DE2116481A1 - Method and device for irradiating liquids - Google Patents

Description

PATENT LAWYERS

DR. I. MAAS

D R. V /. P F E I F F E R

DR-F-VOITHENLEiTNER

8 MUNICH 23
UNGERERSTR. 25 - TEL. 39 02 36

Case OLP 1029
1035

Controlex Corporation of America, Fields Lane, Croton Falls, New York, V.St.A,

Method and device for irradiating liquids

The invention relates to a method and a device for irradiating liquids with rays a radiation source.

There are devices for irradiating liquids are known in which these, for example, infrared or exposed to ultraviolet rays. It is be- "

knows a fluid containing pathogenic organisms by irradiation with ultraviolet or infrared Disinfect rays. Devices were built for this purpose.

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211648

In a known device, a lamp generating ultraviolet radiation is immersed directly into the liquid to be disinfected. One disadvantage of this. Device is the diminution of the effect of the ultraviolet rays, which is caused by that the lamp is cooled by the liquid flowing through the device. If the liquid is water or is another liquid containing dissolved minerals, a mineral sediment is exposed the liquid on the lamp surface and forms on this one surface. The increasing coating increasingly diminishes the effect of the ultraviolet rays Absorbs part of the rays and prevents the rays from passing through into the liquid. Of the Covering must be removed periodically, for which devices have already been built.

In another known device, the ultraviolet lamp is enclosed or enclosed in a housing otherwise physically separated from the liquid that is irradiated by the lamp by a burning layer. With this device, the difficulties caused by cooling the lamp are avoided, However, dissolved in the liquid will settle on the protective layer or generally the separating layer Materials from and form a coating on it, which reduces the effect of the rays and an undesirable one Requires cleaning the case from time to time. In addition, the protective layer absorbs itself the rays and thus impair their effectiveness.

Many ultraviolet light emitting radiation devices suffer from the loss of effectiveness described above a restriction of the use of the device with liquids with relatively small Radiation absorption coefficients result, such as for

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Example for clear liquids or liquids with little or no solids content. This one Devices often have to irradiate relatively deep layers of liquid and the effectiveness of the radiation is reversed is proportional to the thickness of the irradiated liquid, it is again necessary only liquids to use with a small absorption coefficient, so that the radiation is effectively used for Example of a water disinfection device.

In some devices, means of stirring the liquid during irradiation or large-scale Guide plates or other devices are provided

the one that has a circular or looped path for the liquid to pass through the radiation zone force.

To eliminate these disadvantages, contaminated liquids are used in a method according to the invention Disinfected by irradiating the liquids with a radiation source ·, with a free-falling stream of liquid is formed, which falls down at a distance from a non-sheathed radiation source and on exposure to radiation in this way.

In a device for disinfecting contaminated liquids according to the invention by irradiating them Liquid with a radiation source, lines are provided for this liquid, which the liquid to form a free-falling stream, with a well-known non-sheathed radiation source at a distance from the free-falling stream, the radiation of which the liquid stream is exposed to.

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Because the radiation source in a device according to the invention is not immersed in a liquid or in any other way comes into contact with a liquid that is to be irradiated the loss of effectiveness of the radiation avoided by in the cooling of the radiation source on the one hand and the Formation of undesirable deposits on the outer surface of the radiation source according to "the state of the art" are conditional. Furthermore, due to the distance between the liquid flow and the radiation source, there is no jacket or any other physical separation between the radiation source and the liquid is required, so that there is no loss of effectiveness of the radiation.

In particular when using a thin flow of liquid that has no physical contact with the radiation source and from this only through air or a other gas is separated, the radiation source is neither immersed in the liquid nor is it open The radiation source has a surface on which minerals or other substances present in the liquid are present Components can be deposited and a barrier layer between the radiation source and the liquid form. As the liquid takes the form of a thin layer, the radiation effect in the liquid so increased that not only a lower radiation intensity is required, but also the efficiency is increased so that liquid having a relatively high coefficient of absorption from the rays is effective can be penetrated. This can cause colored liquids, impure liquids and liquids, which contain dissolved or finely divided free-floating substances can be effectively treated in the device. In addition, the presence of a gas atmosphere between the radiation source and the liquid flow an oxygen containing vapor, for example

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Air or oxygen, are introduced into the device and come into contact both with the rays from the radiation source and with the liquid, so that in this way the conversion of the oxygen into ozone is effected at least when treated with ultraviolet rays. This brings agents for the oxidation of undesired organic molecules into the liquid in less harmful forms. The presence of oxygen in the device can also provide at least a portion of the biochemical oxygen demand for the liquid passing through the device in the case of a disinfection or wastewater treatment process. In each Λ

