DE102017131306A1 - Device for disinfecting liquid in a vessel - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (CAP) for the disinfection of liquid in a vessel (BOT), comprising: at least one light source (LUX) for ultraviolet light and a control unit (CON) for switching on and off the light source (LUX), characterized by a motion detector (BWS), wherein the control unit (CON) is configured not to turn on the light source (LUX) when the motion detector (BWS) detects no movement. Beneficially, the user is really forced to sanitize the vessel shake. This ensures that the liquid is constantly mixed so that it is ensured that all areas of the liquid volume are sufficiently irradiated.

Description

The present invention relates to apparatus for disinfecting liquid in a vessel.

Technical background

There are several approaches to disinfecting liquid in a vessel. An example is the sterilization using ultraviolet light, UV light, in particular UV light in the far ultraviolet range, in particular UVC or UVB light, with a correspondingly high dose. UV light sources are based, for example, on ultraviolet mercury gas lamps. However, since mercury gas lamps include toxic ingredients and are easily fragile, ultraviolet LEDs, UV LEDs, UVC and UVB LEDs, such as gallium nitride based UVC and UVB LEDs are also used.

For disinfection, the UV light source is immersed in the liquid, for example water, in the vessel. Then the liquid is irradiated for a predetermined duration and so disinfected. The dose rate of the UV light source is adapted to the vessel and chosen so large that the liquid is safely disinfected after the predetermined duration.

M.A. Würtele, et al. describe in Application of GaN-based deep ultraviolet light emitting diodes - UV-LEDs - for Water Disinfection, Water Research 45, 1481 (2011) Experiments on the general efficiency of water disinfection with UV-LEDs.

Disclosure of the invention

According to the invention, a device according to claim 1 for the safe, efficient and energy-efficient disinfection of liquid in a vessel is proposed. The device comprises at least one light source for ultraviolet light and a control unit for switching on and off the light source. The device also includes a motion detector, wherein the control unit is configured not to turn on the light source when the motion detector detects no movement.

Advantage of the present invention is that the user is really forced to shake the vessel for disinfection. This ensures that the liquid is constantly mixed so that it is ensured that all areas of the liquid volume are sufficiently irradiated.

In a preferred embodiment, the control unit is configured to turn on the light source after a detected movement and not turn off for a predetermined period.

In this case, the predetermined duration may be predetermined so that the liquid is safely disinfected after the predetermined duration.

The control unit may be configured to switch off the light source after the predetermined duration, provided no further movement has been detected in the predetermined duration.

The predetermined duration may last at least 2 seconds, preferably at least 4 seconds, and at most 10 seconds, preferably at most 5 seconds.

The device may further comprise a switch, the disinfection only taking place when the switch is turned on.

The light source may include at least one ultraviolet light emitting diode configured to emit in a wavelength range of 240 to 300 nm.

The device may be formed as a lid of the vessel so that they are screwed onto an external thread of a circular opening of the vessel and the opening can be sealed liquid-tight by the device.

The device may further comprise a pressure switch which can be pressed by the vessel lid when the external thread is screwed onto the internal thread. The control unit may be further configured to turn on the light source only when the push button is depressed.

The control unit can furthermore be designed to control the disinfection and / or to determine a UVC dose rate.

The control unit can furthermore be designed to compare the specific duration of movement with a minimum movement duration necessary for the disinfection and / or the specific UVC dose rate with a minimum dose rate necessary for the disinfection.

The device may further comprise a display means, wherein the control unit may be configured, when falling below the minimum dose rate and / or falls below a minimum movement duration, the display means to control so that it is indicated that the disinfection is incomplete. The control unit may additionally or alternatively be designed, upon reaching and / or exceeding the minimum dose rate over the entire minimum movement duration to control the display means so that it is indicated that the liquid is safely disinfected.

The display means comprise differently colored light emitting diodes and / or the control unit may comprise a microcontroller.

The device may include at least one photodetector for detecting UVC dose rate.

Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims and described in the description.

list of figures

• 1 eine Skizze eines optimalen Wirkungsspektrum für die UV-Desinfektion,
• 2 schematisch ein Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung und
• 3 eine Dimensionierung eines Ausführungsbeispiels der Erfindung.

Embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings and the description below. Show it:

• 1 a sketch of an optimal spectrum of action for UV disinfection,
• 2 schematically an embodiment of the invention and
• 3 a dimensioning of an embodiment of the invention.

