EP4323021A1

EP4323021A1 - Device and method for the disinfection of liquids and gases

Info

Publication number: EP4323021A1
Application number: EP22722189.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Andreas Kuntze
Original assignee: Compact Laser Solutions GmbH
Current assignee: Compact Laser Solutions GmbH
Priority date: 2021-04-12
Filing date: 2022-04-11
Publication date: 2024-02-21
Also published as: CN117177779A; WO2022218897A1; DE102021109004A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for the disinfection of liquids or gases, having the following method steps: generating a radiation barrier (200) in a disinfection chamber (100), introducing a gas flow and/or a liquid flow into the disinfection chamber (100), guiding the gas flow and/or liquid flow through a plurality of volume regions of the disinfection chamber (100), and discharging the gas flow and/or the liquid flow from the disinfection chamber (100), wherein the volume regions in the disinfection chamber (100) are formed by the radiation barrier (200), a chamber wall (110, 120) and a flow-directing face of a flow-directing element (150), and the volume regions are completely separated from one another by the chamber wall (110, 120), the radiation barrier (200) and the flow-directing face, and also to a device for carrying out the method.

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DISINFECTING

LIQUIDS AND GASES

The invention relates to a method for the disinfection of liquids or gases with the method steps: creating a radiation barrier in a disinfection chamber, introducing a gas and/or liquid flow into the disinfection chamber, guiding the gas and/or liquid flow through several volume areas of the disinfection chamber and discharging of the gas and/or liquid flow from the disinfection chamber, and a device for carrying out the method.

State of the art

Ultraviolet light is a well-known disinfectant for surfaces, liquids and gases. Gas discharge lamps such as low-pressure mercury vapor lamps, xenon lamps, excimer lamps, UV LEDs and, to a very small extent, UV lasers are used as the light source. The liquid or the gas itself can be disinfected in special containers through which the liquid or the gas flows.

US Pat. No. 4,661,264 describes such a method for disinfecting liquids (water) in particular, but also gases, as well as a corresponding device. A pulsed laser beam is radiated into the container through which the liquid flows. The flow of liquid cuts the laser beam several times during the process. The laser beam is always arranged in a fixed position on the container.

A disadvantage of the container presented here is the presence of areas in which the liquid does not intersect the laser beam, ie is not impinged by the disinfecting laser beam and is therefore not disinfected. Another disadvantage of a different configuration of the container presented is the low energy input of the laser beam, acting on the liquid. For thorough disinfection, the laser beam must therefore have a high power density combined with a high average power in pulsed operation. In order to generate high power densities, it is necessary to operate the laser in the transverse basic mode with a correspondingly small divergence angle. In addition, the provision of basic mode operation for the generation of a wide variety of beam shapes is of crucial importance. Targeted changes to the transversal mode can ensure optimizations in the disinfection process.

The following options can be used as an example:

• Top hat spray shaper

• Homogenizers/diffusers

• Elliptical diffusers

• Vortex lenses

• Axicon diffractive elements

Structured Light DOEs

US Pat. No. 1,037,267 B2 discloses a container for disinfecting liquids, in which the container has one or more radiation sources that emit radiation in the UV range. The liquid flows through the container and has diffusely reflecting surfaces that conduct the UV radiation through the liquid.

The use of PTFE, as described in the patent, enables a degree of reflection of approx. 97%. However, the decontamination efficiency is reduced by the diffuse multiple reflection of the diverging UV LEDs in the reaction chamber. The reflection efficiency decreases very strongly cumulatively. In addition, the reflector of the container is also subject to a very rapid, serious impairment of the reflectivity, which, depending on the water quality, can occur after just a few hours due to deposits of dissolved ions such as calcium, sodium and iron etc. and general dirt particles. Efficient and safe decontamination of Pathogens are thus rapidly restricted. A regular replacement of components causes corresponding maintenance cycles and maintenance costs.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a method for disinfecting liquids or gases with which disinfection can be carried out reliably, cost-effectively and energy-efficiently and with which it is resistant to deposits on the surfaces of the reaction chamber.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a diffusion reactor for disinfecting liquids or gases, with which disinfection can be carried out reliably, cost-effectively and in an energy-efficient manner.

The object is achieved by means of the method for disinfecting liquids or gases according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.

