Recently, the mutated strain of new crown pneumonia "Delta" has sounded new alarms about the global epidemic. In the context of global integration, it is also difficult for my country to survive on its own. As of 9 a.m. on August 4, 17 provinces have reported existing local confirmed cases or asymptomatic infections, and there are currently 144 medium- and high-risk areas across the country, the most since normalized prevention and control. In the current situation of severe epidemic prevention and control, in the face of the rapid spread and strong transmission capacity of Delta virus, it is urgent to strengthen the construction of the public health prevention and control system, and it is particularly urgent to prevent and defuse major epidemics and sudden public health risks. As one of the known effective means to inhibit the new coronavirus, ultraviolet disinfection has become an important part that cannot be ignored in strengthening the defense line of the epidemic.
As an important part of public health and epidemic prevention, disinfection products can effectively reduce the spread of the virus, thereby ensuring the safety of consumers. The Ministry of Health divides disinfection products into three main categories, including disinfectants (powder disinfectants, tablet disinfectants, liquid disinfectants, spray disinfectants, etc.), disinfection equipment (ethylene oxide sterilizers, plasma Sterilizer, ozone disinfection cabinet, electric heating disinfection cabinet, classic air disinfection machine, ultraviolet germicidal lamp, ultraviolet sterilizer, formaldehyde sterilizer, chlorine dioxide generator, etc.), sanitary products.
Application status of UV disinfection products
Ultraviolet disinfection products belong to the category of disinfection equipment. Ultraviolet disinfection products include ultraviolet air sterilizers, upper flat-radiation ultraviolet air sterilizers, ultraviolet water sterilizers, and ultraviolet surface sterilizers.
UV air sterilizer
The ultraviolet air sterilizer is an ultraviolet air sterilizer with an ultraviolet germicidal lamp, filter and fan position element with a central ultraviolet wavelength of 253.7nm. The filter and fan do not have the effect of a sterilization factor. Its working principle is that the ultra-static centrifugal fan sucks part of the dirty air in the closed room into the machine; through the (coarse effect + medium efficiency + activated carbon + photocatalyst) composite filter, the large and small dust in the air is filtered out; it is installed in the filter. The super-strong ultraviolet lamp on the wind surface kills the bacteria in the flowing air; the clean air that has been filtered out of dust and bacteria is sent back to the room, and the clean air flows quickly to purify and sterilize the air.
Upper level flat UV air sterilizer
The upper flat-radiation ultraviolet air sterilizer is equipped with ultraviolet lamps and energy-concentrated flat-radiation devices. The sterilizer is installed on the upper end of the wall (above 2.1 meters in height), forming a flat layer on the upper part of the room, and using indoor air natural convection without circulating wind It kills viruses and bacteria floating in the air, and is suitable for key disinfection spaces such as wards, operating rooms, and ICU wards with high infectivity.
UV water sterilizer
Ultraviolet water disinfector is a device that disinfects drinking water, aquaculture water, swimming pool water, etc., with 253.7mm ultraviolet as the main spectrum. , Liquid, or air exposure to ultraviolet light). UV water sterilizers are divided into closed and open types. The closed UV sterilizer uses a metal cylinder and an ultraviolet lamp with a quartz sleeve to seal the sterilized water, and the inner wall is polished to improve the reflection ability of ultraviolet rays and enhance The radiation intensity can also adjust the number of UV lamps according to the amount of water to be treated. The water sterilized in the open UV sterilizer flows through the UV sterilizer under the action of gravity and inactivates microorganisms in the water.
UV surface sterilizer
Ultraviolet surface sterilizer is the application of ultraviolet light source in surface sterilization. UV surface sterilization device is widely used in food, electronics, laboratory, chemical, medical, agricultural and other fields.
Application of UV LED disinfection products
Ultraviolet sterilization products are mainly used in three fields: water sterilization, air sterilization, and surface sterilization. With the development of LED technology and the improvement of efficiency, these fields will gradually replace the traditional mercury lamp light source from low power to medium power to high power.
Water disinfection field
In the disinfection of high-power drinking water, mercury lamps still occupy an absolute leading position due to the fast water flow rate and high power requirements for UV light sources. At present, more than 20 drinking water plants adopt UV sterilization technology, all of which use mercury light sources; In the low-power terminal water purification, UV LED products have begun to emerge. Leading companies such as Haier, Midea, Angel, and Smith have deployed UV LED sterilization modules. At present, the cost of water purification sterilization modules on the market is relatively high. Taking 1-2L/min sterilization modules as an example, the average price is around 150-200. The average price of 6L/min sterilization module is about 650-700, accounting for about 10% of the whole product. Hangzhou Huiyi said that the market price accepted by the large-scale application of ultraviolet LEDs in the water purification market in the future is about half of the current price.
