IRRADIATION DEVICE FOR DECONTAMINATING A MEDIUM

Description

Technical area

[0001] The invention relates to an irradiation device for decontaminating a medium in a cylindrical flow channel through which the medium to be decontaminated is guided in the axial direction and with an inner side containing a) a radiator which emits decontaminating rays, b) a reflector arrangement on the inside of the flow channel for reflecting the rays within the flow channel. Description

[0002] Such irradiation devices, preferably for decontaminating a fluid, essentially consist of a cylindrical radiator, usually formed by a UV lamp, a flow channel with or without radiation reflectors, and a fan or pump. Typical designs of the flow channel have a square, rectangular, or circular flow cross-section. The UV reflectors mounted on the inner walls of the flow channel, which are intended to increase the radiation intensity in the flow-through space, always reflect the emitted rays vertically, so that they re-enter the UV radiator.

[0003] WO 2017 / 007898 A1 describes a photocatalytic reactor with a longitudinal axis through which a fluid can flow. A frame accommodates a light source and fins that essentially enclose the light source around the longitudinal axis. Each fin has an inner surface facing the light source and an outer surface opposite the inner surface. At least a portion of the surface of a plurality of fins is coated with a material that exhibits photocatalytic and oxidative properties. The inner surface of the fins is designed to redirect a portion of the emitted light from the light source to an outer portion of an adjacent fin. In one embodiment, the fins are inclined in a radial direction.In a further embodiment, the inner surface is designed to reflect a portion of the light from the light source onto at least a portion of the outer surface of an adjacent blade. In this photocatalytic reactor, it is necessary that at least a portion of the rays from the light source are redirected onto the outer surfaces of the slats in order to activate the photocatalytic and oxidative properties of the coating. The fluid must therefore also flow around the outside of the photocatalytic reactor in order to function. Rays reflected from the inner walls of the slats, which are not redirected to the outer sides of the slats, strike the light source in particular and heat it up. This disadvantageously reduces the service life of the light source.

[0004] From US 2004 / 166037 A1, an air filtration system for use in filtering a compressed air stream is known. The system comprises a primary particulate filter for removing at least a portion of the particles entrained in the air stream. Furthermore, at least one ultraviolet lamp and a permeable reaction filter are provided. The ultraviolet lamp is located downstream of the primary particulate filter, and the permeable reaction filter is arranged downstream of the ultraviolet light. The permeable reaction filter consists of a substrate element and a plurality of titanium dioxide particles bonded to portions of the substrate element to form a photocatalytic oxidant layer. The ultraviolet lamp irradiates at least a portion of the permeable reaction layer, thereby removing at least a portion of the contaminants entrained in the air stream.The system may also include an adsorption filter located downstream of the permeable reaction filter. The reflected rays can hit the ultraviolet lamp and heat it up, reducing its lifespan.

[0005] This is not a problem with low-power UV lamps. However, if high-power UV lamps are used, this leads to overheating of the UV lamp, thus reducing its lifespan and ultimately leading to its destruction. Disclosure of the invention

[0006] The object of the invention is therefore to avoid the known disadvantages. Irradiation devices with high-power lamps could allow for significantly shorter irradiation times if they could also be operated in combination with reflectors. Therefore, a solution is sought that prevents the UV lamp from being exposed to reflected UV rays when using UV reflectors.

[0007] According to the invention, the object is achieved in that in an irradiation device for decontaminating a medium in a flow channel of the type mentioned at the beginning c) the inner wall of the flow channel is equipped with reflectors of the reflector arrangement, which guides the reflected rays of the radiator past the radiator, d) the reflector arrangement guides the first reflected rays of the radiator tangentially past the radiator and e) the distance of the reflected rays from the radiator increases with the number of reflections.

[0008] The inner wall of the flow channel is equipped with reflectors, which are advantageously designed in segments. The reflectors have contours that guide all rays radiating from the radiator tangentially past it. This prevents the radiator from being hit by reflected rays, preventing them from unnecessarily heating the radiator. This overheating would otherwise damage the radiator and even destroy it. Typically, this is a lamp, whose lifespan is no longer affected by this measure.

