Fluid treatment apparatus

• US 7,226,542 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2003
• Issued: 06/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anvik Corporation
• Original Assignee: Anvik Corporation
• Inventors: Zemel, Marc I., Wojcik, Leszek, Raghunandan, Shyam
• Primary Examiner(s): Menon; Krishnan S
• Assistant Examiner(s): KURTZ, BENJAMIN M
• Application Number:
  US10/646,960
• Publication Number:
  US 20050183996A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,383 Days
• Field of Search: 210/94, 210/192, 210/259, 210/748, 250/435, 250/436, 250/437, 422/186.3
• US Class Current: 210/259
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/001 Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00
• 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 2201/009 Apparatus with independent power supply, e.g. solar cells, windpower, fuel cells for electrolysis apparatus C02F2201/46165
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/212 Solar-powered wastewater sewage treatment, e.g. spray evaporation

Abstract

Portable personal water purifier with a microdischarge array sealed with a radiation emitter, preferably Xel, slightly above atmospheric or water pressure in a closely-configured treatment chamber. Each array is a polyimide film separating a copper layer or mesh cathode surface from a conductor pattern of nickel anodes at UV pixel via sites, juxtaposed in effective purifying range of all the water. In a canteen embodiment, the array is presented as a divider in the water chamber, or at its sides. In a continuous-flow embodiment, the array is presented as a spiral flow-through packet between input and output connections axial to a cylindrical water jacket. Battery or plug power is provided, along with any desired input filter. Two microdischarge arrays are preferably sealed in a twin-pack about a set of stiffener rods, extending outward for re-assembly in sockets after cleaning. Other separation assurance devices are spiral and chain separators.

Claims

1. Portable apparatus for water purification, comprising:

a) a water treatment chamber having water input/output means;

b) a spirally-wound flexible sealed microdischarge array filled with UV-emissive gas at a pressure in the range 1-2 atmospheres, mounted in said water treatment chamber;

c) separation assurance means (8, 9) mounting said flexible microdischarge array spiral-wound inside said water treatment chamber to restrict water flow to in-line channels at effective purifying range of such ultraviolet radiation emission from said microdischarge array; and

d) power means, connected to said microdischarge array, effective to cause emission of ultraviolet radiation for water purification.

2. Portable apparatus for personal water purification, comprising:

a) a water treatment chamber having water input/output means;

b) a spirally-wound flexible sealed microdischarge array filled with UV-emissive gas at a pressure in the range 1-2 atmospheres, mounted in said water treatment chamber;

c) separation assurance means comprising stiffener rods (21) configuring said flexible microdischarge array as wrapped layers of a spiral-wound rectangular scroll (30), arranged loosely at nominal separation inside said water treatment chamber to restrict in-line water flow in channels at effective purifying range of such ultraviolet radiation emission; and

d) power means, connected to said microdischarge array, effective to cause emission of ultraviolet radiation for water purification.