UVC irradiation container

Abstract

To obtain a UVC irradiation container allowing movement and passage within the container at the same velocity throughout the entire area of the container without causing a "flow passage" to form even when the amount of fluid in the UVC irradiation container is greatly increased, thereby enabling uniform UVC irradiation.SOLUTION: In a continuous sterilization method, a rectangular UVC irradiation container is properly fitted with dividing walls to form a single fluid flow consisting of multiple layers of horizontally aligned flows over the entire UVC irradiation area of the container, which is then irradiated with UVC from its inner wall side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This invention relates to a method for continuous sterilization of air or water by irradiation with ultraviolet C rays (hereinafter referred to as "UVC"). [Background technology]

[0002] As of July 2020, there are fluid sterilization devices on the market that place a single cylindrical UVC lamp in the center of a cylindrical container that is optically shielded from the external environment by indoor air or air or water being transported through pipes, and allow the fluid to continuously pass between this lamp and the inner wall of the container, irradiating the fluid with UVC light throughout the time the fluid passes through. However, due to the low efficiency of UVC energy utilization, such devices are limited to devices with extremely small treatment capacities.

[0003] Currently, air conditioners are commercially available that incorporate a function to sterilize air by generating thin plasma filaments called streamers and passing the air through these thin plasma filaments. However, in principle, the proportion of air that comes into contact with the thin plasma as it passes through the streamer is limited, which is a serious barrier to achieving reliable sterilization. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0004] [Non-Patent Document 1] Wise Company, Inc., "Ultraviolet Ray Water Sterilization Device (Pipe Type)" [Non-Patent Document 2] The paper was published in the April 23, 2019 issue of Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, Volume 52, Number 25, entitled "Inactivation of airborne virus using a packed bed on thermal plasma reactor." Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In continuous sterilization using a container (hereinafter referred to as a "UVC irradiated container" or "container") which serves as a small environment optically shielded from the external environment and which sterilizes the fluid moving through it by UVC irradiation, if the distance between the inner wall of the UVC irradiation container to which the UVC light source is attached (hereinafter referred to as the "light source inner wall") and the opposing inner wall (hereinafter referred to as the "light source opposing inner wall") is significantly increased in order to make maximum effective use of the irradiated UVC energy and maximize the proportion of the radiated UVC energy that hits the sterilization target in the fluid, is absorbed, and effectively used, the difference between the flow velocity of the fluid at the container's inlet and outlet and the average flow velocity of the entire fluid moving through the container will greatly increase, resulting in a partial flow called a "flow passage" connecting the inlet and outlet, which has a flow velocity significantly faster than the majority of the fluid in the container, and the majority of the other fluid will remain in the container for significantly longer than the required time, and the targets for sterilization in this part of the fluid will absorb UVC energy significantly more than is required, resulting in a significant waste of energy.

[0006] The objective of this invention is to obtain a functional structure in which the fluid flowing into the container moves through the container at the same speed throughout, without causing the "flow through" described in paragraph 0005 above, even when the amount of fluid in the UVC irradiation container is maximized for the same amount of UVC irradiation, thereby receiving uniform UVC irradiation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] This problem is solved by a structure that realizes the function required in paragraph 0006 above, in which the fluid to be sterilized is continuously flowed into a UVC irradiation area within a UVC irradiation container whose basic inner shape is rectangular and which is optically shielded from the external environment, within which the UVC radiation reaches, and a large amount of fluid is irradiated with a uniform amount of UVC energy to all of the fluid within the container without causing the "flow through" described above, and the fluid is continuously discharged outside the container.

[0008] As a solution to the problem described in paragraph 0007 above, the present invention is a device having a rectangular basic shape on the inside. In a container whose inner walls all have highly UVC-reflective surfaces or are covered with a highly UVC-reflective material, all of the fluid flowing in continuously from one corner forms a flow layer of a specified thickness, flows parallel to a pair of opposing inner walls, and the flow direction is turned 180 degrees on the side of the inner wall perpendicular to the direction of the flow, or a similar turn is made on the side of the inner wall facing said inner wall, and this is repeated between said pair of opposing inner walls, thereby forming a continuous flow consisting of multiple horizontal flow layers throughout the entire UVC irradiation area of ​​the container, and the flow of the continuously flowing out fluid in the UVC irradiation area is irradiated with UVC from either one or both sides of the pair of opposing inner walls, or is irradiated with UVC from either one or both sides of a pair of opposing inner walls parallel to the surface of the horizontal layers. The former method is called Type 1 and the latter method is called Type 2.

