UV and PAA Fluid Disinfection Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The practical implementation of combining ultraviolet (UV) radiation and peracetic acid (PAA) in commercial-scale fluid treatment systems is hindered by ambiguity in the mechanisms of disinfection, leading to challenges in achieving effective disinfection levels and optimizing treatment processes.
Innovation Solution
An on-line device and process that adjusts UV radiation and chemical disinfectant dosages based on calculated databases and input data to optimize microorganism inactivation, considering factors like cost, footprint, and water quality, using algorithms to determine the optimal sequence and amount of UV and PAA for efficient disinfection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UV radiation and chemical disinfectant (PAA) are combined for fluid disinfection, then disinfection effectiveness is improved, but mechanism ambiguity and process optimization difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a control system that includes sensors to detect fluid quality parameters (such as turbidity, flow rate, and contaminant levels) and automatically adjusts the dosage of UV radiation and PAA chemical disinfectant accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction by providing real-time optimization that compensates for mechanism ambiguity, ensuring reliable disinfection effectiveness while simplifying process control through automation.
2Reliability
If higher doses of UV radiation and PAA are applied, then microorganism inactivation is improved, but treatment cost and side effects increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic dosage adjustment where the control system continuously monitors fluid quality parameters and varies the UV radiation intensity and PAA dosage in real-time based on actual contamination levels. This dynamic approach resolves the contradiction by applying the minimum necessary disinfectant quantity to achieve effective microorganism inactivation, avoiding excessive dosage that would increase costs and side effects while maintaining reliable disinfection performance.
3Productivity
If UV fluence and PAA concentration are optimized, then disinfection efficiency is improved, but measurement and control precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediate control parameters such as UV transmittance (UVT) measurement and flow rate sensing that serve as mediators between the raw fluid quality and the final disinfectant dosage. These intermediary measurements provide robust, easily measurable parameters that can be controlled with standard instrumentation, resolving the contradiction by achieving high disinfection efficiency through practical measurement and control points rather than requiring direct measurement of complex disinfection mechanisms.
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 system effectively achieves disinfection targets while minimizing costs and side effects, providing a reliable and efficient method for treating fluids by optimizing the combination of UV and PAA disinfection processes.
Implementation Method 1
Inactivation of a pathogen or indicator microorganism occurs when photons of UV light are absorbed and cause damage to an organism's deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or ribonucleic acid (RNA)
Implementation Method 2
Peracetic acid (PAA) is a strong oxidant with a biocidal mode of action via cell membrane damage. Hydroxyl radicals (.OH) and reactive oxygen species released during decomposition reactions are believed to be secondary modes of action
Implementation Method 3
the addition of PAA prior to UV irradiation increases inactivation through an advanced oxidation process (AOP), resulting from the photolysis of the O—O bond in the PAA molecule, generating a hydroxyl radical (.OH)
Data Source
AI summary
There is described an on-line device for controlling a fluid treatment process configured to inactivate a microorganism in a flow of fluid using ultraviolet radiation and a chemical disinfectant. The device includes: a memory for receiving a calculated database of dose response for the ultraviolet radiation and for the chemical disinfectant for a fluid treatment parameter; means to obtain input data about the fluid treatment parameter from the process; means to compare the input data with calculated database; and means to adjust one or more of the amount ultraviolet radiation and the chemical disinfectant added to the flow fluid in response to a difference between the input data and calculated database. There is also described a process for controlling a fluid treatment process configured to inactivate a microorganism in a flow of fluid using ultraviolet radiation and a chemical disinfectant.