A tubular photocatalytic reaction device

Abstract

This invention discloses a tubular photocatalytic reaction device, belonging to the technical field of photocatalytic reaction equipment. This tubular photocatalytic reaction device includes a support frame comprising a horizontally arranged top plate, a bottom plate, and several vertically arranged support columns, with an outer cover fitted over the support frame; a reaction assembly including a light source tube and several transparent glass reaction tubes, the light source being installed between the top and bottom plates at the center of the bottom plate; water return dividers are provided on opposite sides of the top and bottom plates; reaction tube seats for mounting the transparent glass reaction tubes are fixedly installed on the top and bottom plates, with an annular sealing groove inside the reaction tube seats; and a separation reactor including a reaction tank, a separation tank, and a stirrer, both placed inside the reaction tank; during operation, the reaction medium impacts the rotating conical surface of the separation tank, generating a centrifugal separation effect, efficiently separating and collecting the gas, while the stirrer continuously mixes the solution, preventing catalyst precipitation and improving catalytic efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of photocatalytic reaction equipment technology, specifically to a tubular photocatalytic reaction device. Background Technology

[0002] Photocatalysis, as a green chemistry approach, has broad application prospects in environmental remediation and energy conversion (such as photocatalytic hydrogen production). However, existing photocatalytic reaction devices are mostly limited to the experimental stage, and their main structural forms include reaction vessels and small test tube devices. These devices are usually made of glass or metal, and their working principle relies on an external light source to irradiate the reaction medium to achieve the catalytic reaction.

[0003] However, the existing technology has significant drawbacks: First, the device has a simple structure and lacks integrated gas-liquid separation and stirring functions. For example, during the reaction process, gas-liquid separation relies on external centrifugation equipment or manual operation, while stirring is done manually or by additional machinery. This not only increases the complexity of operation but also leads to low reaction efficiency and makes it impossible to achieve continuous and automated operation.

[0004] In addition, while some plate-type devices suitable for use outside the laboratory attempt to solve the scale problem, their structure has inherent shortcomings: plate-type designs usually consist of a flat-plate reactor and an external light source, which are bulky and have a single direction of light illumination, resulting in the inability of light to evenly cover the reaction medium and low light utilization efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the problems in the prior art and provide a tubular photocatalytic reaction device.

[0006] This invention provides a tubular photocatalytic reaction device, comprising a support frame including a horizontally arranged top plate, a bottom plate, and several vertically arranged support columns, with an outer cover fitted around the support frame; a reaction assembly including a light source tube and several transparent glass reaction tubes, the light source being installed between the top plate and the bottom plate at the center of the bottom plate, and the several transparent glass reaction tubes arranged in a circumferential array along the axis of the light source tube; a separation reactor including a reaction tank, a separation tank, and a stirrer, the separation tank and the stirrer being placed inside the reaction tank, a gas exhaust pipe being fixedly connected to the top of the reaction tank, the separation tank being frustum-shaped with a bottom diameter larger than the top diameter, and a gap existing between the separation tank and the inner sidewall of the reaction tank; the separation tank being fitted onto a rotating shaft and connected to a motor drive, the bottom end of the rotating shaft being connected to the stirrer, the motor drive being installed on the top plate, the bottom of the reaction tank being connected to the bottom plate, and both the upper and lower ends of the reaction tank being connected to the upper and lower ends of the transparent glass reaction tubes via a water return separator.

[0007] Preferably, the top plate and the bottom plate are each provided with a water return diverter on the side away from each other. A plurality of transparent glass reaction tubes are connected to the water return diverter through a first water supply pipe. The water return diverter is connected to the upper and lower ends of the reaction tank through a second supply pipe and a water pump. The top plate and the bottom plate are fixedly provided with reaction tube seats for installing the transparent glass reaction tubes. An annular sealing groove is opened in the reaction tube seat, and a sealing ring is embedded in the sealing groove. The sealing ring is sleeved on the transparent glass reaction tube.

[0008] Preferably, the inner cavity of the reaction tube seat includes a frustum-shaped cavity at the top and a cylindrical cavity at the bottom. The inner diameter of the bottom of the frustum-shaped cavity is smaller than the inner diameter at the top. The sealing ring is fitted onto the cylindrical cavity, and the transparent glass reaction tube is placed inside the cylindrical cavity.

