Systems and methods for performing the bacterial disinfection of a fluid using point radiation sources
First Claim
1. A system for disinfecting a fluid, comprising:
- a flow cell comprising one or more inlet ports and one or more outlet ports, wherein the flow cell is configured to communicate a fluid from the one or more inlet ports to the one or more outlet ports through an interior portion thereof; and
one or more point radiation sources disposed about the flow cell, wherein the one or more point radiation sources are operable for delivering radiation to the fluid;
wherein an interior surface of the flow cell is operable for reflecting the radiation delivered to the fluid by the one or more point radiation sources;
wherein the flow cell is an integrating cavity comprising curved and concaved opposed interior surfaces;
wherein the one or more point radiation sources are disposed about a periphery of the integrating cavity;
wherein the interior surface is a reflectance material operable for reflecting the radiation delivered to the fluid by the one or more point radiation sources and creating a diffuse source from the radiation such that a radiation intensity is uniform and independent of direction throughout the entire interior portion of the flow cell when the flow cell is filled with a substantially or partially transparent medium and the one or more point radiation sources are small in area as compared to the interior surface area of the flow cell.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for disinfecting a fluid, including: a flow cell including one or more inlet ports and one or more outlet ports, wherein the flow cell is configured to communicate a fluid containing a biological contaminant from the one or more inlet ports to the one or more outlet portions through an interior portion thereof; and one or more point radiation sources disposed about the flow cell, wherein the one or more point radiation sources are operable for delivering radiation to the biological contaminant; wherein an interior surface of the flow cell is operable for reflecting the radiation delivered to the biological contaminant by the one or more point radiation sources; and wherein the interior surface of the flow cell is operable for reflecting the radiation delivered to the biological contaminant by the one or more point radiation sources such that a radiation intensity is uniform throughout the interior portion of the flow cell. In one exemplary embodiment, the flow cell is an integrating sphere. Optionally, the system also includes a photocatalyzing material disposed on at least a portion of the interior surface of the flow cell.
46 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system for disinfecting a fluid, comprising:
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a flow cell comprising one or more inlet ports and one or more outlet ports, wherein the flow cell is configured to communicate a fluid from the one or more inlet ports to the one or more outlet ports through an interior portion thereof; and one or more point radiation sources disposed about the flow cell, wherein the one or more point radiation sources are operable for delivering radiation to the fluid; wherein an interior surface of the flow cell is operable for reflecting the radiation delivered to the fluid by the one or more point radiation sources; wherein the flow cell is an integrating cavity comprising curved and concaved opposed interior surfaces; wherein the one or more point radiation sources are disposed about a periphery of the integrating cavity; wherein the interior surface is a reflectance material operable for reflecting the radiation delivered to the fluid by the one or more point radiation sources and creating a diffuse source from the radiation such that a radiation intensity is uniform and independent of direction throughout the entire interior portion of the flow cell when the flow cell is filled with a substantially or partially transparent medium and the one or more point radiation sources are small in area as compared to the interior surface area of the flow cell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for disinfecting a fluid, comprising:
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providing a flow cell comprising one or more inlet ports and one or more outlet ports, wherein the flow cell is configured to communicate a fluid from the one or more inlet ports to the one or more outlet ports through an interior portion thereof; and providing one or more point radiation sources disposed about the flow cell, wherein the one or more point radiation sources are operable for delivering radiation to the fluid; wherein an interior surface of the flow cell is operable for reflecting the radiation delivered to the fluid by the one or more point radiation sources; wherein the flow cell is an integrating cavity comprising curved and concaved opposed interior surfaces; wherein the one or more point radiation sources are disposed about a periphery of the integrating cavity; wherein the interior surface is a reflectance material operable for reflecting the radiation delivered to the fluid by the one or more point radiation sources and creating a diffuse source from the radiation such that a radiation intensity is uniform and independent of direction throughout the entire interior portion of the flow cell when the flow cell is filled with a substantially or partially transparent medium and the one or more point radiation sources are small in area as compared to the interior surface area of the flow cell. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for disinfecting a fluid, comprising:
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a flow cell comprising one or more inlet ports and one or more outlet ports, wherein the flow cell is configured to communicate a fluid comprising a biological contaminant from the one or more inlet ports to the one or more outlet ports through an interior portion thereof; and one or more point radiation sources disposed about the flow cell, wherein the one or more point radiation sources are operable for delivering radiation to the biological contaminant; wherein an interior surface of the flow cell is operable for reflecting the radiation delivered to the biological contaminant by the one or more point radiation sources; wherein the interior surface of the flow cell is operable for reflecting the radiation delivered to the biological contaminant by the one or more point radiation sources such that a radiation intensity is uniform and independent of direction throughout the interior portion of the flow cell when the flow cell is filled with a substantially or partially transparent medium and the one or more point radiation sources, are small in area as compared to the interior surface area of the flow cell; wherein the flow cell is an integrating cavity comprising curved and concaved opposed interior surfaces; wherein the one or more point radiation sources are disposed about a periphery of the integrating cavity; wherein the interior surface is a reflectance material operable for reflecting the radiation delivered to the fluid by the one or more point radiation sources and creating a diffuse source from the radiation. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification