Self-Disinfecting Drain Trap with TiO2 Nano-Coating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Self-disinfecting drain traps accumulate organic cell substances and experience quick retrograde microbial contamination due to the release of nutrients from killed microorganisms, leading to aerosol formation and potential harm to patients, especially those with immunosuppression or allergies, as well as accelerated microbial colonization on nearby surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A self-disinfecting drain trap with a titanium dioxide nano-coating on its inner surface, activated by light sources, which catalytically oxidizes organic substances and kills microorganisms, preventing biofilm formation and maintaining the disinfection capacity without interrupting the barrier function.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If thermal disinfection or UV-C radiation is used to kill microorganisms in barrier fluid, then disinfection effectiveness is improved, but organic cell substances accumulate and are released through aerosol formation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces ozone as a strong oxidant to completely decompose organic cell substances in the barrier fluid. The ozone generation device produces ozone that oxidizes and breaks down the organic materials released from killed microorganisms, preventing their accumulation and subsequent release through aerosol formation, thus resolving the contradiction between effective disinfection and harmful aerosol generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple disinfection methods (thermal disinfection, UV-C radiation, and ozone oxidation) into a composite disinfection system. This multi-component approach allows the system to achieve both effective microorganism killing and complete decomposition of organic cell substances, addressing both the disinfection effectiveness requirement and the harmful aerosol prevention requirement simultaneously.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If barrier fluid is disinfected to kill microorganisms, then pathogen elimination is improved, but nutrients from dead microorganisms accelerate retrograde microbial contamination
Solution Approach 1:
Ozone is introduced as a strong oxidant that not only kills microorganisms but also completely decomposes their cell substances. This prevents the accumulation of nutrients that would otherwise support retrograde microbial contamination, thereby maintaining the barrier fluid's resistance to contamination while achieving effective pathogen elimination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous ozone generation and circulation within the barrier fluid system. This continuous oxidation action ensures that organic cell substances are decomposed as they are released from killed microorganisms, preventing nutrient accumulation and maintaining ongoing protection against retrograde contamination throughout the operational cycle.
3Productivity
If organic cell substances are released from killed microorganisms, then disinfection process is completed, but microbial colonization on nearby surfaces is accelerated
Solution Approach 1:
Ozone serves as a powerful oxidant that completely decomposes organic cell substances released from killed microorganisms. This decomposition prevents the nutrients from reaching nearby surfaces and accelerating microbial colonization, thus allowing the disinfection process to complete effectively while preventing the harmful side effect of surface contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful organic cell substances released during disinfection into beneficial byproducts through ozone oxidation. The organic materials are completely decomposed into harmless substances (carbon dioxide, water, and minerals), transforming what would be nutrients for contaminating microbes into harmless end products that do not support microbial colonization.
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 titanium dioxide nano-coating effectively oxidizes organic substances and kills microorganisms, preventing their accumulation and retrograde contamination, thereby maintaining high disinfection capacity and ensuring safer use by eliminating aerosol-borne pathogens and reducing microbial resettlement.
Implementation Method 1
The inner surface of the drain trap body is provided with a titanium dioxide nano-coating, which is activated by light sources arranged inside or outside the drain trap body
Implementation Method 2
a titanium dioxide nano-coating, which is activated by light sources located inside or outside the drain trap body
Implementation Method 3
The drain trap body is provided with a titanium dioxide nano-coating on the interior, which is activated by light sources located inside or outside the drain trap body
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a self-disinfecting drain trap in wastewater drains, having an automatic cleaning through an electromagnetic oscillator and an automatic disinfection through heat, UV-C radiation, antibacterial coating, or ultrasound. The inner wall of the drain trap may be coated with a titanium dioxide nano-coating, on which a catalytic oxidizing reduction of organic substances that can be oxidized takes place, and microorganisms are killed. The titanium dioxide nano-coating may be activated through irradiation with at least one light source located inside or outside the drain trap. When the cleaning and disinfection functions are inactive, a retrograde microbial contamination of the barrier fluid is prevented, both on the part of the wastewater drain as well as through the ambient air, through the oxidizing disinfecting effect of the titanium dioxide nano-coating.