DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CARRYING OUT DECONTAMINATION MEASURES, METHOD FOR PREPARING DECONTAMINATION MEASURES AND METHOD FOR MONITORING DECONTAMINATION MEASURES

Abstract

A method for preparing decontamination measures within a room located in a building and used by people includes a planning acquisition step. Therein, a plurality of regions of use within the room are identified, and for each region an expected use intensity is determined based on previously determined parameters. In a subsequent planning implementation step, for each region of use, proceeding from the expected use intensity, a suction means assigned to said region of use and having an associated supply air volume flow is specified. In a method by carrying out the decontamination measures, while the decontamination measures are being carried out, operation of individual suction means is adjusted to an actual use of the assigned region of use by people, and a suction volume flow suctioned by the suction means in question is specified, between a minimum value specified for the suction means in question, and a maximum value.

Claims

1-22. (canceled)

23. A device for carrying out decontamination measures within a room (1) located in a building and used by people (19), comprising: a suction means (20, 21, 32) that is assigned to a region of use (7, 9), the region of use (7, 9) having at least two use cells (42) within the region of use (7, 9); and an air supply means (28), wherein the suction means (20, 21, 32) comprises a suction opening (34) which is arranged in a flow guidance plate (33) which surrounds the suction opening (34) and is arranged above a specifiable breathable air altitude (31), wherein the air supply means (28) comprises a strip-shaped air supply nozzle (38) which is arranged between the at least two use cells (42) and under the suction opening (34), wherein the nozzle generates a strip-shaped supply airstream (41) such that, when the device is operated as intended, an initially strip-shaped supply airstream (41) is converted into a suction flow (30) which conveys air out of the breathable air altitude (31) to the suction means (20) and suctions it through the suction opening (34).

24. The device according to claim 23, wherein the flow guidance plate (33) comprises a convex or planar flow guidance surface (44) facing away from the air supply means (28).

25. The device according to claim 23, wherein the flow guidance plate (33) comprises, at least in portions, a suction gap (46) along a peripheral edge (45) thereof, on a side thereof directed towards the air supply means (28), wherein an exhaust air flow flows along a flow guidance surface (44) of the flow guidance plate (33) in the direction of the suction opening (34), and wherein the suction gap generates a Coandǎ effect, thereby guiding the exhaust air flow along on the flow guidance surface (44).

26. The device according to claim 23, wherein the device comprises at least one diffuser tube (43) which comprises a plurality of diffuser openings that are spaced apart in an axial direction and are oriented differently in peripheral directions, through which openings fresh air can be supplied to the region of use.

27. The device according to claim 26, wherein the diffuser tube (43) is arranged at a distance from the air supply means (28) and the suction means (32), along a room edge (54) of the room (1).

28. The device according to claim 26, wherein the at least one diffuser tube (43) is arranged laterally beside the flow guidance plate (33) or above the flow guidance plate (33).

29. The device according to claim 23, further comprising a room air suction means (49) which comprises room air suction openings (51) above the flow guidance plate (33).

30. The device according to claim 29, wherein the room air suction means (49) comprises a room air suction channel (50) which comprises a number of room air suction openings (51) and which annularly surrounds the suction opening (34), at a distance from the suction opening (34).

31. The device according to claim 29, wherein the room air suction means (49) comprises at least one room air suction opening (51) in a suction channel (35) that leads into the suction opening (34).

32. A method for preparing decontamination measures within a room (1) located in a building and used by people (19), comprising: identifying, in a planning acquisition step, based on a specified use concept, a plurality of regions of use (6, 7, 8, 9, 25) within the room (1) and determining, for each region of use (6, 7, 8, 9, 25), an expected use intensity based on previously determined parameters; and assigning, in a subsequent planning implementation step, proceeding from the expected use intensity for each region of use (6, 7, 8, 9, 25), a suction means (20, 21, 26) having an associated specified suction volume flow to the region of use (6, 7, 8, 9, 25).

