Enhancing Sterilization Efficiency in Water Purification through High-Voltage Power Supply Technology

The sterilization efficiency of water purification systems is a core indicator of performance. High-voltage power supply technology significantly enhances the microbial inactivation capability of water treatment processes through innovative physical field mechanisms, emerging as a critical alternative to traditional chemical methods. This technology primarily relies on two operational modes: high-voltage electrostatic fields and high-voltage pulsed electric fields, which achieve microbial inactivation through distinct mechanisms.
High-voltage electrostatic water treatment utilizes direct current power to generate intense electrostatic fields ranging from 15-28 kV. Water molecules undergo polarization and reorganization under this field, forming ordered clusters of water dipoles that encapsulate and immobilize ions, effectively inhibiting scale formation. Simultaneously, the field energy excites water molecules to generate reactive oxygen species (including O₂, OH⁻, H₂O₂), which disrupt microbial cell membrane ion channels and alter their biological environment, leading to metabolic dysfunction and death of bacteria and algae. Studies show this system achieves above 95% eradication rates for bacteria and algae.
High-voltage pulsed electric field (PEF) technology, conversely, employs microsecond or nanosecond high-voltage pulses (typically with field strengths exceeding 10 kV/cm) to apply instantaneous high-energy fields to microbial cell membranes. Its core mechanism is electroporation: the pulses create irreversible pores in the phospholipid bilayer of cell membranes, causing leakage of cellular contents and structural collapse. Pulse waveform design is crucial; square waves and bipolar pulses demonstrate higher sterilization efficiency compared to exponential decay waves due to their maintained effective field strength duration.
Optimization of sterilization efficiency depends on multiple parameters: electric field intensity must exceed the critical transmembrane potential of microorganisms (typically ≥1V); pulse duration must match fluid residence time; water temperature and quality (e.g., conductivity, ionic strength) significantly affect energy transfer efficiency. Experiments indicate that synergistic enhancement of sterilization can be achieved by increasing field strength and optimizing pulse time, although efficiency gains plateau beyond critical thresholds.
System integration must also consider multi-factor coupling. For large-flow water treatment scenarios (e.g., industrial cooling systems), arrayed electrode configurations create synergistic enhancement effects. Array design requires optimization of electrode spacing and orientation based on hydrodynamics to ensure full fluid exposure to the electric field. Furthermore, safety designs with IPX8 protection等级 prevent electrical leakage or breakdown of high-voltage components in aquatic environments, ensuring long-term stability.
The advantages of high-voltage power supply technology are its environmental friendliness and operational economy. As a physical process, it eliminates the need for chemicals and avoids secondary pollution; its energy consumption is significantly lower than UV or ozone-based techniques (single unit power consumption ≤15 W), and it requires minimal maintenance. Future developments will focus on intelligent adaptive control—dynamically adjusting output voltage and pulse frequency through real-time monitoring of water parameters (pH, turbidity, conductivity) to achieve precise matching between output characteristics and microbial inactivation requirements.