MXPA97002775A

MXPA97002775A - Device and method for treatment of fluids

Info

Publication number: MXPA97002775A
Application number: MXPA/A/1997/002775A
Authority: MX
Inventors: M Maarschalkerweerd Jan
Original assignee: Trojan Technologies Inc
Priority date: 1994-10-17
Filing date: 1997-04-16
Publication date: 1998-04-01

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fluid treatment device comprising a closed housing for receiving a fluid flow, the housing comprising a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a fluid treatment zone disposed between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet and at least one radiation source module placed in the fluid treatment zone, the at least one radiation source module comprising a radiation source connected hermetically to a limb, the extremity hermetically assembled to the housing, the radiation source is arranged parallel to the flux flow

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD OF TREATMENT OF UV FLUIDS TECHNICAL FIELD In one of its aspects, the present invention relates to a fluid treatment device. In another of its aspects, the present invention relates to a method for treating a fluid. BACKGROUND TECHNIQUE Fluid treatment devices and systems are known. For example, U.S. Patents 4,482,809, 4,872,980, 5,006,244 and 5,418,370 (all assigned to the assignee of the present invention), the contents of each of which is incorporated herein by reference, all describe fluid treatment systems powered by gravity. that use ultraviolet (UV) radiation to inactivate microorganisms present in the fluid. The devices and systems described in the '809,' 980 and '244 patents, generally include several UV lamps, each of which is mounted within sleeves extending between two frames supporting brackets. The frames are immersed in the fluid to be treated which is then irradiated as required. The amount of radiation to which the fluid is exposed is determined by the proximity of the fluid to the lamps. One or more UV sensors can be used to monitor the UV output of the lamps and the fluid level is normally controlled, some degree, downstream of the treatment devices by means of level gates or the like. Therefore, at higher flow rates, it is difficult to achieve accurate fluid level control in gravity feed systems, fluctuations in the fluid level are inevitable. Such fluctuations can lead to non-uniform irradiation in the treated fluid. However, there are disadvantages with the systems described above. Depending on the quality of the fluid being treated, the sleeves surrounding the UV lamps periodically become clogged with foreign materials, inhibiting their ability to transmit UV radiation to the fluid. When attacked, at intervals that can be determined from historical operation data or by UV sensor measurements, the sleeves must be manually cleaned to remove jammed materials. Regardless of whether the frames of the UV lamps are used in an open system similar to a channel or a closed system the cleaning of the sleeves is not practical In open systems, similar In the case of channels, the modules comprising the sleeves are usually removed from the channel and submerged in a separate tank containing a suitable cleaning fluid. In closed systems, the device must be turned off and the sleeves then cleaned by charging with an appropriate cleaning fluid or by removing the lamps and sleeves in the manner described for open systems similar to channels In any type of systems, the operator must accept significant system delay time and / or significant additional capital investment to have enough redundant systems in place with appropriate control systems to diversify the fluid flow of systems being cleaned The system described in the '370 patent is a significant advance in the art in that it makes obvious a number of disadvantages deriving from patents' 809 , '980 and' 244 Unfortunately, the system described in the '370 patent is ideally suited for use in a similar open channel system and is not easily adapted for use in a completely enclosed system where fluid flow is fed under pressure into a pipeline. It may be desirable to have a fluid treatment device that can be easily adapted for Treating a fiow of fluid fed under pressure in a pipe or similar package It may also be convenient if said device is relatively easy to clean or kept clean during use. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a treatment device for novel fluids, which makes it obvious or mitigates at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art. It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel method for treating a fluid that makes obvious or mitigates at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art. , in one of its aspects, the present invention provides a fluid treatment device comprising a housing for receiving a fluid flow, the housing comprising a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a fluid treatment zone disposed between the fluid inlet and fluid outlet and at least one radiation source module disposed in the fluid treatment zone, at least one radiation source module comprising a radiation source connected in seal fashion to a limb, the extremity mounted as a seal to the housing, the radiation source being disposed substantially parallel to the fluid flow. In another of its aspects, the present invention provides a method for treating a fluid in a housing comprising a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a fluid treatment zone disposed between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, the zone of fluid treatment having at least one radiation source disposed therein, the method comprising the steps of: (i) providing a fluid fiow to the fluid inlet; (ii) feeding the fluid flow from the fluid inlet to the fluid treatment zone in a manner substantially parallel to at least one source of radiation; (iii) irradiating the fluid flow in the fluid treatment zone; and (iv) feeding the fluid flow to the fluid outlet; wherein the flow of fluids through the fluid inlet, the fluid outlet and the fluid treatment zone is substantially colinear. Therefore, the fluid treatment device and method refer to a closed system for treating a fluid As used throughout this specification, the term "closed system" in relation to the treatment of a fluid is intended to encompass a system in which fluid flow is presupposed and substantially contained in a container during The treatment Therefore, systems similar to open channels are outside the scope of the present invention, since in the operation of said systems the water level in the channel and / or treatment zone may vary. The source of flow presupposition of fluid is not particularly restricted For example, the pressure can be generated by a pump or by the action of gravity Ideally, the device and method of treatment Present fluid flow can be used "in line" in conventional fluid pipes Depending on the particular application, the pipe can be approximately 10 16 cm in diameter for domestic applications or 0 304 meters at 912 meters in diameter or more for municipal applications BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 illustrates a lateral elevation, partially separated, of a conventional closed system for treating a fluid; Figure 2 illustrates an extreme view of a first embodiment of a fluid treatment device according to the present invention; Figure 3 illustrates a section along the line III-III in Figure 2; Figure 4 illustrates an extreme view of a second embodiment of a fluid treatment device according to the present invention; Figure 5 illustrates a section along the line V-V in Figure 4; Figure 6 illustrates an extreme view of a third embodiment of a fluid treatment device according to the present invention; Figure 7 illustrates a section along the line VII-VII in Figure 6; Figure 8 illustrates an expanded view of the area designated C in Figure 3, Figure 9 is illustrated in section along the line IX-IX in Figure 8; and Figure 10 illustrates a partially separated lateral elevation of a radiation source module used in the devices illustrated in Figures 2-9.