[0009] Preferably, a spiral guide groove is formed on the frustum-shaped conical surface of the separation barrel, and the spiral direction of the guide groove is consistent with the rotation direction of the separation barrel.

[0010] Preferably, the depth of the guide groove is 1mm to 3mm, the width is 2mm to 5mm, and the groove spacing is 5mm to 10mm.

[0011] Preferably, the reaction tube seat is made of a corrosion-resistant metal material.

[0012] Preferably, the inner wall of the outer cover is covered with an aluminum reflective film.

[0013] Preferably, the separation tank is connected to the agitator via a rotating shaft, the separation tank is a conical metal or engineering plastic component, and the agitator is a fan-shaped structure.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: The support frame consists of a top plate, a bottom plate, and support columns. An outer cover is fitted over the frame, providing not only stable mechanical support but also ensuring the overall rigidity and protection of the device. The reaction assembly includes a light source tube and several transparent glass reaction tubes. The light source tube is located at the center of the device, and the transparent glass reaction tubes are arranged in a circular array along the axis of the light source tube, significantly improving the utilization efficiency of the light source. The light emitted by the light source can illuminate the reaction tubes from all directions (360°), avoiding the uneven illumination problem of traditional plate-type devices.

[0015] The separation reactor integrates a reaction vessel, a separation vessel, and a stirrer, all driven synchronously by a motor. During operation, the reaction medium impacts the rotating conical surface of the separation vessel, generating a centrifugal separation effect. Gases are efficiently separated and collected, while the stirrer continuously mixes the solution, preventing catalyst precipitation and improving catalytic efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the separation reactor of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the transparent glass reaction tube and reaction tube seat of the present invention.

[0019] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1. Support frame; 101. Top plate; 102. Bottom plate; 103. Support column; 2. Reaction assembly; 21. Light source tube; 22. Transparent glass reaction tube; 3. Water return separator; 4. Reaction tube seat; 5. Sealing groove; 6. Sealing ring; 7. Separation reactor; 71. Reaction tank; 72. Separation tank; 73. Stirrer; 74. Motor drive; 8. Frustum-shaped cavity; 9. Cylindrical cavity; 10. Rotating shaft. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The following is in conjunction with the appendix Figures 1-3 To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the described embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention. Unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used herein should have the ordinary meaning understood by those skilled in the art.

[0021] The terms "first," "second," and similar words used in the specification and claims of this patent application do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different components. Words such as "comprising" or "including" indicate that the element or object preceding the word encompasses the elements or objects listed after the word and their equivalents, without excluding other elements or objects. Terms such as "inner," "outer," "upper," "lower," "far," "near," "front," and "rear" are only used to indicate relative positional relationships. When the absolute position of the described object changes, the relative positional relationship may also change accordingly. The drawings in this invention are not strictly drawn to scale; the specific dimensions and quantity of each structure can be determined according to actual needs. The drawings described in this invention are merely structural schematic diagrams.

[0022] This invention provides a tubular photocatalytic reaction device, such as... Figures 1-3As shown, the system includes a horizontally arranged top plate 101, a bottom plate 102, and several vertically arranged support columns 103. An outer cover is fitted around the outside of the support frame 1. The reaction assembly 2 includes a light source tube 21 and several transparent glass reaction tubes 22. The light source is installed between the top plate 101 and the bottom plate 102, located at the center of the bottom plate 102. Several transparent glass reaction tubes 22 are arranged in a circular array along the axis of the light source tube 21. The separation reactor 7 includes a reaction tank 71, a separation tank 72, and a stirrer 73. The separation tank 72 and the stirrer 73... All are placed inside the reaction tank 71. A gas exhaust pipe is fixedly connected to the top of the reaction tank 71. The separation tank 72 is frustum-shaped with a bottom diameter larger than the top diameter. There is a gap between the separation tank 72 and the inner wall of the reaction tank 71. The separation tank 72 is sleeved on the rotating shaft and connected to the motor drive 74. The bottom end of the rotating shaft is connected to the stirrer 73. The motor drive 74 is installed on the top plate 101. The bottom of the reaction tank 71 is connected to the bottom plate 102. The upper and lower ends of the reaction tank 71 are connected to the upper and lower ends of the transparent glass reaction tube 22 through the water return separator 3.