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein, in the planning implementation step, for each region of use (6, 7, 8, 9, 25), proceeding from the expected use intensity, an air supply means (28) assigned to the region of use (6, 7, 8, 9, 25) and having an associated supply air volume flow is specified.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein, in the planning implementation step, for each region of use (7, 9), a suction flow (30) is specified, at a specifiable breathable air altitude (31), by the suction means (20, 21) assigned to said region of use (7, 9) and optionally by the air supply means (28) assigned to said region of use, which suction flow conveys air from the breathable air altitude (31) to the suction means (20).

35. The method according to claim 34, wherein, for each region of use (9), the suction flow (30) forms an air curtain, directed towards the suction means (20), via the suction means (20) assigned to said region of use (9) and optionally via the air supply means (28) assigned to said region of use (9), by means of which air curtain at least two use cells within the region of use (9) are specified, between which cells an air exchange is prevented, at least at the specifiable breathable air altitude (31).

36. The method according to claim 32, wherein, proceeding from the expected use intensity of all the regions of use (6, 7, 8, 9, 25) within the room (1), disinfection measures to be carried out at temporal intervals are specified, which are performed by a disinfection means (29) in the room (1).

37. A method of carrying out decontamination measures in a room (1) located in a building and used by people (19), for which the method for preparing decontamination measures described in claim 32 was carried out, wherein, while the decontamination measures are being carried out, operation of individual suction means (20, 21, 26) is adjusted to an actual use of the assigned region of use (6, 7, 8, 9, 25) by people (19), and a suction volume flow suctioned by the suction means (20, 21, 26) in question is specified, between a minimum value specified for the suction means (20, 21, 26) in question, and a maximum value.

38. The method according to claim 37, wherein an actual use of a region of use (6, 7, 8, 9, 25) is monitored using a sensor means (22, 23) assigned to said region of use (6, 7, 8, 9, 25), and the operation of the assigned suction means is adjusted proceeding from the sensor signals of the sensor means.

39. The method according to claim 38, wherein sensor means (22, 23) comprises a decibel measuring device (22) and/or a movement sensor (23), by means of which a sound level prevailing in the region of use (6, 7, 8, 9, 25), or a movement of people (19) in the region of use (6, 7, 8, 9, 25), is acquired.

40. The method according to claim 37, wherein, while carrying out decontamination measures, an operation of air supply means (28) is adjusted to the operation of the suction means (26), and a supply air volume flow supplied by an air supply means (28) is adjusted to an exhaust air flow suctioned by the suction means (26).

41. The method according to claim 37, wherein a disinfection of the room (1) takes place in temporal intervals, using a disinfection means (29).

42. The method for monitoring the decontamination measures carried out by a method according to claim 37 in a room (1) located in a building and used by people (19), wherein at least one property of the air volume contained in the room is acquired by a monitoring means, and a monitoring signal is generated if a value outside of a predetermined property range is acquired for the at least one monitored property.

43. The method according to claim 42, wherein a pressure difference between the air volume monitored by the method, and an ambient pressure outside the monitored room (1), is acquired by the monitoring means.

44. The method according to claim 42, wherein a contamination content of the air volume monitored by the method is acquired.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0059] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a floor plan of a seating area of a restaurant, in which various regions of use are drawn,

[0060] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram for a sequence, by way of example, of the method for preparing, carrying out, and monitoring decontamination measures,

[0061] FIG. 3 is a schematic partial view of the seating area shown in FIG. 1, while the decontamination measures are being carried out,

[0062] FIG. 4 is a view of a workstation in a manufacturing plant, while the decontamination measures are being carried out,

[0063] FIG. 5 shows the seating area according to FIG. 3, wherein an air curtain is provided in each of the regions of use, in order to reduce a propagation of breathable air from people,

[0064] FIG. 6 is a side view of a device for carrying out the decontamination measures in an office space,

[0065] FIG. 7 is a plan view of the office space shown in FIG. 6,

[0066] FIG. 8 is a sectional view along a line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7, through a part of the device,

[0067] FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a device in an office space, wherein an additional room air suction means is also shown, in a partially cutaway view,

[0068] FIG. 10 is a schematic side view through a part of the device as in FIG. 8,

[0069] FIG. 11 is a schematic view of an airflow forming in an office space during operation of the device,

[0070] FIG. 12 is a schematic view of an office space comprising a diffuser tube, for the supply of fresh air, arranged along a room edge in a transition region between a room floor and a room wall,

