Device and method for irradiating a liquid

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12156952-B2
Application number	US-202217584138-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 25, 2022
Priority date	Mar 25, 2021
Publication date	Dec 3, 2024
Grant date	Dec 3, 2024

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for irradiating a liquid with electromagnetic radiation, in particular for sterilizing an in particular flowing liquid by means of UV radiation (UV reactor), comprising a container having an inlet for receiving the liquid and having an outlet for releasing the liquid from the container, wherein within the container a variable or adjustable irradiation zone is provided for irradiating the liquid with electromagnetic radiation, in particular UV radiation, emitted by a radiation source. In the irradiation zone the liquid is configured in the form of a liquid layer having the layer thickness which extends between the underside of the container and a gas bubble expanding above the liquid layer.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for irradiating a liquid, in particular a flowing liquid, with electromagnetic radiation, in particular for sterilizing a liquid by means of UV radiation (UV reactor), comprising:
a container having an inlet for receiving the liquid and having an outlet for releasing the liquid from the container,
wherein an irradiation zone for irradiating the liquid is provided within the container, and
at least one radiation source configured to emit electromagnetic radiation, in particular light having wavelengths in the range of the UV radiation into the irradiation zone,
wherein the device is designed to the effect that a gas bubble is producible within the container and above the liquid level of the liquid situated in the container in order thereby to adjust the layer thickness of the liquid in the irradiation zone.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 , comprising an adjustable gas feed for adjusting the expansion of the gas bubble within the container and thus the resulting layer thickness of the liquid.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the gas feed is arranged at the top side of the container.

4. The device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the expansion of the gas bubble is adjusted on the basis of the gas pressure of a gas supply connected to the gas feed.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1 , comprising a sensor designed for measuring a property of the liquid, in particular the degree of turbidity.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5 , comprising a measurement radiation source designed and arranged to emit the measurement radiation for the sensor.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1 , comprising a closed-loop control circuit designed to control the adjustment of the expansion of the gas bubble within the container depending on the measurement signal of the sensor.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1 , comprising one or more radiation-reflecting objects floating on the liquid level, for example a floating film or floating balls.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the inside of the container at least in the region of the gas bubble, is provided with a coating that reflects the radiation or that comprises a photocatalytic material having a sterilizing effect.

10. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the gas bubble contains air.

11. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the gas bubble contains gases having a sterilizing effect.

12. A method for irradiating a liquid with electromagnetic radiation, in particular for sterilizing a liquid comprising:
providing a device as claimed in claim 1 ;
connecting the inlet of the device to a source of the liquid and the at least one radiation source to an electrical energy supply source;
passing the liquid through the inlet into the container;
feeding the gas into the container through the gas feed; and
adjusting the expansion of the gas bubble within the container and thus the resulting layer thickness of the liquid in the irradiation zone in accordance with at least one property, for example the degree of turbidity, of the liquid.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein adjusting the expansion of the gas bubble is effected by one or more of the following:
adjusting the gas pressure of the gas bubble;
adjusting the volumetric flow rate of the liquid.

14. The method as claimed in claim 12 , additionally comprising:
measuring at least one property, including the degree of turbidity, of the liquid with the aid of the sensor and using the measurement signal of the sensor for adapting the expansion of the gas bubble to a change in the measurement signal.

15. The method as claimed in claim 12 , additionally comprising:
returning the liquid to the source or transferring the liquid into some other reservoir via the outlet.

16. The method as claimed in claim 12 , additionally comprising:
expanding the gas bubble such that the gas bubble occupies the entire space in the container for a time duration.

Assignees

• Osram Gmbh

Inventors

• Gleitsmann Tobias
• Hartwig Ulrich

Classifications

• A61L2103/09

  Blood or products thereof · CPC title

• A61L2/20

  Gaseous substances, e.g. vapours · CPC title

• A61L2/24

  Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation · CPC title

• A61L2/26

  Accessories · CPC title

• A61L2101/30

  containing zinc · CPC title