Hydraulic Conveyor Cleaning via UV-C Photochemical Chlorate Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The uncontrolled growth of microorganisms in the aqueous composition of hydraulic conveyors used for grading and packaging of fruits and vegetables leads to contamination and toxin production, which is undesirable for food safety and regulatory compliance.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of chlorine dioxide to control microbiological growth in the conveying composition, followed by a cleaning process that includes mixing a chlorate-rich composition with a photoreactive composition containing sulfite salts and irradiating it with UV-C light to reduce the concentration of trioxochlorate anions, thereby extending the usage time of the conveying composition while maintaining sanitary conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chlorine dioxide is continuously supplied to control microbiological growth in the conveying composition, then the sanitary conditions are maintained, but the concentration of trioxochlorate anions increases to unacceptable levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by using UV-C irradiation to alter the chemical state of trioxochlorate anions, transforming them into less harmful species. This changes the chemical parameter of the contaminant without affecting the disinfection function, allowing continuous chlorine dioxide supply while controlling harmful anion accumulation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful trioxochlorate anions into beneficial or harmless substances through UV-C irradiation. The harmful byproduct of chlorine dioxide disinfection is transformed into a safe form, allowing the disinfection process to continue without accumulating harmful substances
2Reliability
If the conveying composition is renewed to reduce microorganism accumulation, then food safety is improved, but water consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers and reuses the conveying composition by continuously treating it with UV-C irradiation to remove harmful trioxochlorate anions. Instead of discarding and replacing the water, the system recovers it through in-situ treatment, significantly reducing water consumption while maintaining food safety
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous operation of the hydraulic conveyor by maintaining the conveying composition through ongoing UV-C irradiation treatment. The useful action of disinfection continues without interruption, and the harmful accumulation is continuously controlled, eliminating the need for periodic complete water replacement
3Object-generated harmful factors
If UV-C irradiation is applied to clean the conveying composition, then trioxochlorate anion concentration is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical filtration or chemical addition systems with a simpler UV-C irradiation system. The mechanical/chemical approach of removing trioxochlorate anions is substituted by a photolytic process using ultraviolet light, which is simpler to implement and operate
Solution Approach 2:
The UV-C irradiation system serves multiple functions: it disinfects the conveying composition, removes trioxochlorate anions, and can be integrated into existing hydraulic conveyor infrastructure. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated cleaning systems, thereby reducing overall device complexity
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 method effectively controls the growth of microorganisms, reduces the concentration of undesirable trioxochlorate anions, and extends the usage time of the conveying composition, ensuring compliance with food safety regulations and reducing water consumption.
Implementation Method 1
treatment of said conveying composition by supplying chlorine dioxide (ClO2) maintained in said conveying composition during the conveying of said floating objects for the purpose of controlling the microbiological flora developing in said conveying composition
Implementation Method 2
is irradiated with electromagnetic radiation comprising at least one electromagnetic wave in the UV-C region (i.e. with a wavelength between 100 nm and 280 nm), so as to form, in said composition to be cleaned up, at least one compound, called active compound
Implementation Method 3
able to react chemically with the trioxochlorate anion of said composition to be cleaned up and to form a conveying composition, called purified composition, with a concentration of trioxochlorate anion below the concentration of trioxochlorate anion in said chlorate-rich composition
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method (70) for cleaning an aqueous composition, referred to as the conveying composition (61), for conveying floating objects belonging to the group of fruits and vegetables, in a hydraulic conveyor of such floating objects, the hydraulic conveyor being of a type; —with the recirculation of the conveying composition (61), and; —with treatment of the conveying composition (61) by addition of chlorine dioxide (65) kept in the conveying composition (61) during the conveying of such floating objects for the purposes of controlling the microbiological flora growing in the conveying composition (61), whereby a conveying composition, referred to as a chlorate-rich composition (66), comprising the chlorate anion of general formula (CO3) in a hydrated form in the chlorate-rich composition (66), is formed due to this treatment; method in which, the hydraulic conveyor being devoid of floating objects and the addition of chlorine dioxide (65) in the chlorate-rich composition (66) being suspended; a flow rate of a composition, referred to as the composition (42) to be cleaned, formed by mixing a flow of the chlorite-rich composition (66) and at least one flow of a composition, referred to as the photoreactive composition (40), comprising at least one photo-sensitive compound chosen from the group formed of sulfite anion salts, bisulfite anion salts, disulfite anion salts and salts of a hydrosulfite anion is irradiated (75) by an electromagnetic radiation comprising at least one electromagnetic wave in the UV-C range, so as to form, in this composition (42) to be cleaned, at least one compound, referred to as the active compound (77), capable of reacting chemically with chlorate anion F and forming a conveying composition, referred to as the cleaned composition (67), with a concentration of chlorate anion less than the concentration of chlorate anion in the chlorate-rich composition (66). The invention also relates to a hydraulic conveyor equipped with a cleaning device for implementing such a method.