ICIUS-2021-xxx

Design of Powered Air Purifying Respirator used for Healthcare Workers

An Thanh Vo Ta1, Thanh Long Le1, Ngoc Dang Tran3, Le An Pham3, Hoang Long Phan1,2, and Tan Tien
Nguyen1,2
1
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Hochiminh City University of Technology, Vietnam National
University Hochiminh City
2
DCSELab, Hochiminh City University of Technology, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City
3
GIC, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Hochiminh City

Abstract
In an emerging outbreak of COVID-19, preventive measures including facemasks and respirators may be the
only available protection for health care providers when no drugs or vaccines are promising. Facemasks are
recommended for diseases transmitted through droplets and respirators for respiratory aerosols. This paper
presents a design and control of Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR) used for Vietnamese healthcare
workers in case of preventing COVID-19 infection. The system controls the air flow by adjusting the speed of a
centrifugal blower provide to a mask, this air flow is cleaned by particle filters and ultraviolet germicidal light. In
particular, this design can be used in case of an emergency, it can be connected to commercially available masks
through a connector hose and a respiratory hose. Vietnamese design of PAPR can protect the health of healthcare
workers during work, in addition it can be used for other purposes such as protecting people in polluted
environment, toxic chemical environments and other viruses.
Keywords: Clean air, Dual filtration, Ultraviolet germicidal light, Preventing of Covid infection.

1 Introduction
In an emerging outbreak of COVID-19, preventive measures including facemasks and respirators may be the
only available protection for health care providers when no drugs or vaccines are promising. Facemasks are
recommended for diseases transmitted through droplets and respirators for respiratory aerosols. Health care
workers, the evidence suggests that respirators offer superior protection to facemasks. During pandemics and
outbreaks these form part of a suite of protection offered to frontline workers to ensure occupational health and
safety. Respirators are also preferable when the disease is severe, with a high case fatality rate, and no drug
treatment or vaccine is available such as COVID-19. Powered air purifying respirators (PAPR) (Cook, 2020) use
a battery powered blower to filter out contaminants and provide the user with a continuous flow of clean air,
usually through a loose‐fitting hood or helmet. PAPRs are likely to offer greater protection and do not generally
require fit testing, making them particularly desirable during rapid rollout conditions . The burgeoning need for
respiratory personal protection equipment (PPE) precipitated major challenges to supply chains as need for PPE
exceeded the capacity of suppliers and strategic reserves. In the United States, shortages triggered contingency
and crisis standards of practice which deviated from conventional and accepted best practices. This type of air
purifying respirator is specialized for medical sector, it removes particles (dust, smoke, mist, virus) and toxic
chemical in the atmosphere by using centrifugal blower and particle filters. After the particles was removed by
the filter, the air blower brings to a constant flow of clean air for a mask. This positive pressure prevents entry of
polluted air and protects the healthcare workers from inhaling virus particles such as COVID-19 (Tompkins and
Kerchberger, 2010).
PAPR includes a mask, an air flow controller, filters for air handling, the battery pack power supply, a hose
connector, a respiratory hose and a belt. Inside air flow controller is a centrifugal blower, an air flow sensor, two
UVC germicidal light bulbs, a microcontroller and other electronic components.
Different from commercially available PAPR such as 3M Versaflo PAPR, FELIX100 PAPR or MSA Safety
PAPR ((2020), no date; Hunter et al., no date; Tilley et al., no date; Japuntich et al., 1994; Guyon et al., 2012; Al.,
2015; Pope, 2016), this PAPR is retrofitted UVC germicidal light bulbs to handle air flow effectively before
healthcare worker’s inhale. The speed of blower is controlled by the sliding mode control approach (Chung et al.,
2004; Nguyen et al., 2020). Besides, this design can connect with SUBEA Easybreath snorkeling face mask by a
3D printed connector hose, use in case of emergency, lack of medical supplies and equipment as shown in Figure
1.
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Key specifications:
- According to minimum airflow rate standard, A tight-fitting PAPR must provide a constant airflow of 115
liters per minute; a loose-fitting PAPR must provide 170 liters per minute.
- Dual filtration system and UVC germicidal light
- Approximate operational life of 4-6 hours depending on the installed air flow mode.
Inhale and Exhale HME Filter

Mask Air outlet

Blower Air inlet

UVC germicidal light Dual filtration system

Figure 1. System design overview

2 Mechanical Design

2.1 Principle diagram

Currently there are two types of PAPR: a tight-fitting PAPR and a loose-fitting PAPR. A loose-fitting PAPR
help users feel more comfortable, but it must provide air flow more than 170 liters per minute while a tight-fitting
just provide air flow more than 115 liters per minute Therefore, a tight-fitting PAPR will help make healthcare
workers safer and save more battery power. Principle diagram of the system shown in Figure 2.
HME filter Respiratory hose Hose connector