In the case of the irradiated liquid stream is collected in a container at the bottom of the device and from removed here. Except for the disinfection of contaminated liquids with ultraviolet radiation, such as sewage or swimming pool water, the device according to the invention is also for everyone Purpose usable that requires efficient irradiation of a liquid. For example is suitable the device excellent for the continuous irradiation of a liquid with infrared rays, which contains one or more components, for the purpose of catalyzing a chemical reaction or for ^

Disinfection of the liquid. Generally, ultraviolet rays are used for disinfection preferred for their relatively simple application.

It is a great advantage of the invention that it is not necessary to stir the liquid in order to move it lengthways guide a circular or looped path through the radiation zone.

By the term "liquid flow" is meant liquid in any form that is a thin layer

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or forms a thin film for the incident rays. This expression includes a continuous Liquid film, interrupted or section-wise liquid films as well as carbonated Liquid flows in, as they flow out especially from nozzles.

The term “radiation source ^!” Is generally understood to mean any device for generating rays with which the liquid flow is irradiated. Such radiation sources are, for example, sources which generate ultraviolet and infrared rays.

The invention is illustrated by way of example with the aid of the figures explained.

Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section through a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged sectional view along the line II-II in FIG. 1, with only the nozzle arrangement the device can be seen.

Figure 3 shows a sectional view along the line III-III in Figure 2.

Figure 4 shows a partial view of the outer hood of the device shown in Figure 1, with the devices for supplying oxygen to the device can be seen.

Figures 5 and 6 show partial sections of the device shown in Figure, the devices for

represent effective contact of the liquid with oxygen.

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In the figures 1 to 3 a preferred embodiment of the invention for the irradiation of a thin, self-supporting liquid flow is shown. As shown particularly in FIG. 1, the device has a lower cylindrical collecting chamber 10 which receives and collects the irradiated liquid 10a before it exits the device through the outlet conduit which communicates with the interior of the chamber 10. On the chamber 10 lies a lid or hood 13, fixedly connected to it by a fastening device 12, with frustoconical walls 13a which taper with increasing distance from the chamber 10 and enclose the upper part of the device. M.

Firmly connected to the bottom surface or sole 14 of the chamber 10 is a hollow housing 15 through which the Liquid supply line 16 and the electrical cable 17, which supplies the radiation source with power, introduced will.

The supply line 16 runs horizontally through the cavity 15a of the housing 15 until it meets the underside a long axially extending supply line 18 communicates, which communicates to the nozzle arrangement 19 directs incoming liquid stream at the upper end of the device. The bottom 20 of the line 18 f

rests on the top of a perforated round base plate 21 which is inside the round recess 22 is arranged in the bottom 14 of the chamber 10 and fastened with screws 23. The line 18 is with its lower end 20 is inserted firmly connected to the housing 15 in the vertical cylindrical chamber 24. The vertical chamber 24 communicates with the horizontal chamber 15a.

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The nozzle arrangement 19 has a cylindrical block with a vertical axial bore 26. How best As shown in FIG. 3, a counterbore 27 is provided at the base of the bore, which has an edge groove 28 has, in which an O-ring 29 or another suitable seal can be used, which provides a seal between the line 18 and the bore 26 causes. The upper end of the line 18 rests against the counterbore 27.

The block 25 also contains a plurality of upwardly sloping ones arranged at the same distance from one another Bores 30 which communicate with the axial bore 26 and extend outward in the vertical direction. These bores direct the fluid from the bore 26 to the outer surface of the block 25. The Block 25 further has several vertical bores 31, each of which, as best shown in FIG see, has a counterbore 32 which defines an upper vertical chamber 33 which communicates with the bore communicates. The chamber 33 contains a conventional electrical socket 34 which the plugs 35 of ultraviolet lamps 36 which extends up through the bore 33.