[0009] As a method for optically blocking the UVC irradiation container of the type described in paragraph 0008 above from the external environment, a duct for taking in a fluid to the UVC irradiation area and taking out a fluid from the same area is provided inside a pair of opposing or perpendicular inner walls of the UVC irradiation container, and partition walls for the duct (hereinafter referred to as "partition walls") having the same extent as each of the inner walls are attached parallel to each inner wall with a predetermined interval, and an inlet and an outlet for the fluid are provided at one end of each partition wall where UVC radiation is less likely to leak, thereby effectively obtaining optical blocking properties from the external environment. In addition, optical blocking properties can be improved by using a material that is excellent at absorbing UVC for the inner wall of the duct or by attaching a UVC absorbing filter inside the duct.

[0010] The attached Figures 1, 2, and 3 are schematic cross-sectional views of three types of UVC irradiation containers of Type 1 described in paragraph 0008 above, taken along a plane parallel to the plane of arrangement of multiple horizontal flow layers formed in the container. As a method for forming a continuous flow consisting of multiple horizontal flow layers of a fluid over the entire UVC irradiation area within which the UVC irradiation of the container can reach, in Figures 1, 2, and 3, one or more rectangular partition walls 9a, 9b, and 9c are arranged parallel to a pair of opposing inner walls 2a, 2b, and 2c, which are perpendicular to the plane of arrangement of the multiple horizontal flow layers and parallel to the flow direction of the flow layers. b, 9c are spaced apart from each other between each pair of opposing inner walls 2a, 2b, 2c, and, if there are multiple partitions 9a, 9b, 9c, between them as well, at a specified distance, and three of the four end faces or ends of each partition 9a, 9b, 9c are directly or indirectly attached to the inner walls 2a, 2b, 2c, and an opening of a specified width or area through which a fluid can pass is provided between the remaining end face or end and the inner wall 9a, 9b, 9c, or an opening of a specified area is formed at that end, and such openings are positioned on opposite sides of each other between adjacent partitions 9a, 9b, 9c.

[0011] The inlets 10a, 10b, 10c for the fluid entering the UVC irradiation area of ​​the container and the outlets 10a, 10b, 10c for the fluid leaving the UVC irradiation area are provided at a corner between each of the pair of opposing inner walls 2a, 2b, 2c and the nearest partitions 9a, 9b, 9c, opposite the openings of the partitions 9a, 9b, 9c, and the shape, dimensions, or area of ​​the outlets 10a, 10b, 10c are made approximately the same as the shape, dimensions, or area of ​​the orthogonal cross-section between each of the pair of opposing inner walls 2a, 2b, 2c and the nearest partitions 9a, 9b, 9c, and between the partitions 9a, 9b, 9c themselves.

[0012] As a method for optically blocking the UVC irradiation container described in paragraphs 0010 and 0011 above from the external environment, a pair of opposing inner walls 2a, 2b, 2c of the UVC irradiation container is provided on one or both sides of the pair of opposing inner walls 2a, 2b, 2c, and parallel partition walls 7a, 7b, 7c are provided at a predetermined interval on the inside of the container from the inner walls 2a, 2b, 2c, and between the inner walls 2a, 2b, 2c of the container facing the inner walls 2a, 2b, 2c or the partition walls 7a, 7b, 7c provided similarly, One or more partition walls 9a, 9b, 9c parallel to the inner walls 2a, 2b, 2c or 2a, 2b, 2c or partition walls 7a, 7b, 7c are provided in the same manner as in paragraph 0010 above, and inlet ports 10a, 10b, 10c for the fluid to enter the UVC irradiation area or outlet ports 10a, 10b, 10c for the fluid to exit the UVC irradiation area are provided at the ends of the partition walls 7a, 7b, 7c located opposite the openings of the partition walls 9a, 9b, 9c closest to the partition walls 7a, 7b, 7c.

[0013] This forms fluid inlets 10a, 10b, 10c or outlets 10a, 10b, 10c provided at one end of partition walls 7a, 7b, 7c which form one wall of ducts 8a, 8b, 8c within a container surrounded by partition walls 7a, 7b, 7c, their outer inner walls 2a, 2b, 2c, and a pair of opposing inner walls 2a, 2b, 2c with which a pair of opposing end faces or ends of partition walls 9a, 9b, 9c are in close contact, and by satisfying the conditions for outlets 10a, 10b, 10c described in paragraph 0011 above, this greatly contributes to the stable formation of a continuous flow consisting of multiple horizontal flow layers throughout the entire UVC irradiation area.

