Scientists develop UV ducts, air sampling techniques to help contain Covid spread

Context

To help prevent the spread of the coronavirus in public places in India, scientists at CSIO Chandigarh have invented UV ducts that can kill the virus in the air along with air sampling.

About the new development

• Part of the existing system: UV-C Air Duct Disinfection System -V1.06 is designed as a retrofit into existing air ducts.
  • It consists of a slide mechanism, a regulated UV light source, and sensors.
  • The device can be fit into ducts by minor modifications.
• The killing of micro-organisms: Viruses and bacteria can be killed by applying controlled UVC light.
  • UV-C Light source emits light having high energy photons that kill the virus, bacteria.
• Application: The air sampler can check viral load in the air.
  • It is used for sampling air from a large volume of space like hospitals, markets, schools, bus stands, railway stations where there is the possibility of virus and bacterial infection.
  • It may be used for sampling polluted air from high traffic zones in large cities, industries, and air ducts also.
• Functioning: The sampler works by sucking air at calibrated flow rates and entrapping particles, viruses, or bacteria inside the filter.
  • The sampler is fitted with a gelatin tube where the virus is trapped.
  • This can be used to check the presence of the virus, which can then be killed with the use of ducts.