Embodiments of the invention

The embodiments of the present invention are concerned with realizing a UV-LED module with a monitoring unit that allows easy, safe and efficient disinfection of liquids in a vessel. An example would be a module for disinfecting bottled drinking water, e.g. used in outdoor applications or reusable glass bottles as a lifestyle product or baby bottles.

The UV disinfection takes place for example via UV LEDs. The emission wavelengths of the UV LEDs are, for example, in the range from 240 nm to 300 nm, preferably with a peak between 260 nm and 285 nm, corresponding to the optimum spectrum of action for UV disinfection, which is exemplified in US Pat 1 outlined.

In 1 Here, the relative germicidal efficiency, in percent, compared to the wavelength, in nanometers, applied.

To allow easy handling and integration with the battery, the monitoring sensors, control electronics and display, all components can be integrated in the vessel lid. 2 shows such an embodiment of the invention schematically.

The in 2 shown vessel lid CAP includes an internal thread IGW , The vessel cap CAP is therefore to be screwed onto a corresponding external thread AGW a vessel BOT suitable. The vessel BOT For example, a bottle and the external thread AGW surrounds, for example, a circular opening of the vessel BOT , With the tube lid CAP the opening can be closed liquid-tight.

In the tube lid CAP are an indicator DIS and an "on" switch SWT integrated. Furthermore, the vessel lid comprises CAP a circuit CIR , in the example a printed circuit, English: printed circuit board, briefly PCB, and a battery BAT, which serves as voltage supply of the circuit CIR serves. About the circuit CIR are a control unit CON , which is exemplified as a micro-controller, a motion sensor BWS, a photodiode PHD and a light source LUX for ultraviolet light, exemplified by two UVC LEDs, electrically connectable to the battery when the "ON" switch is turned "ON", ie turned on. Only then can a disinfection take place.

Preferably, the vessel must also BOT with the tube lid CAP be tightly screwed. This can be done, for example, by an optional pressure switch TRG be detected in the lid of the vessel BOT For example, the external thread AGW is pressed when the external thread AGW completely on the internal thread IGW screwed. In order to ensure adequate disinfection of all areas of the liquid, the bottle must be moved during the disinfection process, for example, gently shaken. The motion sensor BWS registers these movements and then switches the light source LUX For example, for a pause duration that is tolerable at disinfection with the minimum dose rate, for example, at most 10, preferably at most 5 seconds, to. The light source LUX After that, it will be out again, if there is no further movement. Join the motion sensor BWS however, further movements, between which each passes at most the pause duration, so remains the light source LUX switched on until a minimum movement time is reached. Only then does the light source become LUX off.

The control unit CON controls the entire process and controls, for example over the minimum movement duration, that a minimum dose rate sufficient for disinfection is consistently reached and / or exceeded and the bottle is also moved continuously. If this has been the case, for example, via the display unit DIS For example, in a display or via a colored light-emitting diode, indicated that the water is sufficiently disinfected to drink it. Furthermore, the light source can now be switched off. If a pressure switch is present, the light source can remain switched off until the operation of the pressure switch is interrupted by the vessel, because the lid is unscrewed. Until reaching the minimum movement time at the minimum dose rate, for example, the display or a different colored LED indicates that the water has not yet been sufficiently disinfected. This is optional.

The additional example in the 2 included UV photodetector PHD is optional and may be omitted without departing from the invention. In the example shown, it serves to the light output of the light source LUX to ensure that their performance does not deviate from a nominal value. This information of the UV photodetector can also be obtained from the control unit CON be registered. This can, if the power is reduced, the minimum movement time and / or the power of the light source LUX increase accordingly. The UV photodetector PHD , For example, a UV photodiode, provides additional assurance that the light output of the light source LUX sufficient.

3 shows an exemplary dimensioning of an embodiment of the invention. The vessel lid CAP is dimensioned so that it fits on a Normaußengewinde a beverage bottle BOT.

Advantage of the present invention is that the user is really forced to shake the bottle for disinfection. It ensures a constant mixing of the water and it is ensured that all areas of the water volume are sufficiently irradiated.

The device according to the present invention can be in a first specific embodiment, a UV-LED module with a monitoring unit that can be designed for a water volume of 0.5 - 1 liter.