In the figures, it is intended that similar reference numbers from one Figure to another designate similar parts. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION For clarity, before discussing the present invention, a brief description of a fluid treatment device of the closed system of the prior art will be presented. Figure 1 illustrates said device that is conventionally available. Therefore, with reference to Figure 1, a treatment device 10 having a housing 12 is illustrated. The housing 12 comprises a fluid inlet 14 having an inlet flange 16 and a fluid outlet 18 having a flange. 20. Within the housing 12, a plurality of ultraviolet (UV) lamps 22 are contained, with each lamp surrounded by a quartz sleeve 24. The housing 12 comprises a first flange 26 to which a first plate 28 is connected. The connection between a first flange 26 and a first plate 28 is made by a number of bolt / nut combinations 30, 32 and a seal (not shown) to achieve a hermetic seal. The first plate 28 is adapted to allow a wire 34 to exit from each UV lamp 22. A sheath 36 is connected to the first plate 28 to allow each of the arms to exit 34. Each wire 34 is connected to a power supply (not shown) and control system (not shown) in a conventional manner. The accommodation 12, further comprises a second flange 38 to which a second piaca 40 is connected. The connection between the second flange 38 and the second plate 40 is made by a number of bolt / nut combinations 42, 44, and a seal (not shown). ) to achieve an airtight seal The exact manner (not shown) by which seals are achieved between the first flange 26 and the first plate 28, and the second flange 38 and the second plate 40, respectively, is within range of a person skilled in the art In use, the inlet flange 16 is connected to a suitable supply pipe (not shown) and the outlet flange 20 is connected to a suitable return pipe (not shown) As described by arrow A , the fluid to be treated enters the housing 12 via the fiuid inlet 14 The fluid is exposed to radiation from UV lamps 22 and leaves the housing 12 via the fluid outlet 18 as described by the arrow B The design of the trafficking device The fluid flow 10 is such that it suffers from significant hydraulic head loss due to the fact that (i) the cross-sectional area of the fluid inlet 14 and the fluid outlet 20 of the housing 12 is significantly smaller than the housing 12. , and (n) the fluid flow flows through a relatively tortuous path This leads to the creation of dead zones 46, 48, within the housing 12, where the fluid flow is negligible resulting in inefficient treatment, and in some Non-uniform cases of fluid Consequently, while the systems of the prior art described above have been successful, the inventor of the present has been concerned with improving the fluid treatment systems and systems to overcome some of these disadvantages. The present invention will now be described with reference to the remaining Figures. With reference to Figures 2 and 3, there is illustrated a fluid treatment system 200 comprising a fluid inlet 205, a fluid outlet 210 and a fluid treatment zone 215 disposed in a housing 220. In the housing 220 there are two radiation source modules 225. Each radiation source module 225 is mounted to the housing 220 by the mounting plate 230 which will be described in more detail below. Also in the housing 220 two radiation sensors 235 are provided. Out of each radiation source module 225, there is an electrical conductor 240. Each electrical conductor 240 enters a junction box 245 from which a main electrical conduit 250 emerges. The fluid inlet 205 includes an inlet flange 255 and fluid outlet 210 includes an outlet flange 260. Out of each radiation sensor there is an electrical conductor 265. Each electrical conductor 265 enters a junction box 250 from which it exits. an electrical conduit (not shown). Ideally, the fluid treatment system 200 is constructed to be used in line in existing fluid lines (e.g., water). Therefore, for a given installation, it is convenient to design a fluid treatment zone 215 so that it has substantially the same shape and transverse dimension as the existing pipe. The inlet tab 255 and outlet tab 260 can be used to facilitate the installation of the fluid treatment system 200 between the equalization tabs in the existing tubing. When the system is installed it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the fluid flow through the treatment zone 215 is parallel to the lamps arranged in the radiation source module 225. This minimizes the presentation of loss of hydraulic heads in the fluid flow and eliminates dead zones resulting in the most efficient fluid treatment. With reference to Figures 4 and 5, there is illustrated a fluid treatment system 300 comprising a fluid inlet 305, a fluid outlet 310 and a fluid treatment zone 315 disposed in a housing 320. In the housing 320 there is six radiation source modules 325. Each radiation source module 325 are two radiation sensors 335. Leaving each radiation source module 325, to an electrical conductor 340. Each electrical conductor 340 enters a junction box 345 from which a main electrical conduit 350 emerges. The fluid inlet 305 includes an inlet flange 350 and a fluid outlet 310 includes a slip flange. 