UV Light Treatment System With Segmented Mercury And LED Sources
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mercury-based UV light sources in disinfection systems have a long turn-on time, leading to inefficiencies in energy consumption and reduced system lifespan when used intermittently, as they must be kept on continuously or require a waiting period for full functionality, which is impractical and wasteful.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a second UV light source with a short turn-on time, such as a field emission light source (FEL) or UVC Light Emitting Diode (LED), which is activated immediately to provide full disinfection functionality while the mercury-based source reaches its full output, then deactivated once the mercury source is fully operational, optimizing energy use and extending system lifespan.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mercury-based UV light source is used for disinfection, then the system achieves effective disinfection with good energy efficiency and long lifetime, but the system cannot be fully operational immediately due to long turn-on time (2-5 minutes)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the UV light source into two separate segments: a mercury-based UV lamp (second light source) for effective disinfection and a UV-LED array (first light source) for immediate operation. Each segment serves a specific function, allowing the system to address both the long turn-on time and the need for immediate disinfection effectiveness by operating them in combination during the warm-up period.
2Ease of operation
If the mercury-based UV light source is kept on continuously to avoid turn-on delay, then immediate disinfection functionality is achieved, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The UV-LED array (first light source) is activated immediately upon system startup, providing preliminary disinfection functionality before the mercury-based UV lamp (second light source) reaches full output. This preliminary action eliminates the need to keep the high-power mercury lamp running continuously, as the LED array handles the immediate disinfection needs while the mercury lamp warms up.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic control where the UV-LED array operates at high intensity during the initial period (0-5 minutes) when the mercury lamp is warming up, then reduces or shuts off after the mercury lamp reaches steady state. This periodic action pattern optimizes energy consumption by matching the operational needs with the available light output at different time stages.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the mercury-based UV light source is frequently turned on and off to match intermittent disinfection needs, then energy consumption is reduced, but the lifetime of the light source decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves multi-functionality by combining two types of UV light sources with different characteristics: UV-LEDs that can be switched on/off frequently with long lifetime and mercury-based lamps that provide high disinfection effectiveness with long operational life when continuously running. This universal approach allows the system to handle both intermittent operation requirements and continuous high-performance disinfection needs, extending the effective lifetime of the overall system.
4Loss of time
If a non-mercury UV light source with short turn-on time is used, then immediate disinfection functionality is achieved, but energy efficiency and lifetime are reduced compared to mercury sources
Solution Approach 1:
The UV-LED array (first light source) provides partial disinfection action during the warm-up period when the mercury lamp is not yet at full output. While the LED array alone cannot match the full disinfection effectiveness of the mercury lamp, it provides sufficient partial action to meet immediate disinfection needs, allowing the system to avoid keeping the mercury lamp running continuously and thus improve overall energy efficiency.
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 approach reduces overall energy consumption and prolongs the life of the light sources, making the system more practical and cost-effective by allowing immediate disinfection functionality and minimizing energy waste during the turn-on phase.
Implementation Method 1
a first UV light source (e.g. a UV light source with a very short turn-on time, such as a field emission light source (FEL), a UVC Light Emitting Diode (LED) or an Excimer lamp)
Implementation Method 2
a second UV light source (i.e. a commonly used UV mercury based light source)
Implementation Method 3
Subsystems for disinfection of water, air, surfaces or certain equipment using ultraviolet (UV) light in the range of 200 - 300 nm
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention generally relates to a system for treating a fluid and specifically to a treatment system (200) configured for selectively activating a first (206) and a second UV light source (104). The aim of the invention is to reduce the effective energy consumption of a system for treating a fluid with UV light. The invention especially concerns to overcome the drawback with mercury light sources, which do not turn on immediately. Only the second UV light source (104) is an UV mercury based light source and the electrical power supply is configured to selectively deactivate the first UV light source (206) based on a predetermined condition based on a warm-up period for the second light source.