CA3109024A1 - Kitchen countertop water disinfector and method for uvc disinfection of harmful microorganisms in untreated drinking (tap) water - Google Patents
Kitchen countertop water disinfector and method for uvc disinfection of harmful microorganisms in untreated drinking (tap) water Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA3109024A1 CA3109024A1 CA3109024A CA3109024A CA3109024A1 CA 3109024 A1 CA3109024 A1 CA 3109024A1 CA 3109024 A CA3109024 A CA 3109024A CA 3109024 A CA3109024 A CA 3109024A CA 3109024 A1 CA3109024 A1 CA 3109024A1
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- water
- uvc
- tap
- disinfection
- lamp
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Links
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title claims abstract description 170
- 238000004659 sterilization and disinfection Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 50
- 230000035622 drinking Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 45
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 26
- 244000005700 microbiome Species 0.000 title abstract description 7
- 230000002070 germicidal effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 18
- 241000894006 Bacteria Species 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 claims description 10
- 230000000007 visual effect Effects 0.000 claims description 8
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000003651 drinking water Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 235000020188 drinking water Nutrition 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicium dioxide Chemical compound O=[Si]=O VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims 2
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims 2
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims 2
- 239000011888 foil Substances 0.000 claims 2
- 239000004973 liquid crystal related substance Substances 0.000 claims 2
- 241000233866 Fungi Species 0.000 claims 1
- 241000700605 Viruses Species 0.000 claims 1
- 230000004397 blinking Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 230000002906 microbiologic effect Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 238000011169 microbiological contamination Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 230000005236 sound signal Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000001010 compromised effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000523 sample Substances 0.000 description 2
- ZAMOUSCENKQFHK-UHFFFAOYSA-N Chlorine atom Chemical compound [Cl] ZAMOUSCENKQFHK-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000006424 Flood reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 244000052616 bacterial pathogen Species 0.000 description 1
- 239000003990 capacitor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052801 chlorine Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000000460 chlorine Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000356 contaminant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000001914 filtration Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 1
- QSHDDOUJBYECFT-UHFFFAOYSA-N mercury Chemical compound [Hg] QSHDDOUJBYECFT-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052753 mercury Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000011664 signaling Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003068 static effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
- C02F1/30—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by irradiation
- C02F1/32—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by irradiation with ultraviolet light
- C02F1/325—Irradiation devices or lamp constructions
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
- C02F1/34—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage with mechanical oscillations
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F2201/00—Apparatus for treatment of water, waste water or sewage
- C02F2201/32—Details relating to UV-irradiation devices
- C02F2201/322—Lamp arrangement
- C02F2201/3221—Lamps suspended above a water surface or pipe
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F2201/00—Apparatus for treatment of water, waste water or sewage
- C02F2201/32—Details relating to UV-irradiation devices
- C02F2201/322—Lamp arrangement
- C02F2201/3228—Units having reflectors, e.g. coatings, baffles, plates, mirrors
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F2201/00—Apparatus for treatment of water, waste water or sewage
- C02F2201/32—Details relating to UV-irradiation devices
- C02F2201/326—Lamp control systems
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F2209/00—Controlling or monitoring parameters in water treatment
- C02F2209/05—Conductivity or salinity
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F2303/00—Specific treatment goals
- C02F2303/04—Disinfection
Abstract
This invention relates to building a Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector appliance and method for disinfection of harmful bacteria in untreated drinking (tap) water. Said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector comprises of the following: 1. Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector Housing divided into Water Disinfection Compartment with UVC-radiation source, mounted on the top, covered for safety, with UVC-non-transparent door and Electronic Control Compartment holding Electronic Control Circuit, which controls and operates UVC-radiation source with predetermined time/dose to disinfect bacteria in stationary water placed below, in Water Container with top opened, in unobstructed sight of UVC light above. 2. Further, under control of said Electronic Control Circuit, Mechanical (vibrating) Actuator, attached to the bottom of said Water Disinfection Compartment, will produce mechanical vibrations of low frequency to move and mix water molecules in said Water Container and thus further expose harmful microorganisms in said Water Container to germicidal UVC light.
Description
- 7 ¨
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for operating a Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector and method for disinfection of untreated drinking (tap) water by means of a UVC-radiation source of the low-pressure gas discharge type.
Methods and devices for UVC disinfection of untreated drinking (tap) water have been known in practice for a long time and successfully used to remove bacteria and other microorganisms in untreated drinking (tap) water. Other large systems, with so-called low-pressure mercury lamps, are used as the UVC-radiation sources, which, with a high degree of efficiency, emit UVC light of a wavelength and power that is used to destroy microorganisms in drinking (tap) water. Water treated in this way is disinfected without use of chemicals within the presently valid limits, whereby the degree of UVC
disinfection of untreated drinking (tap) water is a function of the UVC dose applied.
