AU709610B2 - An apparatus for treating a liquid - Google Patents

An apparatus for treating a liquid Download PDF

Info

Publication number
AU709610B2
AU709610B2 AU80758/98A AU8075898A AU709610B2 AU 709610 B2 AU709610 B2 AU 709610B2 AU 80758/98 A AU80758/98 A AU 80758/98A AU 8075898 A AU8075898 A AU 8075898A AU 709610 B2 AU709610 B2 AU 709610B2
Authority
AU
Australia
Prior art keywords
liquid
radiation
passageway
water
cleaning device
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
AU80758/98A
Other versions
AU8075898A (en
Inventor
Kenneth Ray Bryer
Devon Brent Greatorex
Timothy John Prince
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
WATERPAC PATENTS Ltd Pty
Original Assignee
WATERPAC PATENTS Ltd Pty
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by WATERPAC PATENTS Ltd Pty filed Critical WATERPAC PATENTS Ltd Pty
Priority to AU80758/98A priority Critical patent/AU709610B2/en
Publication of AU8075898A publication Critical patent/AU8075898A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of AU709610B2 publication Critical patent/AU709610B2/en
Assigned to WATERPAC PATENTS PROPRIETARY LIMITED reassignment WATERPAC PATENTS PROPRIETARY LIMITED Alteration of Name(s) in Register under S187 Assignors: BRYER, KENNETH RAY, GREATOREX, DEVON BRENT, PRINCE, TIMOTHY JOHN
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02FTREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F1/00Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
    • C02F1/30Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by irradiation
    • C02F1/32Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by irradiation with ultraviolet light
    • C02F1/325Irradiation devices or lamp constructions
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02FTREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F2201/00Apparatus for treatment of water, waste water or sewage
    • C02F2201/32Details relating to UV-irradiation devices
    • C02F2201/322Lamp arrangement
    • C02F2201/3223Single elongated lamp located on the central axis of a turbular reactor
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02FTREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F2201/00Apparatus for treatment of water, waste water or sewage
    • C02F2201/32Details relating to UV-irradiation devices
    • C02F2201/324Lamp cleaning installations, e.g. brushes

