Pulsed Light Reactor for Scalable Liquid Sterilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional liquid treatment systems face inefficiencies in removing microbiological contaminants, consume excessive energy, and often require chemical agents that can cause environmental damage or residual health risks, while existing light-based systems are large, expensive, and not scalable.
Innovation Solution
A scalable liquid treatment system using high intensity broad-spectrum pulsed light with tunable pulse rates and fluence to degrade or eliminate physical, chemical, organic, and microbiological contaminants, featuring a reactor design with ionized wires and photocatalysts to enhance contaminant breakdown without chemicals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional light-based liquid treatment systems are used, then contaminants can be treated, but the systems are large, expensive, and consume excessive energy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs pulsed light illumination alternating between on and off states, where light pulses are delivered at specific intervals. This periodic action allows the system to achieve effective contaminant treatment while significantly reducing overall energy consumption compared to continuous illumination systems. The pulsed nature of the light delivery maintains treatment effectiveness while lowering operational costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes tunable pulsed light with adjustable parameters including pulse width, frequency, and intensity. By dynamically changing these parameters, the system can optimize treatment effectiveness for different contaminant types while minimizing energy consumption. The ability to adjust light parameters allows efficient adaptation to various treatment scenarios without requiring excessive energy input.
2Reliability
If chemical agents are used for liquid treatment, then contaminants can be removed, but residual chemicals cause health risks and environmental damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical treatment mechanisms with a physical light-based mechanism. Instead of using chemicals to remove contaminants, the system employs pulsed light to directly degrade and eliminate contaminants through photodissociation and other light-induced chemical reactions. This substitution eliminates the problem of residual chemicals in the treated liquid, as the light process directly breaks down contaminants rather than transferring them through chemical agents.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces light as an intermediary substance that facilitates contaminant removal without becoming part of the treated liquid. The pulsed light acts as a temporary mediator that transfers energy to contaminants, causing their degradation, and then dissipates as heat or other non-harmful forms of energy. This intermediary approach allows effective contaminant removal while avoiding the accumulation of harmful residual chemicals.
3Reliability
If reverse osmosis and membrane filtration systems are used, then liquid can be clarified, but excessive energy is consumed and microbiological organisms can evolve and evade removal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical filtration systems with a photochemical treatment approach. Instead of using physical membranes and filters that require high pressure differential and consume excessive energy, the system uses pulsed light to directly degrade contaminants at the molecular level. This substitution eliminates the need for high-pressure pumping and membrane materials, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective contaminant removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the fundamental parameter of treatment from mechanical physical barrier removal to photochemical degradation. By using tunable pulsed light with specific wavelengths and intensities, the system can effectively target and break down microbiological organisms and contaminants without requiring the high energy input needed for reverse osmosis. The light parameters can be adjusted to optimize treatment for different types of contaminants.
4Reliability
If traditional light-based sterilization methods are used, then sterilization can be achieved, but the systems are large and expensive with limited scalability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs multiple light sources arranged in a segmented configuration within the reactor. This segmentation allows the system to achieve effective sterilization through distributed light illumination while maintaining a compact overall structure. The modular arrangement of light sources and reactor components reduces system size and complexity compared to traditional single large-scale sterilization systems, making the technology more scalable for various applications.
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 reduces contaminants to a molecular level with low energy consumption, eliminating the need for chemicals and mercury, and is scalable for various applications, including water treatment and surface disinfection.
Implementation Method 1
treating, purifying, disinfecting, or sterilizing liquid, air, or other mediums or surfaces using high intensity broad-spectrum pulsed light... to eliminate, reduce, degrade, or render inert or nullify physical, chemical, organic, inorganic, biological, or microbiological contaminants
Implementation Method 2
degrade or eliminate physical, chemical, organic, and microbiological contaminants... using high intensity broad-spectrum pulsed light
Implementation Method 3
an ionized wire wrapped outside each of the one or more light sources of the reactor inside the respective one or more tubes
Data Source
AI summary
Liquid, air, or surface treatment/sterilization/disinfection method and system that includes a reactor having a shell, a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet on the shell, tube(s), and light source(s); and a power supply to power the light source(s) to strobe pulsed light with a predetermined fluence or spectrum to eliminate, reduce, degrade, render inert, or nullify the physical, chemical, organic, inorganic, biological, or microbiological contaminants. The light source(s) is provided in the shell such that an internal space is formed between the shell and the tube(s) such that liquid passes through the internal space in a circular motion between the shell and the tube(s) and between the tube(s) from the liquid inlet to the liquid outlet and a portion of the shell is configured to create turbulence of liquid flow in the circular motion between the shell and the tube(s).