Water Disinfection Reactor with Antistatic Fluid Extractor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing water disinfection apparatuses face explosion risks due to the instability of chlorine dioxide and the high dosing ratio of hydrochloric acid and sodium chlorite, leading to storage hazards and clogging issues, which hinder efficient and safe operation.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus features a reactor with antistatic materials, rounded corners, and a fluid extractor system with helices to ensure safe and efficient mixing of disinfecting products, reducing the risk of explosion and the need for large hydrochloric acid storage by lowering the dosing ratio of reagent compounds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If chlorine dioxide is transported or stored, then disinfection can be provided, but explosion risk increases due to its instability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisinfection capabilityVSAvoidexplosion risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates chlorine dioxide generation from storage and transportation. Chemical reagents are stored separately in the reactor, and chlorine dioxide is generated only when needed through in-situ chemical reaction, eliminating the need to transport or store the unstable gas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses chemical reagents (sodium chlorite and hydrochloric acid) as intermediaries to generate chlorine dioxide only when needed. These stable reagents replace the unstable chlorine dioxide gas for storage and transportation, reducing explosion risk while maintaining disinfection capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If high dosing ratio of hydrochloric acid and sodium chlorite is used, then effective disinfection is achieved, but storage hazards increase due to corrosive hydrochloric acid

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisinfection effectivenessVSAvoidcorrosion hazard
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the dosing ratio of hydrochloric acid to sodium chlorite to minimize the amount of corrosive hydrochloric acid needed while maintaining effective disinfection. This parameter optimization reduces storage hazards while preserving disinfection effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If reactor is submerged within water, then mixing is improved, but sampling for analysis becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemixing efficiencyVSAvoidsampling accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the reactor into an upper portion submerged in water for mixing and a lower portion extending into the water stream for sampling. This segmentation allows the reactor to benefit from both effective mixing and accessible sampling points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a sampling line as an intermediary that extends from the submerged reactor into the water stream, providing an accessible sampling point without compromising the submerged mixing configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Productivity

If ejector is used for dilution, then chlorine dioxide mixing is improved, but clogging risk increases leading to explosion hazard

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedilution efficiencyVSAvoidclogging resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a fluid extractor as an intermediary device to replace the ejector for diluting chlorine dioxide. The fluid extractor achieves effective mixing while being less prone to clogging, thereby eliminating the explosion hazard associated with clogged ejectors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 solution enhances safety and efficiency by preventing explosions and reducing storage risks while maintaining effective disinfection, allowing for easier sampling and operation at competitive prices.

Implementation Method 1

a first fluid extractor, provided close to said reactor outlet opening... said first fluid extractor comprises a first helix, suitable to be activated by flow of said dilution fluid entering within said conduct

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTurbulence: Turbulence

Implementation Method 2

reactor with antistatic materials... ensuring a better safety with respect to explosion risks

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrostatic charge dissipation: Electrostatics

Data Source

PatentEP2576451B1Apparatus for disinfecting water
Publication Date: 2014.08.13 GRUNDFOS HLDG
  • EP2576451B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2576451B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2576451B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3d

AI summary

The present invention relates to an apparatus (A) for disinfecting water, comprising at least a reactor (1), having at least an outlet opening (14) and supplied by chemical compounds suitable to generating disinfecting and/or oxidizing products, and a conduct (4) supplied with a liquid for diluting said disinfecting and/or oxidizing products and suitable to introduce the obtained mixture within water to be disinfected, characterised in that said first reactor (1) is contained within said conduct (4) and in that it further comprises a first fluid extractor (2), provided close to said reactor (1) outlet opening (14).