Self-powered miniature liquid treatment system

• US 7,663,259 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 02/16/2010
• 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): Ponomarenko; Nicholas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mohandesi; Iraj A
• Application Number:
  US11/981,288
• Publication Number:
  US 20080116147A1
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 290/43, 290/42, 290/40, 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 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.

Claims

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

filtering a flow of liquid;

converting the filtered flow of liquid to an extruded stream of liquid;

striking a hydro-generator with the extruded stream of liquid to induce rotation of the hydro-generator;

generating electric power with the rotating hydro-generator;

monitoring a magnitude of electric power output with the hydro-generator;

energizing an ultraviolet light source with the electric power when the magnitude of the electric power is in a determined range; and

subjecting the flow of liquid to ultraviolet energy from the ultraviolet light source.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein converting the filtered flow of liquid comprises converting the flow of liquid from a first velocity to a second velocity that is higher than the first velocity with a nozzle.

3. 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.

4. The method of claim 3, 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.

5. The method of claim 3, 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. The method of claim 7, 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.

9. The method of claim 7, 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.

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

filtering a flow of liquid;

accelerating the flow of liquid;

striking a hydro-generator with the accelerated stream of liquid to induce rotation of the hydro-generator;

generating electric power based on rotation of the hydro-generator;

monitoring a magnitude of electric power output with the hydro-generator; and

energizing an ultraviolet light source with the electric power when the magnitude of the electric power is in a determined range.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein energizing the ultraviolet light source with the electric power when the magnitude of the electric power is in a determined range comprises determining the magnitude of electric power that minimizes the on-time needed for the ultraviolet light source to reach dose.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein energizing the ultraviolet light source comprises shorting filaments included in the ultraviolet light source until gas included in the ultraviolet light source reaches a desired thermionic temperature.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein generating electric power based on rotation of the hydro-generator comprises operating the hydro-generator in a high voltage mode to initially energize and startup the ultraviolet light source with a startup voltage, and operating the hydro-generator in a low voltage mode after the high voltage mode to maintain energization of the ultraviolet light source.

14. A liquid treatment system comprising:

a filter configured to filter a flow of liquid;

a hydro-generator disposed adjacent the filter and configured to receive the flow of liquid;

the hydro-generator configured to rotate in response to contact with the flow of liquid and generate electric power;

a processor configured to monitor a magnitude of the electric power output with the hydro-generator; and

an ultraviolet light source configured to generate ultraviolet energy and to subject the flow of liquid to the ultraviolet energy, the processor configured to energize the ultraviolet light source with the electric power generated with the hydro-generator when the magnitude of the electric power is in a determined range.

15. The liquid treatment system of claim 14, further comprising a nozzle configured to accelerate the flow of liquid, and direct the flow of liquid to the hydro-generator.

16. The liquid treatment system of claim 14, further comprising a switch coupled between the hydro-generator and the ultraviolet light source, the processor configured to control the position of the switch as open or closed to selectively energize the ultraviolet light source.

17. The liquid treatment system of claim 14, further comprising an energy storage device, the processor configured to selectively store and retrieve energy from the energy storage device.

18. A liquid treatment system comprising;

a processor;

a memory in communication with the processor;

instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to monitor a magnitude of electric power generated by a hydro-generator, the hydro-generator rotatable with a flow of liquid through the liquid treatment system to generate the electric power;

instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to energize an ultraviolet light source upon entry of the magnitude of electric power into a predetermined range; and

instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to maintain a remaining filter life of a filter included in the liquid treatment system and configured to filter the flow of liquid.

19. The liquid treatment system of claim 18, further comprising instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to maintain a remaining light source life of the ultraviolet light source.

20. The liquid treatment system of claim 18, further comprising instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to determine an amount of on-time of the ultraviolet light source to reach dose based on the magnitude of electric power.