[0009] It has proven advantageous if the radiator in an irradiation device according to the invention is designed as a UV radiator. UV rays are known for their decontaminating effect, e.g., on bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Therefore, a UV radiator for such an irradiation device is particularly suitable for killing germs, viruses, fungi, and the like in such a flow channel.

[0010] In the irradiation device according to the invention, the radiator has a cylindrical shape. The radiator is positioned in the flow channel as far as possible along the longitudinal axis. The flow channel has a larger cross-section than the radiator, so that the medium to be irradiated can flow between the radiator and the inside of the flow channel. The radiator can be guided along the entire length or a section of the flow channel. Due to the radial radiation, the medium is irradiated over the entire length or a suitable section of the flow channel.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the irradiation device according to the invention, the reflected beams are amplified by multiple reflections at the reflector arrangement. The reflector arrangement consists of reflector segments. These reflector segments are designed and arranged on the inside of the flow channel in such a way that the reflected beams overlap, intersect, and thus amplify. This allows the use of a radiator that does not require as high a power as would be the case with a non-amplifying effect. Furthermore, the radiator can decontaminate a high volume flow of fluid in a very small installation space. This also results in an extremely short required irradiation time for a given volume flow.

[0012] A further advantageous embodiment of the irradiation device according to the invention is that the radiator is arranged centrally in the flow channel, with the rays being emitted radially. This measure ensures that the reflector arrangement is optimally utilized due to the radially symmetrical arrangement. Asymmetries influence the reflections and would accordingly distribute the radiation in the flow channel asymmetrically or unevenly.

[0013] Preferably, the medium flows axially through the flow channel of the irradiation device according to the invention. This measure allows for uniform decontamination of the medium, even with large volume flows. The medium only needs to flow through the flow channel to achieve the desired decontamination effect, because the volume flow is irradiated over a longer path.

[0014] In the irradiation device according to the invention, the distance of the beams from the radiator increases with the number of reflections. The decontaminating beams, which after the first reflection and passing through the radiator again hit the reflector segments, are reflected at a somewhat larger angle due to the principle, so that the beams pass the radiator at a somewhat greater distance after the second reflection. This effect continues with increasing reflection, so that the beams are not only directed circumferentially around the radiator, but are also simultaneously displaced outwards. This advantageously results in an increase in radiation intensity in the flow space due to the multiple reflections, and on the other hand, the radiation is distributed evenly across the entire flow cross-section.

[0015] Despite the lower power required by the radiator of the irradiation device according to the invention, the irradiation device heats up overall. To dissipate the resulting heat, the flow channel preferably has cooling elements. These can be, for example, simple cooling fins with or without a fan, but also more complex Peltier cooling elements or water-cooled cooling elements that dissipate the excess heat from the irradiation device.

[0016] A further preferred embodiment of the irradiation device according to the invention consists in providing a drive for the medium to be decontaminated, which guides the medium through the flow channel. The drive can be, for example, a pump and / or a fan that allows the medium to flow through the flow channel. This measure serves to guide the medium evenly and / or at an adjustable speed through the flow channel in order to always achieve a consistent decontamination effect.

[0017] Further embodiments and advantages will become apparent from the subject matter of the dependent claims as well as the drawings and the associated descriptions. An exemplary embodiment is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The invention is not intended to be limited to this exemplary embodiment alone. It serves merely to explain the invention in more detail. Short description of the drawing

[0018] Fig. 1a-1c show, in cross-section, schematic diagrams of irradiation devices for decontaminating media, as currently known. Fig. 2 shows, in cross-section, a flow channel of an irradiation device for decontaminating according to the invention, in which reflected rays are not shown. Fig. 3a-3c show, in cross-section, a flow channel of an irradiation device for decontaminating according to the invention with emitted and reflected rays. Fig. 4 shows, in perspective, a section of an irradiation device for decontaminating according to the invention. Fig. 5 shows, in longitudinal section, an irradiation device for decontaminating according to the invention with a fan for the medium. Fig. 6 shows a perspective section of a flow channel of an irradiation device according to the invention with cooling fins. Preferred embodiment