[0023] In this embodiment, the support frame 1 consists of a top plate 101, a bottom plate 102, and support columns 103. An outer cover is fitted over the support frame 1, providing not only stable mechanical support but also ensuring the overall rigidity and protection of the device. The reaction assembly 2 includes a light source tube 21 and several transparent glass reaction tubes 22. The light source tube 21 is located at the center of the device, and the transparent glass reaction tubes 22 are arranged in a circular array along the axis of the light source tube 21, significantly improving the utilization efficiency of the light source. The light emitted by the light source tube 21 can illuminate the reaction tubes from all directions (360°), avoiding the uneven illumination problem of traditional plate-type devices.

[0024] Meanwhile, the return water separator 3 is connected to both ends of the reaction tube, enabling the circulating flow of the reaction medium and allowing the catalytic reaction to proceed continuously. The reaction tube seat 4 has a built-in sealing ring 6 and an annular sealing groove 5. Through axial sealing design, the pressure at both ends of the transparent glass reaction tube 22 is balanced, and the pressure-bearing surface covers the entire tube wall, with a pressure-bearing capacity of up to 1 MPa, far exceeding the 0.1 MPa limit of the existing technology. This effectively solves the leakage problem in gas collection and lays the foundation for industrial application.

[0025] The separation reactor 7 integrates a reaction tank 71, a separation tank 72, and a stirrer 73, all driven synchronously by a motor 74. During operation, the reaction medium impacts the rotating conical surface of the separation tank 72, generating a centrifugal separation effect, efficiently separating and collecting the gas, while the stirrer 73 continuously mixes the solution, preventing catalyst precipitation and improving catalytic efficiency.

[0026] When the separation reactor 7 is in operation, the gas-liquid mixture is transported to the reaction tank 71 through the second conveying pipe and falls onto the surface of the frustum-shaped separation tank 72. The high-speed rotating separation tank 72 generates centrifugal force, which throws the liquid in the gas-liquid mixture onto the inner surface of the reaction tank 71, and the height is higher than the nearest point between the separation tank 72 and the inner side wall of the reaction tank 71. The liquid flows down the side wall of the reaction tank 71 to the bottom. The stirrer 73 stirs the separated liquid and the catalyst to make them mix evenly.

[0027] Preferred, such as Figure 3 As shown, the inner cavity of the reaction tube seat 4 includes a frustum cavity 8 at the top and a cylindrical cavity 9 at the bottom. The inner diameter of the bottom of the frustum cavity 8 is smaller than the inner diameter of the top. The sealing ring 6 is fitted onto the cylindrical cavity 9, and the transparent glass reaction tube 22 is placed inside the cylindrical cavity 9.

[0028] In this embodiment, sealing performance and ease of installation are enhanced. The conical structure of the frustum-shaped cavity 8 guides the transparent glass reaction tube 22 to precise alignment, reducing installation deviations and ensuring uniform pressure on the sealing ring 6, thus avoiding the risk of leakage due to misalignment. The cylindrical cavity 9 provides stable support, enabling the transparent glass reaction tube 22 to maintain axial stability under high pressure, ensuring uniform pressure distribution and extending the sealing life. Furthermore, this structure simplifies the maintenance process; replacing the transparent glass reaction tube 22 requires no special tools, allowing for direct sliding installation, significantly improving the maintainability and applicability of the device, especially suitable for industrial scenarios where the number of reaction tubes is frequently adjusted.

[0029] Preferred, such as Figures 1-3 As shown, a spiral guide groove is provided on the frustum-shaped conical surface of the separation barrel 72, and the spiral direction of the guide groove is consistent with the rotation direction of the separation barrel.

[0030] In this embodiment, the spiral guide channel guides the reaction medium to flow spirally and accelerate along the conical surface of the separation tank 72, prolonging the contact time between the medium and the conical surface and enhancing the separation effect of centrifugal force on the gas and liquid phases.

[0031] Preferred, such as Figures 1-3 As shown, the spiral guide groove has a depth of 1mm to 3mm, a width of 2mm to 5mm, and a groove spacing of 5mm to 10mm.

