WATER PURIFICATION SYSTEM UTILIZING A PLURALITY OF ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT EMITTING DIODES AND ASSOCIATED METHOD OF USE

• US 20060131246A1
• Filed: 12/21/2004
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robertshaw US Holding Corp.
• Original Assignee: Ranco Incorporated of Delaware (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Ehlers, Gregory Allen Sr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,544,291 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/748.100
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/325 Irradiation devices or lamp constructions
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/3222 Units using UV-light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/3227 Units with two or more lamps
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/008 comprising telecommunication features, e.g. modems or antennas

Abstract

A water purification system utilizing a plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes and associated method of use is disclosed. This includes an inlet, an ultraviolet radiation chamber, and an outlet, wherein the inlet is connected in fluid relationship to the ultraviolet radiation chamber and the outlet is connected in fluid relationship to the ultraviolet radiation chamber to allow water to flow between the inlet and the outlet through the ultraviolet radiation chamber, wherein the ultraviolet radiation chamber is positioned adjacent to a plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes. The plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes may be mounted on a flexible electrical circuit board and/or in the form of an array. Moreover, the ultraviolet radiation chamber can be a transparent tube with the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes positioned on the outside of the transparent tube or positioned within the transparent jacket.

Claims

1. A water purification system comprising:

an inlet;

an ultraviolet radiation chamber; and

an outlet, wherein the inlet is connected in fluid relationship to the ultraviolet radiation chamber and the outlet is connected in fluid relationship to the ultraviolet radiation chamber to allow water to flow between the inlet and the outlet through the ultraviolet radiation chamber, wherein the ultraviolet radiation chamber is positioned adjacent to a plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes.

2. The water purification system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes are in an array.

3. The water purification system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes are integral to the ultraviolet radiation chamber.

4. The water purification system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes are mounted on a flexible electrical circuit board.

5. The water purification system as set forth in claim 4, wherein the flexible electrical circuit board at least partially surrounds the ultraviolet radiation chamber.

6. The water purification system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet radiation chamber is a transparent tube with the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes positioned on the outside of the transparent tube.

7. The water purification system as set forth in claim 6, wherein the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes are in an array.

8. The water purification system as set forth in claim 6, wherein the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes are mounted on a flexible electrical circuit board.

9. The water purification system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet radiation chamber is a transparent jacket that allows fluid flow on the outside of the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes positioned within the transparent jacket.

10. The water purification system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes are in an array.

11. The water purification system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes are mounted on a flexible electrical circuit board.

12. A water purification system comprising:

an inlet;

an ultraviolet radiation chamber; and

an outlet, wherein the inlet is connected in fluid relationship to the ultraviolet radiation chamber and the outlet is connected in fluid relationship to the ultraviolet radiation chamber to allow water to flow between the inlet and the outlet through the ultraviolet radiation chamber, wherein the ultraviolet radiation chamber is positioned adjacent to a plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes that at least partially surround the ultraviolet radiation chamber, wherein the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes are mounted on a flexible electrical circuit board and positioned in an array.

13. A water purification system comprising:

an inlet;

an ultraviolet radiation chamber; and

an outlet, wherein the inlet is connected in fluid relationship to the ultraviolet radiation chamber and the outlet is connected in fluid relationship to the ultraviolet radiation chamber to allow water to flow between the inlet and the outlet through the ultraviolet radiation chamber, wherein a plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes are integral to the ultraviolet radiation chamber and positioned in an array.

14. A water purification system comprising:

an inlet;

an ultraviolet radiation chamber, wherein the ultraviolet radiation chamber is a transparent tube with the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes positioned on the outside of the transparent tube and the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes are mounted on a flexible electrical circuit board; and

an outlet, wherein the inlet is connected in fluid relationship to the ultraviolet radiation chamber and the outlet is connected in fluid relationship to the ultraviolet radiation chamber to allow water to flow between the inlet and the outlet through the ultraviolet radiation chamber.