Required UVC doses for particular microorganisms in untreated drinking (tap) water are well studied/known and published in literature.
Most of previous apparatus/designs used for disinfection of said untreated drinking (tap) water, are radiating UVC light to the water flowing, under pressure or gravitational force, through the some type of pocket/chamber, where said water is dynamically exposed to UVC light source (e.g. UVC lamps or UVC LEDs) for certain period of time, to insure required UVC disinfection dose. However, dynamic water flow increases design complexity, installation and mobility of such apparatus, while also enabling UVC
treatment of larger water quantities.
One such typical dynamic disinfection method is described in prior art design:
UV Water Disinfection, Canadian patent: CA 2262678 (by Ashok Gadgil) The present invention is addressing only UVC disinfection of untreated drinking (tap, well, lake or spring...) water. Filtering of said untreated drinking water, by removing unwanted chemicals dissolved in said water, is well covered to various degrees with many methods, while in same time, not offering full water disinfection from biological contaminants. The present invention is doing just that; a disinfection of said untreated drinking water by means of a UVC-radiation source of the low-pressure gas discharge type, to disinfect, with very high degree (>99.999%), various microorganisms in static (not flowing) untreated drinking (tap) water, contained in glass or open bottle/pitcher.
In addition, present invention could be also used to disinfect small item's surfaces (e.g.
smart phones, bottle caps, keys...) that are placed and directly exposed to UVC light in said Water Disinfection Compartment.
- 8 ¨
The operation of a Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector is very fast (between 1-2min), reliable and easy to handle many appropriate Water Container's shapes and sizes. It is also provisioned that, by choice, user can increase UVC exposure time further, by one or two minutes.
In addition, such Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector, under control of Electronic Control Circuit, is capable to perform self-diagnostic and to monitor its own operational parameters and quality of said (tap) water disinfection, using very little power to run, while being very cost effective.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is a Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector and method to disinfect untreated drinking (tap) water by means of exposing said untreated drinking (tap) water to a UVC-radiation source of the low-pressure gas discharge type.
Said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector is equipped with said UVC germicidal light source of the low-pressure gas discharge type and Electronic Control Circuit housed in two main compartments: Water Disinfection compartment and Electronic Control Circuit compartment.
The main function of said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector is disinfection of untreated drinking (tap) water. A disinfection of untreated drinking (tap) water is performed to disinfect, with very high efficiency, germs of all kinds that could be present, due to many different reasons (e.g. floods, leaking pipes, micro-biologically contaminated wells, etc.), in said untreated drinking (tap) water. Commonly, disinfection of said untreated drinking (tap) water in water treatment plants is done with specialized chemicals (e.g. chlorine), effecting chemistry and taste of water in the process. But on the long way to the point of use, (e.g. water tap), such decontaminated water could be still compromised by reasons stated above. Also, often said untreated drinking (tap) water comes from rivers, lakes, wells and other places where water could not be necessarily safe and processed for drinking. In order to ensure that such untreated drinking (tap) water is safe for use, it is required to be filtered and disinfected at the point of use. Here said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector could be used only to disinfect said untreated - 9 ¨
drinking (tap) water and thus provide safe drinking (tap) water for personal use. Since, said disinfection of said untreated drinking (tap) water is performed by means of exposing said untreated drinking (tap) water to the UVC radiation of germicidal light source, such disinfection is highly efficient, while not effecting chemistry and taste of water at all. During whole process of disinfection of said untreated drinking (tap) water, placed in adequate Water Container, said water must be directly exposed to sufficient dosage of said germicidal UV radiation, to efficiently disinfect bacteria present in said untreated drinking (tap) water In order to perform its main function said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector is comprised of said Conductivity measurement electrodes/sensor and said Water Disinfection UVC germicidal light source, which are all operating under control of said Electronic Control Circuit, to ensure most efficient performance of said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector, from the beginning to the end of the process of said disinfection of untreated drinking (tap) water. Said Electronic Control Circuit is also monitoring performance of said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector and signaling progress and status of its operation by means of visual and audio indicators.