[0032] In this embodiment, the depth of the spiral guide groove is 1mm to 3mm: if the depth is too shallow, it cannot effectively guide the spiral flow of the medium, making it difficult to enhance centrifugal separation; if it is too deep, it will weaken the overall rigidity of the separation barrel cone surface, and deformation will easily occur due to stress concentration during high-speed rotation. A depth of 1mm to 3mm ensures the spiral acceleration effect of the spiral guide groove on the medium while avoiding a decrease in the strength of the cone surface. The width of 2mm to 5mm optimizes the medium flow and separation accuracy. If the width is too narrow, it will increase the medium flow resistance, resulting in excessive local pressure drop; if it is too wide, the guide groove will lose its directional flow guidance function and will not be able to form an effective spiral flow field. If the groove spacing is too dense, it will cause mutual interference between the guide grooves, causing flow field turbulence; if it is too sparse, it will not be able to cover the entire cone surface, reducing separation efficiency.

[0033] Preferred, such as Figures 1-3 As shown, the reaction tube seat 4 is made of corrosion-resistant metal material.

[0034] In this embodiment, durability and environmental adaptability are emphasized. Corrosion-resistant metals such as stainless steel or titanium alloys can resist the erosion of common acid and alkali media in photocatalytic reactions, avoiding sealing failures caused by material degradation and extending the service life of the device. Under high temperature and high pressure environments, the material maintains high strength and stability, preventing leakage caused by deformation and ensuring that the reaction tube seat 4 maintains its sealing performance during long-term circulation. At the same time, the corrosion-resistant design reduces maintenance frequency, lowers operating costs, and makes the device suitable for harsh environments such as chemical plants and wastewater treatment plants, improving the reliability of industrial applications.

[0035] Preferred, such as Figures 1-3 As shown, the inner wall of the outer cover is covered with an aluminum reflective film.

[0036] In this embodiment, the utilization rate of the light source is maximized and light pollution is reduced. The reflective film reflects light that does not reach the reaction tube back to the reaction area, thereby increasing the light coverage and improving energy efficiency. The aluminum film layer has high reflectivity and heat resistance, and does not degrade under long-term illumination, avoiding energy waste and restricting light leakage, reducing the risk of external light pollution and meeting environmental protection requirements.

[0037] Preferred, such as Figures 1-2 As shown, the separation tank 72 is connected to the stirrer 73 via the rotating shaft 10. The separation tank 72 is a conical metal or engineering plastic component, and the stirrer 73 is a fan-shaped structure.

[0038] In this embodiment, the separation tank 72 is defined as a conical metal or engineering plastic component, and the stirrer 73 is a fan-shaped structure connected by a rotating shaft 10. This optimizes gas-liquid separation and mixing efficiency. The conical separation tank 72 utilizes centrifugal force to evenly disperse the solution, increasing the gas separation speed, while the fan-shaped stirrer 73 generates turbulence to prevent catalyst sedimentation. The engineering plastic or metal material ensures wear and corrosion resistance and adaptability to high-speed rotation. The motor drive 74 synchronously controls the separation and stirring processes, achieving fully automated operation, reducing energy consumption, and is particularly suitable for high-yield gas preparation such as photocatalytic hydrogen production, thus improving the overall efficiency of the device.

[0039] The tubular photocatalytic reactor of the present invention is used as follows: Open the clamps of the separation reactor 7 and pour the catalyst-water mixture into the reaction tank 71. The liquid level must be controlled above the conical surface of the separation tank 72 to ensure the centrifugal separation effect. Then tighten the clamps to ensure the device is completely sealed. Check whether the array of transparent glass reaction tubes 22 is securely installed. Connect the water pump and the second delivery pipe to the return water separator 3. Start the motor drive 74 and set the speed parameters to adapt to the separation requirements of different reaction media. At this stage, it is necessary to verify the tightness of the sealing ring 6 and the reaction tube seat 4 to avoid high-pressure leakage.

