Heat Regenerative Water Pasteurization

Heat Regenerative Water Pasteurization

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This is a very simple idea I have not yet seen discussed elsewhere. Industrial pasteurization processes normally use heat regeneration to increase efficiency. The idea here is that a volume of water is heated at the required temperature and for the required duration of time for safe pasteurization. However, there is no need for the water to retain this heat. A heat exchanger is used to transfer the heat to the incoming cool water. In this manner, the vast majority of the energy is regenerated thereby reducing the energy requirement on the order of ten fold. This can be done with a simple gravity flow system with a low power DC heating element and a thermostat. However, if the flow rate can be set constant, then a thermostat would not be necessary. For example, a small DC pump might be operated from a float switch to keep an elevated reservoir filled and maintain a constant flow rate. There are all kinds of possible configurations. I first considered this to be incorporated into a system used to filter and pasteurize river water for use as potable water. For a continual water processing rate (24/7), the power required is on the order of 1 watt for each gallon of water processed over a 24 hour period. So, if ten gallons are processed each day at a continual rate, then the heating element would have to provide on the order of 10 watts. Note the slower the rate, then the more efficient the heat exchange - all else equal. For my needs, I targeted only 20 gallons daily. Hence, the heating element would provide 20 watts DC. So, about 1/2 KWh electricity could pasteurize 20 gallons of water. Photovoltaics with battery storage could easily provide the required energy.

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Heat Regenerative Water Pasteurization