Rectangular UV Ballast Water Treatment Apparatus

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional ultraviolet ballast water treatment apparatuses face challenges in reducing power consumption and space requirements due to densely arranged ultraviolet lamps, leading to increased power consumption and reduced treatment efficiency, as well as issues with ballast water not making direct contact with the lamps, resulting in reduced treatment effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

The ultraviolet ballast water treatment apparatus features a rectangular cross-section with ultraviolet lamps arranged at regular intervals, allowing for a minimized number of lamps per unit area, and a configuration where lamps are positioned between lines to prevent ballast water discharge, along with a drive shaft and wiper system that does not impede UV ray application, utilizing a double-wiper structure for effective foreign substance removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If ultraviolet lamps are densely arranged in a cylindrical body to increase treatment capacity, then the ballast water treatment capacity is improved, but the power consumption increases and the number of lamps per unit cross-sectional area increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveballast water treatment capacityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the treatment chamber into multiple channels separated by partition plates, with ultraviolet lamps arranged in each channel. This segmentation allows for more efficient spatial utilization of lamps, increasing treatment capacity without proportionally increasing power consumption, as each channel receives targeted UV irradiation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from a single cylindrical arrangement to a multi-channel rectangular cross-section configuration. By adding the dimension of multiple parallel channels separated by partition plates, the system increases treatment capacity through enhanced spatial distribution rather than simply densifying lamp arrangement in a single space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If ultraviolet lamps are arranged in a circumferential direction to increase treatment capacity, then the ballast water treatment capacity is improved, but the cross-sectional area of the body must be greatly increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveballast water treatment capacityVSAvoidcross-sectional area of the body
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The treatment chamber is divided into multiple channels by partition plates, with ultraviolet lamps arranged linearly in each channel rather than circumferentially. This segmentation allows for compact arrangement that increases treatment capacity without requiring a large cross-sectional area, as the partition plates create multiple treatment paths within a smaller footprint.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes from a single circumferential lamp arrangement to multiple linear channels arranged in parallel. By utilizing the dimension of multiple parallel flow paths separated by partition plates, the system achieves higher treatment capacity within a compact cross-sectional area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If ultraviolet lamps are arranged in a circumferential direction, then the treatment capacity is improved, but ballast water may linearly pass between the lamps without direct contact, reducing treatment effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveballast water treatment capacityVSAvoidtreatment effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The partition plates divide the treatment chamber into multiple channels, forcing ballast water to flow through each channel where it receives direct UV irradiation from lamps positioned within each channel. This segmentation prevents water from bypassing the treatment zone, ensuring reliable treatment effectiveness while maintaining treatment capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The partition plates act as intermediaries that guide and constrain ballast water flow through the ultraviolet treatment zones. By introducing these partition structures, the system ensures that water passes through the treatment area where UV lamps are positioned, preventing bypass flow and ensuring effective treatment.

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

This design reduces power consumption and space requirements while enhancing treatment efficiency by ensuring ballast water makes direct contact with ultraviolet lamps, improving the application time and effectiveness of UV rays, and reliably removing foreign substances.

Implementation Method 1

ultraviolet ballast water treatment apparatuses that sterilize ballast water using ultraviolet rays

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltraviolet radiation: Light

Implementation Method 2

the treatment effect using ultraviolet rays is proportional not only to the intensity of ultraviolet rays but also the time for which ultraviolet rays are applied to ballast water

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhoto-oxidation: Photo-oxidation

Data Source

PatentEP2894092B1Apparatus for treating ballast water with ultraviolet rays, having square cross-section
Publication Date: 2019.01.09 PANASIA
  • EP2894092B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2894092B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2894092B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Disclosed herein is an apparatus for sterilizing ballast water. Ultraviolet lamps are installed in a body, and a cross-section of the body that is perpendicular to the orientation of the ultraviolet lamps is rectangular. The ultraviolet lamps are arranged at regular intervals in the rectangular cross-section of the body so that the number of ultraviolet lamps arranged per a unit cross-sectional area can be minimized. Thereby, the power consumption of the apparatus and the space required for installation thereof can be reduced. Furthermore, lines, each of which includes ultraviolet lamps arranged in a row perpendicular to the direction of the flow of ballast water, are arranged in the rectangular cross-section of the body. The ultraviolet lamps of each line are disposed between the ultraviolet lamps of the preceding or following line. Thus, ballast water can be prevented from being discharged out of the body without colliding with any ultraviolet lamp.