Air outlet
Mask

Air flow control

Air flow rate sensor

UV light sensor UVC germicidal light

Centrifugal blower
`
Air inlet
Electrical
component

Dual filtration
Battery HEPA and N95

Figure 2. Principle diagram of the system

2.2 Design a mechanical of PAPR
For air flow, desire to achieve the required air flow, centrifugal blower must provide more than 115 liters per
minute with a tight-fitting. During use, there are many factors that cause a decrease in the air flow such as the
performance of the filter will be reduced after a period of use, or due to the difference in air pressure. Therefore,
centrifugal blower with max air flow more than doubled the standard of tight-fitting should be used for this system,
brushless DC blower model WS7040-12-X200 is chosen to provide air flow as requested above.
For dual filtration system, a 3M Particulate Filter according to N95 standards [2] is installed at the air inlet
and a HEPA Filter according to HEPA standards [3] is installed immediately behind it, these particle filters are
used to arrest very fine particles effectively, but they do not filter out gasses and odor molecules. Hence must be
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additional UVC germicidal light to clean air, based on the UV dose in 𝑚𝐽/𝑐𝑚2 needed to inactivate virus Corona
[4], the UV power can be calculated to choose the suitable UVC germicidal light. The formula is as follows [5]
𝑃
𝑈𝑉 𝐷𝑜𝑠𝑒 = 𝐸 × 𝑡 = × 𝑡 (1)
𝐴
where, 𝐸 : UV intensity, 𝑚𝑊/𝑐𝑚2
𝑡 : time, 𝑠
𝑃 : UV power, 𝑚𝑊
𝐴 : contact area, 𝑐𝑚2
From the calculation as above, two UVC germicidal light bulbs model GTL3 254𝑛𝑚 can achieve the desired
UV dose inactivate virus Corona up to 99%.

3 Control system Design

3.1 Mathematical model
Consider the following model for PAPR. Centrifugal blower is controlled through driver to achieve the desired
speed. Based on air flow sensor, the measured flow is 𝑥 (𝑙/𝑚in). When the system works, obtain the nonlinear
relationship between 𝑝𝑤𝑚 duty cycle and air flow. In addition, there are factors that disturb the air flow such as
the filter is dusty and air resistance, so using sliding mode control (SMC) based on linearization feedback control
is a common approach used in controlling these nonlinear systems. To describe the mathematical model, block
diagram of SMC system shown in Figure 3.
𝑑
𝑢
𝑥𝑑 Controller System 𝑥
𝑒

Air flow rate sensor

Figure 3. Block diagram of SMC system

3.2 Calculate the control system
Consider the following second-order SISO uncertain nonlinear system
𝑥̈ = 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑡) + 𝑔(𝑥, 𝑡)𝑢 + 𝑑(𝑡) (2)
where, 𝑥: state variable
𝑓, 𝑔: known nonlinear functions
𝑑: uncertainty due to disturbance
The system (2) will be determined from measured experimental data and given in the part 4 of this paper.
Let the desired trajectory be 𝑥𝑑 , the tracking error 𝑒
𝒆 = 𝒙 − 𝒙𝑑 = [𝑒 𝑒̇ ]𝑇 (3)
Sliding variable 𝑠 is selected as
𝑠(𝑥,𝑡) = 𝒄𝒆 (4)
where, 𝒄 = [𝑐 1] and 𝒆 = [𝑒 𝑒̇ ]𝑇
Based on linearization feedback technique, the sliding mode controller is designed as
𝜈 − 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑡)
𝑢= (5)
𝑔(𝑥, 𝑡)
𝜈 = 𝑥̈ 𝑑 − 𝑐𝑒̇ − 𝜂 sgn(𝑠), 𝜂 > 𝐷 (6)
where, 𝒖 : the control input
𝜈 : the auxiliary controller
sgn : the signum function defined by
−1 if 𝑠 < 0
sgn(𝑠) = { 0 if 𝑠 = 0 (7)
1 if 𝑠 > 0
The discontinuity in the feedback control creates a special dynamic behavior in the environment of the surface
that is called chattering. Chattering is the main obstacle for sliding mode control implementation, the most simple
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and popular solution is the so-called boundary layer approach in which the signum function is replaced by the
saturation function [6]
−1 if 𝑠 ≤ 𝛽
sat(𝑠) = {𝑠/𝛽 if − 𝛽 < 𝑠 ≤ 𝛽 (8)
1 if 𝛽 < 𝑠

4 Electrical Design
After supplying power to PAPR, the system will be controlled in 3 air flow modes – 120/140/160 liters per
minute by pressing a button. Besides, two UVC germicidal light bulbs can be turned on or turned off by holding
a button for 3 seconds depending on the purpose of use. Block diagram of electrical system shown in Figure 4.
Air flow sensor feedback
UV light sensor
control
source
Microcontroller

