Humidifier UV Water Sterilization with Agitation Before Atomization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional humidifying apparatuses often fail to effectively reduce bacterial contamination in stored water before atomization, leading to potential health risks and inefficient humidification processes.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus irradiates water with ultraviolet radiation while agitating it within a common reservoir, creating a swirl that increases the volume of water exposed to UV, thereby reducing bacterial counts before atomization, and incorporates a threshold inhibitor to prevent limescale precipitation and extend transducer lifespan.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If water is stored in a reservoir for later atomization, then the humidifying apparatus can operate efficiently with pre-prepared water, but bacterial contamination increases during storage
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary UV irradiation of the water in the reservoir before atomization occurs. The control unit activates the UV lamp to irradiate the stored water, reducing bacterial contamination before the water is atomized and released into the environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical filtration or chemical treatment methods with ultraviolet radiation for water purification. The UV lamp provides a non-contact, chemical-free method to eliminate bacteria in the stored water, substituting traditional mechanical or chemical purification systems.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If UV radiation is applied to sterilize stored water, then bacterial contamination is reduced, but the volume of water exposed to UV may be insufficient without agitation
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions the water from a static state to a dynamic swirling state using the atomizing transducer. This agitation movement ensures that all portions of the water in the reservoir are continuously exposed to the UV radiation, maximizing the volume of water treated and eliminating shadows or protected zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The atomizing transducer, when operated in agitation mode rather than full atomization mode, creates mechanical vibration and swirling motion in the water. This vibration ensures thorough mixing and exposure of all water to the UV radiation field, enhancing the sterilization effectiveness.
3Reliability
If limescale is allowed to precipitate in the reservoir, then water quality deteriorates and component lifespan decreases, but removing limescale requires additional complex filtration systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a chemical inhibitor (threshold inhibitor) to prevent limescale precipitation, replacing the need for mechanical filtration or complex removal systems. The inhibitor chemically interferes with the crystallization process of calcium carbonate, preventing scale formation on the transducer and in the reservoir.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the chemical parameters of the water by adding a threshold inhibitor, which alters the supersaturation level and prevents limescale precipitation. This parameter change approach prevents scale formation rather than requiring mechanical removal after formation.
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
This method significantly reduces bacterial contamination and ensures a more efficient humidification process by ensuring cleaner water is atomized, improving air quality and extending the lifespan of components.
Implementation Method 1
irradiating water stored in a reservoir with ultraviolet radiation
Implementation Method 2
conveying an air flow over water stored in the reservoir
Implementation Method 3
atomizing water stored in the reservoir to humidify the air flow
Implementation Method 4
the water stored in the reservoir is agitated for a period of time during the irradiation of water stored in the reservoir
Data Source
AI summary
A humidifying apparatus includes a nozzle and a base on which the nozzle is mounted. The nozzle has respective first and second air inlets, air outlets and interior passages for conveying air therefrom and thereto. The nozzle defines a bore through which air outside the humidifying apparatus is drawn by air emitted from the air outlets. The base generates first and second air flows through the respective first and second interior passages, and a water reservoir. First and second air passageways convey the first and second air flows to the respective first and second air inlets. As the second air passageway conveys the second air flow over the water in the reservoir, water stored in the reservoir is agitated. An ultraviolet radiation generator irradiates the agitated water for a period of time before water stored in the reservoir is atomized to increase the humidity of the second air flow.