CSIR-CMERI Develops Mobile Indoor Disinfection (MID) Sprayers

Daily cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces such as Tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, sinks, cardboards, etc. are highly recommended by CDC to minimize the risk of transmitting Corona viruses to people who inadvertently come in contact with those surfaces.  

Scientists at CSIR-CMERI, Durgapur have developed two mobile indoor disinfection sprayer units (BPDS and POMID) that can be used for the effective cleaning and disinfecting pathogenic micro-organism present on hospital wards, hospital bed, surfaces, rooms, halls, building corridors, etc. The BPDS is Battery Powered Disinfectant Sprayer, while POMID is Pneumatically Operated Mobile Indoor Disinfection Unit.  Both the sprayer systems are designed with two stage spraying units and separate storage tanks to clean and disinfect the indoor areas by the numbers of fixed and flexible nozzles set in the lower & the upper tiers. There is also an Industrial Variant of the Disinfectant Sprayer which has utility for heavy usage and larger span of coverage. 

Prof. Harish Hirani, Director, CSIR-CMERI, Durgapur stated that, “CSIR-CMERI is consistently focussed upon developing efficient and effective technologies to contain the spread of COVID19. We have developed MID sprayers for cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched non-living surfaces. The particle size as well as number of particles of disinfectant are two very important parameters in determining effectiveness of sprayed disinfectant. Prof. Hirani told that most of the disinfectant sprayers prevalent in the market are based either on Cleaning or Disinfecting using a single chamber storage for the liquid and are pump based. The droplets produced by a pump sprayer are much larger in size and effective coverage of surface is lesser.

However, the CSIR-CMERI developed indoor sprayer systems consists of Dual Chamber Storage for Disinfectants and Cleaning and have better nozzle design, better arrangement of nozzles and lesser droplet sizes and therefore sprayed disinfectant covers greater surface area for the specified volume of liquid. The MID sprayers will be assistive to cleaning workers, who are at greater risk of COVID-19. The next stage of development for the devices would be to incorporate 360degree coverage for the disinfectants and cleaning spray as well as to make it compact and autonomous for usage in Schools and Homes” The sprayers are also equipped with mopping features and extendable arms to reach hidden area and clean comprehensively. This technology will have relevance even beyond the current COVID-19 crisis, since Viruses have been existent throughout and a substantial number of cases of such influenza has been spreading throughout the globe every year during the Flu season. Hence, Dr Hirani has urged the MSMEs of the Nation to come forward and invest in this technology, keeping in mind the future orientation of Hygiene and Healthcare devices and equipment.  

The technology for BPDS is transferred to M/s Power Tech Mining Pvt. Ltd. (West Bengal) on the same day for commercialization. Mr. Shantanu Choudhry, proprietor told that after inspection and  demonstration, we already ordered two units of BPDS, which may be delivered by next week. 

MODEL -1 : Pneumatically Operated Mobile Indoor Disinfection (POMID) Unit: 

APPLICATION:  

Hospitals/Malls/Restaurants etc.  

Seminar/Conference Halls  

Govt. &  Corporate Offices 

The mobile indoor disinfectant unit is made by steel frames mounted on four wheels. The approximate overall dimension of the system is 1.0 m (L) x 0.9 m (H) x 0.5 m (W). The system is covered by top cover plate.  

PNEUMATIC SYSTEM: 

The system comprises of compressors, piping and fittings and spray nozzles. Three (03) nozzles are mounted (adjustable along horizontal plane) in the bottom tier and another three (03) nozzles are located (adjustable both in horizontal and vertical planes) in the top tier. The hand held flexible spray arm can be used for disinfecting in any direction as per requirement. The system pressure is maintained in the range 6-8 bar for operating the spray nozzles.  

STORAGE TANK:  

No. of tanks: 2, each tank capacity: 10.0 Litre (approx).  

MODEL-2  Battery Powered Disinfectant Sprayer (BPDS): 

APPLICATION :  

All type of indoor hospital, indoor Office buildings, inside of the factory supermarket, shopping malls etc 

KEY  FEATURES:  

Cordless machine  

Two nozzle spray system  

Extended arm spray unit  

Cost effective             

SPECIFICATION:  

Storage Capacity: 20 Litres each tank  

Battery back-up time in a single charge : 4 hours  

Gross weight (empty tank): 25 Kg  

System Dimension (Overall) : L41 x W 44 x H 44 (in cm)  

Covering width: 10.5 cm  

Pump capacity & spec: 4- 5 L/min flow with 7 bar pressure  

Extension sprayer length (Full stretch): 250 cm