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EP-4735163-A1 - PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTOR SOLID-STATE LIGHT ENGINE

EP4735163A1EP 4735163 A1EP4735163 A1EP 4735163A1EP-4735163-A1

Abstract

The invention provides a photoreactor assembly (1000) comprising a photochemical reactor (200) and a light source arrangement (700); wherein: (A) the light source arrangement (700) comprises a plurality of light generating devices (100) comprising (i) a first light generating device (110), configured to generate first device light (111) having a first peak wavelength (λp1), and (ii) a second light generating device (120), configured to generate second device light (121) having a second peak wavelength (λp2); wherein |λp1- λp2|≥10 nm; wherein the first device light (111) and the second device light (121) are individually selected from one or more of UV radiation, visible radiation, and IR radiation; (B) the photochemical reactor (200) comprises a reactor chamber (250) configured to receive a reactor fluid (5); wherein the photochemical reactor (200) comprises a light transmissive window (205) comprising a light transmissive material (211) that is transmissive for at least part of the first and second device light (111,121); (C) the photochemical reactor (200) and the light source arrangement (700) are configured such that (a) the first light generating device (110) irradiates via the light transmissive window (205) a first reactor sub volume (V1) of a reactor volume (V) of the reactor chamber (250); and (b) the second light generating device (120) irradiates via the light transmissive window (205) a second reactor sub volume (V2) of the reactor volume (V) of the reactor chamber (250); wherein the first reactor sub volume (V1) and the second reactor sub volume (V2) at least partially overlap thereby providing an overlapping reactor sub volume (V12); and (D) the photoreactor assembly (1000) is configured to provide in a first operational mode of the photoreactor assembly (1000) the first device light (111) and the second device light (121) in the reactor sub volumes (V1,V2).

Inventors

  • BROERSMA, REMY, CYRILLE
  • VAN BOMMEL, TIES

Assignees

  • Signify Holding B.V.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240626

Claims (15)

