Radial Flow-Path Fluid Sterilization for Wide-Angle UV
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid sterilization devices fail to effectively utilize wide-angle ultraviolet light for enhanced sterilization and often require complex structures or enlarged sizes to achieve effective sterilization, leading to increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A fluid sterilization device design featuring a first flow path portion, a light source unit, and a third flow path portion arranged radially outside the light source unit, with communication portions allowing fluid to flow through and be irradiated by wide-angle ultraviolet light, utilizing materials like PTFE for reflection and generating turbulent flow for prolonged exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the diameter of the processing chamber is widened to utilize wide-angle ultraviolet light, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but the size of the device is enlarged
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a third flow path portion arranged in the radial direction outside the light source unit, creating a three-dimensional flow path configuration. This allows the fluid to be irradiated by wide-angle ultraviolet light from multiple directions without requiring an increased processing chamber diameter, thus maintaining compact device size while improving sterilization effectiveness.
2Duration of action of moving object
If a complicated structure with offset portions and varying inside diameters is provided to generate convection flow, then fluid irradiation time is prolonged, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the flow path into multiple distinct portions (first, second, and third flow path portions) with different orientations and functions. The third flow path portion is specifically arranged to allow fluid to flow along the light source unit, ensuring prolonged irradiation. This segmentation achieves the desired flow control and irradiation time without requiring complex variations in pipe diameter or offset portions, thereby simplifying manufacturing.
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 device enhances sterilization efficiency by effectively utilizing wide-angle ultraviolet light with a simple structure, ensuring prolonged fluid exposure and reflection, thereby improving sterilization effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a light source unit that is connected to the second end of the first flow path portion and irradiates the fluid with ultraviolet light
Implementation Method 2
the third flow path portion is any of polymers including polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)... whereby the fluid can be irradiated with ultraviolet light for a long period of time
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention has an object of providing a fluid sterilization device that can effectively use wide-angle light of ultraviolet light emitted from a light source unit and allows a fluid to stay in an irradiation range of the ultraviolet light even with a quite simple structure. The fluid sterilization device according to the present invention includes a first flow path portion that extends in an axial direction and allows a fluid to pass from a first end to a second end, a light source unit that is connected to the second end of the first flow path portion and irradiates the fluid with ultraviolet light, a second flow path portion that is opposed to the first flow path portion with the light source unit interposed between the first flow path portion and the second flow path portion, and a third flow path portion that is arranged outside of the light source unit in a radial direction and is configured to allow the fluid flowing through the first flow path portion to flow into the second flow path portion. In the fluid sterilization device, the first flow path portion or the light source unit includes a first communication portion that communicates with the third flow path portion, the second flow path portion or the light source unit includes a second communication portion that communicates with the third flow path portion, and the third flow path portion is any of polymers including polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a perfluoroethylene propene copolymer (FEP), perfluoroalkoxyalkane (PFA), and polypropylene (PP). The first communication portion includes a cut-out communication region that is formed by cutting out a part of a connection portion between the first flow path portion and the light source unit.