Apparatus for photocatalytic fluid purification
First Claim
1. A reactor for use in the photocatalyzed conversion of contaminants in a fluid stream having a general flow direction, the reactor comprising:
- a light source;
a photocatalyst; and
a plurality of non-intersecting fins for placement within the fluid stream to provide support for the photocatalyst, the fins being oriented substantially parallel to the general flow direction of the fluid stream and substantially orthogonal to the light source, the fins being configured so that the light source illuminates the photocatalyst with light having a wavelength capable of activating the photocatalyst.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A compact, efficient reactor for the photocatalyzed conversion of contaminants in a fluid stream. The reactor includes a photocatalyst disposed on a support structure with a light source in optical proximity to the support structure to activate the photocatalyst. In one embodiment of the invention, the support structure includes multiple non-intersecting fins oriented parallel to the general flow direction of the fluid stream to provide a reactor with low pressure drop and adequate mass transfer of the contaminant to the photocatalyst disposed on the surface of the fins. The light source includes one or more lamps that may penetrate the fins to provide efficient illumination of the photocatalyst. The fins may be flat or pleated. In an alternative embodiment, the fins are pleated and composed of a porous material. These fins are oriented so that the fluid stream flows through the fins. In another embodiment, the support structure includes one or more cylinders having pleated inner surfaces with longitudinal lamps disposed within the cylinders. The photocatalyst is deposited on the inner surface of the cylinder to convert contaminants flowing through the cylinder. The reactor is designed for ease of support structure or light source removal or replacement and may be used as a modular subassembly in a larger fluid purification unit.
113 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A reactor for use in the photocatalyzed conversion of contaminants in a fluid stream having a general flow direction, the reactor comprising:
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a light source; a photocatalyst; and a plurality of non-intersecting fins for placement within the fluid stream to provide support for the photocatalyst, the fins being oriented substantially parallel to the general flow direction of the fluid stream and substantially orthogonal to the light source, the fins being configured so that the light source illuminates the photocatalyst with light having a wavelength capable of activating the photocatalyst. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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8. A reactor for use in the photocatalyzed conversion of contaminants in a fluid stream having a general flow direction, the reactor comprising:
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a plurality of non-intersecting fins for placement within the fluid stream, the fins being positioned approximately parallel to the flow direction of the fluid stream and radiating approximately orthogonally from a central core, the central core having an outer circumference, the fins being approximately evenly spaced around the outer circumference of the central core; a photocatalyst disposed on the fins; and a light source comprising one or more annular lamps disposed approximately concentrically around the central core, the lamps penetrating the fins and configured so that the light source illuminates the photocatalyst with light having a wavelength capable of activating the photocatalyst.
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9. A reactor for use in the photocatalyzed conversion of compounds in a fluid stream having a general flow direction, the reactor comprising:
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a light source comprising one or more lamps; a photocatalyst; one or more fins for placement within the fluid stream to support the photocatalyst, each fin comprising one or more pleats, the pleats aligned substantially parallel to the direction of the fluid stream, the lamps and fins configured to minimize shadowing in the pleats and illuminate the photocatalyst with an activating amount of light. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A reactor for use in the photocatalyzed conversion of contaminants in a fluid stream having a general flow direction, the reactor comprising:
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one or more fins for placement within the fluid stream, each fin comprising one or more pleats for contact with the fluid stream, each fin further comprising a porous material through which the fluid stream can flow, a photocatalyst disposed on the fins; and a light source comprising one or more longitudinal lamps wherein each lamp has a longitudinal axis, at least one of the lamps being oriented with respect to each fin so that the longitudinal axis of the oriented lamp is perpendicular to the pleats of the fin to provide light to illuminate the photocatalyst.
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12. A reactor for use in the photocatalyzed conversion of compounds in a fluid stream having a general flow direction, the reactor comprising:
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two or more cylinders disposed in a formed block and oriented to allow passage of the fluid stream flowing in the general flow direction through each cylinder, each cylinder comprising an inner surface and a longitudinal axis, the inner surface of each cylinder having one or more pleats running substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder; a photocatalyst disposed on the inner surface of each cylinder; and a light source positioned longitudinally within each cylinder to illuminate the photocatalyst with light having a wavelength capable of activating the photocatalyst. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A reactor for use in the photocatalyzed conversion of compounds in a fluid stream having a general flow direction, the reactor comprising:
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a plurality of annular fins stacked in a spaced-apart manner to form a column having a central cavity, the central cavity being oriented to receive the fluid stream flowing in the general flow direction; a rotation device coupled to the column of fins for rotating the fins to produce a centrifugal force on the fluid stream resulting in fluid flow between the spaced-apart fins; a photocatalyst disposed on the plurality of fins; and a light source in optical proximity and substantially orthogonal to the fins to illuminate the photocatalyst with light having a wavelength capable of activating the photocatalyst.
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Specification