Laser water detection, treatment and notification systems and methods

• US 20040020862A1
• Filed: 03/13/2003
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SALtech Corporation
• Original Assignee: SALtech Corporation
• Inventors: Ortiz, Luis M., Baca, Anthony Michael, Wichers, Donald W., Crow, Thomas A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,919,019 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/748
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/0076 Sterilising operating fluids or fluid supply elements such as supply lines, filters sterilisation of liquid substances in general A61L2/18
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/006 Water distributors either inside a treatment tank or directing the water to several treatment tanks; Water treatment plants incorporating these distributors, with or without chemical or biological tanks for settling tanks B01D21/24
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/325 Irradiation devices or lamp constructions
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/3224 Units using UV-light guiding optical fibers
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/3226 Units using UV-light emitting lasers
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/3228 Units having reflectors, e.g. coatings, baffles, plates, mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/326 Lamp control systems
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/008 comprising telecommunication features, e.g. modems or antennas
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/36 Biological material, e.g. enzymes or ATP
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/40 Liquid flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/37 using solar energy

Abstract

A water-borne hazard detection and water treatment system can include sensors (e.g., flow rate, microorganism detectors, and chemical detectors) and can be microprocessor controlled. Treatment systems can include means to detect microorganisms and/or chemicals within a water distribution system. Treatment areas can be deployed at various stages along a water distribution system, allowing for protection redundancy. During treatment, water enters into and/or passes through a “treatment area” wherein the water is subjected to light emanating from a laser at wavelengths within the ultraviolet range. Microorganisms contained within water are reactive to laser light as they pass through treatment areas and are rendered ineffective. Treated water can then be provided to its intended point of use after treatment. Filtration can also be deployed around input and/or output locations of a system. The treatment systems, including detection means, can be networked to remote monitoring agencies (e.g., command and control units) through known wired and/or wireless network communication means and devices. Networked monitoring and assessment can enable rapid deployment of counter measures within affected water distribution systems and populated communities. Treatment can include emergency shut-off of part of a water distribution network based on input from distributed sensors. Treatment systems can be staged, providing for a system comprising more than one treatment area and associated laser light sources that are coupled, one after the other. Such staging can provide for concentrated redundancy prior to delivery of water to its point of use.

Claims

1. A water-borne hazard detection and water treatment system, comprising:

detectors deployed at nodes along a water distribution system for detection biological microorganims or chemicals;

communications deployed with said detectors at the nodes for reporting detection of the biological microorganisms or the chemical to remote monitoring systems and for receiving treatment commands from said remote monitoring systems; and

treatment areas deployed at said nodes for providing ultraviolet light into water containing said biological microorganisms.

2. The invention of claim 1, further comprising flow sensors deployed at said nodes, wherein said sensors turn on the ultraviolet laser light sources whenever flow through nodes is sensed.

3. The invention of claim 1, further comprising filters deployed at at least one of input or output points relative to said nodes.

4. The invention of claim 1, further comprising at least one shut-off valve deployed at said nodes, said at least one shut-off valve responsive to at least one of said detectors or said remote monitoring systems by blocking water flow through said nodes.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said communications further comprises

6. The invention of claim 1, said treatment area further comprising a junction box having an entry point for receiving water from input tubing connected to the input portion of the junction box and an exit point for to allow treated water to continue moving towards its point of use and at least one ultraviolet laser light source coupled to the junction box.;

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said ultraviolet laser light source can be provided in the form of at least one of:

a fiber optic line coupled to a laser and also coupled to the junction box, or as at least one laser directly coupled to the junction box, at at least one point about the junction box.

8. The invention of claim 6 wherein the junction box further comprises a stainless steel, watertight housing wherein internal surfaces of the housing are highly polished to allow for reflection of light.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said junction box further comprises at least one of reflectors, deflectors and diffusers within said housing to scatter light provided by said ultraviolet laser light source.

10. The invention of claim 6 further including at least one of baffles or walls that are formed within the housing to create flow channels throughout the housing, wherein said at least one of baffles or walls slow down water flow within said treatment area thereby providing more opportunities for ultraviolet light exposure of water and its treatment.

11. The invention of claim 6 wherein said treatment area includes a housing and baffles that create chambers in a serpentine configuration for the flow of water through said chambers within the housing. Laser light sources can be provided for/within each chamber of the serpentine configuration.

12. The invention of claim 11 further comprising at least one ultraviolet laser light source assigned to each chamber, wherein each of said ultraviolet laser light source can be tuned to a unique wavelength.

17. The invention of claim 5 said housing further including walls forming channels defining a serpentine configuration wherein water can flow through said channels.

13. A water-borne hazard detection and water treatment system for deployment at nodes along a water distribution system, comprising:

at least one detector, said detector for detecting the presence of biological microorganisms or chemicals in water;

a communication system, said communication system for reporting detection of the biological microorganisms or the chemical by said at least one detector to at least one remote monitoring system and for receiving treatment commands from said at least one remote monitoring system; and

a treatment area comprising a housing having an entry point for receiving water into said treatment area and an exit point for to allow treated water to continue moving towards its point of use and at least one ultraviolet laser light source coupled to the housing, said treatment area for providing ultraviolet light into water containing biological microorganisms.

14. The invention of claim 13, further comprising at least one shut-off valve responsive to said detector or said at least one remote monitoring system by preventing water flow.

15. The invention of claim 14 wherein said housing is watertight and comprised of stainless steel internal surfaces that are highly polished.

16. The invention of claim 14 wherein said housing further comprises at least one of reflectors, deflectors and diffusers to scatter light provided by said ultraviolet laser light source.

18. A water-borne hazard detection and water treatment system, comprising:

at least one detector, said detector for detecting the presence of biological microorganisms or chemicals in water; and

a communication system, said communication system for reporting detection of the biological microorganisms or the chemical by said at least one detector to at least one remote monitoring system.

19. The invention of claim 18 further comprising a treatment area, said treatment area including a housing having an entry point for receiving water into said treatment area and an exit point for to allow treated water to continue moving towards its point of use and at least one ultraviolet laser light source coupled to the housing, said treatment area for providing ultraviolet light into water containing biological microorganisms, wherein treatment is provided within said treatment area in response to treatment commands received from said at least one remote monitoring system through said communication system.

20. The invention of claim 19, wherein said housing is watertight and comprised of stainless steel internal surfaces that are highly polished, includes at least one of reflectors, deflectors and/or diffusers for scattering light-provided by said at least one ultraviolet laser light source, and includes walls that form channels which define a serpentine configuration wherein water can flow.

21. The invention of claim 19, further comprising a variable wavelength controller, wherein said at least one ultraviolet laser light source can be adjusted by said variable wavelength controller in response to detection by said detector, thereby enabling for precise targeting of detected microorganisms.

22. The invention of claim 19, further comprising:

a variable wavelength controller can be provided to adjust the wavelength of light produced by the ultraviolet laser light source in response to detection by said at least one detector.

23. The invention of claim 19, further comprising a flow sensor wherein said flow sensor can cause said at least one ultraviolet laser light source to be turned on whenever water flow through said treatment area is sensed.

24. The invention of claim 19, further comprising at least one filter deployed near at least one of said input or output points.

25. The invention of claim 19, further comprising at least one ultraviolet laser light source assigned to each chamber, wherein each of said ultraviolet laser light source can be tuned to a unique wavelength.