick layer of dust sticks to the coil which results into poor heat transfer between coil and air. Poor heat transfer between coil and air leads to greater energy consumption.

Installing a proper UVGI system in front of the coil kills such microorganisms, and does not allow a biofilm to grow. A clean coil decreases the pressure drop across the coil which results in the following:

• Increase in the thermal efficiency (sensible loads) of the cooling coil
• Decreasing the load on the chiller hence energy saving on chiller by 10-15%
• Reduction in microbial counts>15 %
• Helps Sars Covid Protection

UltraDuct

Airborne transmission of diseases through HVAC systems is actually much more prevalent than previously thought. Hospital-acquired infections are costing healthcare providers Lakhs of Rupees per annum and whilst robust cleaning regimes have been adopted, the spread of Tuberculosis, Meningitis, MRSA, Clostridium difficile, Chickenpox, and Influenza (H1N1 and avian), including Aspergillus and Pseudomonas continue to grow. These infections affect between 10 and 20% of patients and in some cases are fatal.

Benefits of UltraDuct

• Improves air quality
• Helps to eliminate Poor Building Syndrome
• Increases the life of HEPA filters
• Helps to eliminate cross-contamination
• Scientifically designed systems are sized using our proprietary sizing tools based on extensive research
• Computational flow dynamics (CFD) and UV radiation profile modelling data.
• Can target specific bacteria as per need
• Scientifically engineered lamp positioning to provide optimum UV dose delivery and maximum kill rate
• Helps Sars Covid Protection

To see how these UVGI systems work, watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3kWRuEem2g for more information about the process and the product.

There are many reasons to choose Alfaa UV’s UltraDuct and UltraCoil UVGI solutions for your air disinfection in Commercial and Industrial areas. To know about how we can help you create a COVID free space, call us today on 8879336026 or visit us at UVGI Air Disinfection.