Description

This invention relates to an apparatus for treating a liquid and particularly relates to an apparatus where liquid is treated using a radiation source such as an ultraviolet lamp.
The invention will be described with reference to an ultraviolet (UV) lamp but it should be appreciated that other radiation frequencies are also envisaged.
It is essential for health and hygiene purposes that water and other consumable liquids are at least partially sterilised or otherwise treated prior to consumption.
One type of treatment involves the use of heat to sterilise any bacteria in the liquid, but treatment of large volumes of liquids using heat is energy intensive and requires large heaters and other capital equipment.
Chemical sterilisation is also known and used, but some chemicals interfere with certain types of liquids beverages), and the public does not wish to consume large amounts of chemically treated liquids.
Apart from consumable liquids, sterilisation for hygiene purposes is also required in the sewerage industry and for treatment of effluent, grey water and the like.
Certain pharmaceutical and medicinal preparations and also liquid-based and require sterilisation before injection or consumption.
**It is known to treat liquids using sterilising gases. One type of e sterilising gas is highly reactive ozone gas. Ozone is however toxic and great care must be taken to ensure that the ozone levels in the liquid are not exceeded. Certain sensitive liquids such as milk or some pharmaceutical preparations may also be adversely affected by reactive gases. The generation of ozone reqires fairly expensive equipment and a fairly high input of energy.
A safer way to treat liquids is to use a radiation source. It has been found that UV radiation is effective in killing bacteria, algae and the like.
However, UV sterilising units have to date met with limited success as difficulties have arisen with ensuring that the liquid is fully exposed to the radiation.
3 To achieve an acceptable level of radiation density in the liquid to be treated, it is known to provide a radiation emitter in the form of a tube which sits inside of a larger tube or housing through which liquid flows. The liquid therefore flows about the tube containing the radiation emitter and the radiation can pass into the liquid.
However, when treating grey water, effluent, waste water, bore water, or other liquids containing salts and impurities, it is found that the impurities form a scale on the surface of the UV emitter which greatly reduces the radiation density in the liquid.
Because of the difficulties associated with scale or impurity build up on the radiation emitter, the use of this type of technique to sterilise water has not found wide commercial success.
The present invention is directed to an apparatus which can improve the efficiency of the use of radiation to treat liquid by reducing or possibly eliminating build up of scale or other impurities on the radiation emitter. The present invention is also directed to an apparatus which can provide a more efficient passage of liquid around the radiation emitter.
**In one form, the invention resides in an apparatus for treating a liquid, the apparatus comprising: a housing having a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, and a passageway through which liquid can flow; a radiation emitter which has a radiation transparent window to allow radiation to pass into and treat the liquid passing through the passageway; and a cleaning device which cleans at least part of the window at periodic intervals.
Throughout the specification and claims, the term "comprising" is not meant to be used in a limiting form and is meant to include an apparatus having at least the features listed but the term "comprising" is not meant to limit the apparatus to only those features.
In another form, the invention resides in an apparatus for treating a liquid, the apparatus comprising: a housing having a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, and a passageway through which liquid can flow; a radiation emitter which has a radiation transparent window to allow radiation to pass into and treat the liquid passing through the passageway, the housing having means to cause the liquid to adopt a spiral flow about the radiation emitter.
The apparatus can be used to treat liquids such as water including drinking water, bore water, pool water, grey water, effluent and sewerage; although other types of liquids are also envisaged such as beverages beer, wine and the like).
The housing may be configured such that the passageway is of a sufficient length and/or cross-section to allow the desired amount of liquid to flow through the passage while still being treated for an acceptable period of time. The resident time of the liquid in the passageway which is treated by the radiation emitter can vary depending on the degree of sterilisation required, the type of liquid, and the type of radiation emitter.
Typically, the housing is elongate having a liquid inlet adjacent one end and a liquid outlet adjacent the other end with the housing being substantially hollow to define the passageway through which the liquid can flow.
a The type of radiation emitter can vary depending on the type of liquid to be treated. For liquids which are substantially clear water, beer, white wine), the radiation emitter can comprise a UV light. For other types of liquids, a different type of radiation emitter can be used provided that the radiation is of the type to treat the liquid for instance by reducing the bacterial count.
Typically, the radiation emitter is a UV light. The UV light is normally an assembly comprising an outer glass cylindrical thimble in which the UV lamp is inserted. The thimble is sealed and presents an outer protective UV transparent wall.
To ensure maximum amount of radiation contact with the liquid, it is preferred that the UV light is positioned in the passageway and substantially in the middle of the passageway such that liquid can flow around and about the UV light. A number of radiation emitters can be placed in the housing and the position of the radiation emitters can be varied to suit the type of liquid to be treated.
The cleaning device is used to clean the window of the radiation emitter at periodic intervals. If the radiation emitter is a light assembly comprising the outer thimble, the cleaning device can function to clean the walls of the outer thimble, which comprises the window.
In one form, the cleaning device moves across the window and 9*is actuated by the flow of liquid through the passageway. In this form, no springs or power supply is required to move the cleaning device across the window.
o::"If the radiation emitter is a tube, the cleaning device can comprise a collar or turbine which extends about the tube and can move along the tube with the flow of water.
9 It is preferred that the housing is in a substantially upright or .;,°upwardly angled position and that the cleaning device is freely movable over ;°the radiation emitter such that the cleaning device naturally falls under the influence of gravity to a lower portion of the housing. Once liquid is passed °9 into the housing, the liquid pushes the cleaning device up and along the 999999 radiation emitter to wipe it clean. It is preferred that the cleaning device can pass to a position above the liquid outlet under the influence of liquid flow such that it does not present an appreciable barrier to movement of liquid through the passageway.
An embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings in which Figure 1 shows an apparatus for treating a liquid according to an embodiment of the invention.
Referring to Figure 1, there is shown an apparatus 10 for treating a liquid, the apparatus having a housing 11 which is formed with a lower liquid inlet 12 and an upper liquid outlet 13, an internal passageway 14 though which the liquid can flow, a radiation emitter 15 in the form of a UV light and a cleaning device which is shown in a lower rest position 16 and an upper position 17.
Housing 11 in the embodiment is formed from an aluminium cylindrical tube which can be of any suitable length but typically will be between 50 200cm. The tube can have any suitable diameter depending on the volume of liquid etc. and a typical internal diameter will be between 4 In the embodiment, housing 11 is positioned in a substantially 10 vertical manner such that inlet 12 is at a lowermost position while outlet 13 is adjacent an uppermost position. Liquid (for instance water) flows through the lower inlet and vertically upward through the housing and out the upper outlet. The housing, being hollow, has a large internal passage of cylindrical design and the UV light 15 is positioned centrally within the passageway such that water can flow about the light In the embodiment, inlet 12 and outlet 13 are positioned a° diametrically opposite to each other. Water is passed through inlet 12 at reasonable pressures which will cause the water to adopt a vortex or spirallike motion as it travels up passageway 14 and through outlet 13. The spiral motion can be encouraged by vanes or deflectors (not shown) in the passageway.
It is found that the vortex or swirling motion provide better contact of the liquid with the UV radiation and provides a better sterilising action.
The UV light 15 is formed as a sealed assembly consisting of an outer cylindrical glass thimble 18 (this could be formed from quartz or optically clear plastic) in which the UV lamp is positioned. Thimble 18 is sufficiently long to extend above outlet 13 as is illustrated in Figure 1.
The cleaning device in the embodiment comprises a substantially cylindrical collar or turbine which extends about thimble 18 and can freely slide along the thimble between a lower position 16 and an upper position 17. The turbine has a central bore 19 which is lined with cleaning devices 20 22 which in the embodiment are felt pads or seals (it should be appreciated that other cleaning devices could be used). The diameter of bore 19 is such that the felt cleaning devices 20 22 rub against the outer wall of thimble 18 as the cleaning device moves from its lower position 16 to its upper position 17.
The cleaning device is provided with radially extending blades 23 which cause the cleaning device to rotate as it moves along thimble 18 (hence, it can be seen as a turbine).
The cleaning device is moved from its lower position 16 to its upper position 17 by the force of water or other liquid passing through the passageway 14. The liquid strikes blades 23 and causes the turbine to rotate. The rotation provides a better more efficient wiping or cleaning of thimble 18.
the upper position 17, the turbine is above outlet 13 and as long as water or other liquid flows through the passageway 14, turbine 17 will be pushed into its upper position. When the water flow stops, turbine 17 will fall under gravity back to its lower position 16 and will again wipe and clean :thimble 18.
It can be seen that this arrangement provides a simple yet reliable periodic cleaning of the UV lamp to provide maximum efficiency in treating the water or other liquid flowing through the passageway 14. It should be noted that even a thin film of scale on thimble 14 can cause up to a reduction in the kill rate of bacteria in the water.
It should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications can be made to the embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.
8 THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. An apparatus for treating a liquid, the apparatus comprising: a housing having a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, and a passageway through which liquid can flow; a radiation emitter which has a radiation transparent window to allow radiation to pass into and treat the liquid passing through the passageway; and, a cleaning device in the passageway and which moves along and which cleans at least part of the window at periodic intervals, the 1O cleaning device being moved by the flow of liquid passing through the passageway.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the radiation emitter is a UV light having an outer cylindrical wall and the cleaning device is a collar which slides along and turns around the wall by the flow of liquid as liquid flows through the passageway.
3. An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawing.
DATED this 18th day of August 1998 Kenneth Ray BRYER, Devon Brent GREATOREX and Timothy John PRINCE *.By their Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO.
S
AU80758/98A 1998-02-03 1998-08-18 An apparatus for treating a liquid Expired AU709610B2 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU80758/98A AU709610B2 (en) 1998-02-03 1998-08-18 An apparatus for treating a liquid