The nozzle arrangement 19 further has an upside-down hollow, practically frustoconical shell 40, the edge 41 of which surrounds the cylindrical surface 42 of the block 25 and inwardly towards the surface 42 tapers from the bottom 43 of the shell 40. The outer surface 42 of the block 25 and the inner surface 44 of the wall 41 of the shell form a chamber 45 with a conical ring configuration which communicates with the bores 30 of the block 25 extending in the radial direction. Chamber 25 approaches a thin annular gap 46 below, from which the liquid, which into the chamber 45 through the

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Bores 30 is passed, falls in the form of an annular free-falling thin stream 47 (see Figure 1), which falls through the radiation zone 48 generated by the lamps 36. At the bottom of Block 25 there is a protruding annular edge 46a, which the annular liquid flow 47 in the radial direction deflected outward from the nozzle assembly 19 in order to physically separate the stream 47 from the lamps to ensure. The stream 47 falls freely under the influence of gravity at a distance from the lamps 26 down so that the irradiated liquid from the Stream 47 drips into receiving chamber IO, where it is collected and then drawn off through line 11. ^ When the atmosphere in the hood 13 consists of air or oxygen exists, the current 47 from the lamps 36 is through a gas gap 48a separated, the width of which extends in the axial direction of the device, as shown in FIG is, varies.

The shell 14 is attached to the block with screws 49 and has several openings 50 that extend through the The bottom of the shell 40, as best shown in Figure 3, extend. Each opening 50 communicates with the Chamber 33 of block 25 and allows a connection

g of the electrical cable 17 to the reasonable in the chamber 33

arranged lamp base 34.

In Figures 1 and 3 it can be seen that within the Feed line 18, a second coaxial line 60 is provided through which the electrical cable 17 to the sockets 34 runs. The conduit 60 extends at its upper end beyond the end of the conduit 18 and through the axial bore 61 of the part 25. The bore 61 communicates with the bore 26 of the block 25 and the in the axial direction extending bore 62 of the shell 40 and ends in a thread 63 which is in the

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OWGiNAL INSPECTED

- OK -

Bottom 43 of the shell 4O is located. As best in figure shown, the bore 61 is provided at the top with a groove or groove 64, which is an O-ring 65 or another receives a suitable seal, whereby the leakage of liquid from the bore 26 is prevented. On the At the end of 63 a nut 66 is screwed on, which is at the bottom the inverted shell 40 and the conduit 60 Fitted firmly in the vertical bore 61, »Das Cable 17 enters line 6O at the bottom «goes through entire length of the conduit 60 and exits at the top of this conduit, where it passes through openings 50 in the shell 4O enters the chambers 33 of the block 25 and the electrical connection with the sockets 34 forms. As shown in Figure 2, these are a sufficient number of cables 17 provided for the electrical connection of the sockets in the device.

The hood 13 has on its upper part an inwardly directed edge projection 7O which is designed so that it fits into a circular recess of the shell 4O. The edge projection 70 has an edge mrt 73 which lies next to the shell 40 and elaon O-King 74 void receives another seal and prevents the liquid within the hood 13 from coming into contact with the electrical cables 17.

The lamps 36 can be one or more radiation sources that generate ultraviolet radiation, such as, for example, mercury vapor lamps with cold cathodes or hot cathodes. Preferably, a plurality of O-shaped mercury vapor lamps are used with cold cathodes distributed around conduit 18 which, as shown in the drawings, are positioned within curtain 47 of free falling liquid. In another embodiment, the radiation sources can be arranged outside of and around the liquid flow and at a distance therefrom. The lamps

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OWGlNAL INSPECTED

can have a variety of geometric configurations, for example, they can be helical or triangular, or they can be a group of straight lines Be tubes that are frustoconical.

It is known that ultraviolet radiation is effective in destroying pathogenic microorganisms in Liquids and can therefore be used to disinfect liquids. Practically is any wavelength of emitted radiation that falls in the ultraviolet range for this purpose sufficient, although it is known that a maximum effect can be obtained at a wavelength of about 2537 Angstroms will.

The lamps 36 are usually set to a temperature of about 40 degrees C (105 degrees F) plus or minus 5.6 degrees C. (10 degrees F) for maximum effect. The distance between the lamps 36 and the Liquid flow 47 can be varied widely and depends on several factors, for example the thickness of the liquid flow 47, the intensity of the rays of the lamps 36 used and the absorption coefficient the "liquid. Generally there is a distance of about 2.5 to 16 cm (1-6") between the surface of lamps 36 and liquid stream 47 are required, with a spacing of about 6.4 cm to 7.6 cm (2 1/2 3 1/3 ") is preferred. Spaces greater than 15 cm (6") can of course be used, however these distances require lamps of greater intensity.

