Durst, leading manufacturer of advanced digital printing and production technologies, is responding to the COVID pandemic with another initiative. Back in April, during the lockdown, Durst had already started producing community masks as a first preventative measure. Now Durst is following suit and presenting the Durst UVC-R air disinfection system, an innovative solution for reducing the viral load.
The new normality that characterises our private and professional lives is determined by compulsory masks, distance rules and disinfectants. This state of affairs will not change in the short and medium term, because if there is also a vaccine against COVID, new types of viruses and mutations will probably emerge. For this reason, Durst has combined its expertise in laboratory, manufacturing, UV technology, flow simulation and safety guidelines over the past few months to bring a piece of quality of life back to the new norm with the Durst UVC-R air disinfection system.
In Durst Labs, the main transmission paths and sinking speeds of droplets and aerosols transporting liquid particles containing viruses were analysed, as well as the effectiveness of countermeasures with continuous air exchange and UV irradiation. The solution: Durst UVC-R combines both air exchange and UV radiation in one system, effectively reducing infectious aerosols, viruses and germs in indoor environments. Via a membrane with air-intake nozzles, the room air is fed into two closed channels and irradiated with UV-C light sources. The disinfected air is continuously released back into the room via a separate air outlet duct.
The special features of Durst UVC-R
Closed, radiation-protected chambers with high-power UV sources in airflow-optimised and mirrored ducts.
Generation of ozone-free UV-C radiation with a wavelength of 254 nanometres.
Intake nozzles over the entire surface and at the source height.
Antiviral coating of the membrane surface.
Whisper quiet with a typical noise level of 25 dB(A).
"In our laboratories, we checked the efficiency of the UV sources and used flow calculations to analyse the optimum dwell time and volume flow". says Christoph Gamper, CEO and co-owner of the Durst Group. "An external laboratory for medical technology and disinfectants in Germany is currently verifying our results. At the same time, the efficiency of Durst UVC-R is being tested in real mode with "pseudoviruses" or so-called bacteriophages".
Efficiency Durst UVC-R
The Durst UVC-R disinfection centre measures 4 x 4 x 2.5 metres. However, Durst would like to point out that it is not possible to make any concrete statements regarding the efficiency in terms of square metres or volume size, as the efficiency depends on many factors such as temperature, air flows in the room, ceiling height, number of people, etc.
Durst therefore gives the following example of efficiency: 4 people sit at a table and are surrounded by a volume of 8 m³. Each person inhales and exhales about 0.5 m³ of air per hour, a total of 2 m³. Durst UVC-R sterilises 12.5 times this volume or 25 m³ in 15 minutes and 50 times the breathing volume of 4 people or 100 m³, in one hour.
If the UVC-R is placed in a larger room, there is a constant mixing of the room air around the disinfection centre, thus reducing the number of germs by constantly releasing purified air even outside the central zone.
"We see Durst UVC-R not only as a preventive measure to reduce the viral load in indoor rooms," Christoph Gamper. "Together with the South Tyrolean industrial designer Christian Zanzotti, we have developed a UVC-R portfolio that can be harmoniously integrated into many room concepts. Furthermore, the antiviral-coated membrane surface can be personalised".
Durst offers the 1st series of the UVC-R as Limited Edition for pre-order on www.durst-group.com/uvcr. The entire UVC-R portfolio will be available in a webshop in the coming weeks. Delivery of the 1st series is scheduled to start in early December. The UVC-R systems can be viewed at Durst headquarters in Brixen, South Tyrol/Italy.
www.durst-group.com