KR20130121364A - Sterilization system using light emitting diode - Google Patents

Abstract

A sterilization system using a light emitting diode is provided. The sterilization system sterilizes induced water, comprises a sterilization detection unit which detects whether microorganisms exist in the sterilized water, and simply detects whether the water is sterilized or not by detecting the light amount change corresponding to whether the microorganisms exist or not. A filtering unit is additionally comprised to filter the microorganism contained in the water which is passed through the sterilization detection unit, to repeatedly remove the remaining microorganism until the microorganism level satisfies a reference value, which facilitates a safe and efficient sterilization. The system is suitable for small area sterilization by an integral system of the whole process. [Reference numerals] (100) Sterilization unit;(120) Sterilization detection unit;(140) Judgment control unit;(160) Filtering unit;(AA) Inflow process water;(BB) Discharge process water

Description

Sterilization system using light emitting diode

The present invention relates to a sterilization system, and more particularly, to a sterilization system capable of confirming sterilization of treated water using a light emitting diode.

Due to the rapid development of industry and the improvement of living standards, there is a shortage of water resources and environmental pollution. As an alternative, methods for efficiently purifying sewage, sewage, and wastewater have been reviewed and developed in various ways. Usually, the chlorine disinfection method, the ozone treatment method, the ultraviolet irradiation method, etc. are used for the method of purifying sewage, wastewater, and wastewater.

The chlorine sterilization method is a method of sterilization using chlorine sterilization after pretreatment such as precipitation filtration. However, since trihalomethane (TMH) produced as a byproduct during sterilization is a carcinogen, an additional post-treatment process is required to remove it. In addition, ozone treatment is a method of sterilization using the sterilization action of ozone. However, when ozone generated during sterilization is discharged into the air, it causes pollution of the air, and thus an additional post-treatment process for removing the ozone emitted is required. In addition, the ultraviolet irradiation method is a method of irradiating an ultraviolet-ray using the ultraviolet lamp which has an electrode with a mercury gas generally filled. However, due to the blackening of the electrode during the continuous sterilization treatment, the radiation dose of ultraviolet rays is reduced, the removal efficiency is reduced, the life is shortened to about 5,000 hours.

In addition, the chlorine disinfection method, ozone treatment method or ultraviolet irradiation method is usually used for large-scale sterilization system because the installation, operation, maintenance of the facility is a considerable cost, so that a sterilization system that can be efficiently used on a small scale, such as household sterilization treatment need.

Furthermore, in order to confirm whether microorganisms or suspended solids remain in the sterilized treated water, a method of indirectly estimating through the concentration of residual chlorine or the sterilization treatment time is used. However, this is not a direct means, it was difficult to confirm whether the treated water is actually sterilized.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a sterilization system that can detect the sterilization of the treated water.

Further, when the microorganisms remain in the sterilization unit for sterilizing the treated water, the sterilization detection unit capable of confirming the presence of microorganisms remaining in the treated water passing through the sterilization unit and the treated water passing through the sterilization detection unit, The removable filtration unit is integrated to provide a sterilization system suitable for small scale sterilization.

One aspect of the present invention to achieve the above object provides a sterilization system using a light emitting diode. The sterilization system is a sterilization unit for sterilizing the treated water introduced and discharged, the sterilization detection unit for detecting the presence of microorganisms in the sterilized treated water and the discharge of the treated water depending on the presence of the microorganisms selectively It includes a decision control unit for controlling.

The sterilization unit may include at least one germicidal light emitting diode that emits light of a first wavelength for sterilizing the microorganism, and the first wavelength may include a range of 200 nm to 300 nm.

The sterilization detector detects a change in light quantity corresponding to the presence or absence of the microorganism, but includes at least one sensing light emitting diode and a quantity of light emitted from the light emitting diode and the treatment to emit light having a second wavelength absorbed by the microorganism. Including a light receiving unit for sensing the amount of light transmitted through the water, the second wavelength may include a range of 500nm ~ 600nm.

