Ultraviolet Irradiation Device With Thermoplastic Resin Fiber Coating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ultraviolet sterilization devices with a double-tube structure using metals like aluminum or stainless steel for reflection and quartz for transmission are cumbersome and difficult to downsize, lacking in processability and interfacial adhesiveness.
Innovation Solution
An ultraviolet irradiation device featuring a hollow enclosure with a light reflection layer made of thermoplastic resin fiber, allowing for efficient scattering and reflection of ultraviolet rays, and a light source positioned to project light towards the enclosure, enhancing processability and interfacial adhesiveness while facilitating downsizing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a double-tube structure using metal (aluminum or stainless steel) for reflection and quartz for transmission is used, then ultraviolet reflection capability is improved, but device complexity and weight increase, making downsizing difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the light reflection function from the complex double-tube metal structure and implements it as a separate coating layer applied directly to the inner tube surface. This separates the reflection function from the structural support function, allowing the enclosure to be simplified to a single tube while maintaining effective ultraviolet reflection.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite material structure by combining a transparent or ultraviolet-transmissive base material (forming the enclosure) with a light reflection layer containing reflective particles or coating material applied on its surface. This composite approach achieves effective ultraviolet reflection while maintaining the transparency needed for light transmission to the fluid.
2Reliability
If metal materials (aluminum or stainless steel) are used for the outer tube, then ultraviolet reflection is improved, but processability and interfacial adhesiveness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material parameter from metal to transparent or ultraviolet-transmissive resin or glass, which fundamentally alters the material properties. This enables better processability, improved interfacial adhesiveness for coating application, and allows for various manufacturing methods while maintaining the essential ultraviolet reflection function through the applied reflection layer.
3Reliability
If a conventional double-tube structure is used, then ultraviolet sterilization function is achieved, but weight and device size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the weight-reducing benefit by removing the heavy metal outer tube structure and replacing it with a lightweight transparent or ultraviolet-transmissive resin enclosure with a reflective coating. This maintains the sterilization function while significantly reducing device weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite material structure by combining a transparent or ultraviolet-transmissive base material (forming the enclosure) with a light reflection layer containing reflective particles or coating material applied on its surface. This composite approach achieves effective ultraviolet reflection while maintaining the transparency needed for light transmission to the fluid.
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 device achieves higher processability and interfacial adhesiveness, with improved reflectance in the near and deep ultraviolet regions, reducing ultraviolet ray leakage and enabling cost-effective and lightweight construction.
Implementation Method 1
an outer periphery of the enclosure being covered by a light reflection layer... project light toward the hollow portion
Implementation Method 2
an inner tube containing a material scattering and transmitting ultraviolet rays... the ultraviolet rays propagates to a fluid inside the inner tube
Data Source
AI summary
An ultraviolet irradiation device having higher processability and interfacial adhesiveness, and allowing downsizing is provided. The ultraviolet irradiation device includes an enclosure configured to include a hollow portion being formed inside and being capable of introducing an irradiation object, an outer periphery of the enclosure being covered by a covering portion, and a light source configured to be arranged in an area not covered by the covering portion of the enclosure and project light toward the hollow portion. The covering portion is formed of thermoplastic resin fiber. Processability and interfacial adhesiveness can be improved by forming the covering portion with thermoplastic resin fiber. Consequently, a structure advantageous for downsizing of the ultraviolet irradiation device is provided.