[0014] In the UVC irradiation container described in paragraph 0010 above, the same function as that of paragraph 0012 above is adjusted structurally according to the required application conditions as follows. That is, partition walls 7a, 7b, 7c are provided parallel to the inner walls 2a, 2b, 2c and spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval on the inner side of one or both of the pair of opposing inner walls 2a, 2b, 2c that are perpendicular to the faces of the partition walls 9a, 9b, 9c at the opening side and the opposite end face side of the partition walls 9a, 9b, 9c, and in accordance with this, the relationship between the end face or end of the opening side of the partition walls 9a, 9b, 9c described in paragraph 0010 and the inner walls 2a, 2b, 2c is such that the partition walls 7a, 7b, 7c and this In this method, the dimensions of the partitions are adjusted so that a gap is formed between the opposing inner walls 2a, 2b, 2c or the other partition wall 7a, 7b, 7c across the partitions 9a, 9b, 9c, and inlet ports 10a, 10b, 10c for the fluid to enter the UVC irradiation area or outlet ports 10a, 10b, 10c for the fluid to exit the UVC irradiation area are provided at the end face or end side of the partition walls 7a, 7b, 7c opposite the opening of the partitions 9a, 9b, 9c closest to the partition walls 7a, 7b, 7c.

[0015] In order to reduce the proportion of UVC emitted within the UVC irradiation container that is absorbed by structures in the UVC irradiation area, materials having highly UVC reflective surfaces are used on the surfaces of all inner walls 2a, 2b, 2c and partition walls 7a, 7b, 7c facing the UVC irradiation area, or these are covered with highly UVC reflective material.

[0016] For the same purpose as in paragraph 0015 above, the partitions 9a, 9b, and 9c are made of a sheet-like material having a highly UVC reflective surface, or a sheet-like, film-like, or membrane-like material having high UVC transmittance.

[0017] The above-mentioned fluid flow can be obtained by fitting a hollow mold made of a highly UVC-transmitting polymer such as fluororesin, which has an outer shape of a continuous fluid flow consisting of multiple horizontal flow layers extending throughout the entire UVC irradiation area, into the UVC irradiation area and connecting it to the inlet to the UVC irradiation area and the outlet from the same area, and maintenance of the UVC irradiation container can be performed by replacing this hollow mold.

[0018] The fluid intake and withdrawal directions can be changed in the ducts on both the outflow side from the UVC irradiation area and the inflow side to the UVC irradiation area, as shown in FIG.

[0019] By arranging and assembling a plurality of small units of the UVC irradiation container described above into ring-shaped bodies having various cross sections, such as the example shown in FIG. 5, it becomes possible to apply the container to various devices and equipment. Effect of the Invention

[0020] The two types of UVC irradiation containers, each of which is outlined in paragraphs 0007 and 0008 above, have a basic functional structure that allows the UVC emitted from the light source to travel a long distance with minimal energy loss and to uniformly irradiate the entire maximum volume of fluid flowing in and out of the container, making it possible to achieve energy efficiencies that are an order of magnitude higher than ever before assumed or realized. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] Cross-sectional diagram of UVC irradiation container type 1, type 1 [Diagram 2] Cross-sectional diagram of UVC irradiation container type 1, type 2 [Diagram 3] Cross-sectional diagram of UVC irradiation container type 1, type 3 [Figure 4] Duct cross-section diagram [Diagram 5] Circular arrangement of UVC irradiation container DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] When the target fluid is air, by attaching a cross fan to the fluid outlet of the duct, the container of this invention becomes a UVC irradiation air sterilization device.

[0023] The target fluid is air, and by connecting the air outlet of the container's duct to the air intake of an air conditioner, it becomes a sterilizing air conditioner.

[0024] When the target fluid is water, the device is used in a water treatment system to sterilize the water transported through pipes. EXAMPLES

[0025] In this embodiment, the target fluid is air, and this embodiment relates to FIG. 1 referred to in paragraph 0010 of type 1 defined in paragraph 0008 of this specification. The outline of the device is that it is a stainless steel case with the inside dimensions of 400mm width, 950mm height, and 1200mm depth. Three Philips UVC lamps, G30T8 Bulb 30W UVC Tube, UVC Output: 253.7nm, are used as light sources on the inside wall of the case, which is 400mm width x 950mm height. The UVC light is irradiated onto an air layer approximately 80mm thick and extending over a total length of approximately 3.45m. The device then uses a cross fan attached to the air extraction duct to continuously sterilize the air taken in from the opening of the air intake duct located in the middle of the 950mm x 1200mm surface on the opposite side.