The determination control unit discharges the treated water to the sterilization unit or to the outside according to the change in the amount of light, and if the change in the amount of light is equal to or more than a preset value, discharges the treated water to the sterilization unit, and the change in the amount of light is set in advance. If less than the value, the treated water can be discharged to the outside.

Further comprising a filtration unit for filtering the microorganisms of the treated water passing through the sterilization detecting unit, the filtration unit may include a separation membrane having pores corresponding to the size of the microorganism.

According to the sterilization system of the present invention, including a sterilization detector for detecting a change in the amount of light corresponding to the presence or absence of microorganisms in the treated water, it is possible to check whether the microorganisms remain in the treated water, and whether or not the sterilized treated water directly Judgment is possible. In addition, by using a light emitting diode that emits light in the wavelength region that can identify the cell wall or cell membrane of the microorganism, it is possible to determine whether sterilization of the treated water is simple and easy.

In addition, it is possible to sterilize the introduced treated water and confirm whether or not the sterilized treated water is sterilized to remove the remaining microorganisms again until the amount of microorganisms remaining in the treated water satisfies the reference value. Safe sterilization is possible. In addition, it is possible to prevent secondary contamination due to by-products by using a combination of ultraviolet irradiation and sterilization and filtering using a separation membrane. Furthermore, the performance of the process is integrally possible in one system and suitable for small scale sterilization.

The technical effects of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other technical effects not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a sterilization system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a flowchart illustrating processing steps of a determination controller according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a sterilization system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein but may be embodied in other forms and includes all equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification.

1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a sterilization system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the treated water flows into the sterilization detecting unit 10. The treated water may be water that has been sterilized. The sterilization detection unit 10 may be connected to a reservoir (not shown) in which sterilized water is stored. For example, the sterilization detecting unit 10 may have an inlet (not shown) having a tubular shape, and the inlet may be inserted into a groove formed on one surface of the reservoir. At this time, the sterilization detection unit 10 may be fixed to one surface of the reservoir including a fixing means. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the sterilization detecting unit 10 may be connected in any manner, as long as it is a space in which sterilized water is stored.

The sterilization detection unit 10 detects a change in the amount of light corresponding to the presence or absence of microorganisms in the treated water. The sterilization detecting unit 10 may include at least one sensing light emitting diode 12 for irradiating light into the treated water. Since the amount of light irradiated through the sensing light emitting diode 12 is reduced while passing through the treated water is proportional to the amount of microorganisms present in the treated water, it may be detected to determine whether the treated water is sterilized. In addition, the sterilization detection unit 10 may further include a display unit (not shown) which displays the user so that the user can visually check whether the microorganisms remain.

The sensing light emitting diode 12 has advantages such as environmental friendliness, long life, low power consumption, high efficiency light emitting property, and the like. At least one sensing light emitting diode 12 may be provided. The number of the light emitting diodes may be variously changed according to the source of the treated water or the sterilization purpose of the treated water. The light emitting diode is preferably arranged so as not to contact the treated water. In addition, when the plurality of light emitting diodes are disposed, it is preferable that the plurality of light emitting diodes are disposed in an assembly form so that the plurality of light emitting diodes may be integrally mounted or separated.

The sensing light emitting diode 12 may emit light having a wavelength absorbed by the microorganisms present in the treated water. For example, the light may have a wavelength such that the cell wall or cell membrane of the microorganism is not destroyed. For example, the wavelength may be 500 nm to 600 nm. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the wavelength may be changed according to the source of the treated water so as to confirm the presence or absence of a specific microorganism. In addition, the sensing light emitting diode 12 may be connected to a power supply (not shown) to generate light.

When irradiating light of a specific wavelength that can be absorbed by the microorganisms as described above, the microorganisms present in the introduced treated water absorbs the light of the wavelength, thereby reducing the amount of light passing through the treated water. The decrease in the amount of light is proportional to the content of microorganisms present in the treated water. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether the microorganisms remain in the treated water by sensing the change in the amount of light.

In addition, the sterilization detecting unit 10 includes a light receiving unit 14 for detecting the amount of light emitted from the sensing light emitting diode 12 and the amount of light passing through the treated water.