The method according to the invention for disinfecting liquids or gases has four method steps: In the first method step, a radiation barrier is produced in a disinfection chamber. The UV radiation from the radiation source is shaped by optical components in such a way that UV radiation impinges on a surface and/or a volume within the disinfection chamber. In the second method step, a liquid and/or a gas stream is introduced into the disinfection chamber. For this purpose, the disinfection chamber has an inlet on one side. In the third method step, the liquid and/or gas flow is passed through several volume areas of the disinfection chamber. In the fourth method step, the liquid and/or gas flow is channeled out of the disinfection chamber. For this purpose, the disinfection chamber has an outlet on the side opposite the inlet. According to the invention, the volume areas of the disinfection chamber are formed by the radiation barrier, a wall of the disinfection chamber, and a flow-guiding surface of a flow-guiding element. The individual volume areas of the disinfection chamber are completely separated from one another by the radiation barrier, by a wall of the disinfection chamber, and by a flow guide surface of a flow guide element. Due to this advantageous arrangement, the substance to be disinfected is passed through the radiation barrier several times. This increases the exposure time of the UV radiation to the substance to be disinfected.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the flow guide element is arranged as a separate component in the disinfection chamber. Advantageously, the disinfection chamber has a plurality of flow-guiding elements of the same type. The disinfection chamber can be enlarged by installing further flow control elements of the same type. In addition, the production costs of a flow guide element are reduced due to possible series production.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the flow guide element is attached to a wall of the disinfection chamber. A flow guide element is therefore advantageously arranged on one side of the disinfection chamber.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the gas and/or liquid flow is guided through a flow-guiding element with a plurality of flow-guiding surfaces and/or through the flow-guiding surfaces of a plurality of flow-guiding elements. The gas or liquid flow is guided through the flow guide surfaces inside the disinfection chamber. This increases the exposure time of the UV radiation to the substance to be disinfected.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the flow guide surface has a curved surface along which the gas and/or liquid flow is guided. This increases the exposure time of the UV radiation to the substance to be disinfected. In a further embodiment of the invention, the radiation from the radiation barrier is radiated into the disinfection chamber through a window which is transparent to the radiation. The transparent window can be positioned at Brewster's angle to allow polarized radiation to enter the disinfection chamber. The window can also be made slidable to control the entry of the radiation barrier. Furthermore, the exit window can also be arranged at the Brewster angle to the beam direction.

The use of a Brewster window made of quartz glass is advantageous, since there is no need for a complex, cost-intensive anti-reflection coating, which is also subject to rapid degradation due to UV radiation. The transmission of polarized light through a Brewster angle window is almost lossless. In the event of any degradation from the UV light or general contamination of the Brewster window, it can be pushed forward by an appropriate amount in order to ensure that the light can pass through undamaged. A rotating, circularly symmetrical window arranged at Brewster's angle could advantageously be used as a further exemplary embodiment.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the radiation barrier is created with a width B that is greater than or equal to an inner diameter D of the disinfection chamber. In this way it is ensured that the gas or liquid flow deflected by the flow guide elements must flow through the radiation barrier, advantageously several times. This increases the exposure time of the UV radiation to the substance to be disinfected.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the gas and/or liquid flow is passed through the radiation barrier several times. In this way it is ensured that the gas or liquid flow deflected by the flow guide elements must flow through the radiation barrier, advantageously several times. This increases the exposure time of the UV radiation to the substance to be disinfected. In a further embodiment of the invention, the radiation barrier is deflected. The radiation barrier is deflected by suitable optical components in such a way that it is radiated back into the disinfection chamber at an angle to the primary radiation barrier (secondary radiation barrier). This also increases the exposure time of the UV radiation to the substance to be disinfected. It is also possible to deflect the radiation barrier to introduce the radiation barrier into further disinfection chambers. A plurality of disinfection chambers are thus operated by means of a beam source.

