• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.7-13
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• 2017

A comfortable indoor environment is important considering that many hours are spent in residential or office space. A humidifier is used to control the indoor humidity. In particular, an element type humidifier has the advantage of a simple structure and low energy consumption. Two types of humidifiers - stationary or rotor - are commonly used for residential purposes. In this study, performance optimization was conducted for a rotor-type humidifying element used in a residential humidifier. The optimization included the rotation speed, water submersion depth, etc. The test range consisted of an open area to the air from 57 to 90%, rotation speed from 0.2 to 2.0 rpm, frontal air velocity from 0.5 to 2.5 m/s. The results showed that the optimal open area to air was 70%. On the other hand, the effects of the rotation speed on the moisture transfer rate was negligible. On the other hand, the pressure drop increased with increasing rotation speed. As the frontal air velocity increased, both the moisture transfer rate and pressure drop increased. The humidification capacity of the present element was 0.08 ~ 0.31 kg/hr. A comparison of the data with the theoretical results was made.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.503-509
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• 2012

Objectives: This study was performed in order to evaluate the generation characteristics of airborne bacteria and fungi while operating a household humidifier, in consideration of user habits. Methods: Microbial samples were collected in a closed chamber with a total volume of 2.76 $m^3$, in which a humidifier was operated according to experimental strategies. A cultivation method based on the viable counts of mesophilic heterotrophic bacteria and fungi was performed. Experimental strategies were divided into three classes: the type of water in the water reservoir (tap water, cooled boiled water); the frequency of filling the reservoir (refill every day, no refill); and the sterilization method (sterilization function mode, humidifier disinfectants). Results: Significant increases in the concentration of airborne bacteria were observed while the humidifier was in operation. The concentration had increased to 2,407 $CFU/m^3$ by 120 hours when tap water filled the reservoir without any application of sterilization, while for cooled boiled water, it was merely 393 $CFU/m^3$ at a similar time point. Usages of disinfectant in the water tank were more effective in decreasing bioaerosol generation compared to sterilization function mode operation. Generation characteristics of airborne fungi were similar to those of bacteria, but the levels were not significant in all experiments. Calculated exposure factor can be used as an indicator to compare biorisk exposure. Conclusion: This study identified the potential for bioaerosol generation in indoor environments while operating a household humidifier. User practices were critical in the generation of bioaerosol, or more specifically, airborne bacteria. Proper usage of a humidifier ensures that any biorisks resulting from generated bioaerosol can be prevented.

• Journal of Advanced Navigation Technology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.473-480
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• 2019

The smart home is a technology that can monitor and control by connecting everything to a communication network in various fields such as home appliances, energy consumers, and security devices. The Smart home is developing not only automatic control but also learning situation and user's taste and providing the result accordingly. This paper proposes a model that can provide a comfortable indoor environment control service for the user's characteristics by detecting the user's behavior as well as the automatic remote control service. The whole system consists of ESP 8266 with sensor and Wi-Fi, Firebase as a real-time database, and a smartphone application. This model is divided into functions such as learning mode when the home appliance is operated, learning control through learning results, and automatic ventilation using indoor and outdoor sensor values. The study used moving averages for temperature and humidity in the control of home appliances such as air conditioners, humidifiers and air purifiers. This system can provide higher quality service by analyzing and predicting user's characteristics through various machine learning and deep learning.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.340-357
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• 2019

The purpose of this paper is to help develop a comprehensive understanding of the humidifier disinfectant disaster from diverse perspectives based on a critical review of the relevant academic research papers published so far in the fields of both natural and social science. The authors reviewed pertinent articles in the six academic areas of law, social science, humanities, medicine, toxicology, and environmental health. A proper understanding of the issue of humidifier disinfectant is a challenging task because diverse aspects of it have become related over the more than two decades since such products were first released to the market in 1994. Technical and esoteric issues such as the complex system for relief and compensation for health damages and the approval of chemical toxicity are known to be major impediments to viewing the bigger picture regarding this tragedy. The authors believe that experts need to consider a comprehensive perspective going beyond their individual research arena to gain a better understanding of this issue, especially since it was an alarm signal on ethics and the role of experts and scholars in Korean society. Besides the two professors arrested by the prosecutor's office, it should be remembered that medical doctors recommended patients use humidifiers and disinfectants, and the media was inactive in reporting on this issue. Furthermore, the current paucity of examination of the social and political implications of this tragedy calls for more active engagement by researchers in the humanities and social sciences. In this regard, this paper is a work of self-examination and self-criticism by the authors that could resonate with the overall academic community.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.227-235
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• 2021