In addition, said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector is powered with 120VAC
(or possibly 220 VAC) power source to enable its use within households. In addition it could be also powered by low voltage 12VDC power source, using 12VDC/120VAC or equivalent power inverter, from battery (e.g. 12VDC in the car), or from other types of power sources (e.g. solar power) which can generate 12V DC voltage and operating power of =<25W.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Exemplary embodiment of the present invention are described below with reference to the drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1: A preferred embodiment of a method according to the invention, in which a Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector for disinfection of untreated drinking (tap) water, is comprised of following main functional components: Main Kitchen Countertop Water - 10 ¨
Disinfector Housing 5, divided into Water Disinfection Compartment 8 and Electronic Control Compartment 10 and Control Circuit 17. Said Electronic Control Circuit 17 is connected to external 120VAC power source through power switch 15 and cord, provided at the back of said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector Housing. At the top of said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector Housing 5 is horizontally mounted powerful UVC Lamp source with built in CFL-type ballast 16, as well as, connected to said Electronic Control Circuit 17. Said UVC Lamp Source 16, together with UVC
Light parabolic Reflector 2 and Tilt Sensor 3, are attached to uplifting Lamp/Housing Cover 4.
At the front bottom of said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector Housing is Electronic Control Panel with Red LED Alarm Indicator 11, Green LED Operation/Status Indicator 12, Bicolor LED Water Quality Indicator 13, Operation Control Button 14 and Main Power Switch 15, all together harnessed to said Electronic Control Circuit 17.
Said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector Housing 5 is the Front Covered UVC-non-transparent door 6 that could be opened/closed, acting as UVC Light protection shield during said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector operation FIG. 2: A detailed presentation of hardware implementation according to the invention of said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector Housing 5 is given from the side view, depicting all main parts: Electronic Control Circuit 17 in said Electronic Control compartment 10, Water Disinfection Compartment 8, Water Container 9, holding untreated drinking (tap) water to be exposed to UVC Lamp source 16 above, Control LED Indicators 11-13, Operation Control Button 14 and Main Power Switch 15 at the bottom end of said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector Housing 5, as well as, a position of said Front Covered UVC-non-transparent door 6.
FIG.3: A detailed block diagram of said Electronic Control Circuit 17 in said Electronic Control compartment10 according to the invention of said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector is given, depicting all main blocks: Power Supply interface 15 and 19, Power Relay 22, UVC Lamp Driver (ballast circuit) 16 associated with appropriate UV
Lamp of germicidal type 1, 120VAC/5VDC voltage converter/regulator 19 and 20 and Micro-controller Circuit 21 equipped with Water Conductivity Measurement Probe 24 and visual/audio (e.g. LED/buzzer) indicators 3, 7, 11-13 and 23. 120VAC voltage is activated through Power Switch 15 and fuse F, reduced down through capacitor C
and rectified through full phase rectifier 19 providing 5VDC after Voltage Regulator 20 to Micro-controller 21. Based on programmed algorithm said Micro-controller 21 is performing number of operating measurements (e.g. water conductivity, monitoring magnet 7 and tilt 3 sensor's states, button position 14...) and via Power Relay 22 activates Lamp ballast 16 and UVC Lamp 1.
When UVC Lamp 1 is fired said Micro-controller 21 monitors said UVC Lamp current and voltage and times out said UVC Lamp operation, according to the predetermined UVC dosage. After expired operating time said Micro-controller 21 completes operation of said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector via audio/buzzer 23 and Green LED
indicators, with specified cadences.
During operation of said UVC-radiation source and under control of said Electronic Control Circuit 17, Mechanical (vibrating) Actuator 18, attached to the bottom of said Water Disinfection Compartment 8, will produce mechanical vibrations of low frequency, to move and mix water molecules in said Water Container 9 and thus increase organic microorganism's exposure to germicidal UVC light.
In case of incorrect/interrupted operation of said UVC Lamp said Micro-controller 21 indicates via audio/buzzer 23 and Red LED 11 alarm with specified cadence and stops operation of said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector.
Operation of said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector could be restarted and fully repeated by pressing button 14.
Operation of said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector could be extended by lmin when pressing button 14 once more within 15sec, after start of said UVC Lamp.
Operation of said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector could be extended by 2min when pressing button 14 twice within 15sec, after start of said UVC Lamp.
- 12 ¨
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a device and method according to the invention, in which said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector is made of following main functional parts: Main Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector Housing, divided into Water Disinfection Compartment for placing Water Container holding said untreated drinking (tap) water and Electronic Control Compartment holding Electrical Control Circuit, a horizontally mounted powerful UVC Lamp source with built in CFL-type ballast covered from the top with uplifting Lamp Cover together with parabolic UVC
Light Reflector and equipped with Tilt Sensor. At the bottom of said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector Housing is Electronic Control Panel with LED Indicators, Control Button and Main Power Switch; all together harnessed to said Electronic Control Circuit.
