Flow-Through Aqueous Liquid Sterilization with Variable Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for decontaminating aqueous liquids are inefficient, costly, and fail to effectively prevent waterborne illnesses, with existing systems being either expensive or unreliable in achieving complete sterilization, especially in varying water conditions.
Innovation Solution
A flow-through device that uses a closed system with controlled flow rate, constant temperature, and pressure to sterilize aqueous liquids, ensuring predictable organism kill rates and achieving desired Sterility Assurance Levels (SAL) without chemical or light energy processes, utilizing a non-linear heat-sink material and sensors for precise temperature and pressure control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional water purification methods (chlorine, ozone, ultraviolet light) are used, then decontamination effectiveness is improved, but cost and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical parameters of water (temperature and pressure) to achieve sterilization. By heating water to specific temperatures (e.g., 100°C or higher) and maintaining specific pressure levels, the system achieves effective decontamination without requiring expensive chemical additives or high-energy ultraviolet light systems, thus resolving the contradiction between decontamination effectiveness and energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces chemical purification methods (chlorine, ozone) and light-based methods (ultraviolet) with a mechanical/thermal system using heated water under pressure. This substitution eliminates the need for costly chemical reagents and high-energy light sources while maintaining reliable decontamination effectiveness
2Reliability
If complete sterilization is pursued, then pathogen elimination is improved, but treatment time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating of water to sterilization temperature before the water contacts contaminants, and maintains pressure throughout the system to prevent recontamination. This preliminary preparation of the water at optimal temperature and pressure conditions enables faster achievement of complete sterilization compared to gradual heating methods, thus resolving the contradiction between sterilization completeness and treatment time
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements continuous flow of pre-heated, pressurized water through the system, maintaining constant sterilization conditions. This continuous action at optimal temperature and pressure achieves complete pathogen elimination more efficiently than intermittent or batch processing, reducing overall treatment time while ensuring thorough sterilization
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 system efficiently sterilizes aqueous liquids to a predetermined SAL of 10−6 at a low energy cost of 200 watt-hours per gallon, ensuring effective prevention of waterborne pathogens while maintaining energy efficiency and preventing re-contamination.
Implementation Method 1
heating the aqueous liquid in the heating chamber to a substantially fixed predetermined temperature
Implementation Method 2
utilizing a non-linear heat-sink material and sensors for precise temperature and pressure control
Data Source
AI summary
A method for flow-through aqueous liquid sterilization which employs apparatus operating at substantially fixed temperatures and pressures and variable flow rates through the apparatus for controllably processing aqueous liquids to achieve predetermined values of Sterility Assurance Levels (SAL's).