[0026] This air sterilization device with an autonomous UVC irradiation container is expected to be in strong demand in hospitals, nursing homes, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0027] 1a, 1b, 1c housing 2a, 2b, 2c inner wall 3a, 3b, 3c light source 4a, 4b, 4c Light source reflector 5a, 5b, 5c Light source inner wall 6a, 6b, 6c Inner wall facing light source 7a, 7b, 7c partition wall 8a, 8b, 8c ducts 9a, 9b, 9c Bulkhead 10a, 10b, 10c Inlet to UVC irradiation area or outlet from UVC irradiation area 11a, 11b, 11c Reflective sheet 12 Heat sink 14 Flow guide plate 15 Duct rise section 16 Flow Direction 17 Air Intake 101 Circular bodies 102 UVC irradiation container irradiation unit 103 UVC irradiation container divider 104 Space 105 UVC irradiation container

Claims

1. A UVC irradiation container in which all of the fluid flowing continuously from one corner of the container, which is the UVC irradiation area within the range of the container's UVC radiation, forms a flow layer of a predetermined thickness, flows parallel to a pair of opposing inner walls, and by changing the flow direction by 180 degrees on the side of the inner wall perpendicular to the direction of the flow, or by making a similar change in direction on the side of the inner wall opposing said inner wall, and repeating this between the pair of opposing inner walls, a continuous flow made up of multiple side-by-side flow layers is formed throughout the entire UVC irradiation area of ​​the container, and the flow of the fluid flowing continuously out in the UVC irradiation area is irradiated with UVC from either one or both sides of the pair of opposing inner walls.

2. 2. The UVC irradiation container of claim 1, wherein a continuous flow consisting of a plurality of side-by-side flow layers in claim 1 is irradiated with UVC from either one or both sides of a pair of opposing inner walls parallel to the side-by-side plane of the plurality of flow layers.

3. A single or multiple rectangular partitions are provided parallel to a pair of opposing inner walls of a UVC irradiation container whose basic internal shape is a rectangle, with a specified interval between each of the pair of opposing inner walls and between the multiple partitions, and three of the four end faces or ends of each partition are directly or indirectly attached to the inner wall, and the remaining end face or end is provided with an opening of a specified width or area between the inner wall and the remaining end face or end, through which a fluid can pass, or an opening of a specified area is formed at the end, and adjacent partitions are provided. A UVC irradiation container as claimed in claims 1 and 2, characterized in that between the walls, the openings are positioned at opposite end sides, and the inlet for the fluid to enter the UVC irradiation area and the outlet for the fluid to leave the UVC irradiation area are provided at a corner between each of the pair of opposing inner walls and the nearest partition, opposite the opening of the partition, and the shape, dimensions or area of ​​the outlet are approximately the same as the shape, dimensions or area of ​​the orthogonal cross section between each of the pair of opposing inner walls and the nearest partition, and between the partitions themselves.

4. 3. A UVC irradiation container according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a parallel partition wall is provided at a predetermined interval on the inside of the container from the inner wall on one or both sides of a pair of opposing inner walls of the UVC irradiation container of claim 3, and one or more partition walls parallel to the inner wall or partition wall are provided between the inner wall of the container facing the inner wall or a similarly provided partition wall in the same manner as in claim 3, and an inlet for a fluid into the container or an outlet for a fluid from the container is provided at an end of the partition wall located opposite to an opening of the partition wall closest to the partition wall, and this is an inlet for a fluid into the UVC irradiation area or an outlet for a fluid from the UVC irradiation area provided in the same manner as in claim 3, provided at one end of the partition wall which becomes one wall of a duct within the container surrounded by the partition wall, the outer inner wall thereof, and a pair of opposing inner walls in close contact with the pair of opposing end faces of the partition walls.

5. A UVC irradiation container according to claim 3, wherein a partition wall is provided parallel to the inner wall and spaced a predetermined distance from the inner wall, on the opening side of the partition and on the opposite end face side of the partition, inside one or both of a pair of opposing inner walls perpendicular to the surface of the partition, and the dimensions of the partition are adjusted so that the relationship between the end face or end portion on the opening side of the partition and the inner wall in claim 3 is established between the partition wall and the opposing inner wall or the other partition wall across the partition, and an inlet for fluid entering the UVC irradiation area or an outlet for fluid leaving the UVC irradiation area is provided at the end face or end portion of the partition wall on the side opposite to the opening of the partition closest to the partition wall.

6. A UVC irradiation container as claimed in claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, in which all inner walls and partition walls within the UVC irradiation area, which is the range reached by the UVC radiation of the UVC irradiation container, are made of materials having highly UVC reflective surfaces or are covered with highly UVC reflective material.

7. 7. A UVC irradiation container according to claim 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein a material having high UVC reflectance or high UVC transmittance is used for the surface of the partition according to claim 3.

8. A UVC irradiation container as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7, except for a UVC irradiation container as claimed in claim 1, in which the outer shape of a continuous fluid flow consisting of a plurality of horizontal flow layers spreading over the entire UVC irradiation area of ​​the UVC irradiation container is formed by fitting a hollow mold made of a highly UVC-permeable polymer such as fluororesin into the UVC irradiation area, and connecting the fluid inlet to the UVC irradiation area and the fluid outlet from the same area.

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