In a development of the invention, as a result of the deflection of the radiation barrier, several radiation barrier sections are created in the disinfection chamber. The flow of gas or liquid is conducted multiple times through the radiation barrier sections due to the flow guide elements. This also increases the exposure time of the UV radiation to the substance to be disinfected.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the radiation from the radiation barrier is laser radiation. UV light, especially the UV-C spectrum, is suitable for effectively deactivating bacteria and viruses. UV-C is the spectrum between 280 and 100 nanometers (nm) wavelength. In contrast to the UV-A (380 nm-315 nm) and UV-B range (315 nm-280 nm), this range of UV light is almost completely absorbed by the oxygen in the atmosphere and does not reach the earth's surface under natural conditions . Within the UV-C spectrum, you have to differentiate again according to the biological effect. Proteins in particular absorb at 280 nm - especially as a component of the amino acid tryptophan - which leads to denaturation. At 265 nm, nucleic acids are particularly damaged by dimerization of the base thymine. Nucleic acids in particular absorb in the range of 245 nm, while there is an absorption minimum for proteins in this range, which allows the technical application of a narrow frequency spectrum, for example for the disinfection of protein solutions. In a further embodiment of the invention, the entire gas and/or liquid flow is guided through several volume areas of the disinfection chamber. This has the advantage that the entire gas and/or liquid flow is guided through at least one radiation barrier and it is thus ensured that the entire gas and/or liquid flow has been disinfected when it leaves the disinfection reactor.

The task is also solved by means of a disinfection reactor for the disinfection of liquids and/or gases.

The disinfection reactor according to the invention for disinfecting liquids and/or gases has a disinfection chamber which has an inlet and an outlet for the substance to be disinfected. Furthermore, the disinfection chamber has a chamber wall. The disinfection chamber according to the invention also has a flow directing element. The disinfection chamber additionally has a radiation element that is suitable for generating a radiation barrier in the disinfection chamber.

According to the invention, the disinfection chamber has several volume areas that are completely separated from one another by the radiation barrier, the flow guide element and the chamber wall. The flow of gas or liquid is passed through the radiation barrier several times due to the flow guide element. This increases the exposure time of the UV radiation to the substance to be disinfected.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the flow guide element has a flow guide surface. The gas or liquid flow is guided through the flow guide surfaces inside the disinfection chamber. This increases the exposure time of the UV radiation to the substance to be disinfected.

In a development of the invention, the flow guide surface has a curved surface. The gas flow or liquid flow is such at the flow guide distracted that he is crossing/cutting the radiation barrier. The gas or liquid flow is guided through the flow guide surfaces inside the disinfection chamber. This increases the exposure time of the UV radiation to the substance to be disinfected.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the disinfection chamber has a plurality of flow-guiding elements and/or flow-guiding surfaces. The disinfection chamber can be enlarged by installing further flow control elements of the same type. In addition, the production costs of a flow guide element are reduced due to possible series production.

In a further embodiment of the invention, each volume area is separated from an adjacent volume area by at least one radiation barrier. The flow of gas or liquid is conducted multiple times through the radiation barrier sections due to the flow guide elements. This also increases the exposure time of the UV radiation to the substance to be disinfected.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the disinfection chamber has a number of radiation barriers. The radiation barrier is deflected by suitable optical components in such a way that it is radiated back into the disinfection chamber at an angle to the primary radiation barrier (secondary radiation barrier). This also increases the exposure time of the UV radiation to the substance to be disinfected.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the disinfection chamber has a transparent window for the radiation generated by the radiation element. The transparent window can be positioned at Brewster's angle to allow polarized radiation to enter and/or exit the disinfection chamber. The window can also be made slidable to prevent entry of the radiation barrier. In a development of the invention, the disinfection chamber has elements for deflecting the radiation generated by the radiation element. The radiation barrier can, for example, be introduced into further disinfection chambers. A plurality of disinfection chambers are thus operated by means of a beam source.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the inlet is separated from the outlet by a number of volume areas. The flow of gas or liquid is conducted multiple times through the radiation barrier sections due to the flow guide elements. This also increases the exposure time of the UV radiation to the substance to be disinfected.

Exemplary embodiments of the disinfection reactor according to the invention and the method according to the invention for the disinfection of liquids or gases are shown schematically in simplified form in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description.

