The project was set up to confirm one of a series of scale up options. This was to be achieved using the resources of PERA TECHNOLOGY. It became evident that this organisation were under some funding pressures as our work was held back when staff were made redundant. Although we suffered delays, the project eventually caught up as more of the testing fell to others who were more efficient. We have now tested and confirmed materials and manufacturing methods for a large proportion of our prospective end users. Large scale and laboratory scale systems have been built and tested. As a result we have many sales opportunities to fulfil.
Having chosen the most practical design, based on commercial availability of constituent parts, we have a workable, large scale system. A self-cleaning quartz and UV system which efficiently controls bacteria and reduces COD levels. The system has been site tested for various flow rates. The target market is geared towards very turbid liquids being processed. There is a commercial decision in dealing high COD fluids as the addition of low levels of a chemical, Hydrogen Peroxide, reduces the number of catalytic units required. If one takes a long term view of investment then more equipment will pay off as H2O2 is not required.
Wherever we are in the world, water has become a scarce resource. Depending on the size of iPURXL used we can re-use water for wash down purposes. A larger iPURXL unit can bring water back to the front of the process as in crop washing to remove soil and bacteria. The iPURXL system is modular so it may be expanded at intervals. Where bacteria control is the aim we are able to treat liquids such as orange juice so that shelf life is extended without using heat, (pasteurisation) saving energy and maintaining the taste of the juice.
We are designing a large unit to re-circulate hydroponic liquid, (nutrient rich water) at a rate of 15 tonnes per hour at a new test facility for vertical farming. (Crops grown under LED lighting alone in a sterile room) The remit is to control bacteria in very cloudy liquids (~10% transmittance), to have low maintenance and include electronic monitoring of fluids, UV and flows. This system, when it moves to commercial size will need 150 tonnes of water processing per hour.
We have reached the stage where we are confident that the technology works. It is reliable and requires very little cleaning and maintenance. We do however need to take the design, which uses standard parts, and fine tune it for ease of production and maximise the lamp power by purchasing bespoke items. We can improve on UV transfer so that the rate of fluid treated can increase. i.e. The work of two units may be done by one if reflectance and lamp power/position can be altered. In this endeavour we would need some expert advice from perhaps a partner company. The loss of PERA one third through the project has impacted on this aspect of design. The small redesign to meet food standards has been carried out by Campden BRI.