When the light receiving unit 14 emits light to the treated water introduced from the sensing light emitting diode 12, the light receiving unit 14 receives the amount of light emitted from the sensing light emitting diode 12 and the amount of light passing through the treated water. The converted light quantity may be converted into data and output as an electrical signal. The spacing of the sensing light emitting diodes 12 and the light receiving portion 14 may be variously adjusted according to turbidity of the treated water. In addition, the light receiving unit 14 transmits the light quantity data converted into an electrical signal and output to the decision controller 20.

The sterilization detection unit 10 may be connected to a discharge valve 16 for discharging the treated water, which has been confirmed whether microorganisms remain, and a transmission valve 18 for transmitting to the sterilization unit 30. Therefore, the treated water may be discharged to the outside through the discharge valve 16 or discharged to the sterilization unit 30 through the transfer valve 18 according to the content of the microorganisms remaining in the treated water to be further sterilized. have. Description of the sterilization unit 30 will be described later.

The opening and closing of the discharge valve 16 and the transfer valve 18 may be determined according to a control signal generated by the determination controller 20.

The determination control unit 20 selectively controls the discharge of the treated water according to the presence of microorganisms in the treated water. The determination control unit 20 is connected to the light receiving unit 14 to receive an electrical signal of the light quantity data output from the light receiving unit 14 and compare with a predetermined value, the microorganisms remaining in the treated water through the comparison result It determines whether or not it is converted into a control signal and output.

For example, the predetermined value of the determination controller 20 may be a value corresponding to a difference between the amount of light emitted from the sensing light emitting diode 12 and the amount of light transmitted through the treated water, that is, the degree of change in the amount of light. Therefore, when the degree of change in the amount of light is greater than or equal to the predetermined value, the determination controller 20 determines that the microorganisms remain. In this case, the determination control unit 20 may discharge the treated water to the sterilization unit 30. On the other hand, if the degree of change in the amount of light is less than the predetermined value, the determination controller 20 determines that no microorganisms remain. In this case, the determination control unit 20 may discharge the treated water to the outside. That is, whether the microorganisms remain is determined according to a predetermined value. The value may be variously changed depending on the purpose of using the treated water.

2 is a flowchart illustrating processing steps of a determination controller according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1 and 2, the determination controller 20 may have a preset value. The determination control unit 20 receives an electrical signal of the light amount data output from the light receiving unit 14 (S1). Thereafter, the electrical signal of the received light quantity data is compared with a preset value (S2). According to the comparison result, the determination controller 20 may generate a control signal.

That is, when the change in the amount of light calculated from the light amount data received from the light receiving unit 14 is less than the preset value, the decision control unit 20 discharges the discharge connected to the sterilization detecting unit 10. A control signal for opening the valve 16 may be generated (S3). According to the control signal, the discharge valve 16 is opened, and the treated water may be discharged to the outside. On the other hand, when the change in the amount of light calculated from the light amount data received from the light receiving unit 14 is greater than or equal to the preset value, the determination control unit 20 outputs a control signal for discharging the treated water to the sterilization unit 30. Can be generated (S4). According to the control signal, the transfer valve 18 may be opened, and the treated water may be discharged to the sterilization unit 30.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the sterilization unit 30 sterilizes the treated water. The sterilization unit 30 may include at least one germicidal light emitting diode 32. The germicidal light emitting diode 32 may emit a wavelength for sterilizing microorganisms. The wavelength may include 200 nm to 300 nm. When the light of the wavelength is directly irradiated to the microorganism, it is possible to sterilize the treated water by destroying the cell wall or cell membrane of the microorganism. In this case, a reflector (not shown) may be installed in the sterilization unit 30. The reflector may be formed over the entire surface of the inner wall of the sterilization unit 30 to reflect the light emitted from the light emitting diode. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be selectively formed only on a portion where ultraviolet rays are intensively reflected.

