Systems and methods for delivering chlorine dioxide using a liquid curtain
AssigneeSabre Intellectual Property Holdings LLC
InventorsJohn Y. Mason, Von Christopher Davis, Julian Noah Rosenberg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Provided herein are methods and systems for applying chlorine dioxide comprising contacting a target surface with a curtain of a liquid chlorine dioxide treatment solution. The disclosed methods and systems provide improved delivery of chlorine dioxide to target surfaces and have the advantages of providing improved treatment efficacy, improved safety, and reduced chemical usage. The methods and systems can be used for treatment of a variety of surfaces in need of decontamination, including but not limited to food products.
Claims30
A method comprising
- (i) forming a stable curtain of a liquid chlorine dioxide treatment solution that flows downward under gravity, and
- (ii) contacting a target surface in need of decontamination with the curtain.
A method comprising
- (i) pumping liquid chlorine dioxide treatment solution that initially comprises a chlorine dioxide concentration of at least 5 ppm through one or more baffles or laminar flow nozzles to achieve a laminar flow stream of treatment solution,
- (ii) directing the laminar flow stream such that it falls from a liquid exit to form a stable curtain that flows downward under gravity and
- (iii) contacting a target surface in need of decontamination with the curtain, wherein treatment solution at a location where the curtain contacts the target surface retains at least 70% of the chlorine dioxide concentration that is initially present in treatment solution that flows from the liquid exit.
A method of forming a recirculating stable curtain of a liquid chlorine dioxide treatment solution to deliver chlorine dioxide to a target surface, the method comprising
- (i) forming a stable curtain of a liquid chlorine dioxide treatment solution that flows downward under gravity from a liquid exit, (ii) contacting a target surface in need of decontamination with the curtain,
- (iii) collecting liquid treatment solution that has flowed downwards through the curtain to make collected solution,
- (iv) introducing chlorine dioxide into collected solution and
- (v) recycling collected solution into which chlorine dioxide has been introduced by recirculating it through the liquid exit.
A system for treating a target surface in need of decontamination with chlorine dioxide, the system comprising
- (i) a liquid chlorine dioxide treatment solution comprising an initial chlorine dioxide concentration of at least 5 ppm,
- (ii) a pump that pumps the liquid chlorine dioxide treatment solution to form a flowing treatment solution that flows through a first conduit,
- (iii) the first conduit, comprising baffles that remove turbulence and create laminar flow in flowing treatment solution, which flows through the first conduit to a liquid exit,
- (iv) the liquid exit, from which liquid chlorine dioxide treatment solution falls under gravity, forming a stable curtain that retains at least 70% of the initial chlorine dioxide concentration, and
- (v) a collecting conduit or container located beneath the curtain, which catches treatment solution.
A recirculating system for treating a target surface in need of decontamination with chlorine dioxide, the system comprising
- (i) a liquid chlorine dioxide treatment solution containing a chlorine dioxide concentration of at least 5 ppm,
- (ii) a pump that pumps the liquid chlorine dioxide treatment solution to form a flowing treatment solution that flows through a first conduit,
- (iii) the first conduit, comprising baffles that remove turbulence in flowing treatment solution that flows through the first conduit and a liquid exit from the first conduit,
- (iv) the liquid exit, from which liquid chlorine dioxide treatment solution flows downward under gravity, forming a stable curtain,
- (v) a collecting conduit, located beneath the liquid exit, which collects treatment solution,
- (vi) a connecting conduit for recirculating treatment solution, the connecting conduit funneling treatment solution from the collecting conduit back into the first conduit, and
- (vii) chlorine dioxide introduction apparatus that introduces chlorine dioxide into liquid chlorine dioxide treatment solution so as to maintain said chlorine dioxide concentration of at least 5 ppm in liquid chlorine dioxide treatment solution that flows from the liquid exit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.