A turbine-boosted photocatalysis fluid processor that makes the fluid that flows inside form a high-speed whirlpool so as to enhance both the sterilization effect of the ultraviolet-radiation and the photocatalysis effect. The high-speed whirlpool also improves the degradation of organic contaminants and reduces the frequency maintenance of the quartz sleeve. The ultraviolet-radiation indicator and the color scale with different shades of colors positioned together are convenient for users to measure the intensity of the ultraviolet-radiation so as to avoid the loss of effectiveness of the photocatalysis fluid processor caused by aging or damage of the ultraviolet-radiation lamp.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a photocatalysis fluid processor, especially to a turbine-boosted photocatalysis fluid processor that makes the fluid flow inside form a whirlpool spinning at a high speed so as to improve both the sterilization effect of the ultraviolet-radiation and the photocatalysis effect.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

A common ultraviolet-radiation lamp processor or photocatalysis fluid processor has an ultraviolet-radiation lamp installed inside a quartz sleeve. The inner surface of the tube being illuminated is coated with a layer of photocatalyst. The amount of the fluid flowing through the tube depends on the total energy of the ultraviolet radiation emitted from the lamp and the total area of the surface of the tube coated with photocatalyst. When a fluid flows through the tube, the ultraviolet light radiates the organism inside the fluid and kills them directly or by reacting with the photocatalyst, free radicals such as OH radicals are produced for photocatalysis so as to degrade organic pollutants.

The structure of the conventional tube unit is only a tube through which fluid flows. When the fluid flow directly passes through the interior, the flow rate of the fluid is inconsistent due to the restriction of the flow amount. Owing to the inconsistency of the fluid flow rate, the slow-flowing fluid inside the tube unit is not blended properly, resulting in inconsistent exposure time of ultraviolet radiation and photocatalysis while the fluid is being processed. Moreover, when the fluid passes by the tube unit, the cross-sectional area of passage is larger than the cross-sectional area of the fluid inlet tube, so the flow rate is slowed, resulting in accumulation of dirt onto the wall of the quartz sleeve. Thus the penetration of the ultraviolet-radiation is obstructed and reduced while the total energy of ultraviolet radiation absorbed by the photocatalyst is also decreased. Therefore the total efficiency is decreased. In addition, as the ultraviolet-radiation lamp ages, the intensity of the ultraviolet light emitted is unstable and can't be measured by the human eye, it can only be measured by expensive devices measuring the intensity of the ultraviolet light or by calculating the age of the ultraviolet-radiation lamp being used, in order to determine whether the photocatalysis fluid processor is working properly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a turbine-boosted photocatalysis fluid processor by which the fluid flowing into it forms a high-speed whirlpool even if the flow rate of fluid is restricted, enabling sufficient blending of the processed fluid, self-cleaning of the wall of the tube, and the uniform ultraviolet-radiation of the organisms in the fluid. Furthermore, the area of photocatalysis is also enlarged. In addition, the loss of effectiveness of the photocatalysis fluid processor due to the aging or damage of the ultraviolet-radiation lamp can be avoided.

In order to achieve the objective mentioned above and avoid the shortcomings of the prior art, the present invention includes a quartz sleeve installed inside a tube unit coated with photocatalyst on the inner side thereof. Inside the quartz sleeve is an ultraviolet-radiation lamp. At the upper and lower end of the tube unit is respectively a fluid inlet tube and a fluid outlet tube. The upper end of the tube unit with the fluid inlet tube can be separated with the tube unit coated with the photocatalyst. A speed-accelerating mechanism having a plurality of diversion channels is positioned on one end of the fluid inlet tube of the tube unit. The total area of a fluid outlet hole of the diversion channel is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the passage of the fluid inlet tube. Between the tube unit and the quartz sleeve, a plurality of photocatalysis-enhancing devices are positioned in parallel.

Compared with the prior art, fluid flowing through the present invention forms a whirlpool spinning at high speed so that the fluid being treated by photolysis is blended adequately, not only enhancing the efficiency of photocatalysis, sterilization and degradation of organic contaminants, but also reducing the maintenance frequency. The round shape of the photocatalysis-enhancing device increases the desired effect. The disadvantage of the frequent cleaning of the quartz sleeve in conventional units is also solved. In addition, on the connection part between the tube unit with the fluid inlet tube and the tube unit coated with phtotocatalyst, a circular lock is installed for the convenience of changing the direction of the fluid outlet during maintenance. As to the ultraviolet-radiation indicator, it converts the ultraviolet light to visible light without an outside power source for users to eye-measure the intensity of the ultraviolet light. Thus the loss of effectiveness the fluid processor caused by aging or damage to the ultraviolet-radiation lamp can be avoided.

