UV-Irradiated Filtration Surface for Easier Liquid Disinfection Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filtration systems with ultraviolet radiation sources for liquid purification, particularly in the food industry, face inefficiencies due to dirt buildup around the sources, leading to complex cleaning processes and reduced performance over time.
Innovation Solution
A filtration unit with a filter and integrated ultraviolet-radiation sources that irradiate the filtration surface, allowing for adjustable intensity and wavelength control, and a design that facilitates easy cleaning and disinfection of both the liquid and residues, including features like adjustable ultraviolet-radiation sources and a protective layer to prevent contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If liquid flows around an ultraviolet-radiation source in a pipelike device, then disinfection is achieved, but cleaning becomes difficult and efficiency decreases over time due to dirt film buildup
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the ultraviolet-radiation source from the liquid flow path, positioning it above the filter element rather than having liquid flow around it. This allows the source to be easily accessible for cleaning while maintaining disinfection function through irradiation of the filtration surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a removable protective layer or window between the ultraviolet-radiation source and the liquid environment. This intermediary protects the source from direct contamination while allowing UV radiation to pass through, simplifying cleaning procedures.
2Reliability
If multiple ultraviolet-radiation sources are used to treat fluid, then disinfection coverage is improved, but cleaning complexity increases due to non-reachable areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the ultraviolet-radiation sources into multiple units positioned above different sections of the filter element. Each source can be independently accessed and cleaned, avoiding the complexity of cleaning interconnected pipelike structures with non-reachable areas.
3Reliability
If ultraviolet-radiation source is contained within a pipe, then liquid purification is achieved, but cleaning time increases and cleaning frequency must increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the ultraviolet-radiation source from the enclosed pipe structure and positions it externally above the filter element. This extraction makes the source easily accessible for quick cleaning and maintenance, reducing both cleaning time and frequency while maintaining purification effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs adjustable and removable components, including the protective layer and source positioning, that allow dynamic access for cleaning. This dynamic design enables rapid maintenance without complex disassembly procedures.
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 disinfection efficiency, reduces energy consumption, and simplifies cleaning processes by ensuring consistent performance and effective disinfection of liquids, such as brine, used in food processing.
Implementation Method 1
a disinfection means (10), wherein the disinfection means comprises an ultraviolet-radiation source (10'), which is configured to irradiate ultraviolet-radiation (100) onto a filtration surface (7')
Data Source
AI summary
A filtration unit for processing a liquid, that includes an inlet, an outlet, a filter, and a disinfection means, the inlet and the outlet are each connected to a food processing machine, the disinfection means includes an ultraviolet-radiation source, the disinfection means is configured to irradiate ultraviolet-radiation onto a filtration surface, the filtration surface has a length and a width that is overflown by the liquid during filtration, the length of the filtration surface extends parallel to a liquid flow direction and the width extends perpendicular to the liquid flow direction, the filter has openings and a number of the openings increase with progressing length of the filter.