Patent US10391188

Decontamination device and method using ultrasonic cavitation
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US10391188

1. A method for decontaminating an article or substantially enclosed space, comprising the steps of: (1) (4)

shearing a cleaning fluid into a mist at substantially one atmosphere ambient pressure comprising aerosol droplets accumulating in a top chamber portion of a substantially closed chamber comprising a funnel shaped top chamber portion, a bottom chamber portion, a side chamber portion and an interior chamber portion, wherein the cleaning fluid is sheared by ultrasonic cavitation, wherein the cleaning fluid comprises a source of an active species for decontamination of an article or substantially enclosed space, wherein the active species is hydroxyl ions and wherein the source is hydrogen peroxide and the cleaning fluid is silver-free chlorine-free and peracetic-acid free;

dispersing the mist by high voltage actuation; and

contacting the article or substantially enclosed space to the plasma activated ionic particles.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the substantially closed chamber has a side chamber, and wherein the side chamber comprises a cleaning fluid source. (0)

3. A method for decontaminating an article, surface or substantially enclosed space, comprising the steps of: (10) (4)

shearing a cleaning fluid into a mist at substantially one atmosphere ambient pressure comprising aerosol droplets by cavitating the cleaning fluid using an ultrasonic cavitator submerged in a substantially closed chamber comprising the cleaning fluid, wherein the cleaning fluid comprises a source of an active species for decontamination of an article or substantially enclosed space, wherein the active species is hydroxyl ions and wherein the source is hydrogen peroxide and the cleaning fluid is silver-free, chlorine-free and peracetic-acid free;

subjecting the mist to a nonthermal plasma actuator to form plasma activated ionic particles carried by the aerosol droplets of the mist, wherein the plasma activated ionic particles are hydroxyl ions, and wherein the nonthermal plasma actuator is located in an outlet tube extending from an opening in a top chamber portion of the substantially closed chamber, wherein the outlet tube comprises a hollow lumen with a distal opening above the top chamber portion for expelling the aerosol droplets carrying the plasma activated ionic particles;

dispersing the mist by high voltage actuation; and

contacting the article, surface, or substantially enclosed space with the plasma activated ionic particles.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the plasma activated ionic particles are between 1 to 10 μm in diameter, wherein the particle size of the plasma activated ionic particles can be varied depending on the ultrasonic frequencies used or the number of ultrasonic cavitators. (0)

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the aerosol droplets pass through the outlet tube at a flow rate between 0.5 to 20 ml/minute. (0)

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the aerosol droplets pass through the outlet tube at a flow rate between 1 to 4 ml/minute. (0)

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the mist is formed in a focused spray pattern between 0.07 to 1 inch in diameter. (0)

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the mist is formed in a conical spray pattern between 2 to 6 inches in diameter. (0)

9. The method of claim 3, wherein the mist is formed in a fan-shaped spray pattern up to 12 inches wide. (0)

10. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of contacting occurs in a substantially enclosed space. (1) (0)

12. The method of claim 10, wherein an article is placed in the enclosed space to be decontaminated. (4) (0)

11. The method of claim 3, wherein the number of ultrasonic cavitators used can be adjusted based on the size of the enclosed space and wherein the aerosol droplets are pumped into the enclosed space at a flow rate between 1 to 4 ml/minute. (0)

18. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of pulling air though a carbon activated filter to collect fluid particles thereon. (1) (0)

20. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of exposing the substantially enclosed space to ultraviolet light. (0)

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Patent US10391188

Decontamination device and method using ultrasonic cavitation

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