Ozone Sterilization System for Medical Waste Volume Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional waste disposal methods, such as incineration, landfills, and chemical disinfection, face environmental and spatial challenges, particularly with medical and food waste, as they do not effectively reduce waste volume or ensure complete sterilization, leading to increased disposal costs and environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
A closed waste processing system using ozone for sterilization and volume reduction, which includes an ozone system delivering ozonated water and gas to a process tank, where waste is macerated and processed to achieve biological neutralization, reducing waste volume and environmental impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If steam autoclaving is used for sterilization, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but waste volume increases due to water vapor absorption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the sterilization parameter from steam (humid heat) to dry heat, fundamentally altering the physical state of the sterilizing agent. This prevents water absorption by waste materials while maintaining sterilization effectiveness through higher temperatures (180-250°C) that achieve complete sterilization without adding moisture weight
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the steam-based thermal system with a dry heat convection system. Instead of using pressurized steam that penetrates and adds moisture, the system uses circulating hot air that sterilizes without phase change or water absorption, thereby avoiding volume increase
2Volume of moving object
If incineration is used for waste disposal, then waste volume is reduced, but environmental pollution increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermal processing parameter from high-temperature combustion (incineration) to lower-temperature dry heat sterilization (180-250°C). This parameter change prevents combustion reactions that generate pollutants while still achieving sterilization and significant waste volume reduction through moisture evaporation and material breakdown
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of heat into a beneficial sterilization process. Instead of using extreme heat for incineration that creates pollution, the system uses controlled dry heat at moderate temperatures to achieve sterilization and volume reduction without combustion, thereby converting thermal energy from a harmful agent into a beneficial one
3Reliability
If chemical disinfection is used for sterilization, then sterilization is achieved, but toxic residue and disposal problems increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical disinfection with physical dry heat sterilization. Instead of using chemical agents that leave toxic residues, the system uses thermal energy in the form of circulating hot air to achieve sterilization, eliminating all chemical residue issues and disposal problems associated with chemical treatments
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates chemical substances from the sterilization process entirely. By using purely physical dry heat, the system removes all harmful chemical agents and their residues, leaving only sterilized waste that can be safely disposed of without special chemical handling requirements
4Ease of manufacture
If landfills are used for waste disposal, then waste can be disposed, but spatial demand and environmental contamination increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the waste treatment parameter from simple storage (landfill) to active thermal processing (dry heat sterilization). This transformation reduces waste volume by 50-70% through moisture evaporation and material decomposition, thereby dramatically reducing the spatial demand for waste disposal facilities
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 effectively sterilizes and reduces waste volume, minimizing environmental impact and disposal costs by using ozone to neutralize biological waste, allowing for safer and more efficient handling and processing of medical and food waste.
Implementation Method 1
an ozone system operable to deliver ozone gas, ozonated water and/or other suitable ozonated and/or disinfecting fluids to a process tank
Implementation Method 2
a macerator pump positioned downstream from the process tank to grind the waste material
Data Source
AI summary
A system for ozone sterilization of waste material, includes a tank configured to receive waste material, ozonated water, and ozone gas. The system further includes a pump coupled to the tank to receive the waste material and the ozonated water from the tank and form a slurry. The pump includes a cutter assembly to reduce a particle size of the slurry through cutting. Additionally, the system includes a circulation loop coupled between the tank and the pump to receive the slurry from the pump and re-circulate the slurry to the tank until the slurry is sterilized. A method for ozone sterilization of waste material is also disclosed.