  1. 1. A photoreactor assembly (1000) comprising a photochemical reactor (200) and a light source arrangement (700); wherein: the light source arrangement (700) comprises a plurality of light generating devices (100) comprising (i) a first light generating device (110), configured to generate first device light (111) having a first peak wavelength (kpl), and (ii) a second light generating device (120), configured to generate second device light (121) having a second peak wavelength (Zp2); wherein | p 1 -Zp2|> 10 nm; wherein the first device light (111) and the second device light (121) are individually selected from one or more of UV radiation, visible radiation, and IR radiation; the photochemical reactor (200) comprises a reactor chamber (250) configured to receive a reactor fluid (5); wherein the photochemical reactor (200) comprises a light transmissive window (205) comprising a light transmissive material (211) that is transmissive for at least part of the first and second device light (111,121); the photochemical reactor (200) and the light source arrangement (700) are configured such that (a) the first light generating device (110) irradiates via the light transmissive window (205) a first reactor sub volume (VI) of a reactor volume (V) of the reactor chamber (250); and (b) the second light generating device (120) irradiates via the light transmissive window (205) a second reactor sub volume (V2) of the reactor volume (V) of the reactor chamber (250); wherein the first reactor sub volume (VI) and the second reactor sub volume (V2) at least partially overlap thereby providing an overlapping reactor sub volume (VI 2); and the photoreactor assembly (1000) is configured to provide in a first operational mode of the photoreactor assembly (1000) the first device light (111) and the second device light (121) in the reactor sub volumes (VI, V2).
  2. 2. The photoreactor assembly (1000) according to claim 1, wherein the photoreactor assembly (1000) is configured to provide the first device light (111) and the second device light (121) simultaneously.
  3. 3. The photoreactor assembly (1000) according any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first light generating device (110) and the second light generating device (120) are selected from the group of superluminescent diodes and laser diodes.
  4. 4. The photoreactor assembly (1000) according to claim 3, wherein the light source arrangement (700) comprises optics configured to provide collimated or focused device light (111,121) in the overlapping reactor sub volume (VI 2); and wherein the device light (111,121) has a FWHM of at maximum 2°; and wherein the first light generating device (110) and the second light generating device (120) comprise laser diodes.
  5. 5. The photoreactor assembly (1000) according any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a dichroic beam combiner (525) configured downstream of both the first light generating device (110) and the second light generating device (120), and upstream of the light transmissive window (205), wherein the dichroic beam combiner (525) is configured to provide a beam of device light (116) comprising both the first device light (111) and the second device light (121); wherein the beam of device light (116) comprises overlapping beams of first device light (111) and the second device light (121).
  6. 6. The photoreactor assembly (1000) according any one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of sets (117) of light generating devices (100), wherein each set (117) comprises one or more first light generating devices (110) and one or more second light generating devices (120); wherein each set (117) is configured to generate a respective set of overlapping reactor sub volume (V12’), wherein at least two of the sets (117) are configured to provide overlapping set of overlapping reactor sub volumes (V12’).
  7. 7. The photoreactor assembly (1000) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a control system (300), wherein the control system (300) is configured to control one or more of a first radiant flux of the first device light (111), a second radiant flux of the second device light (121), the first peak wavelength (kpl), the second peak wavelength (kpl), the time difference as defined in claim 2, a first pulse time of the first device light (111), and a second pulse time of the second device light (121).
  8. 8. The photoreactor assembly (1000) according to claim 7, wherein the control system (300) is configured to control the first device light (111) and the second device light (121) in dependence of a temperature of the reactor fluid (5), an absorption of radiation of the first and/or second device light by the reactor fluid (5), a transmission of radiation of the first and/or second device light by the reactor fluid (5), and turbulence of the reactor fluid (5).
  9. 9. The photoreactor assembly (1000) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of light generating devices (100) configured to generate device light (101), wherein the plurality of light generating devices (100) comprises the first light generating device (110) and the second light generating device (120); wherein two or more of the light generating devices (100) are configured to generate device light (101) having different spectral power distributions and to provide the device light (101) in different parts of the reactor chamber (250) via the light transmissive window (205); wherein the control system (300) according to any one of the preceding claims 7-8 is configured to control the device light (101) in the different parts of the reactor chamber (250).
  10. 10. The photoreactor assembly (1000) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one of the following applies: |Xp 1 -Xp2|>l 00 nm; 25 nm <|Xp 1 -Xp2|< 100 nm; or 10 nm <|Xp 1 -Xp2|<25 nm.
  11. 11. The photoreactor assembly (1000) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the light source arrangement (700) comprises a third light generating device (130), configured to generate third device light (131) having a third peak wavelength (Xp3 ).
  12. 12. The photoreactor assembly (1000) according to claim 11, wherein | p3- kpl|>10 nm, |Z,p3-kp2|>10 nm, and kpl^ Zp2^ Zp3; and wherein optionally the light source arrangement (700) comprises a n th light generating device (140), configured to generate n th device light (141) having a n th peak wavelength (kpn), wherein | pn- pl |>10 nm, |kpn- kp2|> 10 nm, |Z,pn-Z,p3|>5 nm, and kpl^ Zp2^ Xp3^ kpn.
  13. 13. The photoreactor assembly (1000) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the photoreactor assembly (1000) comprises a flow reactor, plate reactor, a spinning disk reactor, or a multiple well reactor.
  14. 14. A method for treating a fluid (5) with device light (111,121), wherein the method comprises: providing the fluid (5) to be treated with the device light (111,121) in the photochemical reactor (200) of the photoreactor assembly (1000) according to any one of the preceding claims; and irradiating the fluid (5) with the device light (111,121).
  15. 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein one of the following applies: executing a reaction between a first species and a second species with one of the first device light (111) and the second device light (121), and providing a third species configured to absorb at least part of the other one of the first device light (111) and the second device light (121) to create turbulence in the reactor fluid (5); executing a reaction between a first species and a second species with both the first device light (111) and the second device light (121) in a two-photon process; - executing a reaction in a first stage between a first species and a second species with the first device light (111), thereby generating a third species, wherein the third species is converted in a second stage into a fourth species by the second device light (121).