Said Electronic Control Circuit is also connected to external 120VAC power source through fuse, power switch and cord, provided at the back of said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector Housing. At the front said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector Housing is mounted UVC-non-transparent shield/door to protect UVC Light leaking from said Water Disinfection Compartment from during the operation.
The correct sequence of said water treatment process is following:
First, said Water Container, filled with said untreated drinking (tap) water, is placed in said Water Disinfection Compartment, said UVC-non-transparent shield/door closed and secured by magnetic lock and magnetic sensor, turn on said Main Power Switch or press said Control Button and wait said UVC Lamp source to start and time out after predetermined said UVC Light exposure time, under control of said Micro-controller Circuit in the said Electronic Control Circuit.
- 13 ¨
Second, the operation of said UVC Lamp could be extended by lmin when pressing said Control Button once or by 2min when pressing said Control Button twice within 15sec, after start of said operation process.
Third, said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector could perform basic quality level (e.g.
water transparency) of said untreated drinking (tap) water, by measuring characteristic conductance/impedance between two non-isolated low power AC/11(Hz electrodes immersed in said untreated drinking (tap) water, based on established water conductivity charts and results shown on bicolor LED indicator (e.g. as green, yellow or red color).
FIG. 2: A detailed description of hardware implementation and operation according to the invention of said Kitchen Portable Water Disinfector shown in side view.
FIG.3: A block diagram of said Electronic Control Circuit in said Electronic Control compartment according to the invention of said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector has following main blocks:
Power Supply 120VAC interface, including 5V voltage regulator for Microcontroller Circuit, UV Lamp Driver (ballast circuit) associated with specified UV Lamp and Microcontroller Circuit equipped with lamp Relay driver, Mechanical Actuator driver, Water Conductivity Measurement probes, Tilt Sensor and visual/audio (e.g. LED, Display, buzzer) indicators.
Said UV Lamp Driver ballast, operating under supervision of said Microcontroller Circuit, is commonly designed/tuned in such way that could provide sufficiently high voltage to fire (by cold or warm start) and operate said UV Lamp, with required current/light intensity.
Said Microcontroller Circuit is supervising whole operation of said Kitchen Portable Water Disinfector during said water treatment process (e.g. power source voltage, usage time of said germicidal UV Lamp, operating current and voltage of said germicidal UV
Lamp, etc.). If any of said operating parameters come out of predetermined values, said - 14 ¨
Microcontroller Circuit will abort said water treatment process and activate audio/visual alarm signals to inform user about failed completion of said water treatment process. In that case, water coming out from said water treatment process is compromised and unsafe for drinking. In order to rectify said failure problem, said Kitchen Portable Water Disinfector must be powered down, problematic condition fixed (e.g. replace said germicidal UV Lamp, etc.) and said water treatment process repeated from the beginning.
If said audio/visual alarm condition repeats/stays, said Kitchen Portable Water Disinfector must be sent for further repair.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for operating a Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector and method for disinfection of untreated drinking (tap) water by means of a UVC-radiation source of the low-pressure gas discharge type.
Methods and devices for UVC disinfection of untreated drinking (tap) water have been known in practice for a long time and successfully used to remove bacteria and other microorganisms in untreated drinking (tap) water. Other large systems, with so-called low-pressure mercury lamps, are used as the UVC-radiation sources, which, with a high degree of efficiency, emit UVC light of a wavelength and power that is used to destroy microorganisms in drinking (tap) water. Water treated in this way is disinfected without use of chemicals within the presently valid limits, whereby the degree of UVC
disinfection of untreated drinking (tap) water is a function of the UVC dose applied.
Required UVC doses for particular microorganisms in untreated drinking (tap) water are well studied/known and published in literature.
Most of previous apparatus/designs used for disinfection of said untreated drinking (tap) water, are radiating UVC light to the water flowing, under pressure or gravitational force, through the some type of pocket/chamber, where said water is dynamically exposed to UVC light source (e.g. UVC lamps or UVC LEDs) for certain period of time, to insure required UVC disinfection dose. However, dynamic water flow increases design complexity, installation and mobility of such apparatus, while also enabling UVC
treatment of larger water quantities.
One such typical dynamic disinfection method is described in prior art design:
UV Water Disinfection, Canadian patent: CA 2262678 (by Ashok Gadgil) The present invention is addressing only UVC disinfection of untreated drinking (tap, well, lake or spring...) water. Filtering of said untreated drinking water, by removing unwanted chemicals dissolved in said water, is well covered to various degrees with many methods, while in same time, not offering full water disinfection from biological contaminants. The present invention is doing just that; a disinfection of said untreated drinking water by means of a UVC-radiation source of the low-pressure gas discharge type, to disinfect, with very high degree (>99.999%), various microorganisms in static (not flowing) untreated drinking (tap) water, contained in glass or open bottle/pitcher.