Centrifugal Driver UVC germicidal

blower JYQD-V7.3E light

Source 5V Battery 12VDC Ballast

Figure 4. Block diagram of electrical system

4.1 Air flow sensor
PAPR detects output air flow with the help of SFM3020 Sensirion flow sensor then sensor feedbacks the signal
to microcontroller. Then according to the output given by sensors microcontroller drives the motors. The air flow
sensor works through a thin film mounted on the sensor head, the air will pass through the film to create vibrations
and then this sensor generates the corresponding signal through the jump. Therefore, the sensor is used to identify
the air flow mode, keep to systems always provide the desired constant air flow. According to the manufacturer's
datasheet, equation for converting from analog signal to air flow of SFM3020 Sensirion as shown below
𝐴𝑜𝑢𝑡
𝑄 = 212.5 × ( − 0,1) − 10 (9)
𝑉𝐷𝐷
where, 𝑄 : air flow, 𝑙/𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝐴𝑜𝑢𝑡 : linear analog voltage output, 𝑉
𝑉𝐷𝐷 : voltage supply, 𝑉
4.2 UV light sensor
DC
Ballast UVC germicidal light
supply

VCC
UV light sensor Gnd
Sig

Ballast UVC germicidal light

Figure 5. Measurement diagram of UV light sensor

UV light sensor GUVA-S12SD is sensitive to light from 240𝑛𝑚 ÷ 370𝑛𝑚, helps to monitor and measure
UV-C light intensity [7]. UV intensity measurement diagram of sensor is shown in Figure 5, place sensor 2cm
away from UVC germicidal lamp, then convert output voltage to UV intensity using the following formulas
𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡
𝐼𝐷 = (10)
𝐺 × 𝑅𝐺
where, 𝐼𝐷 : current from diode, 𝐴
𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 : output voltage, 𝑉
𝐺 : voltage gain
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𝑅𝐺 : transimpedance gain, Ω
Convert the current from diode to total power on diode
𝐼𝐷
𝑃𝐷 = (11)
𝑅𝑒
where, 𝑃𝐷 : total power on diode, 𝑊
𝑅𝑒 : responsivity at 254𝑛𝑚, 𝐴/𝑊
Divide the total power by the excitable active area of the diode to get UV intensity 𝐸
103 × 𝑃𝐷
𝐸= (12)
𝑆𝑎
where, 𝑆𝑎 : active area, 𝑐𝑚2
Compare UV intensity through above calculation and UV intensity is inferred as in Eq. (1). When UV intensity
drops below the specified level, the buzzer will be active, let users know they need to maintain the system.

5 Simulation and Experimental Results

The system is set up at DCSELab as shown in Figure 6

Figure 6. Experimental system set up

From the measured data, the model of the experimental system is given by
𝒙̈ = −𝟔. 𝟐𝟔𝟕𝒙̇ − 𝟑𝟏. 𝟎𝟖𝒙 + 𝟗𝟖. 𝟗𝒖 + 𝒅 (13)
And the controller is given as follows:

𝜈 + 6.267𝑥̇ + 31.08𝑥
𝑢= (14)
98.9

5.1 Simulation sliding mode control

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a) b)

c) d)

Figure 7. Simulation of the controller with a saturation function, a). Tracking error, b). Airflow
tracking, c). Control input, d). Phase trajectory
To ensure the system control calculation, simulation using MATLAB tools is conducted. The response of the
controller with a saturation function shown in Figure 7. Where desired airflow 𝑥𝑑 = 120 (𝑙/𝑚𝑖𝑛), Other desired
airflows such as 140 and 160 liters per minute are simulated similarly, initial state = 0 (𝑙/𝑚𝑖𝑛), controller
parameters 𝑐 = 2, 𝜂 = 530, disturbance data 𝑑 = 12 (𝑙/𝑚𝑖𝑛), saturation function parameter 𝛽 = 1.
5.2 Experimental air flow
With the system set up as shown in Figure 6, conduct air flow experiment to compare between desired air flow
and measured air flow, experimental results for the controller are shown in Figure 8.

Figure 8. Experiment of the controller with a saturation function

Experimental results for the controller show a little overshoot but then have a shorter settling time than
simulation results.
5.3 Experimental UV intensity
Feedback signal of UV light sensor must be ensured that UV intensity achieve the desired inactivate virus
Corona at maximum air flow, because based on Eq. (1), when the air flow increases then UV exposure time
decreases make UV dose is also decreased.
From the datasheet of sensor, we have 𝐺 = 4.3, 𝑅𝐺 = 107 Ω, 𝑅𝑒 = 0.04 𝐴/𝑊, and 𝑆𝑎 = 0.00076 𝑐𝑚2
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Figure 9. Response of sensor to the UV intensity

Figure 9 shows measured UV intensity of UV light sensor increasing over time and higher than required UV
intensity, experiment results are surveyed at a distance of 2cm from UVC germicidal light.

6 Conclusion
This paper presents mechanical design, electrical design, simulation and experiment to control PAPR used for
healthcare workers in case of preventing of COVID-19 infection. With a compact design, PAPR can be worn
behind the user’s hip, comfortable during work, use in case of emergency, lack of medical supplies and equipment.
Feedback signals from sensors will help users monitor and control the system effectively. However, this research
has not yet examined viral inactivation, more intensive research can test and increase UV dose inactivate virus
Corona than 99%.

Acknowledgments
This research is supported by DCSELab, Hochiminh City University of Technology and GIC, University of
Medicine and Pharmacy at Hochiminh City, and funded by Department of Science and Technology under grant
number 61/2020/HĐ-QPTKHCN.

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