Description

PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTOR SOLID-STATE LIGHT ENGINE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a photoreactor assembly comprising a photochemical reactor and a light source arrangement. The invention further relates to a method for treating a fluid with device light in the reactor of the photoreactor assembly. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Photochemistry devices comprising light sources and a reaction chamber are known in the art. For instance, US2021/0138426A1 describes a device including an insulated reaction chamber, light sources above a stirring module, the light sources surrounding the reaction chamber, and holders containing reaction vessels, the holders configured to fit within the insulated reaction chamber in a marmer that enables an even distribution of light between the reaction vessels. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Photochemical processing or photochemistry relates to the branch of chemistry concerned with the chemical effects of light. More in general, photochemistry refers to a (chemical) reaction caused by absorption of light, such as ultraviolet light (radiation), visible light (radiation) and/or infrared radiation (light), especially a (chemical) reaction caused by absorption of ultraviolet (wavelength from about 100 nm to about 400 nm) or visible light (from about 400 nm to about 800 nm). In such a (chemical) reaction, light may be absorbed by reactant molecules in order for a photochemical reaction to take place, thereby forming one or more reaction products. Photochemistry may for instance be used to synthesize specific products. For instance, isomerization reactions or radical reactions may be initiated by light. Other naturally occurring processes that are induced by light are e.g. photosynthesis, or the formation of vitamin D with sunlight. Photochemistry may further e.g. be used to degrade/oxidize pollutants in water or e.g. air. Photochemical reactions may be carried out in a photochemical reactor or “photoreactor”. One of the benefits of photochemistry is that reactions can be performed at lower temperatures than conventional thermal chemistry and partly for that reason thermal side reactions that generate unwanted by-products are avoided. Further, photochemical reactions may proceed differently than temperature-driven reactions. Photochemical paths may access high energy intermediates that cannot be generated thermally, thereby overcoming large activation barriers in a short period of time, and allowing reactions otherwise inaccessible by thermal processes. Commonly used light sources in photochemistry may include low or medium pressure mercury lamps or fluorescent lamps. In addition to that, some reactions may require a very specific wavelength region, and they may even be hampered by light from the source emitted at other wavelengths. In these cases, part of the spectrum may have to be filtered out, which may lead to a low efficiency and complex reactor design. In the recent years the output of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), both direct LEDs with dominant wavelengths ranging for instance from UVC to IR wavelengths, and phosphor-converted LEDs, has increased drastically, making them interesting candidates for light sources for photochemistry. High fluxes can be obtained from small surfaces, especially if the LEDs can be kept at a low temperature. However, conventional photoreactor assemblies may not be applicable to certain (photo)chemical reactions. In particular, certain (photo)chemical reactions may require light having at least two different wavelengths, e.g., two step photochemical reactions or two-photon reactions. To accomplish such (photo)chemical reactions with conventional photoreactor assemblies (if at all possible), a complex system using multiple photoreactor assemblies may be required. Further, conventional photoreactor assemblies may be inefficient for other (photo)chemical reactions. Specifically, such (photo)chemical reactions may reach a chemical equilibrium with the reaction product or may have absorption competition with the reaction product. Using conventional photoreactor assemblies, such (photo)chemical reactions may currently require relatively large amounts of reactants or light energy to produce relatively small amounts of chemicals products. Hence, it is an aspect of the invention to provide an alternative photoreactor assembly, which preferably further at least partly obviates one or more of above-described drawbacks. The present invention may have as object to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative. According to a first aspect, the invention may in embodiments provide a photoreactor assembly (also: “photochemical assembly” or “assembly”). The photoreactor assembly may especially comprise a photochemical reactor (also: “photoreactor” or “reactor”) and a light source arrangement. In embodiments, the light source arrangement may comprise a plurality of light generating devices. The plural