Pilot reactor fitted with a compound parabolic collector for water and air purification

Abstract

The pilot reactor with concentrating parabolic mirrors consists of a foldable stainless steel structure on wheels, an upper surface with fixed parabolic mirrors and quartz tubes, a protective cover, additional shelves and a peristaltic pump, representing a prototype of a pilot reactor for water and air purification by solar photocatalysis, an innovative technological approach that is classified among the new best available techniques due to its economic efficiency and ecological approach. The angular flexibility (0° - 60°) of the upper surface in relation to the horizontality of the surface and the use of parabolic mirrors and quartz tubes in such a way that the tube rests on the central edge of the parabolic mirror, allows adaptation to real conditions and maximum use of direct and diffuse radiation (artificial and natural) along the reactor, which enhances the activity of the photocatalyst and the photocatalytic degradation of persistent micropollutants in water and VOCs, unpleasant odors, amines and mercaptans, etc. in the air stream.The distance between the two mirrors allows for additional scaling of the system with parabolic mirrors and quartz tubes or with additional modules such as adsorption and absorption columns, filters, membrane modules, etc. The collapsibility of the stainless steel construction allows for conducting research work in real conditions with real samples and for using the reactor as an upgrade to existing systems or as a stand-alone (emergency) installation.