This study examined the effect of ultraviolet (UV) application on bacterial disinfection in a commercialized humidifier using ultrasonic wave (UW). To accurately examine disinfection kinetics in tap-water condition, tap-water was sterilized using a filter, and then inoculated with pure cultures of E. coli and P. putida with known viable counts. The disinfection kinetic characteristics were experimentally compared when UV alone, UW alone, and UW+UV together were applied in disinfecting the added bacteria in the commercialized humidifier. When UV alone was applied, bacterial disinfection kinetics followed a first-order decay reaction, and showed an approximately 10-time weaker disinfection compared to the typical UV disinfection in water treatment or wastewater treatment. When UW alone was applied, bacterial disinfection kinetics followed a second-order decay reaction with a low disinfection rate constant of 0.0002 min^-1(CFU/mL)^-1. When UV and UW were applied together, however and interestingly, the disinfection rate constant (0.0211 min^-1(CFU/mL)^-1) was approximately 100 times increased than that for the UW alone case. These results revealed that the co-use of UV and UW can provide synergistic effect on bacterial disinfection in a tap-water condition in household humidifiers.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 2017

Didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) is used in many types of biocidal products including tableware, carpets, humidifiers, and swimming pools, etc. In spite of increased chances of DDAC exposure through inhalation, studies on the inhalation toxicity of DDAC are not common even though the toxicity of DDAC might be significantly higher if it were to be administered through routes other than the respiratory system. DDAC aerosols were exposed to Sprague-Dawley rats in whole body exposure chambers for a duration of 13 weeks. The Mass Median Aerodynamic Diameters of the DDAC aerosol were $0.63{\mu}m$, $0.81{\mu}m$, and $1.65{\mu}m$, and the geometric standard deviations were 1.62, 1.65, and 1.65 in the low ($0.11{\pm}0.06mg/m^3$), the middle ($0.36{\pm}0.20mg/m^3$) and the high ($1.41{\pm}0.71mg/m^3$) exposure groups, respectively. Body weight was confirmed to be clearly influenced by exposure to DDAC and mean body weight was approximately 35% lower in the high ($1.41{\pm}0.71mg/m^3$) male group and 15% lower in the high ($1.41{\pm}0.71mg/m^3$) female group compared to that of the control group. In the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid assay, the levels of albumin and lactate dehydrogenase had no effect on DDAC exposure. The lung weight increased for the middle ($0.36{\pm}0.20mg/m^3$) and the high ($1.41{\pm}0.71mg/m^3$) concentrations of the DDAC exposure group, and inflammatory cell infiltration and interstitial pneumonia were partially observed in the lungs of the middle ($0.36{\pm}0.20mg/m^3$) and the high ($1.41{\pm}0.71mg/m^3$) exposure groups. However, severe histopathological symptoms, including proteinosis and/or fibrosis, were not found. Based on the results of the changes in the body weight and lung weight, it is considered that the NOAEL (no-observed adverse effect) level for the 13-week exposure duration is $0.11mg/m^3$.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.495-503
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• 2020

Objective: This study aimed to compare the characteristics of humidifier disinfectant-like products (HD-like products) and humidifier disinfectant products (HD products) and introduce actual cases of the usage of HD-like products in hospitals based on an on-site investigation. Methods: The characteristics, chemical components, and usage of HD-like products (Hichlor or Biospot) and HD products (N-with) containing NaDCC (sodium dichloroisocyanurate) were compared. In the process of conducting the on-site investigation, four hospitals were identified as previously using HD-like products. Each on-site investigation to identify the use of HD-like products was composed of four parts: 1) hospital infection control guidelines, 2) manual for humidifiers in patient's rooms, 3) interviews with nursing staff, infection managers, and purchase managers, 4) searching on the product purchase system. Results: Although HD-like products (Hichlor and Biospot) and HD products (N-with) were sold for different usage purposes, they were all white-colored and coin-shaped foaming tablets with the same chemical component, NaDCC. The manual for using HD-like products and HD products was similar (inserting the tablet in a humidifier container with water). Among the four hospitals, one had used Hichlor in the same manner as HD (N-with) by inserting a tablet in 1L of water in a filled humidifier container and Biospot as a kind of detergent for humidifier container cleaning. Another two hospitals had used Biospot and/or Aniosyme as a kind of detergent for humidifier container cleaning. The other hospital had used unknown product in the same manner as N-with, so we thus assumed it was either an HD products (N-with) or HD-like products (Hichlor, Biospot). Conclusion: This study raises the possibility of the development of adverse health effects similar to exposure to an HD-products when exposed to an HD-like products and the possibility of further use in other medical institutions or multi-use facilities. Therefore, an expansion of the investigation is needed in order to confirm whether there have been similar cases in the past.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.135-141
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• 2019

