Reducing volatile organic compounds and common organic odors to below threshold levels in a mechanically ventilated space

Abstract

A mechanical ventilation system, which obtains and maintains to below threshold reduced concentrations of volatile organic compounds and common organic odors in an air stream. The air stream has a concentration of volatile organic compounds of at least 100 parts per million and a temperature of between 30° and 70° F. The mechanical ventilation system comprises a duct, an air moving apparatus and a low-pressure germicidal lamp. The duct has a volume of at least five cubic feet for temporally containing and directing the air stream. The air moving apparatus moves the air stream through the duct at a speed of at least 100 cubic feet per minute. The low-pressure germicidal lamp is installed with respect to the duct such that the germicidal lamp, when energized, will irradiate the air stream passing through the duct. The germicidal lamp, when energized, produces ultraviolet radiation of approximately 254 nm with a power of at least 300 microwatts/cm2 at 1 meter for every 4 square feet of duct area, with substantially no ozone generated. Application of the ultraviolet light to the air stream reduces concentrations of volatile organic compounds and other common organic odors in an air stream to below thresholds such as ordinary olfactory detection.