Aspirating Photochemical Odor Control for Wastewater
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current odor control systems for wastewater lift stations and force mains are inefficient and costly, often requiring frequent maintenance, expensive equipment, and excessive energy consumption, while also exposing equipment to corrosive gases and vapors, and necessitating periodic replacement of chemical reactants.
Innovation Solution
An aspirating photochemical odor control system that allows odoriferous gases to reside in a sealed wet well or force main until pressure forces them out, using a UV light source to generate ozone in a photochemical reaction chamber, which reacts with gases when pressure increases, without requiring pumps, fans, or sensors in the exhaust gas flow stream, and admitting ambient air during negative pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If chemical feed, aeration, chemical scrubbers, or biological scrubbers are used to control odors, then odor control effectiveness is improved, but operational cost and maintenance expense increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical systems (chemical feed systems, aeration equipment, scrubbers) with a photochemical system using UV lamps to generate ozone in-situ. This eliminates the need for complex mechanical equipment, chemical handling, and frequent maintenance while maintaining odor control effectiveness through photochemical oxidation of H2S and other odoriferous gases.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the existing wastewater environment to generate its own oxidizing agents. UV lamps installed in the wet well directly photolyze water and dissolved oxygen to produce ozone and hydroxyl radicals, which then oxidize odoriferous gases. This self-generating approach eliminates external chemical feed requirements and reduces operational costs.
2Productivity
If pumps or fans are installed in the exhaust gas flow stream to move odoriferous gases, then gas transport capability is improved, but equipment reliability deteriorates due to corrosion and fouling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates mechanical gas transport equipment (pumps, fans) by using passive photochemical oxidation. UV lamps are positioned to irradiate odoriferous gases directly in the wet well atmosphere, converting H2S and other gases to non-odorous oxidation products in place. This removes all moving parts from the odor control system, eliminating corrosion and fouling issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces UV light as an intermediary that transfers energy to water and oxygen molecules, generating reactive oxygen species (ozone, hydroxyl radicals) that then oxidize odoriferous gases. This indirect oxidation mechanism avoids direct contact between mechanical equipment and corrosive gases, protecting system reliability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If continuous gas removal systems are used, then odor emission control is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system operates continuously but the photochemical reactions occur throughout the operational cycle rather than requiring concentrated energy-intensive gas removal events. UV lamps provide continuous low-level oxidation of odoriferous gases as they are generated, maintaining control without the high energy peaks associated with mechanical gas removal systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces energy-intensive mechanical gas removal systems with low-power UV photolysis. The UV lamps consume minimal energy compared to pumps or fans, generating ozone and hydroxyl radicals that oxidize odoriferous gases in place, achieving odor control with fraction of the energy consumption.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This system effectively reduces odoriferous gas emissions without the need for continuous gas removal, preventing backflow of oxidizers and avoiding equipment corrosion, while maintaining a sealed environment to minimize odor release until pressure-driven expulsion, thus reducing operational costs and energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
using a UV light source to generate ozone in a photochemical reaction chamber
Implementation Method 2
which reacts with gases when pressure increases
Data Source
AI summary
An aspirating photochemical odor control system allows odoriferous gases to reside in a wet well or force main (odor source) until gas pressure in the odor source forces the gases out. A check valve admits air into the odor source when pressure in the odor source decreases appreciably below ambient pressure. When pressure in the odor source exceeds ambient pressure, a check valve permits flow of gases from the odor source to a photochemical reaction chamber and solar thermal collector to react with oxidizer generated by UV lamps, before being exhausted to the atmosphere.