By the present invention, a whirlpool spinning at a high speed is formed inside the photocatalysis-enhancing devices or between the quartz sleeve and the photocatalysis-enhancing device no matter whether the flow rate of the fluid is low or high. Thus the fluid for the sterilizing function can be blended properly and contact the photocatalyst on the inner wall of the tube unit and on the photocatalysis-enhancing devices equally so as to increase the degradation effect of photocatalysis. By a plurality of photocatalyst layers on different positions, the photocatalysis area is enlarged in order to achieve maximum effect. Therefore, the ultraviolet light radiates organisms inside the fluid being processed equally, thus enhancing the sterilizing effect. The shortcoming of the frequent cleaning of the quartz sleeve is also solved by the flushing effect of the high-speed whirlpool. The ultraviolet-radiation indicator is used to avoid the loss of effectiveness of the photocatalysis fluid processor caused by aging or damage to the ultraviolet-radiation lamp.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Refer toFIG. 1&FIG. 2, a turbine-boosted photocatalysis fluid processor includes a quartz sleeve2positioned inside a tube unit1coated with photocatalyst on the inner side thereof and an ultraviolet-radiation lamp21is installed inside the quartz sleeve2. A plurality of photocatalysis enhancing devices3which are coated with the photocatalyst on the surface thereof, are positioned parallel between the tube unit1and the quartz sleeve2. According to the different characteristics of the fluid being processed, various combinations of photocatalyst are coated on the photocatalysis-enhancing device3. The chemical element of photocatalyst is a semiconductor material such as cadmium sulfide, iron oxide, molybdenum trioxide, titanium dioxide, tungsten trioxide, Zinc oxide ( Cds, Fe2O3, MoO3, TiO2, WO3, ZnO ) in nano-scale. On the top and the bottom of the photocatalysis-enhancing device3, a fixing ring31is installed therein respectively. On the upper and lower ends of the tube unit1, a fluid inlet tube11and a fluid outlet tube12are mounted therein respectively.

A speed-accelerating mechanism14, as shown inFIG. 3, is positioned on one end of the fluid inlet tube11of the tube unit1. The speed-accelerating mechanism14is composed of a plurality of diversion channels15whose inclination angle (the angle between the center of the quartz sleeve2and the speed-accelerating mechanism14) ranges from 91 to 179 degrees. The total area of a fluid outlet hole16of the diversion channels15is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the passage of the fluid inlet tube11so as to form a fluid-pressurizing chamber13on front side of the fluid inlet tube11. Thus when the fluid flows through the diversion channels15, the fluid is discharged from the fluid outlet hole16in a specific angle and at high speed. Then the fluid forms a whirlpool spinning at a high speed inside the photocatalysis-enhancing device3, between the tube unit1and the photocatalysis-enhancing device3, between the quartz sleeve2and the photocatalysis-enhancing device3. Therefore, the fluid that needs photocatalysis can be blended properly. In the meantime, the fluid spinning at high speed flushes the wall of the quartz sleeve2thus reducing the need for frequent cleaning of the quartz sleeve2.

The photocatalysis-enhancing devices3have a plurality of wires with photocatalyst, intercrossed into cylindroids (as shown inFIG. 5A). The photocatalysis-enhancing device3is a wire-mesh tube. The photocatalysis-enhancing device3can also be composed of an inner and an outer wire-mesh tube which are sealed on the top and the bottom side for accommodating granular carriers of photocatalyst32there between (as shown inFIG. 5B).

A four-direction circular lock17is positioned on the connection area between the upper side of the tube unit1with the fluid inlet tube11and the tube unit1coated with photocatalyst on the inner side thereof for the convenience of changing the direction of fluid outlet during the maintenance operation. Two four-direction fixing rings18are arranged on the top and bottom of the circular lock17respectively so as to avoid the displacement caused by water pressure which could result in leaks.

Refer toFIG. 4A,FIG. 4B&FIG. 4C, an ultraviolet-radiation indicator4comprises an illuminated column41and an illuminant plane42. The reactant inside the illuminated column41reacts with the ultraviolet light and emits the visible light, radiating from the illuminant plane42. The reactant converting the ultraviolet light into the visible light is a fluorescent phosphor. With the reference of a color scale43with different shades of colors next to the ultraviolet-radiation indicator4, users can know the intensity of the ultraviolet-radiation so as to avoid the loss of effectiveness of the present invention when the ultraviolet-radiation lamp21is old or damaged.

The present invention makes the fluid being processed blend properly so as to enhance the sterilization effect and the degradation effect of the organic pollutant inside the fluid as well as the reduction of the frequency of maintenance. Moreover, the fluid spinning at high speed flushes the outer wall of the quartz sleeve2making it unnecessary to clean the quartz sleeve2frequently.

It should be noted that the above description and accompanying drawings are only used to illustrate some embodiments of the present invention, not intended to limit the scope thereof. Any modification of the embodiments should fall within the scope of the present invention.