In addition, present invention could be also used to disinfect small item's surfaces (e.g.
smart phones, bottle caps, keys...) that are placed and directly exposed to UVC light in said Water Disinfection Compartment.
- 8 ¨
The operation of a Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector is very fast (between 1-2min), reliable and easy to handle many appropriate Water Container's shapes and sizes. It is also provisioned that, by choice, user can increase UVC exposure time further, by one or two minutes.
In addition, such Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector, under control of Electronic Control Circuit, is capable to perform self-diagnostic and to monitor its own operational parameters and quality of said (tap) water disinfection, using very little power to run, while being very cost effective.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is a Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector and method to disinfect untreated drinking (tap) water by means of exposing said untreated drinking (tap) water to a UVC-radiation source of the low-pressure gas discharge type.
Said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector is equipped with said UVC germicidal light source of the low-pressure gas discharge type and Electronic Control Circuit housed in two main compartments: Water Disinfection compartment and Electronic Control Circuit compartment.
The main function of said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector is disinfection of untreated drinking (tap) water. A disinfection of untreated drinking (tap) water is performed to disinfect, with very high efficiency, germs of all kinds that could be present, due to many different reasons (e.g. floods, leaking pipes, micro-biologically contaminated wells, etc.), in said untreated drinking (tap) water. Commonly, disinfection of said untreated drinking (tap) water in water treatment plants is done with specialized chemicals (e.g. chlorine), effecting chemistry and taste of water in the process. But on the long way to the point of use, (e.g. water tap), such decontaminated water could be still compromised by reasons stated above. Also, often said untreated drinking (tap) water comes from rivers, lakes, wells and other places where water could not be necessarily safe and processed for drinking. In order to ensure that such untreated drinking (tap) water is safe for use, it is required to be filtered and disinfected at the point of use. Here said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector could be used only to disinfect said untreated - 9 ¨
drinking (tap) water and thus provide safe drinking (tap) water for personal use. Since, said disinfection of said untreated drinking (tap) water is performed by means of exposing said untreated drinking (tap) water to the UVC radiation of germicidal light source, such disinfection is highly efficient, while not effecting chemistry and taste of water at all. During whole process of disinfection of said untreated drinking (tap) water, placed in adequate Water Container, said water must be directly exposed to sufficient dosage of said germicidal UV radiation, to efficiently disinfect bacteria present in said untreated drinking (tap) water In order to perform its main function said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector is comprised of said Conductivity measurement electrodes/sensor and said Water Disinfection UVC germicidal light source, which are all operating under control of said Electronic Control Circuit, to ensure most efficient performance of said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector, from the beginning to the end of the process of said disinfection of untreated drinking (tap) water. Said Electronic Control Circuit is also monitoring performance of said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector and signaling progress and status of its operation by means of visual and audio indicators.
In addition, said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector is powered with 120VAC
(or possibly 220 VAC) power source to enable its use within households. In addition it could be also powered by low voltage 12VDC power source, using 12VDC/120VAC or equivalent power inverter, from battery (e.g. 12VDC in the car), or from other types of power sources (e.g. solar power) which can generate 12V DC voltage and operating power of =<25W.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Exemplary embodiment of the present invention are described below with reference to the drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1: A preferred embodiment of a method according to the invention, in which a Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector for disinfection of untreated drinking (tap) water, is comprised of following main functional components: Main Kitchen Countertop Water - 10 ¨
Disinfector Housing 5, divided into Water Disinfection Compartment 8 and Electronic Control Compartment 10 and Control Circuit 17. Said Electronic Control Circuit 17 is connected to external 120VAC power source through power switch 15 and cord, provided at the back of said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector Housing. At the top of said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector Housing 5 is horizontally mounted powerful UVC Lamp source with built in CFL-type ballast 16, as well as, connected to said Electronic Control Circuit 17. Said UVC Lamp Source 16, together with UVC
Light parabolic Reflector 2 and Tilt Sensor 3, are attached to uplifting Lamp/Housing Cover 4.
At the front bottom of said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector Housing is Electronic Control Panel with Red LED Alarm Indicator 11, Green LED Operation/Status Indicator 12, Bicolor LED Water Quality Indicator 13, Operation Control Button 14 and Main Power Switch 15, all together harnessed to said Electronic Control Circuit 17.
