Modular UV Plate Reactor for Consistent Fluid Sterilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional UV systems suffer from inefficiencies due to inadequate and inconsistent UV exposure, necessitating a system and method for providing sufficient and consistent UV dosing for effective sterilization of fluids.
Innovation Solution
A reactor system comprising modular UV plate reactors with controlled channel diameters and UV light sources, allowing precise dosage and consistent UV irradiation through a series of channels, enabling continuous flow sterilization without the need for oxygen removal or temperature constraints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional UV systems are used, then the system structure is simple, but the UV exposure is inadequate and inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The UV reactor is divided into multiple modular plate reactors that can be arranged in series. Each plate reactor contains specific channels and UV light sources, allowing segmented UV exposure zones that ensure consistent and adequate UV dosing throughout the fluid path while maintaining manageable system complexity through modularity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from conventional single-pass UV exposure to a multi-dimensional exposure system using plate reactors arranged in series with fluid flowing through multiple channels. This adds temporal and spatial dimensions to UV exposure, ensuring consistent dosing by exposing fluid to UV radiation from multiple angles and at multiple stages.
2Reliability
If UV dose is increased for better sterilization, then sterilization effectiveness improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plate reactor system provides continuous UV exposure as fluid flows through the channels. The UV light sources operate continuously during fluid passage, ensuring consistent sterilization effectiveness without requiring excessive energy spikes. The continuous flow and continuous irradiation maintain optimal energy utilization throughout the sterilization process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system optimizes UV dose by controlling parameters such as channel diameter, UV light source intensity, and residence time in the reactor. By adjusting these parameters, the system achieves effective sterilization with optimized energy consumption, avoiding unnecessary energy increases while maintaining high sterilization reliability.
3Manufacturing precision
If channel diameter is reduced for better UV exposure control, then UV dosage precision improves, but fluid flow resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid path is segmented into multiple channels across multiple plate reactors. By distributing the fluid flow across many smaller channels rather than requiring a single large channel, the system achieves precise UV dosage control through controlled residence time while minimizing flow resistance through parallel flow paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically balances channel dimensions with flow requirements. The channel diameters are optimized to provide adequate UV exposure control while maintaining acceptable flow rates. The modular plate reactor design allows flexible configuration of channel numbers and sizes to match specific application requirements, dynamically adjusting the balance between UV dosage precision and flow resistance.
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 achieves efficient and consistent UV sterilization of fluids with enhanced throughput and longevity of UV light sources through precise dosage control and modular design, eliminating shadowing and requiring no oxygen removal or temperature limitations.
Implementation Method 1
at least one ultraviolet light source having a selected radiant flux is coupled to one or more of the plurality of channels
Implementation Method 2
when microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, molds, yeasts, and protozoa, are exposed to deep UVC radiation in the spectral wavelength range of 100 nm to 280 nm, it is absorbed by DNA, RNA, and proteins
Data Source
AI summary
A reactor for sterilizing a stream of fluid comprises of a frame structure having a longitudinal dimension and a plurality of UV plate reactors that are removably insertable into the frame structure in a series extending along the longitudinal dimension of the frame structure, each of the plurality of UV plate reactors including a single channel or a plurality of multiple channels of a selected diameter into which the stream of fluid is transported, and at least one ultraviolet light source having a selected radiant flux is coupled to one or more of the channels. The diameter of the plurality of channels and the radiant flux of the ultraviolet light source are selected so as to provide a precise dosage of ultraviolet radiation to the stream of fluid in a confined space of the plurality of channels so as to obtain sterilization of the stream of fluid.