# US 10,864,294 B1 · Enhancement of photocatalytic effect with surface roughness in photocatalytic reactors

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- Number: US 10,864,294 B1
- Document ID: US10864294B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 15/683,312
- Filed: 2017-08-22
- Granted: 2020-12-15
- Earliest claimed: 2013-10-10
- Assignees: University of South Florida
- Applicants: Dharendra Yogi Goswami; Elias K. Stefanakos; Yangyang Zhang
- Inventors: Dharendra Yogi Goswami; Elias K. Stefanakos; Yangyang Zhang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864294B1

## CPC

- A61L 9/205: {using a photocatalyst or photosensitiser}
- A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K)

## Abstract

Photocatalysis is a promising technique for remediation of indoor air pollution. The present invention focuses on the enhancement of the effectiveness of the photocatalytic process by the introduction of artificial roughness on the interior reactor surface. Artificial roughness elements on the catalytic surface enhance the turbulence intensity close to the catalytic surface. The enhanced turbulence intensity translates to an increase in the mass transfer of airborne contaminants to the catalyst surface, improving the efficiency of photocatalysis.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A photocatalytic reactor comprising:
a reactor catalyst surface having a plurality of roughness elements, wherein the reactor catalyst surface has a width perpendicular to a longitudinal axis extending between a fluid inlet end and a fluid outlet end of the reactor catalyst surface;
two or more roughness elements in the plurality of roughness elements having a pitch extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the reactor catalyst surface and a pitch ratio of 4-20;
each roughness element further including:
a relative height ratio in a range of 0.01-0.1;
a relative width ratio in a range of 0.01-4; and
a cross-sectional shape, wherein the cross-sectional shape is triangular, chamfered, round, or semiround.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The photocatalytic reactor of claim 1, further comprising a roughness element width to channel height ratio of 0.01.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The photocatalytic reactor of claim 1, further comprising the reactor catalyst surface having a photocatalyst coating.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The photocatalytic reactor of claim 1, further comprising the relative width ratio being 0.02.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The photocatalytic reactor of claim 1, further comprising a fluid source moving fluid across the reactor catalyst surface, wherein the fluid moving across the reactor catalyst surface has a Reynolds number in the range of 2900 to 8700.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The photocatalytic reactor of claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional shape of each roughness element is an isosceles triangle.

### Claim 7

A photocatalytic reactor comprising:
a reactor catalyst surface having a plurality of roughness elements, wherein the reactor catalyst surface has a width perpendicular to a longitudinal axis extending between a fluid inlet end and a fluid outlet end of the reactor catalyst surface;
two or more roughness elements in the plurality of roughness elements having a pitch extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the reactor catalyst surface and a pitch ratio of 4-20;
each roughness element further including:
a relative height ratio;
a relative width ratio in a range of 0.01-4; and
a cross-sectional shape, wherein the cross-sectional shape is triangular, chamfered, round, or semiround.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The photocatalytic reactor of claim 7, further comprising a roughness element width to channel height ratio of 0.01.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The photocatalytic reactor of claim 7, further comprising the reactor catalyst surface having a photocatalyst coating.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The photocatalytic reactor of claim 7, further comprising the relative height ratio having a range of 0.01-0.1.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The photocatalytic reactor of claim 7, further comprising the relative width ratio being 0.02.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The photocatalytic reactor of claim 7, wherein the cross-sectional shape of each roughness element is an isosceles triangle.