Continuous-flow solar ultraviolet disinfection system for drinking water

摘要

Potable drinking water is a scarce resource in many parts of developing countries, especially rural areas. Due to limited financial means of these countries, low cost point-of-use systems are thought to be appropriate technology to treat water. Systems using solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation could be successful since many vulnerable countries are located where solar radiation is intense and abundant throughout the year. The goal of this disclosure is to develop a simple and low cost point-of-use solar UV reactor to disinfect water. In this disclosure wavelength-dependent microbial dose-response behavior was investigated using surrogates to pathogenic microbes. A solar radiation prediction method based on the SMARTS model was used to predict solar UV intensity as function of geographic location and time. A numerical modeling procedure using the discrete ordinate (DO) model and CFD software (FLUENT) was used to simulate UV dose (distribution) delivery to microorganisms. Then, the dose distribution was combined with the dose response behavior using a segregated flow model to predict microbial inactivation by the reactor. A prototype was produced and tested to validate the numerical modeling procedure. The inactivation results from the prototype were in agreement with numerical inactivation prediction. The modeling procedure permits parameters such as reactor dimensions and material properties to be varied to meet a treatment goal.

主权项

1. A solar disinfection reactor comprising:
a compound parabolic collector, wherein the collector includes an ultraviolet B (UVB) reflective coating, the UVB reflective coating is a metallized plastic film; a UVB transmissive receiver pipe supported in the focal area of the compound parabolic collector, wherein the UVB transmissive receiver pipe is at least 50% transmissive, and wherein the UVB transmissive receiver pipe is quartz, polystyrene, or fluoroethylenepropylene; at least one water storage container fluidly coupled to the UVB transmissive receiver pipe; a fluid flow system for delivering water under a constant flow rate from the at least one water storage container through the UVB transmissive receiver pipe; and wherein the collector is configured to collect solar UVB radiation and utilize the radiation to disinfect water.