In this study, the "Insect Smart Farm Air Conditioning System" is designed and proposed for the control of breeding environment of Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis larvae. The proposed "Insect Smart Farm Air Conditioning System" separates the breeding room from the air conditioning room. It is a system that creates an environment optimized for breeding and distributes it into a breeding room. When controlling the environment through air-conditioning and humidifiers in insect farms, temperature and humidity vary from part of the breeding room to part. The solution to the problem can be suggested as a solution to the difficulty of producing white-spotted flower mounds of uniform size and weight when selling edible insects. By using the "Insect Smart Farm Air Conditioning System," the temperature difference can be reduced by 6℃ and the humidity difference by 24.7% compared to the environmental control of existing insect farms. The temperature and humidity of different parts of the breeding room were improved. Provide the optimal environment of Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis larvae at all times and ensure uniform CO₂ concentration. It can be expected to increase output through annual production and increase income for insect farmers. The proposed "Insecting Smart Farm Air Conditioning System" also controls the set temperature, humidity and CO₂. Environmental control of the breeding of other edible insects and the reproduction of mushrooms that require environmental control in breeding or breeding will also be possible.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.35 no.12
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• pp.1249-1255
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• 2011

In modern large-scale semiconductor manufacturing clean rooms, the energy consumed by the outdoor air-conditioning system during heating, humidification, cooling, and dehumidification of the incoming outdoor air represents about 45% of the total air-conditioning load required to maintain a clean-room environment. In particular, the energy required for humidification of the outdoor air in winter is very high. Therefore, evaluation and comparison of the energy consumption in key humidification systems, viz., steam-humidification and water-spray-humidification systems, used in outdoor air-conditioning systems would be useful to reduce the outdoor air-conditioning load in clean rooms. In the present study, an experiment with an outdoor air flow of 1000 $m^3$/h was conducted to compare the air-conditioning process and energy consumption in outdoor air-conditioning systems with electrodeboiler steam humidifiers and air-washer water spray humidification systems. The experimental results showed that the water-spray-humidification-type outdoor air-conditioning system consumed less electrical power than did the steam-humidification-type system and was more energy efficient during winter.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.215-221
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• 2019

The respiratory medical device is a medical device that delivers optimal oxygen or a certain amount of humidification to a patient by delivering artificial respiration to a patient through a machine when the patient has lost the ability to breathe spontaneously. These include respirators for use in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and anesthesia or emergency situations, and positive airway pressure devices for treating sleep apnea, and as the population of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and elderly people worldwide surge, the market for the respiratory medical devices it is getting bigger. As the demand for both airway pressure devices, there is a problem that the ventilator standard is applied because the reference standard has not been established. Therefore, the boundaries between the items are blurred due to the purpose, intended use, and method of use overlapping similar items in a respiratory medical device. In addition, for both airway pressure devices, there is a problem that the ventilator standard is applied because the reference standard has not been established. Therefore, in this study, we propose clear classification criteria for the respiratory medical devices according to the purpose, intended use, and method of use and provide safety and performance evaluation guidelines for those items to help quality control of the medical devices. And to contribute to the rapid regulating and improvement of public health. This study investigated the safety and performance test methods through the principles of the respiratory medical device, national and international standards, domestic and international licensing status, and related literature surveys. The results of this study are derived from the safety and performance test items in the individual ventilator(ISO 80601-2-72), the International Standard for positive airway pressure device (ISO 80601-2-70), The safety and performance of humidifiers (ISO 80601-2-74) and the safety evaluation items related to home healthcare environment (IEC 60601-1-11), In addition, after reviewing the guidelines drawn up through expert consultation bodies including manufacturers and importers, certified test inspection institutions, academia, etc., the final guidelines were established through revision and supplementation. Therefore, in this study, we propose guidelines for evaluating the safety and performance of the respiratory medical device in accordance with growing technology development.