[0071] FIG. 13 is a schematic view according to FIG. 12, wherein a plurality of diffuser tubes is arranged under a room ceiling, and

[0072] FIG. 14 is a schematic view according to FIGS. 12 and 13, wherein a diffuser tube is arranged adjacently to the flow guidance plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0073] FIG. 1 shows a dining room of a restaurant, by way of example for a room 1 located in a building and used by people. In the floor plan of the room 1, shown merely schematically, a plurality of tables 2 for customers, a long bar 3, and entrance region 4 and a cloakroom region 5 are drawn in. In the case of the method for preparing decontamination measures, firstly, in a planning acquisition step, various regions of use 6, 7, 8, 9 within the room 1 are identified, in which regions people spend time more frequently or for a longer period, when the room 1 is used as intended. The regions of use 6, 7, 8, 9 identified in the embodiment by way of example comprise the table 2 as well as bar customer region 10 in front of the bar 3, and a bar service region 11 behind the bar 3. Individual customers can spend time sitting or standing at the bar 3, in the bar customer region 10, and can consume drinks or snacks there. The bar 3 is managed by a waiter, who is typically in the bar service region 11.

[0074] The individual regions of use 6, 7, 8, 9 are in each case delimited regions within the room 1. A usable area of the room 1 that is not covered by the regions of use 6, 7, 8, 9 is considered the non-use region 12.

[0075] For each region of use 6, 7, 8, 9, in a planning implementation step an expected use intensity, in the case of typical use of the room 1 as intended, by people, is determined. It is thus assumed, for example, that the seats at the tables 2 during operation of the restaurant are substantially continuously used by people, who each spend a long time there, and in this case form a significant contamination risk for other people in the same room 1. These two regions of use 8, 9, which are delimited by a twofold dot-dash line and a threefold dot-dash line are assigned a high use intensity.

[0076] The region of use 7 which is associated with the bar customer region 10 and is shown by a single dot-dash line is assigned a medium use intensity. The region of use 6 which corresponds to the bar service region 11 is assigned a low use intensity, since it is provided, in the use concept of this room 1, for the waiting staff to be in the bar service region 11 only when required, and otherwise to be responsible for serving at the tables 2.

[0077] Proceeding from the use intensity thus ascertained, a suction means assigned to the relevant region of use 6, 7, 8, 9 is specified for each region of use 6, 7, 8, 9, and a suction volume flow adjusted for the relevant region of use 6, 7, 8, 9, and the expected use intensity is specified. When specifying the suction means and the suction capacity thereof, or a maximum suction volume flow that can be generated by the relevant suction means, information and simulations relating to individual suspended particles are used, which particles can be introduced into the respective region of use 6, 7, 8, 9 by the people, and from there can be contained within the room 1 or can be suspended in the air in an increased concentration compared with the non-use region 12. The suction capacity of the suction means assigned to the individual regions of use 6, 7, 8, 9 is calculated and specified, on the basis of this information, such that the suspended particles contained in the air, in the regions of use 6, 7, 8, 9, can be suctioned with a sufficiently high degree of likelihood, before contamination of another person, also spending time within the region of use 6, 7, 8, 9 in question, by said suspended particles, can occur. In the embodiment shown, the suction capacity of the suction means assigned to the regions of use 8, 9 at the tables 2 is the greatest. The suction capacity of the suction means assigned to the region of use 7 of the bar customer region 10 is less in comparison therewith. The lowest suction capacity is provided for the suction means which is assigned to the region of use 6 of the bar service region 11.

[0078] FIG. 2 schematically shows a sequency, by way of example, of the method for decontaminating a room, for example the room 1 in the restaurant. In a planning acquisition step 13, on the basis of a specified use concept, a plurality of regions of use 6, 7, 8, 9 within the room 1 is identified, and for each region of use 6, 7, 8, 9 an expected use intensity is determined on the basis of previously determined parameters. In a subsequent planning implementation step 14, for each region of use 6, 7, 8, 9, proceeding from the expected use intensity, a suction means assigned to said region of use 6, 7, 8, 9 and having an associated supply air volume flow is specified.