Through this, the germicidal effect may be improved by absorbing the light emitted from the germicidal light emitting diode 32 or reflecting the light without passing it outside. The reflective plate may be attached to foreign substances such as microorganisms during the continuous sterilization treatment. In this case, since the light reflectance may be lowered and have a direct influence on the sterilization effect, it is preferable to further include a washing means (not shown) to remove it. For example, the cleaning means may be a cleaning device for moving the left and right along the channel of the sterilization unit 30 to remove the foreign matter attached to the reflecting plate. In addition, it is preferable to further include a carrying out means (not shown) for carrying out the removed foreign matter. For example, the carrying out means may be an underwater pump.

The sterilization unit 30 may be located at the front or rear of the sterilization detection unit 10. That is, the treated water flowing through the reservoir tank is sterilized through the sterilization unit 30, and then sterilization may be confirmed through the sterilization detecting unit 10. In addition, the treated water is discharged to the sterilization unit 30 after it is determined that the sterilization in the sterilization detection unit 10, the microorganisms remaining to remove the remaining microorganisms.

In addition, the sterilization unit 30 may be turned on / off depending on whether the treated water is introduced. That is, when the treated water flows into the sterilization unit 30 through the transfer valve 18 connected to the sterilization detecting unit 10, the sterilization unit 30 may be turned on by sensing the flow rate of the treated water. .

To this end, the sterilization unit 30 may be provided with at least one flow rate detection unit 34. For example, the flow sensor 34 may be a flow sensor. Therefore, when the flow rate sensor detects the flow rate of the treated water, converts it into an electrical signal, and outputs it, the determination controller 20 receives this to generate a control signal to turn on the power of the sterilization unit 30 ( on).

As described above, the microorganisms remaining in the treated water may be identified and removed through the sterilization detection unit 10, the determination control unit 20, and the sterilization unit 30.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a sterilization system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the treated water flows into the sterilization unit 100. The treated water may be water that is not sterilized. The sterilization unit 100 may be connected to a flow rate adjustment tank in which the treated water is temporarily stored. The flow rate adjustment tank may further increase the treatment efficiency of the sterilization system by absorbing and equalizing the fluctuations in the flow rate and the water quality of the inflow sewage. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the sterilization unit 100 may be connected to any space in which the untreated sterilized water is stored.

The sterilization unit 100 may include at least one sterilization light emitting diode 102. In addition, the sterilization unit 100 may be turned on / off depending on whether the treated water is introduced. To this end, the flow rate detection unit 104 may be provided in the sterilization unit 100. Since the sterilization unit 100 is the same as the sterilization unit 30 of FIG. 1, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The sterilization detection unit 120 is connected to the sterilization unit 100, the sensing light emitting diode 122 for irradiating light to the treated water received, receives the light passing through the treated water, and receives the amount of light received The light receiving unit 124 may be converted into a signal and output. Since the sterilization detection unit 120 is the same as the sterilization detection unit 10 described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The sterilization detection unit 120 may be connected to a discharge valve 126 for discharging the treated water, which has been confirmed whether microorganisms remain, to the outside, and a transmission valve 128 for discharging the filter 160 to be described later. Therefore, the treated water may be discharged to the outside through the discharge valve 126 or may be transmitted to the filtration unit 160 through the transfer valve 128 according to the content of the microorganisms remaining in the treated water to perform additional filtration. . Description of the filtration unit 160 will be described later.

The opening and closing of the discharge valve 126 and the transfer valve 128 may be determined according to a control signal generated by the determination controller 140.

The determination controller 140 may generate a control signal according to the output signal of the light receiver 124. For example, the determination controller 140 may have a preset value. The determination controller 140 may receive an electrical signal output from the light receiver 124 and compare it with a preset value to generate a control signal according to the comparison result.

That is, when the change in the amount of light calculated from the light amount data received from the light receiving unit 124 is less than the preset value, the decision controller 140 discharges the water connected to the sterilization detector 120. A control signal for opening the valve 126 may be generated. According to the control signal, the discharge valve 126 may be opened, and the treated water may be discharged to the outside. On the other hand, when the change in the amount of light calculated from the light amount data received from the light receiving unit 124 is greater than or equal to the preset value, the determination controller 140 may provide a control signal for discharging the treated water to the filtration unit 160. Can be generated. The treated water may be discharged to the filtration unit 160 according to the control signal.