Said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector Housing 5 is the Front Covered UVC-non-transparent door 6 that could be opened/closed, acting as UVC Light protection shield during said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector operation FIG. 2: A detailed presentation of hardware implementation according to the invention of said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector Housing 5 is given from the side view, depicting all main parts: Electronic Control Circuit 17 in said Electronic Control compartment 10, Water Disinfection Compartment 8, Water Container 9, holding untreated drinking (tap) water to be exposed to UVC Lamp source 16 above, Control LED Indicators 11-13, Operation Control Button 14 and Main Power Switch 15 at the bottom end of said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector Housing 5, as well as, a position of said Front Covered UVC-non-transparent door 6.
FIG.3: A detailed block diagram of said Electronic Control Circuit 17 in said Electronic Control compartment10 according to the invention of said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector is given, depicting all main blocks: Power Supply interface 15 and 19, Power Relay 22, UVC Lamp Driver (ballast circuit) 16 associated with appropriate UV
Lamp of germicidal type 1, 120VAC/5VDC voltage converter/regulator 19 and 20 and Micro-controller Circuit 21 equipped with Water Conductivity Measurement Probe 24 and visual/audio (e.g. LED/buzzer) indicators 3, 7, 11-13 and 23. 120VAC voltage is activated through Power Switch 15 and fuse F, reduced down through capacitor C
and rectified through full phase rectifier 19 providing 5VDC after Voltage Regulator 20 to Micro-controller 21. Based on programmed algorithm said Micro-controller 21 is performing number of operating measurements (e.g. water conductivity, monitoring magnet 7 and tilt 3 sensor's states, button position 14...) and via Power Relay 22 activates Lamp ballast 16 and UVC Lamp 1.
When UVC Lamp 1 is fired said Micro-controller 21 monitors said UVC Lamp current and voltage and times out said UVC Lamp operation, according to the predetermined UVC dosage. After expired operating time said Micro-controller 21 completes operation of said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector via audio/buzzer 23 and Green LED
indicators, with specified cadences.
During operation of said UVC-radiation source and under control of said Electronic Control Circuit 17, Mechanical (vibrating) Actuator 18, attached to the bottom of said Water Disinfection Compartment 8, will produce mechanical vibrations of low frequency, to move and mix water molecules in said Water Container 9 and thus increase organic microorganism's exposure to germicidal UVC light.
In case of incorrect/interrupted operation of said UVC Lamp said Micro-controller 21 indicates via audio/buzzer 23 and Red LED 11 alarm with specified cadence and stops operation of said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector.
Operation of said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector could be restarted and fully repeated by pressing button 14.
Operation of said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector could be extended by lmin when pressing button 14 once more within 15sec, after start of said UVC Lamp.
Operation of said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector could be extended by 2min when pressing button 14 twice within 15sec, after start of said UVC Lamp.
- 12 ¨
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a device and method according to the invention, in which said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector is made of following main functional parts: Main Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector Housing, divided into Water Disinfection Compartment for placing Water Container holding said untreated drinking (tap) water and Electronic Control Compartment holding Electrical Control Circuit, a horizontally mounted powerful UVC Lamp source with built in CFL-type ballast covered from the top with uplifting Lamp Cover together with parabolic UVC
Light Reflector and equipped with Tilt Sensor. At the bottom of said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector Housing is Electronic Control Panel with LED Indicators, Control Button and Main Power Switch; all together harnessed to said Electronic Control Circuit.
Said Electronic Control Circuit is also connected to external 120VAC power source through fuse, power switch and cord, provided at the back of said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector Housing. At the front said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector Housing is mounted UVC-non-transparent shield/door to protect UVC Light leaking from said Water Disinfection Compartment from during the operation.
The correct sequence of said water treatment process is following:
First, said Water Container, filled with said untreated drinking (tap) water, is placed in said Water Disinfection Compartment, said UVC-non-transparent shield/door closed and secured by magnetic lock and magnetic sensor, turn on said Main Power Switch or press said Control Button and wait said UVC Lamp source to start and time out after predetermined said UVC Light exposure time, under control of said Micro-controller Circuit in the said Electronic Control Circuit.
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Second, the operation of said UVC Lamp could be extended by lmin when pressing said Control Button once or by 2min when pressing said Control Button twice within 15sec, after start of said operation process.
Third, said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector could perform basic quality level (e.g.
water transparency) of said untreated drinking (tap) water, by measuring characteristic conductance/impedance between two non-isolated low power AC/11(Hz electrodes immersed in said untreated drinking (tap) water, based on established water conductivity charts and results shown on bicolor LED indicator (e.g. as green, yellow or red color).
FIG. 2: A detailed description of hardware implementation and operation according to the invention of said Kitchen Portable Water Disinfector shown in side view.
