UV Liquid Treatment Module Recirculation and Self-Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid treatment modules face challenges with fouling and scaling buildup on interior surfaces, which disrupt the efficiency of UV-light treatment and require frequent shutdowns for cleaning, and there is a need to ensure that liquids receive a consistent UV-dose for effective treatment.
Innovation Solution
The module incorporates a recirculation system with two treatment chambers and abrasive particles to maintain a high flow rate, ensuring prolonged UV exposure and effective removal of fouling and scaling, with the liquid flowing from the first chamber back into it after passing through a second chamber, and using abrasive particles like titanium dioxide to prevent surface buildup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cleaning liquids are injected into the treatment chamber to remove fouling and scaling, then the interior surfaces are cleaned effectively, but the treatment unit must be closed down during cleaning, reducing productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment chamber performs self-cleaning by utilizing its own UV irradiation function to activate photocatalytic material on the interior surfaces. The UV light generates reactive oxygen species that decompose organic fouling and prevent scaling buildup, eliminating the need for separate cleaning operations and maintaining continuous treatment productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical environment within the treatment chamber by introducing oxygen under UV irradiation, transforming it into a highly oxidative atmosphere that actively decomposes deposits on surfaces. This parameter change (chemical reactivity) enables continuous cleaning without mechanical intervention or shutdowns
2Reliability
If UV light treatment is performed to kill organisms in the liquid, then disinfection effectiveness is improved, but fouling and scaling build up on interior surfaces, requiring maintenance shutdowns
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful UV-induced chemical reactions that cause scaling into a beneficial cleaning mechanism. By coating interior surfaces with photocatalytic material, the UV irradiation that would normally create deposits instead activates the catalyst to decompose organic matter and prevent scaling, turning a harmful side effect into a self-cleaning benefit
Solution Approach 2:
The photocatalytic material is pre-applied to interior surfaces before operation begins. This preliminary preparation creates a surface that actively resists fouling and scaling during normal operation, preventing deposit accumulation before it becomes a problem rather than requiring reactive cleaning after buildup occurs
3Productivity
If the flow rate through the treatment chamber is increased to improve productivity, then more liquid is treated per unit time, but the UV treatment dose received by the liquid is reduced, compromising treatment effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements a recirculation system that continuously circulates liquid through the treatment chamber multiple times. This ensures that even at high flow rates, each volume of liquid receives the required cumulative UV treatment dose through repeated exposure cycles, maintaining treatment effectiveness while maximizing throughput capacity
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 configuration ensures that a significant portion of the liquid receives a predefined UV-dose, prolongs treatment time, and reduces fouling and scaling on surfaces, maintaining module efficiency without the need for frequent shutdowns.
Implementation Method 1
a UV-light treatment lamp (14) capable of emitting UV-light applicable for UV-light treatment
Implementation Method 2
abrasive particles (62) capable of removing fouling/scaling at surfaces (16, 10) within the treatment chamber
Implementation Method 3
The liquid flow rate in the first elongated circumferential hollow cavity brings abrasive particles for removing/preventing fouling/scaling on surfaces within the treatment chambers
Data Source
Figure 1~5
Figure 6~7
Figure 8
AI summary
A liquid treatment module (2), configured for ultraviolet (UV)-light treatment of a liquid (4) flowing through a first treatment chamber (6) defined as a first elongated circumferential hollow cavity (8) between an outer surface (10) of a first translucent inner sleeve (12)and an inner surface (16) of a first outer sleeve (18') configured to enclose said first translucent sleeve (12). The inner sleeve (12) is arranged to protect and include a UV- light treatment lamp (14). The module comprises a module inlet connection (20) configured to receive liquid to be treated and a module outlet connection (22) configured to expel liquid treated by the liquid treatment module. The module comprises: -first liquid flow guiding members (24') configured to guide and direct a liquid flow (26) from said module inlet connection (20) into said first treatment chamber (6), -second liquid flow guiding members (28') configured to guide and direct a liquid flow (30) from said first treatment chamber (6) into a second treatment chamber (32'), and -third liquid flowing guiding members (34') configured to guide and direct a liquid recirculation flow (36) from said second treatment chamber (32') back into the first treatment chamber (6) again.