15. A water purification system comprising:

an inlet;

an ultraviolet radiation chamber, wherein the ultraviolet radiation chamber is a transparent jacket that allows fluid flow on the outside of the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes positioned within the transparent jacket and the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes are mounted on a flexible electrical circuit board; and

an outlet, wherein the inlet is connected in fluid relationship to the ultraviolet radiation chamber and the outlet is connected in fluid relationship to the ultraviolet radiation chamber to allow water to flow between the inlet and the outlet through the ultraviolet radiation chamber.

16. A method for utilizing a water purification system comprising:

passing water through a water purification system that includes an inlet, an ultraviolet radiation chamber, and an outlet, wherein the inlet is connected in fluid relationship to the ultraviolet radiation chamber and the outlet is connected in fluid relationship to the ultraviolet radiation chamber thereby allowing water to flow between the inlet and the outlet through the ultraviolet radiation chamber, wherein the ultraviolet radiation chamber is positioned adjacent to a plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes.

17. The method for utilizing a water purification system as set forth in claim 16, wherein the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes are in an array.

18. The method for utilizing a water purification system as set forth in claim 16, wherein the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes are integral to the ultraviolet radiation chamber.

19. The method for utilizing a water purification system as set forth in claim 16, wherein the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes are mounted on a flexible electrical circuit board.

20. The method for utilizing a water purification system as set forth in claim 16, wherein the flexible electrical circuit board at least partially surrounds the ultraviolet radiation chamber.

21. The method for utilizing a water purification system as set forth in claim 16, wherein the ultraviolet radiation chamber is a transparent tube with the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes positioned on the outside of the transparent tube.

22. The method for utilizing a water purification system as set forth in claim 21, wherein the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes are in an array.

23. The method for utilizing a water purification system as set forth in claim 21, wherein the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes are mounted on a flexible electrical circuit board.

24. The method for utilizing a water purification system as set forth in claim 16, wherein the ultraviolet radiation chamber is a transparent jacket that allows fluid flow on the outside of the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes positioned within the transparent jacket.

25. The method for utilizing a water purification system as set forth in claim 24, wherein the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes are in an array.

26. The method for utilizing a water purification system as set forth in claim 24, wherein the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes are mounted on a flexible electrical circuit board.

27. A method for utilizing a water purification system comprising:

passing water through a water purification system that includes an inlet, an ultraviolet radiation chamber, and an outlet, wherein the inlet is connected in fluid relationship to the ultraviolet radiation chamber and the outlet is connected in fluid relationship to the ultraviolet radiation chamber thereby allowing water to flow between the inlet and the outlet through the ultraviolet radiation chamber, wherein the ultraviolet radiation chamber is positioned adjacent to a plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes that at least partially surround the ultraviolet radiation chamber, wherein the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes are mounted on a flexible electrical circuit board and positioned in an array.

28. A method for utilizing a water purification system comprising:

passing water through a water purification system that includes an inlet, an ultraviolet radiation chamber, wherein the ultraviolet radiation chamber is a transparent tube with the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes positioned on the outside of the transparent tube and the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes are mounted on a flexible electrical circuit board, and an outlet, wherein the inlet is connected in fluid relationship to the ultraviolet radiation chamber and the outlet is connected in fluid relationship to the ultraviolet radiation chamber thereby allowing water to flow between the inlet and the outlet through the ultraviolet radiation chamber.

29. A method for utilizing a water purification system comprising:

passing water through a water purification system that includes an inlet, an ultraviolet radiation chamber, wherein the ultraviolet radiation chamber is a transparent jacket that allows fluid flow on the outside of the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes positioned within the transparent jacket and the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes are mounted on a flexible electrical circuit board, and an outlet, wherein the inlet is connected in fluid relationship to the ultraviolet radiation chamber and the outlet is connected in fluid relationship to the ultraviolet radiation chamber thereby allowing water to flow between the inlet and the outlet through the ultraviolet radiation chamber.

30. A method for utilizing a water purification system comprising:

passing water through a water purification system that includes an inlet, an ultraviolet radiation chamber, wherein the ultraviolet radiation chamber includes a plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes integral thereto, and an outlet, wherein the inlet is connected in fluid relationship to the ultraviolet radiation chamber and the outlet is connected in fluid relationship to the ultraviolet radiation chamber thereby allowing water to flow between the inlet and the outlet through the ultraviolet radiation chamber.