Flow-through Fluid Purification Device Using Excimer Lamp and Baffles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flow-through fluid purification devices for producing pure or ultra-pure water face challenges with mercury lamp usage, which are hazardous and costly, and often result in incomplete purification due to inefficient exposure of fluid to UV radiation.
Innovation Solution
A flow-through fluid purification device using an excimer lamp with a UV range of 150nm to 200nm, combined with baffle plates that force fluid flow along a narrow interface wall, ensuring uniform exposure and turbulence for effective TOC reduction, eliminating the need for mercury lamps and enhancing purification efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mercury lamps are used for UV radiation, then purification function is provided, but hazardous material usage and high cost occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful mercury component from the UV lamp system by adopting alternative lamp types (metal halide lamps, high-pressure mercury lamps with improved containment, or LED UV sources) that eliminate or minimize mercury usage while maintaining the purification function through UV-C radiation generation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of UV radiation sources by optimizing wavelength distribution (emphasizing 254nm UV-C range), intensity control, and exposure time to achieve effective TOC reduction without requiring hazardous materials or excessive energy input
2Productivity
If fluid flows through the device, then purification is achieved, but incomplete purification occurs due to inefficient exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fluid flow path into multiple channels or zones within the exposure chamber, ensuring that fluid is distributed across different regions to maximize contact with UV radiation sources and eliminate dead zones where purification might be incomplete
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces turbulence promoters (baffles, static mixers, or flow distributors) that transform laminar flow into turbulent flow, adding dimensional complexity to the flow pattern and ensuring all fluid portions receive adequate UV exposure regardless of flow rate
3Reliability
If high-intensity lamps are used, then purification efficiency is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces high-intensity conventional UV lamps with more efficient radiation sources such as LED UV modules or optimized metal halide lamps that convert electrical energy to UV-C radiation more efficiently, reducing energy consumption while maintaining or improving purification effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous and uniform UV-C radiation exposure throughout the fluid flow path by optimizing lamp positioning, exposure chamber geometry, and flow distribution, eliminating the need for peak intensity bursts and enabling sustained efficient operation at lower energy levels
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 device achieves high purification efficiency with reduced operational costs and improved TOC reduction, using a mercury-free excimer lamp and baffle plate design that ensures all fluid is exposed to UV radiation, maintaining efficiency at higher flow rates and reducing the need for high-intensity lamps.
Implementation Method 1
a radiation source in the form of a lamp (13), in particular an excimer lamp, arranged to emit radiation having a wavelength in the UV range, preferably between 150 nm and 200 nm
Implementation Method 2
The purification, to which the present invention pertains, aims at reducing the TOC content in the fluid flowing through the device through organic oxidizing reactions induced by the UV-C radiation
Implementation Method 3
the baffle plates are arranged to force the fluid flowing from the inlet to the outlet to flow substantially along the interface wall and through gaps between the interface wall and the baffle plates
Implementation Method 4
ensuring uniform exposure and turbulence for effective TOC reduction
Implementation Method 5
The oxidizing reaction includes an intermediate step of decomposing water molecules into different reactive intermediates including radical, neutral and ionic intermediates
Implementation Method 6
The radical intermediates subsequently oxidize organics contained in the fluid into carbon dioxide and water
Data Source
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AI summary
A flow-through fluid purification device (1), which comprises a container (5) arranged such that fluid to be purified can flow-through a volume (8) of the container (5) from an inlet (3) to an outlet (7), a receptacle (10) for accommodating a radiation source (13) in the form of a lamp (13), wherein the receptacle (10) has an interface wall (11) permeable for radiation with a wavelength in the UV-range, preferably between 150nm and 200nm, more preferably of 172 ± 8nm, and arranged to let radiation pass into the volume (8) of the container (5), a plurality of baffle plates (9) located in the volume (8) of the container (5) with an inter-baffle distance (D) in the flow direction from the inlet (3) to the outlet (7), wherein the baffle plates (9) are arranged to force the fluid flowing from the inlet (3) to the outlet (7) to flow substantially along the interface wall (11) and through gaps (G) between the interface wall (11) and the baffle plates (9) defining the shortest distance between the interface wall (11) and the baffle plates (9), and wherein the baffle plates (9) each have a surface on the upstream side in the flow direction which is perpendicular to the interface wall (11).