Ship Ballast Water Treatment via Electron Beam Radiolysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for treating ship ballast water, such as ozone, electrolysis, and UV irradiation, have low efficiency in removing contaminants and can cause secondary contamination, failing to effectively prevent the spread of harmful marine organisms like red algae that disrupt ecosystems.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method using electron beams to irradiate ballast water, inducing radiolysis and producing radicals that kill harmful organisms, with continuous electron beam injection to enhance treatment efficiency and prevent secondary contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional methods (ozone, chemicals, UV irradiation) are used to treat ballast water, then sterilization is achieved, but treatment efficiency is low and secondary contamination occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical and UV-based treatment systems with an electron beam irradiation system. The electron beam accelerator generates high-energy electrons that directly irradiate the ballast water, inducing radiolysis and generating reactive oxygen species that kill harmful organisms. This physical method eliminates the need for chemical additives and achieves both high sterilization effectiveness and treatment efficiency without secondary contamination
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental treatment parameter from chemical concentration or UV intensity to electron beam energy (MeV) and irradiation dose (kGy). By controlling the electron beam acceleration voltage and irradiation dosage, the system achieves rapid and effective sterilization. The ability to precisely control these parameters allows for efficient treatment while avoiding the inefficiencies of conventional methods
2Reliability
If conventional methods (ozone, chemicals, UV irradiation) are used to treat ballast water, then sterilization is achieved, but secondary contamination occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical treatment methods with physical electron beam irradiation. The electron beam induces radiolysis of water molecules, generating hydroxyl radicals and other reactive species that sterilize the ballast water without introducing foreign chemicals. This eliminates the source of secondary contamination inherent in chemical methods while maintaining effective sterilization
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the radiolysis of water (which can be seen as a destructive process) into a beneficial sterilization mechanism. The high-energy electron beams break water molecules apart, generating reactive oxygen species that naturally kill harmful organisms. This converts a potentially harmful radiolytic process into an effective and clean sterilization method without chemical residues
3Reliability
If ballast water is treated with conventional methods, then treatment is performed, but treatment time is long and efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous electron beam irradiation of the ballast water flow. The electron beam accelerator operates continuously, delivering constant irradiation dose to the flowing water. This continuous action achieves rapid sterilization in a single pass through the treatment chamber, eliminating the need for prolonged treatment times required by conventional methods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses pulsed electron beam irradiation in some embodiments, where the electron beam is delivered in high-intensity pulses. This periodic action concentrates the sterilization effect into brief intervals, achieving effective treatment in seconds while the water flows continuously through the system, thus minimizing treatment time
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
The electron beam treatment significantly increases the efficiency of contaminant removal from ballast water, reducing treatment time and eliminating the risk of secondary contamination, effectively preventing the spread of harmful marine organisms and protecting ecosystems.
Implementation Method 1
irradiate electron beams into the ballast water to induce radiolysis of the water and in which radicals produced by the radiolysis kill harmful marine organisms present in the ballast water
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method for treating ship ballast water, wherein electron beams are irradiated into the ballast water to induce radiolysis of the water, and harmful marine organisms present in the ballast water are killed by radicals produced by the radiolysis. The electron beams are continuously irradiated into the ballast water under operating conditions of an energy of 0.5-5 MeV, an electron beam irradiation dose of 0.1-30 kGy and a flow rate of 1-200 m3/hr.