The ultraviolet rays are radiated practically perpendicularly from the lamps 36, so that the liquid flow 47 is exposed to ultraviolet radiation over practically the entire vertical length of the lamps. the

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The time that stream 47 is exposed to ultraviolet radiation is a function of lamp length and depends on the radiation intensity, the distance between the lamps and the liquid and the property of the irradiated liquid.

The ultraviolet lamps are usually energized by connecting them to a 110 volt power source at 75 although a resistor or transformer somewhere between the power connector and the device can be provided.

For the most effective results, the liquid stream 47 is kept as thin as possible. The fat of the liquid flow 47 is by simply enlarging or reducing the ring 46, from which the Liquid escapes, controlled. The thinner the stream held, the greater the absorption coefficient of the liquid that can be effectively treated should be. In general, it is preferred to have thin streams of colored liquids or liquids that contain suspended or dissolved solids, as these liquids usually have large radiation absorption coefficients. In general, liquid stream thicknesses between about 1 mm and 2 mm are preferred.

The stream 47 is neither agitated nor in a circular manner or looped web during its passage through the radiation zone.

It is known that using a wavelength of ultraviolet radiation of about 1849 Angstrom units and in the presence of oxygen in the hood 13, the ultraviolet radiation at least one Part of the oxygen is converted into ozone, which is used to oxidize unwanted organic components in the

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Liquid stream 47 can be used. As can be seen from FIG. 1, during normal operation there will always be some oxygen inside the hood 13, which is due to the air present, so that at a suitable wavelength of the ultraviolet radiation used, the liquid flow 47 is exposed to both this ultraviolet radiation and the ozone . To further increase the ozone supply and / or the oxygen that is available in the hood 13, the walls 13a of the hood 13 are provided with an oxygen supply line 80, as shown for example in FIG oxygen, air or another oxygen-containing g steam is injected into the interior of the hood. 13

As shown in Figure 4, conduit 80 extends through liquid stream 47 and over a upward end portion of the line 80 to close to the ultraviolet lamps 36, so that an oxygen-containing Steam is passed in the vertical direction upwards into the jet zone 48. The end of 81 the line 80 is preferably disposed adjacent the lower ends of the lamps 36 so that the discharged Vapor is exposed to the maximum radiation emitted by the lamps 36. It is most effective for Conversion of oxygen to ozone advantageous that "

the delivery end 81 of the conduit 80 is located in the jet zone and not outside it, which is a Supply of the oxygen-containing vapor through the liquid stream 47 would require in order to this in the To allow beam zone 48 to enter.

The hood 13 has an opening 82 (see FIG. 1) into which a sieve 83 is inserted. The opening 82 prevents an undesirable build-up of pressure in the device, particularly when steam passes through the line

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is injected into the hood 13. The sieve 83 acts as a filter.

The hood 13 is, which is not necessary to function, as a shield for people in the vicinity of the Device designed against ultraviolet rays and is best made of a material that reflects the ultraviolet or other rays that are used. Aluminum is a suitable material for shielding against ultraviolet rays. In the same way, the hood made of a plastic, on the surface of which is a metallic or reflective Layer is located. The hood 15 can also be made of stainless steel, which has an additional Forms protection against the corrosive effects of ozone.

The geometric shape of the hood 13 is of no particular importance. The lower parts of the hood can do this be used to collect the stream 47 of the liquid to be irradiated, so that the splashing or Soiling of the surface 10a of the collecting chamber is kept as low as possible.

In order to ensure a high level of interfacial contact between the liquid fed into the device and the Gas atmosphere in the device for intimate contact between the liquid and the gas atmosphere obtain which in turn is made most effective by the oxygen or ozone in the device, the device shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is used (to either convert part of the biochemical Oxygen demand to supply the liquid or to unwanted inorganic molecules in the To oxidize liquid). As shown in FIG. 5, a ring 97 with a round opening 91 rests on it

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Edge 92 which extends from the wall of the chamber 10
extends inside. The sieve 90 is positioned above the surface of the liquid 10a in the chamber 10. A falling liquid stream 47 comes into contact with the sieve 90 and breaks apart, so that a high interfacial contact between the broken liquid and the gas atmosphere in the device is ensured.

FIG. 6 shows a stiff, perforated ring basket 100 with vertical side walls 101, which rests on the edge 92. The basket contains a high surface area filler 102 such as Rashig rings, Pall rings, or finely divided beads. The %

Filler works in the same way as this above
for the sieve 90 according to FIG. 5 has been described.

The screen 90 or filler 102 may be located at any suitable location on the device.

