Submersible UV Sterilization Reactor with Integrated Pump
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water disinfection devices using UV radiation face challenges such as shadow formation and complex bypass arrangements, which hinder effective sterilization of water and inner tank surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A retractable sterilization reactor with a UVC-permeable quartz glass housing and an integrated pump, allowing for direct immersion in the water storage tank, enabling efficient sterilization of both water and tank surfaces without complex installations, and allowing for modular expansion for larger volumes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If UV emitters are suspended directly in the water storage tank, then the sterilization process is simplified, but shadows are formed in the reservoir resulting in ineffective sterilization
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the water storage tank into multiple zones by positioning multiple UV emitters at different locations (bottom, side walls, and/or top) to segment the irradiation coverage. This ensures that no shadowed areas remain while maintaining the simplicity of direct immersion sterilization.
2Reliability
If a bypass arrangement is used with UV lamps, then shadow formation is avoided, but the plant technology arrangement becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the UV emitters from a complex bypass arrangement and places them directly into the water storage tank. By positioning multiple emitters at strategic locations within the tank, it achieves effective sterilization without requiring external bypass pipelines or complex water circulation systems.
3Reliability
If multiple UV emitters are positioned at different locations in the tank, then shadow formation is eliminated, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention designs UV emitter assemblies that can serve multiple functions: emitters positioned at the bottom, side walls, and/or top of the tank simultaneously sterilize water in different zones and illuminate the entire reservoir volume. This multi-position approach eliminates shadows while maintaining manageable device complexity through standardized emitter modules.
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
Enables efficient and easy-to-deploy UV disinfection of water and tank surfaces with reduced installation needs, suitable for various applications, including circulation systems, and allows for flexible configuration and control of sterilization processes.
Implementation Method 1
disinfection of drinking water by treatment with ultraviolet UV radiation
Implementation Method 2
The mechanism of action of disinfection by UV radiation is based on a photochemical change in parts of the DNA when irradiated with wavelengths in the UVC range around 260 nanometers
Implementation Method 3
UVC-Light-transmitting quartz glass housing is equipped
Data Source
AI summary
Device (1) for water disinfection or sterilization by treatment with ultraviolet (UV) radiation, comprising at least one emitter (2) with a wavelength range in the UVC range, wherein the device (1) consists of a sterilization reactor (4) that can be submerged in a water storage container (3), which is formed from an elongated reactor chamber (5) open at both ends with a system inlet (6) and a system outlet (7), in which, in addition to a UVC immersion emitter (2), a pump (8) for generating a volume flow in the reactor chamber (5) is arranged, wherein a control unit (9) is provided outside the water storage container (3), and wherein the sterilization reactor (4) is equipped with a quartz housing transparent to UVC light in the area of the UVC immersion emitter.