[0079] As soon as the preparation of the decontamination measures is completed, in a subsequent arrangement step 15 all the required constructional measures can be carried out, in order to subsequently be able to carry out the prepared decontamination measures in the room 1. In this case, the assigned suction means and at least one air supply means for filtered and cleaned fresh air is installed for each region of use 6, 7, 8, 9. Airlock systems are installed at all entrances through which people can enter the room 1. Furthermore, for example hand disinfection or temperature measurement of people entering the room 1 through the airlock system can take place in said airlock systems. The monitoring means required for monitoring the decontamination measures, and a disinfection means possibly required for separate disinfection measures, are installed. In addition, a negative pressure can be generated, and a negative pressure differential measurement can be carried out in order to identify whether the room 1 should be additionally sealed at some points, in order to prevent the penetration of uncleaned air while decontamination measures are being carried out.

[0080] During a step 16 of carrying out, the suction means are operated simultaneously with the room 1 being used by people. At the start of the step 16 of carrying out, a monitoring step 17 which is carried out simultaneously and for the duration of the decontamination measures is also initiated. During the monitoring step 17, at least one property of the air volume contained in the room 1 is acquired by a monitoring means, and a monitoring signal is generated if a value outside of a predetermined property range is acquired for the at least one monitored property. The decontamination measures can be adjusted, or suitable additional measures initiated, depending on the acquired and monitored properties.

[0081] Irrespective thereof, while the decontamination measures are being carried out, operation of individual suction means can be adjusted to an actual use of the assigned region of use by people, and a suction volume flow suctioned by the suction means in question can be specified, between a minimum value specified for the suction means in question, and a maximum value. For this purpose, a use acquisition step 18 can be carried out at temporal intervals or continuously, and a parameter for an actual use of the regions of use 6, 7, 8, 9 in the room 1 can be determined by a suitable sensor means. Depending on the determined parameters, in each case the suction means in question can then be adjusted, and optionally operated more or less intensively.

[0082] FIG. 3 shows a view of a part of the room 1 during use by several people 19. Two people 19 are sitting at the table 2, in the region of use 9. One person 19 is sitting at the bar 3 in the bar customer region 10.

[0083] A suction means 20 is arranged above the table 2. A further suction means 21 is arranged above the bar customer region 10. The spacing of the suction means 20, 21 from the heads of the people 19 is adjusted to the use of the relevant region of use 9, 10, to be expected in each case, by the people 19. As a result, a targeted airflow can be promoted, and the capture region of the suction means 20, 21 can be specified such that, during use as intended, the heads of the people 19 are largely in said capture region.

[0084] Both suction means 20, 21 are in each case equipped with a decibel measuring sensor 22 and with a movement sensor 23. If no movement is determined by the movement sensor 23 over a long period of time, the capacity of the assigned suction means 20, 21 can be reduced or said means can be deactivated. In addition, an adjustment of the suction capacity of the suction means 20, 21 can be carried out via a measurement of the noise level by means of the decibel measuring sensor 22.

[0085] FIG. 4 shows, by way of example, a workstation 24 in a production company, which workstation forms a region of use 25 that is indicated by a fourfold dot-dash line. In addition to a suction means 26, an air-permeable grating 27 is arranged under the workstation 24, and an air supply means 28 under said grating. Filtered and cleaned fresh air is supplied by the air supply means 28. Optionally, contaminated air is suctioned out of the region of use 25 by the suction means 26. The suction means 26 comprises merely one movement sensor 23, since the noise level typically prevailing in the production company is superimposed with the noises of the person 19 at the workstation 24, and an actuation of the suction means 26 that is adjusted to the sound level in the workstation 24 is expedient.

[0086] A targeted airflow can be promoted by the arrangement of the air supply means 28 under the region of use 25 and the suction means 26 above the region of use 25. The delivery rate of the air supply means 28 is adjusted to the suction capacity of the suction means 26, such that an airflow course extending from the air supply means 28 to the suction means 26 is achieved, and thus a targeted airflow is brought about in the region of use 25, even without additional structural measures.

[0087] In the production company, a disinfection means 29 is arranged beside the workstation 24, which disinfection means comprises a cold atomization device by means of which the workstation 24 and all the surfaces located there are disinfected at time intervals, for example every night, using an atomized disinfection agent.

