The proposed air purification system filters air in hospital rooms. The COVID 19 pandemic demonstrated that innovations are necessary to optimize the healthcare sector. Hospital staff want to achieve a single goal: to ensure the health and well-being of patients. To achieve this, these individuals must take preventive steps to minimize the spread of the virus. One avenue of prevention is to eliminate the virus from the air. This solution includes PM 1 filter, UV light, fuel cell and Titanium dioxide. These hardware components will capture and eliminate the virus. This, in turn, will hinder the spread of the disease.
One aspect of the challenge is to incorporate aspects of the air purification system utilized on the International Space Station, ISS, into the proposed design. The air purification system contains a fuel cell, which provides oxygen. Additionally, the team utilized data to determine the settings for the device.
The team received inspiration from multiple sources to develop this project. These sources include the COVID 19 pandemic as well as past and present space missions. The COVID 19 pandemic illuminates that there is a need to design new technologies. Installing the air purification system in public settings, such as hospitals, would clean the air as well as minimize concerns of being infected by the virus. Clean air would primarily benefit patients. Additionally, it would also assist hospital staff. Additionally, hospital staff may feel less concerned of being exposed to the virus, since the air purification system would eliminate it.
The group also was inspired by past and present space missions. These missions yield in scientific discoveries and innovative technologies. As demonstrated by historical events, humans strive to explore new environment and solve unique challenges. These reasons inspired the group to contemplate difficult questions and launch a solution.
The group utilized data sets from the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, to determine the settings for the air purification system. This data contained measurements for Nitrogen and particulate matter spanning multiple years. Using Python, the level of each pollutant was co-related with a certain setting of the device.
The following statements describe the link between range of Nitrogen and setting of the device.
If Nitrogen ranges from 0 to 53 PPB, then the device will be off.
If Nitrogen is greater than 53 PPB but less than 100 PPB, then the device will be set at 50 percent capacity.
The following statements describe the link between range of particulate matter setting of the device.
If particulate matter ranges from 0 to 12 micrograms per cubic meter, then the device will be off.
If particulate matter is greater than 12 but less than 35 micrograms per cubic meter, then the device will be set at 50 percent capacity.
If particulate matter is greater than 35 micrograms per cubic meters, then the device will be set at 100 percent capacity.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SM_r8Rz5Y4SOqGf-LWdCrQ4YXmKkGwHb/view?usp=sharing
https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/02969436-8c0b-4e6e-ad40-781cdb43cf24