Marine environment antifouling system and methods

• US 9,235,048 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2013
• Issued: 01/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
• Original Assignee: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
• Inventors: Farr, Norman Erwin, Pontbriand, Clifford Thomas, Peters, Timothy Goodwin
• Primary Examiner(s): Won, Bumsuk
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEBRAHTU, EPHREM ZERU
• Application Number:
  US13/940,814
• Publication Number:
  US 20140078584A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 359/507
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 7/0057 by ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 59/04 Preventing hull fouling anti-fouling paints C09D5/16
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 59/08 of underwater surfaces while afloat B63B59/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/22 Underwater equipment for submarine periscopes G02B23/08; arrangements on floating structures of underwater viewing devices B63C11/49; arrangement of visual watch equipment on submarines B63G8/38
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0006 with means to keep optical surfaces clean, e.g. by preventing or removing dirt, stains, contamination, condensation G02B1/18 takes precedence; cleaning in general B08B

Abstract

The present invention relates to systems and methods for reducing fouling of a surface of an optically transparent element with a light source. According to one aspect, the invention is a system including an LED for emitting UV-C radiation, a mount for directing emitted UV-C radiation toward the optically transparent element, and control circuitry for driving the LED. The system may be used to remove a desired amount of biofilm.

Claims

1. A system for reducing fouling of a surface of an optically transparent element subjected to a marine environment including a marine fluid, the system comprising:

a plurality of mounts disposed about the surface of the optically transparent element and extending into the marine environment, each mount including an LED for emitting UV-C radiation through the marine fluid from a distal end of each mount, each mount angling its distal end inward and downward toward and proximate to the surface of the optically transparent element;

wherein the surface of the optically transparent element is curved, wherein the optically transparent element allows for the transmission of light therethrough into a housing, and wherein the LED in each mount is disposed in a watertight enclosure that is separate from the housing; and

control circuitry for driving the LED.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the optically transparent element is selected from the group consisting of a window and a lens.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the emitted UV-C radiation has a wavelength in a range of about 265 nm to about 295 nm.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the watertight enclosure comprises a UV transparent port.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry, when activated, maintains a duty cycle of the LED of at least about 10%.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein an attenuated dosage reaching the surface is at least about 0.5 kJ/m².

7. The system of claim 1, wherein a kill efficiency at the surface is at least about 95%.

8. A method for reducing fouling of a surface of an optically transparent element subjected to a marine environment including a marine fluid, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of mounts disposed about the surface of the optically transparent element and extending into the marine environment, each mount including an LED for emitting UV-C radiation through the marine fluid from a distal end of each mount, each mount angling its distal end inward and downward toward and proximate to the surface of the optically transparent element;

wherein the surface of the optically transparent element is curved, wherein the optically transparent element allows for the transmission of light therethrough into a housing, and wherein the LED in each mount is disposed in a watertight enclosure that is separate from the housing;

driving each LED to emit UV-C radiation with a duty cycle of at least about 10% while the optically transparent element is subjected to the marine fluid; and

directing emitted UV-C radiation toward the optically transparent element.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the optically transparent element is selected from the group consisting of a window and a lens.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the emitted UV-C radiation has a wavelength in a range of about 265 nm to about 295 nm.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the watertight enclosure comprises a UV transparent port.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the optically transparent element comprises a UV transparent material.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein an attenuated dosage reaching the surface is at least about 0.5 kJ/m².

14. The method of claim 8, wherein a kill efficiency at the surface is at least about 95%.