[0019] In Fig. 1a to 1cThree designs of an irradiation device 10 for decontaminating a medium, as they are known, are shown as a schematic diagram in cross-section. The irradiation device 10 has a flow channel 12 with inner sides 14, in which a UV lamp 16 is centrally arranged. The flow channel 12 has a flow chamber 18 and is in Fig. 1a square in cross-section, in Fig. 1b rectangular and in Fig. 1c the cross-section is circular. Figures 1a to 1c They thus differ only in the shape of their cross-section. The inner sides 14 of the flow channels 12 are each designed as a reflector 20. The UV lamp 16 usually consists of a rod-shaped UV-C lamp. The emitted rays 22 are reflected by the inner sides 14, which are designed as reflectors. The reflected rays 24 then strike the UV lamp 16 again, which is heated by the radiation energy.

[0020] The Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the irradiation device 10 according to the invention for decontaminating a medium, in which the beams 22, 24 are not shown. The medium can be, for example, a fluid or a gas. The irradiation device 10 comprises the flow channel 12, which has a circular cross-section. Located within the flow channel 12 of the irradiation device 10 is the flow chamber 18, through which the medium 34 to be decontaminated is conveyed.

[0021] A reflector arrangement 26 consisting of reflector segments 28 is provided on the inner sides 14 of the flow channel 12 of the irradiation device 10. The reflector arrangement 26 consists of numerous reflector segments 28, which, due to their orientation and contour, give the reflected rays 24 a specific beam direction, preventing them from hitting the centrally arranged UV emitter 16. The UV emitter 16 serves as the radiation source at the center 52 of the circular flow channel 12. The emitted rays 22 of the UV emitter 16 are radiated radially and hit the reflector segments 28 of the reflector arrangement 26.

[0022] The reflector segments 28 of the reflector arrangement 26 are aligned in such a way that the reflected rays 24 no longer impinge on the UV emitter 16, ie they radiate past it tangentially (see Fig. 3a-3c). The reflector arrangement 26 is also designed such that with each reflection of a reflected beam 24, the radial distance to the radiation source 16 increases.

[0023] All radially emitted rays 22 of the UV emitter positioned centrally in the flow channel 12 are deflected at the same angle upon initial reflection, so that the UV emitter 16 is not exposed. The subsequent reflections of the circulating UV rays 24 result in a radial outward offset of the UV rays 24. By additionally inclining the flow channel 12 in the direction of flow, the UV rays can be simultaneously deflected axially in the direction of flow and, if a flow channel 12 inclined in the opposite direction is used, can be redirected again.

[0024] Fig. 3a-3cshow in cross section the flow channel 12 of the irradiation device 10 according to the invention for decontaminating with radiated and reflected rays 22, 24. Fig. 3a For example, two beams 22 are emitted radially from the UV emitter 16, which are reflected once by two reflector segments 28 of the reflector arrangement 26. The reflector segments 28 are aligned and shaped such that the reflected beams 24 can no longer hit the UV emitter 16 and are deflected tangentially past it.

[0025] The Fig. 3b shows, by way of example, how a single beam 22 emerging from the UV emitter 16 is reflected multiple times. After the first reflection of the beam 22, the reflected beam 24 is still very close to the center 52, the radiation source 16. However, as the number of reflections increases, the distance to the center 52 also increases.

[0026] Fig. 3cshows by way of example how a single beam 22 emerging from the UV lamp 16 is reflected several times according to Fig. 3b However, distances 54 of the individual reflected rays 24 from the center 52 are also shown here.

[0027] The Fig. 4 shows a perspective schematic diagram of the irradiation device 10 according to the invention for decontamination. A medium 34 to be decontaminated flows into the flow channel 12 of the irradiation device 10. The medium flowing into the flow chamber 18 is symbolized by arrows 36, and the medium flowing out 34 is symbolized by arrows 38. The rod-shaped UV lamp 16 is located centrally in the flow channel 12 on a longitudinal axis 40.

