DE29700877U1 - Reactor for odor and germ reduction using UV catalyst technology - Google Patents

Description

Applicant: Kurt W. Hofmann

Richard-Wagner-Str. la

91154 Roth

Description: Reactor for odor and germ reduction using

UV catalyst technology

Description

Reactor for reducing odor and germs using UV catalyst technology is used in companies where previously used, recyclable materials are delivered, temporarily stored or sorted, as well as in production facilities where gases of organic composition are emitted. The reactor is also used in companies/food industry that require germ-free supply air as production air. In recycling companies or companies where odorous substances of organic composition are emitted, the reactor is used to purify the circulating air and/or exhaust air of the organic odorous substances and to kill viruses, fungi and microorganisms.

In factory farming, the reactor can also be used to purify exhaust air and to combat microorganisms found in animal husbandry.

This means that the reactor can be used on a large scale both for supply air treatment to produce germ-free and odor-neutral air, and for exhaust air purification to treat gases of organic composition and microbially contaminated exhaust air.

The air to be cleaned is sucked in using an induced draft fan and fed into the UV reactor. The reactor contains UV radiation sources of a specific wavelength as well as a catalyst that is attached to the inner wall of the reactor. The process of reducing odor depends on the size of the reactor or the residence time of the gas in the reactor, the number of UV radiation sources, the reaction surface on which the catalyst is attached and the organic composition of the odorous, germ-laden gas.

In order to achieve an intensive interaction between the odor components, the UV radiation and the catalyst (titanium dioxide), an appropriate dwell time is necessary, which is achieved by means of deflection and/or perforated plates. 30

The following basic reactions occur in the reaction space:

Water (moist air) forms hydroxyl radicals under UV exposure in combination with titanium dioxide

Hydroxy radicals have a high oxidation potential and oxidize most odorous substances.

Some C-H compounds form radicals under UV exposure, which in turn react with the oxygen in the air and thus the odor component is destroyed.

The advantage is that the catalyst activated by UV light (titanium dioxide T1O2) forms hydroxy radicals with the water from the air, which have an oxidizing effect on the odor components (organic composition). This creates odor-neutral components.

The microorganisms are killed or inactivated under the influence of UV light. The radiation from the UV tubes is in the wavelength range between 230 - 280 nm and corresponds to the absorption wavelength of deoxyribonucleic acid, the building block that contains the genetic information of the microorganism cell. The absorption of high-energy light causes the DNA molecules to be excited, whereby the absorbed energy is sufficient to damage the cell so severely that it dies or is inactivated.

After the air has been passed through the reactor, it is freed from odor emitters and microorganisms to such an extent that it can be discharged into the atmosphere without further treatment.

In order to protect the reactor interior from dust particles and aerosols, a particle or aerosol filter is placed at the reactor entrance. Dust deposits on the UV radiation sources or the catalyst reduce performance.

This process enables cost-effective and economical cleaning of exhaust air with organic composition.

The advantage of this UV technology lies in the low pressure loss of the reactor, the catalyst-assisted oxidation of the odor components, the simple and cost-effective reactor and the low energy consumption of the UV radiation sources used. Furthermore, no residual materials are produced that would have to be disposed of.

Claims (5)

Protection claims 1. Reactor for reducing the odor and germs of organic gases, characterized in that the gas to be treated in this reactor is brought into contact with ozone-generating and/or ozone-free UV tubes and a catalyst. 2. Reactor according to claim 1, characterized in that the gas to be treated is uniformly passed around the UV radiation sources and brought into contact with the catalyst. 3. Reactor according to claim 2, characterized in that solid particles are separated at the reactor inlet by means of a dust filter in order to protect the UV tubes from contamination. 4. Reactor according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that liquid droplets/aerosols are separated at the reactor inlet by means of a droplet separator/demister. 5. Reactor according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a UV-activated catalyst is used for the rapid oxidation of the odor components.