UVC LED Optical Coupler for Fluid Disinfection Reactors
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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 used for disinfection due to heat generation and poor light extraction, leading to reduced effectiveness in treating fluids.
Innovation Solution
The system employs UVC LEDs with an optical coupler that forms a fluid seal and has a higher refractive index than water, coupled with a semiconductor material to increase UV output and reduce heat generation, allowing for more efficient light transmission and thermal management without a heat sink.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional UV reactors use UV LEDs for disinfection, then the system can treat fluids, but only a fraction of UV light output is successfully introduced into the liquid due to poor light extraction efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an optical coupler as an intermediary substance between the UV LED and the fluid. This coupler has a refractive index specifically matched to optimize light transmission from the LED into the fluid, acting as a mediator that bridges the optical impedance mismatch between the LED material and the fluid, thereby significantly improving UV light extraction efficiency and reducing energy loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical parameters of the system by selecting materials with specific refractive indices. The optical coupler is chosen to have a refractive index that is intermediate between the UV LED semiconductor material and the fluid, optimizing the light transmission parameter. This parameter matching approach maximizes the fraction of UV light that successfully enters the fluid for disinfection.
2Power
If UV LEDs are operated at higher currents to compensate for inefficient light extraction, then larger output fluxes are generated, but significant heat is produced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful heat that would normally require active cooling into a beneficial feature by designing the system so that the fluid being treated serves as the cooling medium. The fluid absorbs heat from the UV LED through conduction and convection, eliminating the need for separate heat sinks or active cooling systems while simultaneously improving heat management during the disinfection process.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid in the system serves multiple functions: it is the target medium for UV disinfection and simultaneously acts as the heat sink for cooling the UV LED. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate cooling components and simplifies the overall system design while effectively managing the heat generated during operation.
3Productivity
If conventional UV reactors are designed to maximize light output, then the device size increases, but the form factor becomes larger
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the geometric parameters of the reactor, specifically the aperture size and shape, to maximize the fraction of UV light that enters the fluid. By carefully designing the aperture dimensions and using optical coupling techniques, the system achieves high light transmission efficiency in a compact configuration, avoiding the need for larger reactor volumes that would traditionally be required to achieve similar productivity.
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 enhances the percentage of UV light absorbed by the fluid, increases the disinfection efficiency, and maintains a smaller form factor while reducing assembly costs and heat-related issues.
Implementation Method 1
The optical coupler has an index of refraction that is greater than an index of refraction of water... the index of refraction of the optical coupler is approximately the same as the index of refraction of the semiconductor material
Implementation Method 2
Exposure to certain wavelengths of light can disrupt the DNA of many cellular microorganisms—virtually destroying them or rendering them substantially harmless
Implementation Method 3
The UVC LED includes an LED chip configured to emit UVC radiation
Implementation Method 4
the optical coupler may be formed of a thermally conductive material... configured to increase the total output radiation of the LED as compared to ambient air
Data Source
AI summary
A system for disinfecting fluid includes a plurality of fluid reactors. Each of the fluid reactors includes at least one 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.