FIG.3: A block diagram of said Electronic Control Circuit in said Electronic Control compartment according to the invention of said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector has following main blocks:
Power Supply 120VAC interface, including 5V voltage regulator for Microcontroller Circuit, UV Lamp Driver (ballast circuit) associated with specified UV Lamp and Microcontroller Circuit equipped with lamp Relay driver, Mechanical Actuator driver, Water Conductivity Measurement probes, Tilt Sensor and visual/audio (e.g. LED, Display, buzzer) indicators.
Said UV Lamp Driver ballast, operating under supervision of said Microcontroller Circuit, is commonly designed/tuned in such way that could provide sufficiently high voltage to fire (by cold or warm start) and operate said UV Lamp, with required current/light intensity.
Said Microcontroller Circuit is supervising whole operation of said Kitchen Portable Water Disinfector during said water treatment process (e.g. power source voltage, usage time of said germicidal UV Lamp, operating current and voltage of said germicidal UV
Lamp, etc.). If any of said operating parameters come out of predetermined values, said - 14 ¨
Microcontroller Circuit will abort said water treatment process and activate audio/visual alarm signals to inform user about failed completion of said water treatment process. In that case, water coming out from said water treatment process is compromised and unsafe for drinking. In order to rectify said failure problem, said Kitchen Portable Water Disinfector must be powered down, problematic condition fixed (e.g. replace said germicidal UV Lamp, etc.) and said water treatment process repeated from the beginning.
If said audio/visual alarm condition repeats/stays, said Kitchen Portable Water Disinfector must be sent for further repair.
Claims (22)
1. A method for building and operating a Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector for disinfection of untreated drinking water; by placing said untreated drinking (tap) water in water container with top of said container opened; by placing said Water Container in said Water Disinfection Compartment with clear, unobstructed sight of UVC light generating lamp above, to disinfect harmful bacteria in said untreated drinking (tap) water, where said untreated drinking (tap) water is exposed to said UVC light and disinfected from possible micro-biological contamination by many different bacteria, fungi and viruses, according to the well documented science.
2. A design according to claim 1, wherein said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector Housing is divided in two main compartments: Water Disinfection Compartment with UVC generating lamp mounted on the top of said Water Disinfection Compartment and Electronic Control Compartment.
3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said UV Lamp is generating powerful germicidal UVC radiation that is capable of killing almost all harmful micro-biological organisms in said untreated drinking (tap) water, subject to the appropriate dosage of said germicidal UV-radiation.
4. A method according to claims 1 and 3, wherein said dosage of said germicidal UVC radiation is calculated as a function of intensity of said germicidal UVC
radiation of said UVC lamp, time of exposure of said untreated drinking (tap) water to said germicidal UVC-radiation and worst case distance of said untreated drinking (tap) water from the said UVC lamp. Therefore; said dosage of said germicidal UVC-radiation is directly proportional to said intensity of said germicidal UVC-radiation source and exposure time to said germicidal UVC
radiation source, while inversely proportional to the square of distance from said UVC source to the bottom of said Water Container with untreated drinking (tap) water.
radiation of said UVC lamp, time of exposure of said untreated drinking (tap) water to said germicidal UVC-radiation and worst case distance of said untreated drinking (tap) water from the said UVC lamp. Therefore; said dosage of said germicidal UVC-radiation is directly proportional to said intensity of said germicidal UVC-radiation source and exposure time to said germicidal UVC
radiation source, while inversely proportional to the square of distance from said UVC source to the bottom of said Water Container with untreated drinking (tap) water.
5. A method according to claims 1, 3 and 4, wherein during operation of said UVC-radiation source, under control of aid Electronic Control Circuit, Mechanical (vibrating) Actuator, attached to the bottom of said Water Disinfection Compartment, is producing mechanical vibrations of low frequency, to move and mix water molecules in said Water Container and thus further improve disinfection of said water.
6. A design according to claims 1 and 4, wherein said UVC Lamp is firmly placed horizontally at the top of said Water Disinfection Compartment, shielded from outside view by the said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector Housing and protected by UVC-non-transparent door, mounted on the front said of said Water Disinfection Compartment.
7. A design according to claims 1, 2 and 5, wherein said UVC Lamp quartz glass body at the top of said Water Disinfection Compartment is also mechanically protected from below with thin rod wires across the bottom of said UVC Lamp, to prevent any possible UVC Lamp quartz glass damage, when inserting/removing said water container in/from said Water Disinfection Compartment. Said UVC Lamp is electrically connected to said Electronic Control Circuit mounted at the back of said Electronic Control Compartment, in separated space.