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU691786 1998-02-03
AU52883/98A AU691786B3 (en) 1998-02-03 1998-02-03 An apparatus for treating a liquid
AU80758/98A AU709610B2 (en) 1998-02-03 1998-08-18 An apparatus for treating a liquid

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
AU52883/98A Division AU691786B3 (en) 1998-02-03 1998-02-03 An apparatus for treating a liquid

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
AU8075898A AU8075898A (en) 1998-10-08
AU709610B2 true AU709610B2 (en) 1999-09-02

Family

ID=3739005

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
AU52883/98A Ceased AU691786B3 (en) 1998-02-03 1998-02-03 An apparatus for treating a liquid
AU80758/98A Expired AU709610B2 (en) 1998-02-03 1998-08-18 An apparatus for treating a liquid

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
AU52883/98A Ceased AU691786B3 (en) 1998-02-03 1998-02-03 An apparatus for treating a liquid

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1051355A4 (en)
CN (1) CN1210210C (en)
AU (2) AU691786B3 (en)
CA (1) CA2319323A1 (en)
NZ (1) NZ505414A (en)
WO (1) WO1999040032A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10147019A1 (en) * 2001-09-25 2003-04-24 Oase Wuebker Gmbh & Co Kg Filter device with a UVC lamp and with a cleaning device for the UVC lamp
DE10205655A1 (en) * 2002-02-12 2003-08-14 Wolfgang Vitt Water disinfecting assembly has quartz glass tube through which water flows, surrounded by housing with ultra-violet light source, and including cleaning stopper that passes through tube with water
US6911655B2 (en) 2002-06-13 2005-06-28 Malcolm Robert Snowball Fluid treatment apparatus
GB0213581D0 (en) * 2002-06-13 2002-07-24 Snowball Malcolm R Fluid treatment apparatus
GB2425121A (en) * 2005-04-13 2006-10-18 Malcolm Robert Snowball Fluid disinfection apparatus and system
EP1882521A1 (en) * 2006-07-28 2008-01-30 Huei-Tarng Liou Device for on-line light radiation in gas-containing liquid
US7780856B2 (en) 2006-07-28 2010-08-24 Huei-Tarng Liou Device for on-line light radiation in gas-containing liquid
CN105461145B (en) * 2014-12-25 2020-12-15 江苏泉之源环境技术有限公司 Method for removing complex organic matters in wastewater
SE540414C2 (en) * 2017-02-17 2018-09-11 Wallenius Water Innovation Ab A liquid treatment system including a cleaning arrangement
CN110026391A (en) * 2019-05-06 2019-07-19 浙江钻邦水处理设备有限公司 It is a kind of can spinning cleaning glass bushing device
CN112225269A (en) * 2020-10-12 2021-01-15 福建省搜果智能科技有限公司 Waste water treatment purifier for automobile production