Show it:

Fig. 1: Disinfection reactor with radiation source

Fig. 2 a: Disinfection reactor with concave flow guide elements - side view

Fig. 2 b: Disinfection reactor with concave flow guide elements - top view

Fig. 2 c: Disinfection reactor with concave flow guide elements - perspective

Opinion

Fig. 3 a) - c): Disinfection reactor as a vortex chamber with two radiation barriers Fig. 4: Disinfection reactor for diverging radiation barriers

Fig. 5 a: Disinfection reactor with convex flow guide elements - side view Fig. 5 b: Disinfection reactor with convex flow guide elements - perspective

Opinion

Fig. 6 a) - c): Disinfection reactor as a vortex chamber with a radiation barrier

1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a disinfection reactor 1 for the disinfection of gases and/or liquids. The disinfection reactor 1 has the disinfection chamber 100, which is delimited by the side walls 120, 130 on the sides, by the walls 140, 150 on the end faces and by walls on the top and bottom (not shown). The disinfection chamber 100 has openings 170, 180 suitable for the entry and exit of the substance to be disinfected (gas or fluid). The disinfection chamber 100 has two rows of flow guide elements 150 arranged parallel to one another, which are arranged opposite one another in such a way that the two rows are offset from one another by half the width of a flow guide element 150 . The flow guide elements 150 are arranged as separate components on the walls 110, 120 in the disinfection chamber 100.

The flow guide elements 150 each have a flow guide surface 160 on the concavely curved side, along which the gas or liquid flow is guided. A flow guide element 150 essentially has the shape of a halved cylinder. Other shapes of the flow directing elements 150 are also possible, e.g. B. a sawtooth shape. All that is necessary is a suitable shape so that the gas or liquid flow is deflected around the central axis of the disinfection chamber 100 .

The beam source 290 is a laser that generates radiation with a wavelength in the UV range, preferably in the UV-C range (280 nm to 100 nm). The radiation of the laser 290 is radiated into the disinfection chamber 100 through a window 210 that is transparent to the radiation. The laser 290 has a beam shaping element 240 with which the laser beam is expanded into a plane. The laser beam enters the disinfection chamber 100 through a window 210 . The laser radiation forms 100 in the disinfection chamber a radiation barrier 200 running along the longitudinal axis in the central axis of the disinfection chamber 100.

The disinfection chamber 100 has an exit window 220 on the side of the disinfection chamber 100 which is opposite the entry window 210 . The laser barrier 200 can therefore be guided into further disinfection chambers 100, e.g. by means of deflection optics 230. The entrance window 210, like the exit window 220, can be displaced perpendicular to the plane of the laser barrier 200.

The radiation barrier 200 is set up in the disinfection chamber 100 in order to disinfect a gas or a liquid. In this exemplary embodiment, the radiation barrier 200 runs along the longitudinal axis in the central axis of the disinfection chamber 100. The substance to be disinfected is guided into the disinfection chamber 100 via the inlet 170 in such a way that a continuous flow of gas or liquid forms in the disinfection chamber 100. The gas or liquid flow optimally has a constant flow rate (volume/time unit) during the disinfection process. The substance to be disinfected leaves the disinfection chamber 100 via the outlet 180. Between the inlet 170 and the outlet 180, the gas or liquid flow is guided through the flow control surfaces 160 of the flow control elements 150 through the laser barrier 200, advantageously in a plurality of volume areas formed by the flow control elements 150, what increases the time that the laser barrier 200 can act on the substance to be disinfected.

A variant of the disinfection reactor 1 according to the invention for the disinfection of gases and/or liquids is shown in FIG. 2. The disinfection chamber 100 corresponds to the disinfection chamber 100 described in FIG. 1 (FIGS. 2a, 2b). The radiation of the laser 290 is radiated into the disinfection chamber 100 through a window 210 that is transparent to the radiation. The collimator optics, not shown in FIG. 2, such as a cylindrical lens, are also located at this point. In an alternative embodiment, the cylindrical lens can also be designed to be displaceable and/or as an entry window of the disinfection chamber 100 serve. The laser 290 has a beam shaping element 240 with which the laser beam is expanded. The laser beam enters the disinfection chamber 100 through a window 210 . The laser radiation forms a radiation barrier 200 in the disinfection chamber 100 which runs along the longitudinal axis in the central axis of the disinfection chamber 100 . In this and the previous exemplary embodiment ( FIG. 1 ), the radiation barrier 200 has a width B that corresponds to the width of the disinfection chamber 100 . In contrast to the previous exemplary embodiment (FIG. 1), in this exemplary embodiment (FIG. 2c), the entry window 210 is arranged at the Brewster angle.