The collection or retention of liquid in the chamber 10 for at least a short period of time before the Liquid is withdrawn from the device through line 11 is desirable because the liquid then for an additional period of time with the oxygen

or comes into contact with the ozone in the device, g

thereby enabling further oxidation of organic matter in the liquid and the liquid meet their biochemical oxygen needs even more

The device of this invention is suitable
particularly suitable for the treatment of liquids that contain free-floating substances,
if these substances are sufficiently small and the
do not interfere with the effective operation of the device. In particular, the substances are allowed to pass through the annular slot 46
do not clog. _{1 09852 / 183g}

The ultraviolet radiation sources 36 can be generated by other known radiation sources such as, for example infrared radiation sources are replaced, so that the downdraft 47 practically in the same way treated as in the case of ultraviolet irradiation. In this case the hood 13 is off made of a material that shields against the corresponding radiation.

The liquid flow 47 does not have to fall in a vertical direction, but can also fall in another direction Direction outflow, provided that it maintains a distance from the radiation source. To the Example, the device shown in the drawing can be of the vertical form tilted and still be effective.

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Claims (18)

Claims 1. A method for irradiating liquids with rays from a radiation source, thereby characterized in that a free-falling liquid stream is formed, which at a distance from one uncovered radiation source falls and this liquid flow is exposed to the radiation. 2. The method of claim 1, characterized in that a loading ä se known ultraviolet light or infrared light is used generating radiation source as the radiation source and introduced the oxygen in a zone between the free-falling stream and the radiation source for oxidation of harmful substances in the liquid stream will. 3. Device for irradiating liquids with rays from a radiation source, characterized by lines (18, 30, 45, 46) which form the liquid into a free -falling stream, and λ by a known non-sheathed radiation source 36, which at a distance of the free-falling stream is arranged so that this liquid stream is exposed to the radiation. 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the radiation source consists of an infrared Radiation source or an ultraviolet radiation source. 109852/1839 5. Apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, characterized through a container (10) for collecting the liquid from the free-falling stream / in which there is a discharge line (11) to withdraw the collected liquid from the container. 6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized by a radiation shield (13) surrounding the radiation source (36) and the liquid stream and having an upper end portion of the container (10) can be connected. 7. Device according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized characterized in that the lines have an axial bore (26) in a cylindrical block (25), one themselves in the axial direction extending feed line (18) which communicates with the axial bore, several obliquely inclined bores (30) extending in the radial direction, which are also located in the block and communicate with the axial bore as well as the outer surface of the block, the outer Surface with a frustoconical wall (41) an inverted frustoconical at the top of the block attached shell (40) form an annular chamber and this chamber (45) at the bottom into a thin annular gap (46) runs, from which the liquid emerges as a free-falling ring flow. 8. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the block (25) has a plurality of vertical bores (33) around and at a distance from the axial bore (26) and in each of these vertical bores a socket (34) is intended for coupling a radiation source. 109852/1839 9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the shell (40) has a central opening (62) and a plurality of openings (50) around and spaced from this central opening, each of these openings having a Socket (34) communicated in the vertical bores (33) of the block. 10. The device according to claim 9, characterized by an electrical supply line (60) in the liquid line (18) which runs through the central opening in the shell and by an electrical cable (17) which is arranged in the electrical line Λ and emerges from the part extending through the shell and through each of these vertical Passages in the shell and each socket in the vertical holes of the block is electrical connects. 11. Device according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the block below the fine ring nozzle has an edge (46a), which the liquid emerging from the ring nozzle in a radial direction Direction diverts. 12. Device according to one of claims 3 to 11, characterized in that the radiation source is a is ultraviolet radiation source and that means (80) are provided with which oxygen in a Zone between the radiation source and the liquid flow is passed. 109852/1839 13. Device according to one of claims 3 to 12 "~, characterized in that the distance between the radiation source and the liquid flow in the area from about 2.5 to about 15 cm (1-16 "). 14. Device according to one of claims 3 to 13, characterized in that the radiation source in one Distance is arranged within the liquid flow. 15. The device according to claim 14, characterized in that the liquid stream has a thickness of about 1 to 2 mm. 16. Device according to one of claims 3 to 15, characterized in that devices (90 or 102) are provided to allow a large interfacial contact between the liquid and a gas atmosphere in to effect the device. 17. The device according to claim 16, characterized in that that these devices consist of a sieve. 18. The device according to claim 17, insofar as it depends on claims 5 to 15, characterized in that that the sieve is arranged above the liquid level in the container. 1 09852/1839