ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT TREATMENT CHAMBER

• US 20100078574A1
• Filed: 03/31/2009
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEO Tech Aqua Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ultraviolet Sciences, Inc
• Inventors: Cooper, James Randall, May, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 9,808,544 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/455.110
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/0047 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/0094 Gaseous substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/22 Blood or products thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/211 Use of hydrogen peroxide, liquid and vaporous
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/212 Use of ozone, e.g. generated by UV radiation or electrical discharge
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/205 using a photocatalyst or photosensitiser
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3681 by irradiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/053 ultraviolet
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/123 Ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/124 generated by microwave irradiation
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0877 Liquid
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/283 using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/325 Irradiation devices or lamp constructions
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/42 by ion-exchange ion-exchange in general B01J
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/441 by reverse osmosis
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/003 Coaxial constructions, e.g. a cartridge located coaxially within another
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/3223 Single elongated lamp located on the central axis of a turbular reactor
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/3228 Units having reflectors, e.g. coatings, baffles, plates, mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/328 Having flow diverters (baffles)

Abstract

An apparatus for the treatment of a liquid that includes a chamber having at least one inner surface, the chamber adapted for passage of a fluid therethrough. The chamber is at least 80 percent enclosed. The apparatus also includes an optional ultraviolet-transmissive tube disposed within the chamber and also adapted for the passage of the liquid therethrough. The apparatus further includes an ultraviolet lamp disposed within the chamber and, optionally, within the ultraviolet-transmissive tube. A reflective material is interposed between the chamber and the transmissive tube. The reflective material is adapted so as to reflect at least a portion of light emitted by the ultraviolet lamp, wherein the reflective material is at least 80 percent reflective.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the treatment of a liquid comprising:

a chamber having at least one inner surface, wherein the chamber is adapted for passage of a fluid therethrough;

an ultraviolet lamp, the ultraviolet lamp being disposed within the chamber; and

a reflective surface enveloping the ultraviolet lamp by at least 80 percent, the reflective surface adapted so as to reflect at least a portion of light emitted by the ultraviolet lamp, wherein the reflective surface is at least 80 percent reflective.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an ultraviolet-transmissive tube, the ultraviolet-transmissive tube disposed within the chamber and also being adapted for passage of the fluid therethrough.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the confluence of the first light from the ultraviolet lamp and second light and subsequent light reflected from the reflective surface produce an unexpectedly generally uniform light distribution to occur within a volume of the fluid.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the fluid is highly transmissive and a heightened fluence is achieved in the fluid.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reflective surface is disposed so as to line the at least one inner surface of the chamber.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reflective surface is disposed by coating a reflective material onto the at least one inner surface of the chamber.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the reflective surface is disposed by coating a reflective material onto at least one outer surface of the ultraviolet-transmissive tube.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the ultraviolet lamp is disposed within a transmissive protective sleeve within the ultraviolet-transmissive tube.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reflective surface comprises a reflective material comprising at least one material selected from a group consisting essentially of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), coated aluminum, anodized aluminum, and polished aluminum.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reflective surface comprises a reflective material comprising a mixture, the mixture comprising of a binder and a reflective additive.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the reflective additive comprises at least one material selected from a group consisting essentially of barium sulfate, magnesium fluoride, magnesium oxide, aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, holmium oxide, calcium oxide, lanthanum oxide, germanium oxide, tellurium oxide, europium oxide, erbium oxide, neodymium oxide, samarium oxide, ytterbium oxide, and zirconium oxide.

12. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an input port and an output port, wherein the ultraviolet-transmissive tube enters and exits the chamber.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an ultraviolet irradiance impinging on the fluid comprises a range of approximately 0.01 W/cm² to approximately 20 W/cm².

14. An apparatus for the treatment of a liquid comprising:

a chamber having at least one inner surface, wherein the chamber is at least 80 percent enclosed; and

is adapted for passage of a fluid therethrough.

an ultraviolet lamp, the ultraviolet lamp being disposed within a transmissive protective sleeve disposed within the chamber;

a reflective surface enveloping the ultraviolet lamp by at least 80 percent, the reflective surface adapted so as to reflect at least a portion of light emitted by the ultraviolet lamp, wherein the reflective surface is at least 80 percent reflective; and

wherein the confluence of the first light from the ultraviolet lamp and second light and subsequent light reflected from the reflective surface produce a generally uniform light distribution to occur within a volume of the fluid.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising an ultraviolet-transmissive tube disposed within the chamber and adapted for passage of the fluid therethrough.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the transmissivity of the liquid is such that its attenuation falls in a range of approximately 5 percent to approximately 95 percent.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the reflective surface is disposed so as to line the at least one inner surface of the chamber.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the reflective surface is disposed by coating a reflective material onto at least one outer surface of the ultraviolet-transmissive tube.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the reflective surface is disposed by coating a reflective material onto the at least one inner surface of the chamber.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the ultraviolet lamp is disposed within a protective sleeve within the ultraviolet-transmissive tube.

21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the reflective surface comprises a reflective material comprising at least one material selected from a group consisting essentially of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), coated aluminum, anodized aluminum, and polished aluminum.

22. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the reflective material comprises a reflective material comprising a mixture, the mixture comprising a binder and a reflective additive.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the reflective additive comprises at least one material selected from a group consisting essentially of barium sulfate, magnesium fluoride, magnesium oxide, aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, holmium oxide, calcium oxide, lanthanum oxide, germanium oxide, tellurium oxide, europium oxide, erbium oxide, neodymium oxide, samarium oxide, ytterbium oxide, and zirconium oxide.

24. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising an input port and an output port, wherein the ultraviolet-transmissive tube enters and exits the chamber.

25. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein an ultraviolet irradiance impinging on the fluid comprising a range of approximately 0.01 W/cm² to approximately 20 W/cm².