Improving photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) technology for healthy indoor air quality: design, testing, and modeling

改进光催化氧化 (PCO) 技术以实现健康的室内空气质量：设计、测试和建模

• 批准号: RGPIN-2018-05130
• 负责人: Zhong, Lexuan
• 金额: $ 1.97万
• 依托单位: University of Alberta
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=760321
• 关键词: Improving; photocatalytic; oxidation; PCO; technology

Modern building ventilation design must take into account the health and comfort of occupants as well as energy consumption and the environment. The system needs to protect occupants against chemical contaminants from numerous internal sources - office equipment, furniture, building materials, appliances, as well as bio-contaminants. In order to reduce exposure to internal contaminants, outdoor air is brought in to dilute the contaminants. On the other hand, the volume of the outdoor air intake can have a direct negative effect on the energy cost of ventilation as there is a cost to heat, cool, humidify or dehumidify the outdoor air depending on the location and season. This leads to a challenge to find the optimal balance between Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and ventilation cost. In this context, photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) is often considered an attractive alternative to the mechanical ventilation systems. This technology can play a prominent role in reducing building energy consumption and reducing indoor air contaminant level, hence improving the well-being of occupants.In the past two decades, many investigations have been conducted on photocatalytic oxidation of gaseous contaminants. However, researchers are still facing the challenge of enhancing the efficiency of the PCO technology to remove air pollutants. In the meantime, the PCO technology could generate certain harmful contaminants during the air-cleaning process. Limited scientific data reveals its health effects. The proposed program aims to fill the above-mentioned knowledge gaps. The long-term goal of my research program is to lay the groundwork for promoting and investigating this pioneered PCO technology in the development of advanced air purification systems/building materials with new techniques such as nanotechnology and photocatalysis. This program will help us build leadership in the development of future generations of high-performance heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. It will timely address worldwide challenges of indoor air pollution. The research will involve both experimental and modeling aspects.In summary, this proposed research program focuses on developing and validating PCO-based air cleaning technology for HVAC system application and providing scientific data documenting their performance in non-industrial buildings. Our team aims to overcome the current challenges and make PCO a viable technology creating healthy and productive indoor environment for Canadian and people all around the world. In the next five years, I expect to train 1 MSc and 2 PhDs, as well as 5 undergraduate students with this grant.

现代建筑通风设计必须考虑居住者的健康和舒适以及能源消耗和环境。该系统需要保护居住者免受来自众多内部来源的化学污染物的影响——办公设备、家具、建筑材料、电器以及生物污染物。为了减少与内部污染物的接触，引入室外空气来稀释污染物。另一方面，室外空气进气量会对通风的能源成本产生直接的负面影响，因为根据位置和季节对室外空气进行加热、冷却、加湿或除湿会产生成本。这给寻找室内空气质量 (IAQ) 和通风成本之间的最佳平衡带来了挑战。在这种情况下，光催化氧化（PCO）通常被认为是机械通风系统的有吸引力的替代方案。该技术可以在降低建筑能耗、降低室内空气污染物水平、从而改善居住者的福祉方面发挥突出作用。在过去的二十年里，人们对气态污染物的光催化氧化进行了许多研究。然而，研究人员仍然面临着提高PCO技术去除空气污染物效率的挑战。同时，PCO技术在空气净化过程中可能会产生某些有害污染物。有限的科学数据揭示了其对健康的影响。拟议的计划旨在填补上述知识空白。我的研究计划的长期目标是为利用纳米技术和光催化等新技术开发先进空气净化系统/建筑材料中推广和研究这一开创性的 PCO 技术奠定基础。该计划将帮助我们在未来几代高性能供暖、通风和空调 (HVAC) 系统的开发中建立领导地位。它将及时解决全球室内空气污染的挑战。该研究将涉及实验和建模方面。总而言之，本研究计划的重点是开发和验证用于 HVAC 系统应用的基于 PCO 的空气净化技术，并提供记录其在非工业建筑中性能的科学数据。我们的团队旨在克服当前的挑战，使 PCO 成为一项可行的技术，为加拿大和世界各地的人们创造健康和高效的室内环境。未来五年，我预计利用这笔资助培养1名硕士和2名博士，以及5名本科生。