In the midst of the global COVID-19 public-health emergency caused by SARS COVID 2 the door opens to the need to find mechanisms for air purification. Currently, there are many methods of indoor ventilation, however, as it is a pandemic scene, a low-cost instrument must be recreated, accessible to the population and that guarantees a safe environment for human existence in artificial air conditions.
SARS-CoV-2 is genetically very similar to other human respiratory coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV but its molecular structure shows some differences about its membrane proteins.
Figure 1. Schematic of a coronavirus – this new virus probably looks a lot like this. From Biowiki (http://ruleof6ix.fieldofscience.com/2012/09/a-new- capside coronavirus-should-you-care.html).
The respiratory system has some anatomical mechanisms that could be called a natural filter for particles, however, viruses, specifically SARS COVID -2 have a very small size, approximately 100 nanometers; This particularity makes the viruses circulate freely through the nasal vibrissa and the bronchial cilia towards the small airways, alveoli and blood.
The infection starts with a virus particle ( a single long string of genetic material (RNA) within a capsid) this virus inserts it into a human cell binding to specific cell surface receptors. The viral genetic material use the host cell organelles to start the replication.
The SARS-CoV-2 prefers to infect cells that have a protein called angiotensin-converting enzyme. This enzyme makes part of a critical pathway system against Blood Presure, Lung Disease and Diabetes Mellitus.
SARS-CoV-2 spreads by close contact. In December 2019, a number of pneumonia cases emerged in Wuhan,Republic of China. Within three months of the appearance of the first COVID-19 clinical cases in Wuhan the WHO declares the COVID-19 situation as a pandemic on 11 March 2020.
The rapidly developing COVID-19 pandemic has show the need for accelerated research at several areas, including public health, Economics, education etc.
In this moment different organizations are searching in vaccine and treatment for this pandemic. but Now, we have to think that the confinament loads many personal and social consequences, thats the reason why we think the possible way to prevent the transmission of respiratory viruses could be the generation of an air purifier; that follows is based on the analogy of a dialysis process, which consists of air entering through a duct and passing through a filter which through another ventilation duct.
The properly design and parametrization for this air purifier is really important because a wrong concentration of oxygen, causes an air Respiratory failure secondary to pure hypoventilation will produce both hypoxemia and hypercapnia. Reduction of PO2 in inspired air (PiO2) reduces the alveolar pressure of O2 (PAO2), compromises diffusion and produces hypoxemia, the body answer trough compensatory mechanisms like the stimulation of the carotid receptors that produces hyperventilation and increases PaO2. However chronic exposure to low PO2 can produces pulmonary hypertension cardiac failure and others diseases
Furthermore we expect to integrate to the air purifier a biologic sprinkler system with specific antibodies anti SARS COVID 2
Our inspiration to choose this challenge is to see how in one way or another SARS COVID 2 can be transported more easily, in this quarantine we have noticed the majority of the populations that have them from their homes and on some occasions they must leave their homes.This is the origin of an initiative which consists of purifying the air by means of filters and ducts with different sensors used electronically which have constant monitoring of air quality and with the filters chosen to improve this is a solution based on the filters used by the ISS where in one of the readings they were given as an aid we were given using selected passive (filters) and active (scrubbers) systems to design the overall system for the control of contaminating particles and control of particles. Work to advance technology and capacity in this area focuses on making improvements to existing space station systems to improve performance and reduce consumables.
A low-cost integrated system will be used to monitor and purify the air in an enclosed space. This will be formed by an oxygen generator, which will have an operating principle similar to that of the ISS, through the implementation of an electrolytic cell, water (H2O) can be decomposed into oxygen (O2) and hydrogen (H2) gases aa through the supply of an electric current. The water used in this cell can be extracted from the aqueduct or collected from the rain to contribute to sustainability, and no type of toxic waste will be generated. The central power system of the machine will be powered by a hybrid mechanism made up of solar panels and the electrical network (if available). The oxygen released in the electrolysis will be processed by a compressor, which will store it in a tank with the tank available immediately when necessary, since the production process is not very fast. On the other hand, hydrogen (H2) results is released to the outside environment.
The distribution system will be similar to that of a central air conditioning, it will have a pair of ventilation ducts that will have access to each closed chamber of the total space where the machine is operating. Also in each closed compartment 5 sensors will be placed that will be controlled by the Arduino platform. These sensors measure the percentage of oxygen in the environment, hydrogen, benzene, smoke, flammable gases, monoxide, and carbon dioxide. Subsequently, the information collected by each sensor will be processed by the Arduino and, if necessary, the firing order of the exhaust fans and the ventilation system.
When an anomaly is detected in a closed space, the machine enables the two ducts corresponding to that chamber, in one of them it will be connected to an air extractor, which will be responsible for transporting the air to the central system, this air will enter a process of filter and oxygen injection (if necessary), the filters used to purify the air have 4 layers, the first is a simple mesh filter that prevents the passage of dust. Then there is a HEGA filter (high efficiency gas absorbent), which is made up of a carbon sheet and its main function is to filter gaseous pollutants and chemicals from the environment, in addition to eliminating odors. It can also kill some viruses and bacteria. The third layer is a HEPA-type filter that prevents the passage of smaller particles, such as pollen, fungi, and mites. Finally we have the nano capture filter, which is responsible for removing formaldehyde, which with long exposure could trigger cancer in humans. After overcoming the filters, the processed air will be returned to the room through the other duct with the help of a ventilation system.
https://prezi.com/view/bYevf4wcWks5MDXkF6m1/