Coaxial Nanowire Electrodes for Chemical-Free Water Disinfection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current disinfection methods for water distribution systems, such as UV and membrane filtration, fail to provide continuous antimicrobial effects due to microbial regrowth in pipelines, and chlorination generates carcinogenic by-products, necessitating a chemical-free, efficient disinfection technology.
Innovation Solution
The use of nanowire-modified electrodes in a Localized Enhanced Electric Field Treatment (LEEFT) system, which applies a low voltage across coaxial electrodes to create a non-uniform electric field, causing irreversible electroporation of pathogens, thereby disinfecting water without chemical by-products or high energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chlorination is used for disinfection, then primary and secondary disinfection efficiency is improved, but carcinogenic disinfection by-products are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical chlorination with a physical electric field-based mechanism (irreversible electroporation) to achieve disinfection. The electric field applied across electrodes causes pathogen cell membranes to undergo irreversible electroporation, leading to cell death without generating chemical by-products. This substitution eliminates the harmful chemical disinfection by-products while maintaining effective pathogen inactivation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the disinfection mechanism from chemical (chlorine) to physical (electric field). By applying a specific voltage range (1V to 2V) across coaxial electrodes, the system creates a non-uniform electric field that induces irreversible electroporation in pathogens. This parameter change from chemical concentration to electric field strength enables effective disinfection without chemical by-products.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If UV or membrane filtration is used for disinfection, then chemical by-products are avoided, but microbial regrowth occurs in pipelines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces UV or membrane filtration with an electric field-based irreversible electroporation system. This substitution provides continuous antimicrobial effect because the electric field can be continuously applied through the water distribution system, preventing microbial regrowth without the need for chemical residuals that degrade over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous disinfection action by applying electric fields continuously through the water distribution system. The coaxial electrode configuration allows the electric field to be maintained along the pipeline, providing ongoing antimicrobial protection that prevents microbial regrowth, unlike UV or membrane filtration which require repeated application or replacement.
3Reliability
If conventional electric field treatment is used for disinfection, then pathogen inactivation is achieved, but high energy consumption occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality enhancement by using nanowire-modified electrodes that concentrate the electric field at specific locations (the nanowire surfaces). This localized field concentration increases the effectiveness of electroporation at the electrode surface, reducing the overall energy required for disinfection while maintaining high pathogen inactivation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the voltage parameter to a specific range (1V to 2V) that is sufficient to induce irreversible electroporation when combined with nanowire electrode surfaces. This parameter optimization, along with the nanowire surface area enhancement, significantly reduces the energy consumption compared to conventional electric field treatments that require much higher voltages.
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
LEEFT achieves high inactivation efficiency (up to 6 logs) with low energy consumption, is chemical-free, and can be easily integrated into existing water distribution systems, maintaining water quality without generating harmful by-products.
Implementation Method 1
applying a voltage across the center electrode and the outer electrode; and causing the fluid to flow through the internal cavity and out of the outlet, wherein a second concentration of the living contaminant upon exiting the outlet is less than the first concentration
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a system for disinfecting a fluid, the system comprising: an outer electrode defining an internal cavity; a center electrode comprising a plurality of surface area members, the center electrode positioned within the internal cavity and extending along at least a portion of a longitudinal axis of the outer electrode; an inlet positioned proximate a first end of the outer electrode and configured to allow a fluid to pass from an area external to the cavity into the cavity; and an outlet positioned proximate a second end of the outer electrode and configured to allow the fluid to pass from the cavity into an area external to the cavity. A voltage supply can be configured to supply a voltage across the outer electrode and center electrode, the voltage generating a non-uniform electric field distribution on a cross-sectional plane of the system.