Air sterilization field
UV air purification mainly adopts two disinfection methods: UVC sterilization and UVA photocatalysis. The UVC air sterilization purifier mainly follows the principle of ultraviolet circulation disinfection of the air, that is, under the action of a fan, the wind passes through a closed pipe. At the same time, the ultraviolet lamp irradiates the air passing through the pipe to complete the sterilization. At present, the ultraviolet air sterilizer mainly uses Special application places such as hospitals and laboratories are mainly used. UVA photocatalytic air purifier uses the principle of photocatalysis to decompose organic pollutants in the air and kill bacteria and viruses. In terms of dynamic air sterilization, it is difficult to use ultraviolet light source alone, and auxiliary HEPA filter adsorption materials are needed to improve the sterilization rate. At present, the price of UV LED purifiers suitable for the same area is generally 2-5 times that of mercury lamp air purifiers. Yuenengjing believes that the biggest obstacle for UVC LED to replace UVC mercury lamp is low luminous efficiency. If its luminous performance reaches 70-80% of mercury lamp, the market will be able to accept it.
Surface sterilization field
The epidemic has stimulated the application of UV LED sterilization products in personal and household consumer products. Low-power products such as sterilization bags, sterilization boxes, and sterilization rods are emerging one after another. New application products in elevator handrails, cold chain logistics, express packaging and other fields are being developed and developed In the process.
Application of UV LED in public health and epidemic prevention
The application of UVC LED in the field of public health, safety and epidemic prevention is still in the trial stage, and it is also an important field in which the UV LED industry competes at home and abroad. Many domestic and foreign companies have successively launched UVC LED sterilization and disinfection household products, but there is no large-scale effect in the field of public health and safety.
First of all, the increase in the power of UV LEDs and the decrease in prices are the prerequisites for the opening of the market. Some experts believe that commercial deep-ultraviolet LEDs have a radiation efficiency of more than 10% before they can really start large-scale applications.
Secondly, the existing UV disinfection solutions are mainly designed based on the dominant wavelength of traditional UV light sources (253.7nm, 365nm, etc.), which are not necessarily suitable for UV LED light sources. Secondly, the detection, measurement, and standard systems based on UV LED light sources have not yet been established, and the sterilization and disinfection effects of UV light sources cannot be evaluated. Therefore, in the future, it is necessary to carry out typical verification tests based on the wavelength and characteristics of the ultraviolet LED light source, and propose a UVC LED solution suitable for surface, air, and water disinfection applications.
Third, the safety requirements of ultraviolet sterilization and disinfection in personal and household applications are extremely high. Although the country has relevant standards for the sterilization requirements and safety performance of household air purifier products, "Antibacterial, sterilization, and purification functions of household and similar electrical appliances "Special requirements for air purifiers" (GB21551.3-2010) pointed out that the maximum control index of the ultraviolet intensity (30cm around the device) generated by the air purifier is 5μW/cm². However, UV LED products have various forms and quick product updates, which can cause certain harm to the human body when the product identification is unclear or the use is not standardized.
After nearly two years of normalized epidemic prevention and control, UV LED sterilization products have achieved initial results in typical application areas such as air sterilization in high-speed rail cars, sterilization of household air conditioners, and sterilization of personal consumer goods. For example, in 2021, the UVC-LED application equipment (water purifier, central air-conditioning pipe air sterilizer, disinfection air shower system, air disinfection machine, disinfection robot, elevator handrail disinfector, etc.) independently developed by Zhongke Lu'an will be used in medical education, Demonstration and application of disinfection and sterilization of air, physical surfaces, and drinking water in typical public places such as public transportation, express logistics, and cold chain transportation. However, there are still many problems and shortcomings in the application of UV LED, from core technology to application system, from standard detection system to application promotion model. In addition, the combination and joint development of UV LED disinfection products and application scenarios requires close cooperation between the upstream, midstream and downstream of the cross-field industry chain, and the active participation of chips, packaging, modules, and integrated applications. In this process, Some public technology research and development platforms and standardization platforms can play a huge coordinating role.
