Fibrous Catalytic Body for Redox Water Treatment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional water treatment methods using ozone for sterilization and oxidation face challenges such as environmental impact, high costs for corrosion prevention, and the generation of photochemical smog due to residual ozone, while methods producing active oxygen species for redox reactions struggle with stability and efficiency, especially in turbid waters.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus using a fibrous catalytic body with a fixed gap for water flow, combined with electromagnetic waves and ultrasonic vibrations, generates active oxygen species by radiating electromagnetic waves and applying ultrasonic waves to the catalytic body, allowing water to contain a sufficient quantity of active oxygen species for long-term redox activity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If ozone method is used for water treatment, then sterilization and decomposition of organic substances are achieved, but residual ozone causes environmental harm and requires costly anti-corrosion measures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesterilization effectivenessVSAvoidresidual ozone environmental impact

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameter of the oxidizing agent from ozone to active oxygen species (hydrogen peroxide, superoxide dismutase, etc.), which have different stability and decomposition characteristics. This parameter change allows achieving sterilization effectiveness while avoiding the environmental harm caused by residual ozone, as active oxygen species decompose into water and oxygen without persistent harmful residues

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful residual ozone into beneficial active oxygen species through enzymatic reactions. Superoxide dismutase converts harmful superoxide radicals into hydrogen peroxide, which then decomposes into water and oxygen, transforming potentially harmful oxidizing agents into beneficial or neutral substances that maintain sterilization effectiveness without environmental damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Reliability

If conventional photocatalytic method is used to produce active oxygen species, then water treatment is achieved, but the method is ineffective in turbid waters due to reduced ultraviolet ray permeability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveactive oxygen species generationVSAvoideffectiveness in turbid water

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces enzymatic catalysts (superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase) as intermediaries that mediate the conversion of oxygen into active oxygen species. These enzymes work effectively in turbid waters by providing alternative reaction pathways that do not depend on ultraviolet ray permeability, thus maintaining reliability while improving adaptability to different water conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/optical system of ultraviolet radiation with a biochemical system using enzymatic catalysts. This substitution eliminates the dependency on light penetration, allowing active oxygen species generation to proceed effectively in turbid waters where conventional photocatalytic methods fail

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 apparatus efficiently produces water with sustained redox activity, capable of sterilization, protozoa elimination, and organic substance decomposition, regardless of water clarity, with enhanced generation and stability of active oxygen species, reducing environmental impact and operational costs.

Implementation Method 1

a light source of ultraviolet rays which is a kind of microwaves or a microwave vibrator is arranged in water in the closed vessel, and the fibrous catalytic body surrounds the periphery of the electromagnetic wave source with a fixed gap therebetween

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotocatalytic reaction: Photo-oxidation

Implementation Method 2

an electromagnetic wave source and a fibrous catalytic body are arranged with a fixed gap defined therebetween thus allowing a water flow to flow into or flow out from tissues of the fibrous catalytic body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasonic vibration: Ultrasonic Vibration

Implementation Method 3

allowing water to contain a sufficient quantity of active oxygen species for long-term redox activity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentUS8889075B2Apparatus for producing water having redox activity

Publication Date: 2014.11.18 K2R

AI summary

The present invention provides an apparatus for producing water having redox activity. In the apparatus, at least one of oxygen, ozone, chlorine, nitrogen monoxide, and ammonia as a reaction precursor is previously mixed into water or running water while regulating the concentration of the dissolved substance followed by the application of ultrasonic vibrations, whereby active oxygen species are generated in water. In another embodiment, water or running water is brought into contact with a catalyst to which ultrasonic vibrations or electromagnetic waves have been applied, whereby active oxygen species are generated in water.