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0467465A1 (en) * 1990-07-16 1992-01-22 Berson Milieutechniek B.V. Sterilizer
WO1994020208A1 (en) * 1993-03-05 1994-09-15 Trojan Technologies Inc. Fluid treatment system and process
EP0648711A1 (en) * 1993-10-19 1995-04-19 Norddeutsche Seekabelwerke Aktiengesellschaft Apparatus for treating liquids, in particular with UV radiation

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3456107A (en) * 1967-05-16 1969-07-15 Aquacare Intern Ltd Water sterilizing apparatus
CA966608A (en) * 1972-11-20 1975-04-29 Naturvard Research (Canada) Ltd. Automatic tube cleaner for water sterilizer
DE2332455A1 (en) * 1973-06-26 1975-01-16 Ludwig Rauh Cleaning mechanism for ultra-violet irradiation appts. - is held in reception chamber by dynamic pressure of liq.
DE3710250C3 (en) * 1987-03-28 1993-11-18 Ultralight Ag Schaanwald Device for disinfecting water by UV radiation
SU1669869A1 (en) * 1989-07-07 1991-08-15 Предприятие П/Я А-1097 Bactericide apparatus for treating water
US5227140A (en) * 1990-04-13 1993-07-13 Peroxidation Systems, Inc. Modular self-cleaning oxidation chamber
GB2318165B (en) * 1996-10-10 2000-07-12 Biofence Ltd Photobioreactor having mobile cleaning means

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0467465A1 (en) * 1990-07-16 1992-01-22 Berson Milieutechniek B.V. Sterilizer
WO1994020208A1 (en) * 1993-03-05 1994-09-15 Trojan Technologies Inc. Fluid treatment system and process
EP0648711A1 (en) * 1993-10-19 1995-04-19 Norddeutsche Seekabelwerke Aktiengesellschaft Apparatus for treating liquids, in particular with UV radiation

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU691786B3 (en) 1998-05-21
CA2319323A1 (en) 1999-08-12
EP1051355A4 (en) 2001-03-28
EP1051355A1 (en) 2000-11-15
CN1210210C (en) 2005-07-13
CN1289308A (en) 2001-03-28
AU8075898A (en) 1998-10-08
WO1999040032A1 (en) 1999-08-12
NZ505414A (en) 2001-12-21

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6570167B1 (en) Apparatus for treating a liquid
EP0722424B1 (en) Uv apparatus for fluid treatment
US7875173B1 (en) Ozone generator retrofit apparatus for jetted tubs, spas, and other water circulation facilities
AU709610B2 (en) An apparatus for treating a liquid
ES2292535T3 (en) UV DISINFECTION SYSTEM AND PROCEDURE TO TREAT DRINKING WATER.
EP1654006B1 (en) In-line treatment of liquids and gases by light iradiation
TW559616B (en) Ultraviolet-and-ozone disinfection apparatus having improvement on disinfection effect
US7662293B2 (en) Method and apparatus for liquid purification
KR102255048B1 (en) Ultraviolet sterilizer of tubular type with washing device equipped with dispersing structure with combination of dispersion and cleaning function
EP1501366A4 (en) Ultraviolet radiation treatment of unwanted microorganisms
CA2477030C (en) Fluid treatment device
US9624115B2 (en) Radiation reactor
US20160176727A1 (en) Apparatus for uv disinfection of a liquid
WO2007086829A1 (en) Accessory for providing ultraviolet disinfection to a water dispenser
KR101318604B1 (en) Micro bubble sterilizer
KR20200080938A (en) Ultraviolet purifying device using ozone gas
JP3834735B2 (en) Fluidized water sterilizer
KR200330424Y1 (en) Tap of water purifier having sterilizing lamp
KR100955301B1 (en) Sterilizing water apparatus using the ultra-violet ray lamp
RU2042637C1 (en) Device for disinfection of water with ultraviolet rays and ozone
JPS62114694A (en) Ultraviolet sterilizing apparatus
RU2182119C1 (en) Water decontamination plant
RU2144002C1 (en) Liquid sterilizer
JP2001047039A (en) Ultraviolet sterilization cleaning apparatus
KR200296731Y1 (en) Ultra violet waterway sterilizer system

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
DA3 Amendments made section 104

Free format text: THE NATURE OF THE AMENDMENT IS: AMEND THE INVENTOR S NAME TO READ TIMOTHY JOHN PRINCE