Fig. 2 illustrates the method for disinfecting a gas or a liquid. The disinfection chamber 100 has two rows of flow guide elements 150 arranged parallel to one another, which are arranged opposite one another in such a way that the two rows are offset from one another by half the width of a flow guide element 150 . The flow guide elements 150 each have a curved flow guide surface 160 along which the gas or liquid flow is guided. The radiation barrier 200 is set up in the disinfection chamber 100 in order to disinfect a gas or a liquid. The radiation barrier 200 runs exactly in the middle between the two rows of flow guide elements 150. Between inlet 170 and outlet 180, the gas or liquid flow is guided through the flow guide surfaces 160 of the flow guide elements 150 through the laser barrier 200, advantageously at several points, which reduces the time increases that the laser barrier 200 can act on the substance to be disinfected.

Another exemplary embodiment of the disinfection reactor 1 according to the invention is shown in FIG. 4. The disinfection chamber 100 also has two rows of flow guide elements 150 arranged parallel to one another, which are arranged opposite one another in such a way that the two rows are offset from one another by half the width of a flow guide element 150. The flow guide elements 150 each have a curved flow guide surface 160 along which the gas or liquid flow is guided. In this exemplary embodiment, the disinfection chamber 100 has walls 190, 191 on the top and bottom, which are arranged at an angle to the central axis of the disinfection chamber 100 . The walls 190, 191 are mirrored in such a way that the laser barrier 200 does not exit the disinfection chamber 100. Alternatively, the wall 190, 191 can also act as a beam limiter without being mirrored. The radiation barrier 200 has a width B which follows the course of the walls 190, 191.

5 shows a further variant of flow guidance elements 150. The disinfection chamber 100 also has two rows of flow guidance elements 150 arranged parallel to one another, which are arranged opposite one another in such a way that the two rows are offset from one another by half the width of a flow guidance element 150. The flow guide elements 150 each have a flow guide surface 160 on the convexly curved side, along which the gas or liquid flow is guided (FIG. 5a). The radiation of the laser 290 is radiated into the disinfection chamber 100 through a window 210 that is transparent to the radiation. The laser beam enters the disinfection chamber 100 through a window 210 . The laser radiation forms a radiation barrier 200 in the disinfection chamber 100, which runs along the longitudinal axis in the central axis of the disinfection chamber 100 (FIG. 5b). In terms of further structure, this exemplary embodiment corresponds to the disinfection reactor 1 shown in FIG.

Another exemplary embodiment of a disinfection chamber 100 is shown in FIG. 6. The disinfection chamber 100 has a circular cross section with an internal diameter D (FIG. 6a). In the disinfection chamber 100, the flow guide element 150 is formed by the cylinder wall 110, so that the flow of the fluid or gas conducted through the disinfection chamber 150 forms a spiral (vortex) in the longitudinal direction of the disinfection chamber 100 (FIG. 6b). The flow directing surface 160 is the entire cylindrical wall surface 110 of the volute.

The radiation of the laser 290 is radiated into the disinfection chamber 100 through a window 210 that is transparent to the radiation. The laser 290 has a beam shaping element 240 (not shown) with which the laser beam is expanded in one plane and is collimated. Optionally, the element for shaping the beam 240 (eg a collimator) can also be arranged outside of the disinfection chamber 100 . Furthermore, the element for beam shaping 240 can also be embodied as a scan system. The laser beam enters the disinfection chamber 100 through a window 210 . The laser radiation forms a radiation barrier 200 in the disinfection chamber 100 which runs along the longitudinal axis in the central axis of the disinfection chamber 100 .

The substance to be disinfected is fed into the disinfection chamber 100 via the inlet 170 in such a way that a continuous flow of gas or liquid forms in the disinfection chamber 100 . The substance to be disinfected leaves the disinfection chamber 100 via the outlet 180. Between the inlet 170 and the outlet 180, the gas or liquid flow is swirled by the flow guide surface 150 (FIG. 6c) and passed through the laser barrier 200 several times.

