Self-powered miniature liquid treatment system with ultraviolet dosing

• US 7,119,451 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2005
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Inventors: Baarman, David W., Houghton, Christopher B., McPhilliamy, Stephen J., Lautzenheiser, Terry Lee, Leppien, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mohandesi, Iraj A.
• Application Number:
  US11/110,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20050189769A1
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 290/43, 290/54, 290/52
• US Class Current: 290/43
• 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 1/008 Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/283 using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/32 with ultraviolet light
• 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: C02F 2201/3222 Units using UV-light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/326 Lamp control systems
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/005 Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/006 comprising a software program or a logic diagram
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2307/06 Mounted on or being part of a faucet, shower handle or showerhead
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 9/20 Portable or detachable small-scale multistage treatment devices, e.g. point of use or laboratory water purification systems
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/08 Jet regulators or jet guides, e.g. anti-splash devices
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 2201/40 Arrangement of water treatment devices in domestic plumbing installations
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 1/00 Engines of impulse type, i.e. turbines with jets of high-velocity liquid impinging on blades or like rotors, e.g. Pelton wheels; Parts or details peculiar thereto
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/00 Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus if the apparatus aspects are predominant, see the relevant subclasses for such apparatus, e.g. H02K7/18; Power stations or aggregates incorporating only machines or engines of positive-displacement type F03C; hydraulic engineering aspects E02B; combinations with wind energy converters F03D9/008
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/602 with energy recovery turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/2411 Pelton type
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1823 structurally associated with turbines or similar engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/212 Solar-powered wastewater sewage treatment, e.g. spray evaporation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/50 : Hydropower in dwellings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/20 : Hydro energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/30 : Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 : Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49009 : Dynamoelectric machine
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49229 : Prime mover or fluid pump making

Abstract

A liquid treatment system that may be self-powered includes a filter, an ultraviolet light source and a hydro-generator. A flow of liquid may be filtered with the filter and used to rotate the hydro-generator to generate electric power. The ultraviolet light source may be energized by the electric power generated by the hydro-generator when the revolutions-per-minute or the magnitude of electric power of the hydro-generator enters a determined range. The flow of liquid may be subject to ultraviolet energy generated by the ultraviolet light source. It may be indicated when the ultraviolet light source reaches dose.

Claims

1. A method of treating liquid with a liquid treatment system, the method comprising:

initiating a flow of liquid through a liquid treatment system;

rotating a hydro-generator with the flow of liquid to generate electric power;

monitoring to determine the revolutions-per-minute of the hydro-generator;

energizing an ultraviolet light source with the electric power generated by the hydro-generator only when the revolutions-per-minute of the hydro-generator enters a determined range; and

subjecting the flow of liquid to ultraviolet energy generated by the ultraviolet light source.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising indicating when the flow of liquid has received sufficient dose as a function of the electric power and energization of the ultraviolet light source.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein energizing the ultraviolet light source comprises supplying the electric power as alternating current power directly from the hydro-generator to the ultraviolet light source without a ballast.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein energizing the ultraviolet light source comprises supplying the electric power from the hydro-generator as direct current power to a ballast configured to energize the ultraviolet light source.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating a flow of liquid through a liquid treatment system comprises the further step of filtering the flow of liquid.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring to determine the revolutions-per-minute comprises energizing a processor with the electric power generated by the hydro-generator, wherein the processor is configured to monitor the electric power to determine the revolutions-per-minute.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein monitoring to determine the revolutions-per-minute comprises tracking the usage of the filter and the usage of the ultraviolet light source as a function of the electric power.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein rotating the hydro-generator comprises concentrically rotating a housing that includes a permanent magnet on an inner wall of the housing around a stator mounted on a stationary centering rod that extends through the housing.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein energizing an ultraviolet light source comprises substantially maintaining a revolutions-per-minute of the hydro-generator in a range for a determined period of time to maintain supply of a startup voltage to the ultraviolet light source.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein energizing an ultraviolet light source comprises after initial energization of the ultraviolet light source is complete, reducing the revolutions-per-minute of the hydro-generator to a different range of revolutions-per-minute to generate an operational voltage of the ultraviolet light source.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein energizing an ultraviolet light source comprises the processor monitoring a flywheel effect of the hydro-generator and adjusting the target range of revolutions-per-minute when the ultraviolet light source is energized to provide the startup voltage for the predetermined period of time.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a required on-time of the ultraviolet light source to reach dose based on a flow rate of the flow of liquid and the magnitude of the electric power generated with the hydro-generator.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein energizing an ultraviolet light source comprises initially energizing the ultraviolet light source with a startup voltage from an energy storage device when the electric power generated by the hydro-generator is sensed to be sufficient to maintain energization of the ultraviolet light source.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein initially energizing the ultraviolet light source comprises energizing the ultraviolet light source with electric power generated by the hydro-generator once initial energization of the ultraviolet light source is complete.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein energizing an ultraviolet light source comprises selectively storing power generated by the hydro-generator when power in addition to the magnitude of power sufficient to maintain energization of the ultraviolet light source is being generated by the hydro-generator.

9. A liquid treatment system configured to treat liquid, the liquid treatment system comprising:

a hydro-generator configured to be rotated with a flow of liquid to generate electric power;

a processor configured to determine a revolutions-per-minute of the hydro-generator;

the processor further configured to direct energization of an ultraviolet light source with the electric power generated by the hydro-generator only when the revolutions-per-minute of the hydro-generator enters a determined range.

10. The liquid treatment system of claim 9, further comprising a switch coupled between the hydro-generator and the ultraviolet light source, wherein the switch is directable with the processor to selectively conduct the electric power to the ultraviolet light source.

11. The liquid treatment system of claim 9, further comprising a display, the display configured to be powered by the hydro-generator and driven by the processor to display an operational parameter of the liquid treatment system.

12. The liquid treatment system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to adjust the determined range to optimize startup of the ultraviolet light source.

13. The liquid treatment system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to track usage of the ultraviolet light source as a function of the electric power generated.

14. The liquid treatment system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to access a plurality of predetermined lamp dose curves to determine when the ultraviolet light source will reach a desired level of ultraviolet energy output based on the electric power being generated.

15. The liquid treatment system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to be energized by electric power generated with the hydro-power generator when the hydro-generator begins to rotate.

16. The liquid treatment system of claim 9, wherein the hydro-generator is further configured to cooperatively operate with the changing impedance of the ultraviolet light source to provide a first voltage magnitude that is an ultraviolet light source startup voltage prior to energization of the ultraviolet light source, and a second voltage magnitude that is an ultraviolet light source running voltage when loaded with the ultraviolet light source.

17. The liquid treatment system of claim 9, further comprising a filter configured to filter the flow of liquid prior to the hydro-generator being rotated with the flow of liquid.

18. The liquid treatment system of claim 17, wherein the filter is a replaceable part designed to be replaceable by an end user of the liquid treatment system.

19. The liquid treatment system of claim 9, wherein the ultraviolet light source is a replaceable part that is designed to be replaceable by an end user of the liquid treatment system.