[0040] The water pump is started, allowing the solution to enter the reaction tube array from the bottom of the reaction tank 71 via the return water divider 3. The solution flows upwards within the transparent glass reaction tube 22, continuously irradiated by the central light source tube 21, triggering a photocatalytic reaction. The medium flowing out of the transparent glass reaction tube 22 returns to the separation reactor 7 via the upper return water divider 3, impacting the rotating cone surface of the separation tank 72, generating centrifugal force to achieve gas-liquid separation. Gases, such as hydrogen, rise and are introduced into a collection container through a gas pipe, while the solution falls to the bottom of the reaction tank 71, where it is remixed by the impeller of the stirrer 73 and then circulated back to the transparent glass reaction tube 22. Throughout the process, the power of the light source (e.g., LED or xenon lamp) and the motor speed need to be adjusted in real time to optimize reaction efficiency. The device operates automatically without manual intervention.

[0041] Finally, after the reaction is complete, turn off the light source tube 21 and the water pump. After the device cools down, open the clamps to drain the residual liquid and clean the reaction tubes and separation tank 72 to prevent blockage. Regularly check the integrity of the reflective film and the wear of the sealing ring 6, and replace parts if necessary. For large-scale applications, the number of reaction tubes can be increased or decreased, or the tube diameter can be adjusted to meet different production requirements. The maintenance process is simple, ensuring the long-term stable operation of the device.

[0042] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A tubular photocatalytic reaction device, characterized in that, include: The support frame (1) includes a horizontally arranged top plate (101), a bottom plate (102), and a number of vertically arranged support columns (103), and the support frame (1) is fitted with an outer cover. The reaction assembly (2) includes a light source tube (21) and a plurality of transparent glass reaction tubes (22). The light source is installed between the top plate (101) and the bottom plate (102) at the center of the bottom plate (102). The plurality of transparent glass reaction tubes (22) are arranged in a circular array along the axis of the light source tube (21). The separation reactor (7) includes a reaction tank (71), a separation tank (72), and a stirrer (73). The separation tank (72) and the stirrer (73) are both placed inside the reaction tank (71). A gas exhaust pipe is fixedly connected to the top of the reaction tank (71). The separation tank (72) is frustum-shaped with a bottom diameter larger than the top diameter. There is a gap between the separation tank (72) and the inner wall of the reaction tank (71). The separation tank (72) is sleeved on a rotating shaft and connected to a motor drive (74). The bottom end of the rotating shaft is connected to the stirrer (73). The motor drive (74) is installed on the top plate (101). The bottom of the reaction tank (71) is connected to the bottom plate (102). The upper and lower ends of the reaction tank (71) are connected to the upper and lower ends of the transparent glass reaction tube (22) through a return water separator (3).

2. The tubular photocatalytic reaction device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The top plate (101) and the bottom plate (102) are each provided with a water return diverter (3) on the side away from each other. Several transparent glass reaction tubes (22) are connected to the water return diverter (3) through a first water supply pipe. The water return diverter (3) is connected to the upper and lower ends of the reaction tank (71) through a second delivery pipe and a water pump. The top plate (101) and the bottom plate (102) are fixedly provided with reaction tube seats (4) for installing the transparent glass reaction tubes (22). The reaction tube seat (4) is provided with an annular sealing groove (5). The sealing groove (5) is embedded with a sealing ring (6). The sealing ring (6) is sleeved on the transparent glass reaction tube (22). The tubular photocatalytic reaction device as described in claim 2 is characterized in that the inner cavity of the reaction tube seat (4) includes a frustum cavity (8) at the top and a cylindrical cavity (9) at the bottom, the inner diameter of the bottom of the frustum cavity (8) is smaller than the inner diameter of the top, the sealing ring (6) is sleeved on the cylindrical cavity (9), and the transparent glass reaction tube (22) is placed inside the cylindrical cavity (9).

3. The tubular photocatalytic reaction device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The separation barrel (72) has a spiral guide groove on its frustum-shaped conical surface, and the spiral direction of the guide groove is consistent with the rotation direction of the separation barrel.

4. The tubular photocatalytic reaction device as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The depth of the guide channel is 1mm~3mm, the width is 2mm~5mm, and the channel spacing is 5mm~10mm.

5. The tubular photocatalytic reaction device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The reaction tube seat (4) is made of corrosion-resistant metal material.

6. The tubular photocatalytic reaction device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The inner wall of the outer cover is covered with an aluminum reflective film.

7. The tubular photocatalytic reaction device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The separation tank (72) is connected to the stirrer (73) via a rotating shaft (10), and the stirrer (73) has a fan-shaped structure.

Images