3 shows an exemplary embodiment of the disinfection chamber 100 according to the invention, in which two radiation barriers 200 are arranged. The disinfection chamber 100 has a circular cross section with an inner diameter D (FIG. 3c). A flow guide element 150 is arranged inside the disinfection chamber 100 in such a way that the flow guide element 150 forms a spiral (vortex) in the longitudinal direction of the disinfection chamber 150 (FIG. 3a). The flow guide surface 160 is the entire surface of the spiral 150. The radiation from the laser 290 is radiated into the disinfection chamber 100 through a window 210 that is transparent to the radiation. The laser 290 has a beam shaping element 240 with which the laser beam is expanded. The laser beam enters the disinfection chamber 100 through a window 210 . The laser radiation forms a primary radiation barrier 200 in the disinfection chamber 100 which runs along the longitudinal axis in the central axis of the disinfection chamber 100 . By means of suitable optical components 230, which are arranged on the side of the disinfection chamber 100 opposite the window 210, the radiation barrier 200 is deflected in such a way that it is irradiated into the disinfection chamber 100 at a perpendicular angle (Fig. 3b) to the radiation barrier 200 that is primarily irradiated (secondary radiation barrier). This also increases the exposure time of the UV radiation to the substance to be disinfected.

In another embodiment variant, not shown, adjustable flow control elements 150 of a Tesla valve can be used to control the

Flow rate or the vortex propagation / vortex effective range are used.

A laser beam with a beam divergence of approx. 0.55 mRad and a beam diameter of 1 mm is preferably used for the radiation. This guarantees an exponentially higher effective range compared to conventional, strongly diverging beam sources such as gas discharge lamps or LEDs. The power density remains almost the same over the path length. Absorption by air and pathogens is negligible.

To illustrate: the power density of a laser beam at the exit of the beam source 290 is largely unchanged even after a distance of several meters. If the laser beam expands, the divergence of the beam decreases according to the expansion factor, so that the power density is high enough to be effective even at a distance of 100 meters, for example. Consequently, it is irrelevant whether pathogenic substances pass through the laser beam directly at the exit of the beam source 290 or at some distance. If the laser beam is formed into a plane of light/wall of light 200 by multiple reflections, an effective, large-area barrier for pathogenic substances is ensured. Each passage point in the "radiation light wall" 200 experiences the same power density. When using line optics, such as a Powell lens, the power density of the laser beam is distributed homogeneously.

A diffraction-limited laser radiation with the diffraction index M2 close to 1 is preferred; 0.5mJ - 4mJ in the higher kHz range with a pulse duration of a few nanoseconds and a wavelength of 266nm. Lasers in the femtosecond - or picosecond - range, which usually generate a pulse peak power in the MW or GW range, as well as continuous lasers can also be used. In our embodiment, a pulse peak power of up to 250 kW is used.

An inexpensive UV-C laser with a lifetime of 50,000 hours is preferably used.

General advantages of the UV-C laser over conventional UV-C radiation sources for inactivating pathogens:

Unsurpassed, high pulse peak powers or high average powers can be generated. The light has a high spatial and temporal coherence. The narrow-band nature of the laser light compared to conventional, spontaneously emitting, broad-band light from gas discharge lamps, including LEDs, also ensures an increase in the inactivation of viruses.

The possibility of beam shaping of the laser and the resulting surface homogeneity and power density is significantly higher compared to conventional UV-C light.

The laser radiation can be directed to any desired location and "further processed".

Laser technology is the only way of cost-effective, efficient disinfection of pathogens such as viruses in large public facilities such as hospitals, schools, department stores, airports, hotels, train stations, offices and airplanes, etc. - disinfection in the shortest possible time, with the greatest possible water and air throughput . REFERENCE LIST

1 disinfection reactor

100 disinfection chamber

110 side panel

120 side panel

130 bulkhead

140 bulkhead

150 flow directing element

160 flow control surface

170 Gas Flow/Liquid Flow Inlet

180 outlet gas flow/liquid flow

190 wall at top

191 Wall on the underside 200 Radiation barrier 210 Transparent entry window 220 T ransparent exit window 230 Deflection optics 240 Element for beam shaping 290 Radiation element/beam source B Width of the radiation barrier

D diameter of the disinfection chamber

Vn volume area

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Process for the disinfection of liquids or gases, comprising the following process steps:

• Creation of a radiation barrier (200) in a disinfection chamber (100)

• Introducing a gas and/or liquid stream into the disinfection chamber (100)

• Guiding the gas and/or liquid flow through several volume areas (Vn) of the disinfection chamber (100)

• Discharge of the gas and/or liquid flow from the disinfection chamber (100), characterized in that the volume areas (Vn) in the disinfection chamber (100) are separated by the radiation barrier (200), a chamber wall (110, 120) and a flow guide surface (160 ) of a flow guide element (150) are formed and the volume areas are completely separated from one another by the chamber wall (110, 120), the radiation barrier (200) and the flow guide surface (160).

