UV Water Sterilization in Content Filling for Sterile Sampling

The patent replaces the conventional hot water sterilization method with ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. The UV lamp emits ultraviolet light that sterilizes water by disrupting the DNA of microorganisms, eliminating the need for thermal energy while achieving effective sterilization. This substitution of thermal mechanism with optical mechanism directly resolves the contradiction between sterilization effectiveness and energy consumption.

The patent changes the sterilization parameter from temperature-based (hot water) to radiation-based (UV intensity and exposure time). By controlling UV lamp power and irradiation duration instead of water temperature, the system achieves sterilization with lower energy input while maintaining or improving sterilization effectiveness.

The UV lamp is activated in advance to sterilize the water sterilizer itself before the water sterilization process begins. This preliminary sterilization of the equipment ensures that no contaminants are introduced during subsequent water treatment, maintaining sterilization reliability throughout the entire process while allowing the UV lamp to be turned off during water flow, thus reducing energy consumption during the main operation.

The UV lamp maintains continuous or periodic operation to ensure uninterrupted sterilization coverage. By keeping the UV lamp active during critical phases (equipment sterilization and water treatment) while allowing strategic shutdowns during non-critical periods, the system maintains continuous sterilization effectiveness while optimizing energy consumption.

The patent introduces a sterile sampling bag as an intermediary device between the water sterilizer and the sampling point. This sterile bag receives sterilized water directly from the UV-treated line, allowing sampling to be performed without compromising sterility. The intermediary bag acts as a barrier that maintains the sterile environment while enabling easy sampling operations.

The patent replaces conventional mechanical sampling methods that require breaking sterile barriers with a streamlined system where sterilized water flows directly into a sterile sampling bag through controlled flow. This eliminates complex mechanical operations that could introduce contaminants, achieving both ease of operation and sterile sampling reliability.