Compact Chlorine Dioxide Generator Using Visible Light and Solid Chlorite

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional chlorine dioxide generators are large and not portable, leading to issues with spillage of liquid chlorite solutions and a shortage of chlorite, which limits continuous use, and previous attempts to downsize them resulted in reduced chlorine dioxide generation due to ozone interference.

Innovation Solution

A compact chlorine dioxide generation unit using solid chlorite with light sources emitting visible wavelengths, specifically 360-450 nm, to minimize ozone generation and enhance chlorine dioxide production, incorporating multiple light sources and a porous substance with metal or metal oxide catalysts to improve efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If ultraviolet ray is irradiated onto solid chlorite to generate chlorine dioxide, then chlorine dioxide generation efficiency is improved, but ozone is generated which interferes with chlorine dioxide and decreases the overall amount of generated chlorine dioxide

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechlorine dioxide generation efficiencyVSAvoidozone generation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the wavelength parameter of the irradiated light from ultraviolet region to visible region (380-450 nm). This parameter change eliminates ozone generation while maintaining effective chlorine dioxide generation from solid chlorite, resolving the contradiction between generation efficiency and harmful byproduct formation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Weight of moving object

If the chlorine dioxide generator is downsized for portability, then ease of carrying is improved, but the absolute amount of chlorite is reduced leading to poor sustenance of chlorine dioxide generation

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveportabilityVSAvoidcontinuous use capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite structure combining solid chlorite with a porous substance and catalyst. This composite material increases the surface area and reaction efficiency, allowing a smaller amount of chlorite to generate sufficient chlorine dioxide over extended periods, thus maintaining continuous use capability in a compact device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates porous substances to increase the surface area of solid chlorite. This porous structure allows better light penetration and reaction sites, enhancing the efficiency of chlorine dioxide generation per unit mass of chlorite, thereby extending the duration of action in a compact generator.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

3Volume of moving object

If solid chlorite is used as the chlorine dioxide generation source, then the device can be compact and portable, but the amount of chlorine dioxide generated is small compared to liquid chlorite solutions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidchlorine dioxide generation amount

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses porous substances to dramatically increase the surface area of solid chlorite. This porous structure allows much greater contact between light and chlorite particles, enabling compact solid chlorite to generate chlorine dioxide at rates comparable to or exceeding liquid solutions, thus resolving the contradiction between device size and productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies catalysts locally to the porous solid chlorite structure. This localized enhancement of reactive sites within the porous matrix maximizes the chlorine dioxide generation efficiency per unit volume, allowing compact sizing without sacrificing productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 solution enables continuous, long-term generation of sufficient chlorine dioxide while maintaining a compact design, suitable for integration into vehicles and air conditioning systems, with improved efficiency and reduced ozone interference.

Implementation Method 1

irradiating light having wavelengths in the visible region onto an agent comprising solid chlorite to generate chlorine dioxide

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotochemical reaction: Photodissociation

Implementation Method 2

incorporating multiple light sources and a porous substance with metal or metal oxide catalysts to improve efficiency

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Data Source

PatentUS10239032B2Unit for chlorine dioxide generation and chlorine dioxide generation device

Publication Date: 2019.03.26 TAIKO PHARMA

AI summary

The present invention provides a chlorine dioxide generation unit that can release practically sufficient amount of chlorine dioxide for an extended period of time while being compact. The present invention provides a chlorine dioxide generation unit, characterized in that said unit comprises an agent storage space portion and at least two light source portions, said light source portion is for generating light consisting of wavelengths substantially in the visible region, said agent storage space portion stores an agent comprising solid chlorite, and said agent storage space portion comprises one or more openings so that air could move in and out of said agent storage space portion, wherein chlorine dioxide gas is generated by irradiating said light generated from said light source portion onto said agent present inside said agent storage space portion.