Stacked Disk Waveguide for Uniform UV Light Distribution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current water treatment technologies using UV-activated TiO2 struggle to uniformly distribute ultraviolet light and maximize contact time with contaminants, leading to inefficiencies in removing both organic and inorganic contaminants from water.
Innovation Solution
A water treatment cartridge with stacked disk waveguides made of transparent plastic, featuring interfitting concentric ribs and grooves, creates a tortuous flow path for water to contact photocatalytic titanium dioxide surfaces, while a tubular UV light source activates the catalyst, ensuring uniform light distribution and extended contact time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If UV light is used to activate TiO2 for photocatalytic oxidation, then organic contaminants can be effectively removed, but uniform light distribution through the substrate is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate is segmented into multiple layers with alternating transparent and opaque regions, creating a multi-channel light distribution system that divides the UV light into multiple paths to achieve uniform activation of TiO2 throughout the substrate
Solution Approach 2:
A light-distributing layer is introduced as an intermediary between the UV light source and the TiO2 catalyst, which acts as a waveguide to channel and distribute ultraviolet light uniformly across the substrate surface
2Productivity
If the substrate surface area is increased to maximize contact with water, then contaminant removal efficiency improves, but the apparatus size increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple TiO2-coated layers are nested within the substrate structure, with each layer providing additional catalytic surface area. The light-distributing layers are nested between these catalytic layers, creating a compact multi-layer configuration that maximizes surface area within a limited volume
Solution Approach 2:
The design transitions from a single-plane surface to a multi-dimensional stacked layer structure, increasing the effective surface area by utilizing the vertical dimension through multiple concentric layers within the same footprint
3Productivity
If water flow contact time is extended to improve treatment effectiveness, then contaminant removal improves, but the flow path becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The flow path is segmented into multiple concentric channels arranged in series, with water flowing through each channel in sequence. This segmentation extends contact time by dividing the flow path into manageable sections while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure
Solution Approach 2:
The concentric circular channel arrangement creates a curved flow path that naturally extends contact time through the circular geometry, allowing water to follow the curved path through multiple revolutions around the center
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 configuration enhances the removal of contaminants by maximizing photocatalytic oxidation and adsorption, effectively oxidizing organic compounds and converting inorganics like arsenic (III) to easier-to-remove arsenic (V), improving the overall efficiency of contaminant removal from water.
Implementation Method 1
The substrate material must not only be ultraviolet light transmissive
Implementation Method 2
The substrate on which the TiO2 layer is deposited should act as a waveguide to distribute the ultraviolet light uniformly through the substrate
Implementation Method 3
photocatalytic oxidation using TiO2 can effectively remove organic materials from water
Implementation Method 4
oxidize inorganics, such as heavy metals, by UV-activated TiO2 to change the valance state
Implementation Method 5
Stacked disk waveguides made of a suitable transparent plastic define, between each disk pair, a tortuous flow path for the water to be treated that maximizes contact with the photocatalytic material
Implementation Method 6
removal of contaminants from water by photocatalysis and by adsorption
Data Source
AI summary
A cartridge for a water treatment system, effective to assist in the removal of contaminants by photocatalytic oxidation and by adsorption, includes a plurality of stacked disks, preferably made of a UV light transmissive material, which disks define circuitous flow paths for water being treated. In a preferred embodiment, the disk surfaces contacted by the water are provided with a coating of a catalyst, such as TiO2, activated by a UV light source positioned in the center of the cartridge.