UVC LED Fluid Reactor with Optical Coupler for Light Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional UV reactors face inefficiencies in extracting UV light from LEDs, with only a fraction of UV output being utilized for disinfection due to heat generation and light extraction issues, leading to suboptimal disinfection effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a UVC LED with an optical coupler that forms a fluid seal and has a refractive index greater than water, positioned close to the LED chip to enhance light coupling, reducing heat sink requirements and increasing UV output into the reactor chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional UV reactors use standard LED packaging with air interface, then device complexity is reduced, but UV light extraction efficiency is poor and most UV output is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an optical coupler material with refractive index n=1.35 positioned between the LED chip and the reactor chamber fluid. This intermediary material matches the refractive index of water and eliminates the air interface, enabling efficient UV light transmission from the LED chip directly into the fluid without reflection losses at material boundaries.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the refractive index parameter of the medium between the LED chip and the fluid from air (n≈1.0) to an optical coupler material (n=1.35), which matches the refractive index of water. This parameter change eliminates the refractive index mismatch that causes total internal reflection at the LED chip surface, thereby dramatically improving UV light extraction efficiency.
2Power
If UV LEDs are operated at higher currents to compensate for inefficient light extraction, then UV output flux increases, but heat generation becomes significant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the previously wasted UV light (which was reflected back due to air interface) into useful disinfection output by eliminating the air interface with an optical coupler. This allows the LED to operate at lower currents for the same effective UV output, thereby reducing heat generation while maintaining or improving disinfection effectiveness.
3Productivity
If a larger aperture is used to capture more UV light, then more UV output is utilized, but the aperture area becomes larger than the chip top surface area which is inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The optical coupler material fills the space between the LED chip and the fluid, creating an optimal optical path that allows the aperture to be sized exactly to the chip top surface area. This intermediary eliminates the need for larger apertures because it prevents light reflection and ensures all light emitted from the chip enters the fluid efficiently.
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 achieves a higher percentage of UV light absorption by the fluid, increasing the disinfection efficiency and reducing heat-related issues, allowing for more effective pathogen inactivation with a smaller reactor size and lower costs.
Implementation Method 1
The optical coupler has an index of refraction greater than an index of refraction of water
Implementation Method 2
an LED chip configured to emit UVC radiation
Implementation Method 3
Exposure to certain wavelengths of light can disrupt the DNA of many cellular microorganisms—virtually destroying them or rendering them substantially harmless
Data Source
AI summary
A system for disinfecting fluid includes a UVC LED. The UVC LED includes an LED chip configured to emit UVC radiation and a package coupled with the LED chip. The LED chip has a top surface that defines a chip top surface area. The top surface is formed from a semiconductor material having an index of refraction. The fluid reactor has at least one wall that defines a chamber configured to contain the fluid. The at least one wall has an aperture configured to receive UVC radiation into the chamber. The aperture extends through the at least one wall. The aperture has an aperture area that is (1) smaller than a top surface area of the package and (2) equal to or larger than the chip top surface area.