8. A design according to claims 1 and 6, wherein said Electronic Control Circuit is mounted on printed circuit board (PCB) platform, on the back side of said Electronic Control Compartment and electrically wired to various sensors/indicators and actuator.
9. A design according to claim 7, wherein visual operating indicators: green and red LEDs, bicolor LED and Liquid Crystal Display, as well as, control button and main power switch are mounted on the bottom, while tilt sensor/switch is mounted on the top cover, Mechanical (vibration) Actuator on the bottom of said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector Housing and magnetic sensor/switch on the front door.
10. A design according to claims 1 and 8, wherein main power cord, 120VAC, is connected through said main power switch, to said Electronic Control Circuit from the back of said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector Housing.
11. A design according to claims 1 and 2, wherein a Conductivity Measurement Sensor is loosely mounted at the top of said Water Disinfection Compartment and electrically connected to said Electronic Control Circuit.
12. A design according to claims 1 and 10, wherein said Conductivity Measurement Sensor consisting of two lcm long electrodes and lcm apart, that could be immersed in said untreated drinking (tap) water from the top of said Water Disinfection Compartment to measure water conductivity in said untreated drinking (tap) water.
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- 5 ¨
13. A design according to claim 11, wherein said Conductivity Measurement Sensor detects basic quality level of said untreated drinking (tap) water, by measuring characteristic impedance between said two non-isolated conducting electrodes immersed in said untreated drinking (tap) water, based on established water conductivity charts.
14. A design according to claims 1 and 9, wherein said Electronic Control Circuit has following main blocks: Power Supply interface, UVC Lamp Driver (ballast circuit) associated with specified UVC Lamp and Microcontroller Circuit equipped with Water Conductivity Measurement Sensors and visual/audio (e.g.
LED, Display, buzzer) indicators.
LED, Display, buzzer) indicators.
15. A design according to claim 13, wherein said Power Supply interface block is accepting 120VAC nominal input voltage used by said UVC Lamp Driver (ballast circuit), as well as converting said 120VAC nominal input voltage to 5VDC to power up said Microcontroller Circuit and said Water Conductivity Measurement Sensor.
16. A design according to claim 14, wherein said UVC Lamp Driver ballast is tuned to fire (by cold or warm start) said UVC Lamp with predetermined power/light intensity.
17. Furthermore, a design according to claim 2, said UVC Lamp Source is protected from above with uplifting Lamp Cover and UVC Light parabolic Reflector covered with UVC-reflective aluminum shinning foil. The walls of said Water Disinfection Compartment are also covered with same UVC-reflective aluminum shinning foil to reflect back dispersed UVC Light from said UVC Lamp Source.
18. A design according to claim 14, wherein said Microcontroller Circuit is supervising, controlling and data logging whole operation of said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector, from power up till the completion of said disinfection process per said UVC Lamp usage and operating life.
19. A design according to claim 14, wherein said Micro-controller Circuit is measuring input voltage of said Power Supply interface and output current of said UVC Lamp via analog/digital conversion and monitoring water conductivity in the said Water Container via said Water Conductivity Measurement Sensor.
20. A design according to claim 14, wherein said Micro-controller Circuit is timing all operating phases of said Kitchen Countertop Water Disinfector, recording time of each disinfection operation, as well as, a total operating time of said UVC Lamp, and providing audio/visual signals or alarms about said water disinfection progress and completion.
21. A design according to claim 14, wherein said Micro-controller Circuit is indicating operating statuses and alarms of said disinfection process by means of green and red LEDs with specified blinking patterns, with bicolor LED, with Liquid Crystal Display, as well as by means of buzzer audio signals of specified cadence.
22. A design according to claim 7, wherein as side feature, present invention could also disinfect small item's surfaces (e.g. smart phones, bottle caps, keys...) that are placed and directly exposed to UVC light in said Water Disinfection Compartment.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA3109024A CA3109024A1 (en) | 2021-02-12 | 2021-02-12 | Kitchen countertop water disinfector and method for uvc disinfection of harmful microorganisms in untreated drinking (tap) water |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA3109024A CA3109024A1 (en) | 2021-02-12 | 2021-02-12 | Kitchen countertop water disinfector and method for uvc disinfection of harmful microorganisms in untreated drinking (tap) water |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA3109024A1 true CA3109024A1 (en) | 2022-08-12 |
Family
ID=82781895
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA3109024A Pending CA3109024A1 (en) | 2021-02-12 | 2021-02-12 | Kitchen countertop water disinfector and method for uvc disinfection of harmful microorganisms in untreated drinking (tap) water |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA3109024A1 (en) |
-
2021
- 2021-02-12 CA CA3109024A patent/CA3109024A1/en active Pending
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