[0088] FIG. 5 shows a further view of the room 1 shown in FIG. 3. A strip-shaped outlet opening 29 of the air supply means 28 (indicated only schematically) is arranged on an upper surface of the table 2 in the region of use 9. The strip-shaped outlet opening 29 is arranged in the middle of the table 2, between the two seats on opposite sides of the table 2, and extends substantially over the length of the table 2. The filtered and cleaned fresh air flowing out through the strip-shaped outlet opening 29 is suctioned in by the suction means 20 which is arranged above the table 2. In this way, an air curtain having a very predominantly laminar suction flow 30 is formed by the strip-shaped outlet opening 29 of the air supply means 28 on the surface of the table 2 as far as the suction means 20. The suction flow 30 extends in particular beyond the breathable air altitude 31 in the vertical direction, at which altitude people 19 breathe out the highest breath volume during use of the region of use 9 as intended. In the example shown, this is the average head height of the people 19 seated at the table 2. The air curtain formed by the suction flow 30 divides the region of use 9 into two use cells which substantially correspond to the two seats. Each person 19 spends a long time in the use cell assigned to said person 19. An air exchange between the two use cells is reduced by the air curtain. Furthermore, the aerosols breathed out by the people 19, which aerosols may contain viruses or bacteria, are captured and carried along by the suction flow 30, in particular from the environment of the breathable air altitude 31, such that the aerosols are suctioned particularly effectively by the suction means 20 and cannot spread into the surroundings.

[0089] A strip-shaped outlet opening 29 of the air supply means 28 (not shown in greater detail) is also arranged on the bar 3, in the region of use 7. The strip-shaped outlet opening 29 extends over the entire length of the bar 3. Fresh air is supplied to the region of use 7 via the strip-shaped outlet opening 29, which fresh air is suctioned by the suction means 21 above the bar 3. As a result, in this region of use 7, too, an air curtain is formed, consisting of a suction flow 30 that flows upwards in a substantially laminar manner, and which shields the person 19 sitting in front of the bar 3 from a person standing behind the bar 3. In this case, the breathable air altitude 31 is specified so as to be higher than in the region of use 9, on account of the deviating sitting position and posture of the person 19.

[0090] FIGS. 6 to 8 show, by way of example, a deviating embodiment of a device for carrying out decontamination measures. In this case, a desk used by two people is shown by way of example for a typical region of use 7 in an office space. The device comprises a suction means 32 comprising a flow guidance plate 33, in the center of which a circular suction opening 34 having a diameter of between approximately 12 cm and 18 cm is arranged. Room air can be suctioned through the suction opening 34 from a capture region 36 located therebelow, via a suction channel 35.

[0091] The suction means 32 is arranged above a tabletop 37 of a table 2. An air supply means 28 having a strip-shaped air supply nozzle 38 is arranged in the tabletop 37. By means of air supply nozzle suction openings 39 in the table legs 40 of the table 2, room air can be suctioned from under the tabletop 37 and blown through the air supply nozzle 38, in the direction of the suction means 32, as a strip-shaped supply airstream 41. This results in a strip-shaped flow wedge, which extends in the direction of the suction means 32 with an initially predominantly laminar flow, and separates two use cells 42, on the two opposite sides of the tabletop 37, from one another.

[0092] A diffuser tube 43 having a diameter of between approximately 5 cm and 15 cm, and a perforated metal plate-like lateral surface is located in a room corner. Fresh air is supplied to the room and also the use cells 42 via the diffuser tube 43.

[0093] The dimensions of the flow guidance plate 33 shown schematically in the plan view according to FIG. 7 are slightly smaller than the dimensions of the tabletop 37 above which the suction means 32 is arranged at a height of approximately 80 cm to 100 cm above the tabletop 37.

[0094] The flow guidance plate 33 comprises a convexly curved flow guidance surface 44 in the direction of the tabletop 37. The flow guidance surface 44 can also be designed planar. A suction gap 46 is formed on a side facing the air supply nozzle 38, along a peripheral edge 45 of the flow guidance plate 33, which gap is delimited by a gap strip 47 which is arranged on the peripheral edge 45, at a spacing of from approximately 1 cm to 2 cm, in parallel with the flow guidance surface 44. The room air suctioned in the capture region 36 is suctioned back through the suction gap 46, wherein a Coandă effect is generated by the suction gap 46 and the exhaust air flow 48 suctioned through the suction gap 46 is guided along the flow guidance surface 44, in the direction of the suction opening 34, over a comparatively large distance, and detaches from the flow guidance surface 44 only very late, if at all. As a result, very efficient capture and suctioning of the room air from a large capture region 36 is promoted.