The UV-LED module is designed, for example, for a circular-cylindrical bottle 7 cm in diameter and 22 cm in height, which is filled at a water volume of 0.7 liters to 18 cm in height and has a water surface of about 38.5 cm ² .

The UV LED module includes, for example, four UVC or UVB LEDs each with 10 mW power at 9V operating voltage, 280 nm wavelength and 100mA current and thus an external quantum efficiency of 2.3%. If the LEDs light output is evenly distributed on the water surface, the radiated power is about 1 mW / cm ² . For the safe neutralization of most bacteria, viruses or spores by a 4-log reduction, a minimum UV dose rate of at least 40 mJ / cm ^{2 is} necessary. In order to achieve this necessary minimum UV dose rate, the UV LED module must illuminate the water surface for 40 seconds while the bottle is being moved.

Using more efficient UVC or UVB LEDs can reduce the number of LEDs in the module and / or the minimum movement time in which the water volume must be moved.

If, for example, in a second specific embodiment of the invention, two UVC or UVB LEDs with an external quantum efficiency of 10% are used, they emit 44 mW of power at 100 mA current and 9V operating voltage and the necessary UV dose rate of 40 mJ / cm ² is already illuminated after 20 seconds while shaking the bottle.

For example, the device according to the present invention may comprise a battery and operate battery-powered. The number of disinfection cycles that can be carried out with one battery set is then limited. In one embodiment, therefore, the battery is rechargeable and the device then has a USB port through which the battery can be recharged.

In a further development of the first specific exemplary embodiment, this comprises a 9V battery with which the water surface can be irradiated with 1 mW / cm ² for approximately 1 hour, corresponding to approximately 90 disinfection cycles of 40 seconds each.

In a further development of the second specific embodiment, this comprises a 9V battery with which the water surface can be irradiated with 1 mW / cm ² for about ² hours, corresponding to about 360 disinfection cycles with 20 seconds each.

For example, the 9V battery can include six AAA or AA batteries, each with 1.5V output.

The operating voltage of 9 V is merely exemplary. The operating voltage to be used in each case is determined by the voltage required by the light source.

Claims (10)

Device (CAP) for the disinfection of liquid in a vessel (BOT), comprising: at least one light source (LUX) for ultraviolet light and a control unit (CON) for switching on and off the light source (LUX), characterized by a motion detector (B) BWS), wherein the control unit (CON) is configured not to turn on the light source (LUX) when the motion detector (BWS) detects no movement. Device after Claim 1 in that the control unit (CON) is designed to switch on the light source (LUX) after a detected movement and not to switch it off for a predetermined duration of at least 2 seconds, preferably at least 4 seconds, and at most 10 seconds, preferably at most 5 seconds. Device after Claim 2 wherein the control unit (CON) is adapted to switch off the light source (LUX) after the predetermined duration, provided that no further movement has been detected in the predetermined duration. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (CAP) is designed as a lid for the vessel (BOT) and so screwed onto an external thread (AGW) of a circular opening of the vessel (BOT) that the opening is liquid-tight the device (CAP) is closed. Device after Claim 4 wherein the device further comprises a pressure switch (TRG), which is pressed by the vessel lid (CAP) when the external thread (AGW) is completely screwed onto the female thread (IGW), wherein the control unit (CON) is further configured, the light source ( LUX) only if the pressure switch (TRG) is also pressed. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, further comprising a switch (SWT), wherein the control unit (CON) is further configured to switch on the light source (LUX) only when the switch (SWT) is also switched on. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (CON) a micro-controller, which is designed to control the disinfection and / or to determine a movement time and / or a UVC dose rate. Device after Claim 7 , wherein the micro-controller (CON) is designed to compare the specific duration of movement with a minimum movement time necessary for the disinfection and / or the determined UVC dose rate with a minimum dose rate necessary for the disinfection. Device after Claim 8 further comprising a display means (DIS), wherein the micro-controller (CON) is designed to control the display means (DIS) below the minimum dose rate and / or falling below the minimum movement duration to indicate that the disinfection is incomplete, and / or if the minimum dose rate over the minimum total exercise duration is reached and / or exceeded, activate the indicator (DIS) to indicate that the fluid is safely disinfected. Device according to at least one of Claims 7 to 9 further comprising at least one photodetector (PHD) for detecting a UVC dose rate.

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