The filter unit 160 filters the remaining microorganisms of the treated water that has passed through the sterilization detecting unit 120. For example, the filtration unit 160 may include a separator (not shown) having pores corresponding to the size of the microorganisms remaining in the treated water. For example, the filtration unit 160 removes the microorganisms remaining in the treated water that has already been sterilized, so that the pore size of the separation membrane may be 1μm ~ 5μm. However, it is not limited thereto, and may have a suitable pore size in some cases. The filtration capacity of the treated water may be increased by stacking a plurality of modules provided with the separator in the filtration unit 160. At this time, when the performance of the separation membrane is degraded by contamination of the foreign matter by continuous filtration, it is preferable to restore the performance of the separation membrane by supplying a cleaning solution and circulating for a predetermined time.

For example, the separation membrane may be a micro-filtration membrane (MF), an ultra-filtration membrane (UF), or a nano-filtration membrane (NF). In addition, the filtration unit 160 may include adsorption means for removing residual microorganisms by adsorption. For example, the adsorption means may be granular activated carbon, which has a large specific surface area and fine pores, thereby efficiently removing the remaining microorganisms by adsorption.

The filtering unit 160 may be located between the sterilization detecting unit 120 and the sterilizing unit 100. Therefore, after confirming whether the sterilization of the treated water through the sterilization detecting unit 120, if the microorganisms remain is transmitted to the filtering unit 160, the treated water passing through the filtering unit 160 is the sterilization unit May be retransmitted to 100. At this time, the power of the sterilization unit 100 may be turned on / off depending on whether the treated water is introduced.

The sterilization unit 100, the sterilization detection unit 120, and the filter unit 160 may be provided in one body. The body may be formed in a cylindrical shape having a space therein, an inlet for introducing the treatment water and an outlet for discharging the treatment water may be formed at both ends of the body. A plurality of partition plates may be formed in the body to partition the sterilization unit 100, the sterilization detection unit 120, and the filtration unit 160, respectively. This allows the performance of the sterilization process to be integrated in one system and is suitable for small scale sterilization.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, but, on the contrary, This is possible.

10, 120: sterilization detection unit 12, 122: detection light emitting diode
14 and 124: light receiving unit 20, 140: judgment control unit
30, 100: sterilization part 32, 102: sterilization light emitting diode
160: filtration unit

Claims (10)

Sterilization unit for sterilizing the treated water introduced and discharged;
A sterilization detecting unit for detecting whether microorganisms exist in the sterilized treated water; And
Sterilization system including a determination control unit for selectively controlling the discharge of the treated water in accordance with the presence of the microorganisms. The method of claim 1,
The sterilization system includes at least one sterilizing light emitting diode that emits light of a first wavelength for sterilizing the microorganism. 3. The method of claim 2,
The first wavelength is a sterilization system comprising a range of 200nm ~ 300nm. The method of claim 1,
The sterilization detection unit sterilization system for detecting a change in the amount of light corresponding to the presence of the microorganism. 5. The method of claim 4,
The sterilization detection unit,
At least one sensing light emitting diode emitting light of a second wavelength absorbed by the microorganism; And
A sterilization system including a light receiving unit for detecting the amount of light emitted from the light emitting diode and the amount of light transmitted through the treated water. The method of claim 5,
The second wavelength is a sterilization system comprising a range of 500nm to 600nm. The method of claim 1,
The determination control unit is a sterilization system for discharging the treated water to the sterilization unit or to the outside according to the change in the amount of light. The method of claim 7, wherein
The determination control unit,
And discharging the treated water to the sterilizing unit when the light quantity change is greater than or equal to a preset value, and discharging the treated water to the outside when the light quantity change is less than the preset value. The method of claim 1,
A sterilization system further comprising a filtration unit for filtering the microorganisms of the treated water passing through the sterilization detection unit. 10. The method of claim 9,
The filter unit includes a sterilization system including a separator having pores corresponding to the size of the microorganism.

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