[0095] FIG. 9 shows, in addition to the device shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, a room air suction means 49 which supplements the device. The room air suction means 49 comprises an annularly shaped room air suction channel 50 which surrounds the suction means 32 together with the flow guidance plate 33 and the suction opening 34 formed therein. A number of room air suction openings 51 are formed in the room air suction channel 50, through which openings room air can be suctioned. The room air suction openings 51 take up approximately 20% to 50% of an outer surface of the room air suction channel 50 facing the room. In the case of an embodiment of the room air suction channel 50 which is considered particularly advantageous, the room air suction openings 51 occupy a surface area of approximately 30% of the outer surface of the room air suction channel 50 facing the room, wherein the room air can be suctioned through said room air suction openings 51 at a flow speed of approximately 0.3 m/s.

[0096] In an embodiment of the device shown schematically in FIG. 10, the room air suction device 49 (not otherwise shown) comprises a plurality of room air suction openings 51 which are arranged in the suction channel 35 through which the room air, suctioned through the suction opening 34, is suctioned out of the capture region 36. Room air is suctioned in particular out of a region directly above the flow guidance plate 33, through the room air suction openings 51 formed in the suction channel 35. In this way, aerosols, a very small quantity of which could flow laterally around the flow guidance plate 33 and collect above the flow guidance plate 33, can be efficiently suctioned. The suction channel 35 can optionally be formed by guide plates or beads, arranged in the interior thereof, around the room air suction openings 51, such that the room air suctioned through the suction opening 34 cannot escape again through the room air suction openings 51.

[0097] FIG. 11 schematically shows the results of a simulation of operation of the device within an office space 52. In this case, the arrows 53 within the office space 52 symbolize the course and the intensity of room airflows occurring within the office space 52. Fresh air is blow into the office space via the diffuser tube 43 extending along a room edge 54, on a room floor 55. In this case, airstreams preferably form in a rising manner along a room wall 56, and in a horizontally extending manner along the room floor 55. The supply airstream 41 generated between the tabletop 37 and the suction opening 34 in the flow guidance plate 33 results in a strip-shaped flow wedge, which extends in the direction of the suction opening 34 of the suction means 32 with an initially predominantly laminar flow, and prevents room air spreading from one use cell 42 into the opposite use cell 42. In particular, the strip-shaped supply airstream 41 prevents air breathed out by a person 57 within a use cell 42 being able to flow into the opposite use cell 42.

[0098] FIGS. 12 to 14 schematically show, by way of example, different variants of the flow guide within the office space 52. In all the embodiments shown, the room air is merely circulated. The supply airstream 41 blown out by the air supply nozzle 38 is suctioned together with further room air from the capture region 36 of the flow guidance plate 33, through the suction opening 34 into the suction channel 35 and supplied to a cleaning device 58 which is arranged above the flow guidance plate 33, on a room ceiling 59. Here, the supply airstream 41 suctioned out is cleaned using suitable filter means and optionally additional air treatment means, such as UV light sources or plasma cleaning devices, and impurities contained in the suctioned-out supply airstream 41 are filtered out. In particular HEPA filters of filter class H 13/14 are suitable for this purpose. Subsequently, the cleaned exhaust air is supplied to the respective diffuser tubes 43 as fresh air, via fresh air channels 60.

[0099] The embodiment shown in FIG. 12 substantially corresponds to the variant also shown in FIGS. 9 and 11. The fresh air is supplied to the office space 52 again to the office space 52, via a diffuser tube 43 extending along the room edge 54, on the room floor 55. Room airstreams extending around the use cells 42 are advantageously formed.

[0100] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, two or more diffuser tubes 43 are arranged below the room ceiling 59 but above the flow guidance plate 33.

[0101] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 14, an annularly formed diffuser tube 43 laterally surrounds the flow guidance plate 33.