Portable Chlorine Dioxide Generator Using Segmented Reagent Volumes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies face challenges in producing chlorine dioxide on-demand for portable and small-scale applications, as existing methods require complex equipment, high power, and are not suitable for immediate decontamination in personal or small area settings, and are prone to leakage and one-shot use due to liquid reagents and membrane rupture.
Innovation Solution
A portable on-demand chlorine dioxide generator using a reagent bound medium and a complementary reagent solution isolated in separate volumes, where the solution is forced through the medium only when actuated, allowing for controlled generation and discharge of chlorine dioxide gas or solution, utilizing a pressure-actuated system and ion exchange resins for efficient production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional chlorine dioxide generation methods using liquid reagents and membrane rupture are used, then chlorine dioxide can be produced, but the device becomes complex and prone to leakage and one-shot use only
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the reaction system into separate components: a solid reagent bound medium containing one reactant and a liquid reagent reservoir containing the other reactant. This segmentation prevents leakage issues associated with multiple liquid reagents while enabling controlled reaction through selective fluid flow paths.
Solution Approach 2:
A check valve or break-seal acts as an intermediary mechanism between the liquid reagent reservoir and the reaction chamber. This intermediary provides reliable one-way flow control without requiring complex membrane rupture systems, enabling multiple uses while maintaining simplicity.
2Quantity of substance
If electrolysis is used for chlorine dioxide generation, then chlorine dioxide can be produced, but high power is required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces electrolysis (electrical/chemical process requiring high power) with a chemical reaction system using a solid reagent bound medium and liquid reagent reservoir. This substitution eliminates the need for external power sources while maintaining effective chlorine dioxide generation through controlled chemical reactions.
3Loss of time
If chlorine dioxide solution is generated in advance, then it can be stored and used later, but the solution becomes unstable and degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The device prepares the system for immediate chlorine dioxide generation by pre-positioning the solid reagent bound medium and liquid reagent in separate, stable compartments. The check valve or break-seal is pre-configured to enable immediate mixing upon activation, eliminating time delays while maintaining solution stability through separate storage of reaction components.
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the reaction components into separate stable compartments (solid reagent bound medium and liquid reagent reservoir), the system maintains long-term stability during storage while enabling rapid chlorine dioxide generation when needed, without requiring advance preparation of unstable solutions.
4Speed
If a portable dispenser is designed for immediate decontamination, then rapid deployment is achieved, but the device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The portable dispenser uses segmented compartments for solid and liquid reagents with simple flow control (check valve or break-seal), achieving rapid deployment without increasing overall device complexity. The segmented design enables immediate mixing and chlorine dioxide generation upon activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The check valve or break-seal serves as a simple intermediary mechanism that enables rapid deployment by automatically controlling fluid flow when activated, without requiring complex control systems or increasing device complexity.
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
Enables efficient, on-demand production of chlorine dioxide in controlled amounts, allowing for multiple uses, portability, and immediate decontamination, with reliable operation and high flow rates, overcoming the limitations of existing technologies by using a solid medium and avoiding the need for external power or membrane rupture.
Implementation Method 1
facilitate a chemical reaction therebetween, which produces the chlorine dioxide gas
Implementation Method 2
utilizing a pressure-actuated system and ion exchange resins for efficient production
Data Source
AI summary
An on-demand portable chlorine dioxide generator has a reagent bound medium in a first enclosed volume; a complementary reagent solution in a second enclosed volume, and a structure for selecting between a first position where the complementary reagent solution is forced through the reagent bound medium and a second position where said complementary reagent solution remains isolated from the reagent bound ion exchange medium, where a ClO2 solution is generated only during periods when the structure for forcing is actuated. The ClO2 solution can be discharged for use as a portable sprayer that can be used to treat surfaces infected by anthrax or other biological contaminants. When the bound reagent is chlorite, the complementary reagent is an acid or an oxidant. When the bound reagent is an acid or an oxidant, the complementary reagent solution is a chlorite solution.