2. A method for disinfecting liquids or gases according to claim 1, characterized in that the flow guide element (150) is arranged as a separate component in the disinfection chamber (100).

3. A method for disinfecting liquids or gases according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the flow guide element (150) is attached to a wall (110, 120) of the disinfection chamber (100).

4. Method for disinfecting liquids or gases according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gas and/or liquid flow is directed through a flow guide element (150) with a plurality of flow guide surfaces (160) and/or through the flow guide surfaces (160) of a plurality of flow guide elements (150) is performed.

5. Method for disinfecting liquids or gases according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flow guide surface (160) has a curved surface along which the gas and/or liquid flow is guided.

6. Method for disinfecting liquids or gases according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the radiation from the radiation barrier (200) is radiated into the disinfection chamber (100) through a window (210) that is transparent to the radiation.

7. Method for disinfecting liquids or gases according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the radiation barrier (200) is produced with a width B that is greater than or equal to an inner diameter D of the disinfection chamber (100).

8. Method for the disinfection of liquids or gases according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gas and/or liquid flow is passed through the radiation barrier (200) several times.

9. Method for disinfecting liquids or gases according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the radiation barrier (200) is deflected.

10. Method for the disinfection of liquids or gases according to claim 9, characterized in that as a result of the deflection of the radiation barrier (200) several radiation barrier sections (Vn) arise in the disinfection chamber (100).

11. Method for disinfecting liquids or gases according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the radiation from the radiation barrier (200) is laser radiation.

12. Method for disinfecting liquids or gases according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the entire gas and/or liquid flow is guided through a plurality of volume areas (Vn) of the disinfection chamber (100).

13. Disinfection reactor (1) for disinfecting liquids and/or gases comprising:

• a disinfection chamber (100), the disinfection chamber (100) having an inlet (170) and an outlet (180) and a chamber wall (110, 120),

• a flow guide element (150),

• a radiation element (290) suitable for generating a radiation barrier (200) in the disinfection chamber (100). characterized in that the disinfection chamber (100) has a plurality of volume areas (Vn) which are completely separated from one another by the radiation barrier (200), the flow guide element (160) and the chamber wall (110, 120).

14. Disinfection reactor (1) for disinfecting liquids and/or gases according to claim 13, characterized in that the flow guide element (150) has a flow guide surface (160).

15. Disinfection reactor (1) for disinfecting liquids and/or gases according to claim 14, characterized in that the flow guide surface (160) has a curved surface.

16. Disinfection reactor (1) for disinfecting liquids and/or gases according to one or more of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the disinfection chamber (100) has a plurality of flow guide elements (150) and/or flow guide surfaces (160).

17. Disinfection reactor (1) for disinfecting liquids and/or gases according to claim 12, characterized in that each volume area (Vn) is separated from an adjacent volume area (Vn) by at least one radiation barrier (200).

18. Disinfection reactor (1) for disinfecting liquids and/or gases according to one or more of claims 13 to 17, characterized in that the disinfection chamber (100) has a plurality of radiation barriers (200).

19. Disinfection reactor (1) for the disinfection of liquids and/or gases according to one or more of claims 13 to 18, characterized in that the disinfection chamber (100) for the radiation element (290) generated

Radiation has a transparent window (210, 220).

20. Disinfection reactor (1) for disinfecting liquids and/or gases according to one or more of Claims 13 to 19, characterized in that the disinfection chamber (100) has elements for deflecting the

Radiating element (290) has generated radiation.

21. Disinfection reactor (1) for disinfecting liquids and/or gases according to one or more of claims 13 to 20, characterized in that the inlet (170) is separated from the outlet (180) by a plurality of volume areas.