Fluid purification and disinfection device

• US 6,932,947 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2003
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Environmentalcare Limited
• Original Assignee: Environmentalcare Limited
• Inventors: Leung, Chan Ming
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoey, Betsey Morrison
• Application Number:
  US10/434,492
• Publication Number:
  US 20030209501A1
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 422/186.3, 502/350, 210/153
• US Class Current: 422/186.3
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/006 Baffles
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/123 Ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/2415 Tubular reactors
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/2495 Net-type reactors
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00772 in a helix
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0892 involving catalytically active material
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/32 with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/725 by catalytic oxidation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2301/026 Spiral, helicoidal, radial
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/04 Disinfection
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2305/10 Photocatalysts

Abstract

The present invention discloses a fluid purification and disinfection system, which includes a housing, an ultraviolet lamp and a photocatalytic oxidation device. Said housing therein is an enclosed case that is fitted with an inlet and an outlet. Furthermore, said ultraviolet lamp is mounted inside the housing. Said photocatalytic oxidation device is a disinfection core coated with photocatalyst. Said disinfection core is installed around said ultraviolet lamp, and is fixed onto said housing. Said photocatalyst therein is titanium dioxide. The working principle of the fluid purification and disinfection device in accordance with the present invention is to utilize ultraviolet light to irradiate the titanium dioxide-coated surface of the photocatalytic oxidation device to generate the photocatalytic oxidation process. As a result, Escherichia coli, Vibriocholerae and pathogenic organisms that contact the surface of photocatalytic oxidation device can be quickly killed, and contaminants in the fluid can be eliminated. By this way, water or fluid that flows through said disinfection device is disinfected and purified.

Claims

1. An apparatus for purifying water comprising:

a. a container having an inlet and an outlet;

b. ultraviolet illuminating means mounted within said container;

c. a disinfectant core comprising a spiral shaped plate coated with titanium dioxide disposed fixedly and circumferentially around said ultraviolet illuminating means within said container to form a spiral flow conduit with the walls of said container wherein the inner surface of said container is also coated with titanium dioxide and is adapted for exposure to ultraviolet ray from the ultraviolet illuminating means during operation.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said inlet is also coated with titanium dioxide and is adapted for exposure to the ultraviolet ray from the ultraviolet illuminating means during operation.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein outlet is also coated with titanium dioxide and is adapted for exposure to the ultraviolet ray from the ultraviolet illuminating means during operation.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said disinfectant core providing a titanium dioxide coated surface of at least 200 square centimeters.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein fluid is dispersed along said flow at a rate of 1-3 gallons per minute and ultraviolet light in 10 watt to 15 is produced by said illuminating means during operation to generate sufficient free radical species to inactivate at least 99.9% of the microbes in said fluid.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said ultraviolet illuminating means radiates ultraviolet ray within bandwidth (254 nm to 365 nm) radially outward for irradiating said titanium dioxide coating to generate photocatalytic oxidation process.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said ultraviolet illuminating means is enclosed by a protecting sleeve made of quartz or glass.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the ultraviolet illuminating means comprises three ultraviolet lamps of 120 watt to 150 watt.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said disinfectant core providing a titanium dioxide coated surface of at least 26,000 square centimeters.

10. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein fluid is dispensed along said flow conduit pathway at a rate of 110 to 140 gallons per minute and ultraviolet light of 120 watt to 150 watt is to produced by said illuminating means during operation to generate sufficient free radical species to inactivate at least 99.9% of the microbes in said fluid.

11. An apparatus for purifying water comprising:

a. a container having an inlet and an outlet;

b. ultraviolet illuminating means mounted within said container; and

c. a disinfectant core comprising one or more metal meshes reversibly attached within said container to form individuals zones, said meshes coated with titanium dioxide;

the number of said meshes and size of said individual zones being adjustable such that the level of purification may be easily manipulated, the inner surface of said container coated with titanium dioxide and adapted for the exposure to the ultraviolet ray from the ultraviolet illuminating means during operation.

12. An apparatus for purifying water comprising:

a. a container having an inlet and an outlet;

b. ultraviolet illuminating means mounted within said container; and

c. a disinfectant core comprising one or more metal meshes reversibly attached within said container to form individuals zones, said meshes coated with titanium dioxide;

the number of said meshes and size of said individual zones being adjustable such that the level of purification may be easily manipulated, the inlet coated with titanium dioxide and adapted for the exposure to the ultraviolet ray from the ultraviolet illuminating means during operation.

13. An apparatus for purifying water comprising:

a. a container having an inlet and an outlet;

b. ultraviolet illuminating means mounted within said container; and

c. a disinfectant core comprising one or more metal meshes reversibly attached within said container to form individuals zones, said meshes coated with titanium dioxide;

the number of said meshes and size of said individual zones being adjustable such that the level of purification may be easily manipulated, said outlet coated with titanium dioxide and adapted for exposure to the ultraviolet ray from the ultraviolet illuminating means during operation.