[0028] Fig. 5 shows in longitudinal section the schematic diagram of the irradiation device 10 according to the invention for decontaminating a medium 34 according to the Fig. 4 . As opposed to Fig. 4A fan 50 is provided as a blower for the medium 34. In addition, the reflector arrangement 26 is designed to rotate. The reflector arrangement 26 can optionally rotate within the flow channel 12 or with it. The superposition of the rays creates areas of higher and lower radiation intensity in the flow space 18. The rotation of the reflector arrangement 26 mitigates this effect. The rotation results in a more uniform radiation intensity in the flow space 18. In addition, the rotation cools the irradiation device 10. The fan 50 serves as a drive for the medium 34 in order to guide it into the flow channel 12 of the irradiation device 10. The flow velocity of the medium 34 can be regulated via the fan 50. A slowly flowing medium 34 has a longer residence time in the flow space 18 and can be irradiated or decontaminated for a longer period.Accordingly, the residence time is shortened at a higher flow velocity of the medium 34.

[0029] Fig. 6 shows a three-dimensional section of a flow channel 12 of an irradiation device 10 according to the invention with cooling fins 56. The UV lamp 16 is arranged centrally in the cylindrical flow channel 12. The UV lamp 16 is an elongated and also cylindrical lamp that is arranged axially. The reflector arrangement 26 is arranged on the inner side 14 of the flow channel 12. The cooling fins 56 of the irradiation device 10 are attached to the outer side 58 of the flow channel 12. The cooling fins 56 dissipate heat from the irradiation device 10 through their large surface area. In a rotating flow channel 12, as is the case with Fig. 5 As described, the cooling effect is further enhanced by the cooling fins 56. List of reference symbols

[0030] 10 Irradiation device 12 Flow channel 14 Interior 16 UV lamp 18 Flow chamber 20 Reflector 22 Emitted rays 24 Reflected rays 26 Reflector arrangement 28 Reflector segments 34 Medium 36 Arrows 38 Arrows 40 Longitudinal axis 50 Fan 52 Center 54 Spacing 56 Cooling fins 58 Exterior

Claims

1. Irradiation device (10) for decontaminating a medium (34) in a cylindrical flow channel (12) with an inner surface (14), through which the medium (34) to be decontaminated is conducted in an axial direction, comprising: a) an emitter (16) that emits decontaminating radiation (22); b) a reflector arrangement (26) positioned on the inner surface (14) of the flow channel (12) to reflect radiation (24) within the flow channel (12); wherein c) the inner wall of the flow channel is equipped with reflectors from the reflector arrangement (26), which direct the reflected radiation (24) from the emitter (16) past the emitter (16); d) the reflector arrangement (26) guides the initially reflected radiation (24) of the emitter (16) tangentially past the emitter (16); and e) the distance (54) of the reflected radiation (24) from the emitter (16) increases with the number of reflections.

2. Irradiation device (10) for decontaminating a medium (34) in a flow channel (12) according to claim 1, characterized in that the reflector arrangement (26) comprises reflector segments (28) arranged on the inner surface (14) of the flow channel (12).

3. Irradiation device (10) for decontaminating a medium (34) in a flow channel (12) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the emitter is configured as a UV emitter (16).

4. Irradiation device (10) for decontaminating a medium (34) in a flow channel (12) according to claim 2 or 3, when dependent on claim 2, characterized in that the reflected radiation (24) is intensified through multiple reflections at the reflector segments (28) of the reflector arrangement (26) on the inner surface (14) of the flow channel (12) via superposition or crossing.

5. Irradiation device (10) for decontaminating a medium (34) in a flow channel (12) according to claim 4, characterized in that the emitter (16) is centrally arranged in the flow channel (12), with radiation (22) being emitted radially.

6. Irradiation device (10) for decontaminating a medium (34) in a flow channel (12) according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the flow channel (12) includes cooling elements (56).

7. Irradiation device (10) for decontaminating a medium (34) in a flow channel (12) according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a drive (50) is provided for conveying the medium (34) through the flow channel (12).