Method of Reduction and/or Elimination of a Target Agent

A method for reducing and/or eliminating a target agent from a fluid by means of a system comprising:

• a tube extending between a first end and a second end, forming an internal volume V according to a path,
• wherein the first end is a fluid inlet and the second end is a fluid outlet,
• wherein the fluid enters the internal volume V of the tube through the inlet of the tube and runs along the path to the outlet of the tube, wherein said fluid is driven by a pump,
• heating means fluidically connected to the inlet of the tube,
• at least one fluid flow rate sensor, configured to measure the flow rate Q of the fluid driven by the pump,
• at least one temperature sensor, located at the first and/or second end of the tube, configured to measure the temperature T of the fluid driven by the pump,
• control means, comprising a controller and storage means,
• the method comprising the following steps:
• a) providing the storage means of the control means with the following predetermined values:
• tvalidated, holding time of the fluid in the internal volume V of the tube, from its inlet to its outlet,
• Tvalidated, temperature of the fluid at the outlet of the tube,
• Ftarget, value of the case fatality rate required for the reduction and/or elimination of the target agent,
• b) introducing and circulating by means of the pump, during the holding time tvalidated, the fluid at the temperature Tvalidated in the interior volume V of the tube,
• c) recording, by means of the at least one temperature sensor and the at least one flow rate sensor, for each instant ti, ∀i=0, 1, . . . , m, the real temperature value of the fluid Ti, and the real flow rate value Qi, of the fluid in the interior volume V of the tube,
• d) calculating for each instant of time ti, using the control means and based on the records of the real temperature Ti and the real flow value Qi of the fluid recorded in step c), the holding time tmi of the fluid in the interior volume V of the tube, wherein:
• t
• m
• ⁢
• i
• =
• V
• Q
• i
• e) calculating for each instant ti, using the control means, the value of the case fatality rate provided, Fi, according to the values recorded and calculated in steps c) and d), and wherein:
• F
• i
• =
• ∫
• t
• 0
• t
• m
• ⁢
• i
• 1
• ⁢
• 0
• (
• T
• i
• -
• T
• ref
• Z
• )
• ⁢
• dt
• ,
• wherein Z is a kinetic property of the reduction and/or elimination of the target agent and Tref the chosen reference temperature
• f) verifying, for each instant ti, using the control means, if the condition Fi<Ftarget is met, and
• g) regulating, using the control means, if the condition of step f) is met, the real temperature value of the fluid Ti and/or the real flow rate value Qi of the fluid in the interior volume V of the tube, which verifies the condition Fi≥Ftarget.