Shaped UV Chamber Reducing Reflections for Water Purification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ultraviolet radiation systems for purifying media, such as water, face inefficiencies in light absorption and reflection within treatment chambers, and lack adaptive control mechanisms to address varying contamination levels.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a shaped ultraviolet treatment chamber and a computer-controlled ultraviolet source and agent delivery system, which optimizes light absorption and adjusts treatment based on contamination levels by using a computer system to manage ultraviolet sources and agents within the chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional ultraviolet treatment chambers are used, then the system structure is simple, but light absorption efficiency is poor due to reflections within the chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment chamber is designed with curved surfaces instead of flat walls. The curved geometry redirects reflected ultraviolet light back toward the treatment zone, reducing energy loss from reflections and improving overall light absorption efficiency without requiring additional light-blocking components.
Solution Approach 2:
The chamber employs asymmetric surface treatments and non-uniform geometry to optimize light distribution. By creating asymmetric reflection patterns, the design ensures more uniform ultraviolet light distribution throughout the treatment volume, improving absorption efficiency while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Reliability
If fixed ultraviolet treatment parameters are used, then the system operation is simple, but treatment effectiveness varies with different contamination levels
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors to detect contamination levels in the treated medium and automatically adjusts ultraviolet treatment parameters accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures consistent treatment effectiveness across varying contamination conditions while maintaining ease of operation through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The ultraviolet treatment parameters are made dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. The system can modify treatment intensity, duration, and timing based on real-time contamination detection, allowing optimal treatment effectiveness for different scenarios while keeping the user interface simple through automated parameter adjustment.
3Illumination intensity
If multiple ultraviolet sources are disposed throughout a region, then sufficient ultraviolet radiation is provided throughout the area, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single ultraviolet source combined with curved chamber surfaces creates uniform light distribution throughout the treatment volume. The curved geometry acts as a natural light distributor, eliminating the need for multiple ultraviolet sources while maintaining adequate radiation intensity across the entire treatment area.
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
Enhances the efficacy of ultraviolet light absorption and treatment by reducing reflections, improving contamination removal, and adapting treatment to specific contamination levels, ensuring effective purification of media.
Implementation Method 1
an ultraviolet treatment chamber that is shaped to reduce reflections of the ultraviolet light within the ultraviolet treatment chamber
Implementation Method 2
improve absorption of the ultraviolet light by the medium
Implementation Method 3
Ultraviolet radiation has been successfully used in the purification (e.g., sterilization) of various media
Implementation Method 4
By exposing the DNA/proteins to ultraviolet radiation having a wavelength close to the absorption peak(s) for a sufficient time and at a sufficient power, the impurity is destroyed
Implementation Method 5
additional treatment, such as filtering the medium with a permeable material can be implemented
Data Source
AI summary
A system for treating a medium, such as water, with ultraviolet light is provided. The system can include an ultraviolet treatment chamber that is shaped to reduce reflections of the ultraviolet light within the ultraviolet treatment chamber and/or improve absorption of the ultraviolet light by the medium. Furthermore, the system can add an agent to the medium within the treatment chamber to further treat one or more contaminants that may be present within the medium. Still further, additional treatment, such as filtering the medium with a permeable material can be implemented within the treatment system.