360. Out of each radiation sensor there is an electrical conductor 365. Each electrical conductor 365 enters a junction box 370 from which a main electrical conductor (not shown) emerges. Referring to Figures 6 and 7, a fluid treatment system 400 comprising a fluid inlet 405, a fluid outlet 410 and a fluid treatment area 415 disposed in a housing 420 In the housing 420 sixteen radiation source modules 425 are provided. Radiation 425 is mounted to housing 420 via a mounting plate 430 which will be described in more detail below. Also in the housing 420 two radiation sensors 435 are disposed. Out of each radiation source module 425, there is an electrical conductor 440. Each electrical conductor 440 enters a junction box 445 from which a main electrical conduit 450 emerges. The input of fluid 405 includes an inlet tab 450 and a fluid outlet 410 includes an outlet flange 460. Out of each radiation sensor there is an electrical conductor 465 Each electrical conductor 465 enters a junction box 470 from which it exits. a main electrical conduit (not shown). The construction and use of the fluid treatment systems 300 (Figures 4 and 5) and 400 (Figures 6 and 7) can be effected in the same manner as discussed above for the fluid treatment system 200 (Figures 2 and 3). ). With reference to Figures 8 and 9, the mounting plate 230 is fixed to the housing 220 in the following manner. Initially. it will be apparent that the housing 220 comprises an aperture suitably configured to receive each radiation source module 225. The shape of the aperture is preferably similar to that of the mounting pin 230 and the size of the aperture is smaller than that of the plate. 230. A flanged ring 275 dimensioned larger than and having the same shape as the opening is fixed to the housing 220 to define a slot in which an elastic O-ring 280 is placed. The flange ring 275 has a plurality of vertical bolts (not shown). The mounting plate 230 has a plurality of complementary openings for receiving the bolts in the flange ring 275. The mounting plate 230 contains a reinforcing plate 290 to form, together with the flange anvil 275, a cavity for the o-ring 280. The torque bolts 285 are in threaded engagement with each vertical bolt on the flange ring 275. Therefore, with reference to figures 2, 3, 8 and 9, the radiation source module is installed in the following form (see Figure 7 also) The end of the radiation source module remote to the mounting plate 230, is inserted into an opening in the housing 220. The mounting pin 230 is then placed ensuring that the apertures therein the vertical bolts receive on the flange ring 275. The torque nuts 285 then provide a hermetic seal between the fluid treatment zone 215 and the exterior of the housing 220. With reference to ia Figure 10, a detail view of a radiation source module 225 is illustrated. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the radiation source module 225 is similar to the radiation source modules 325 (Figures 4 and 5) and 425 (figures 6 and 7). There is a detailed discussion of each module in the co-pending United States patent application serial number 08 / 325,949, in the name of the inventor of the present and filed on the same date as the same and incorporated herein by reference. Therefore, the radiation source module comprises a support member 115, a radiation source assembly 120 extending from the support member 115 and the mounting plate 230 for securing the radiation source module 225 to the housing 220. The mounting plate 230 has a plurality of openings 232 receiving vertical pins of the flange ring 275 (figures 2, 3, 8 and 9) The radiation source assembly 120 includes a concentric reducer 130 which can be welded to, or integrated into the support member 115. It is attached to the concentric reducer 130, a ring 135 to which a mounting sleeve 140 is fixed. The end of the mounting sleeve 140 remote from the concentric reducer 130 has a threaded portion 145. Inside the mounting sleeve 140, there is an inner sleeve 150 having a threaded portion 155 to the which engages a cap nut 160. The inner sleeve 150 comprises bolts suitable for receiving a pair of toned rings 165, 170. The end of the inner sleeve 150. distant to the concentric reducer 130 colind a with a tapered seal ring, 175, elastic. A threaded mounting nut 180 is assembled with the threaded portion 155 of the mounting sleeve 140 and abuts the tapered seal ring 175. The threaded mounting nut 80 is provided with torque receptacles 185, which receives a suitable tool for applying a torque of the mounting nut 180 in sealed coupling with the mounting sleeve 140 Inside the inner sleeve 150, an annular ceramic piezoelectric transducer 190 is disposed, which is a structure of laminated material formed of a plurality of individual ceramic ceramic piezoelectric transducers (not shown) adhered together One end of the transducer 90 abuts the inner sleeve 150 and the other end of the transducer 190 abuts the open end of a quartz sleeve 195 As illustrated, The opposite end of the quartz sleeve 195 is closed. Within the quartz sleeve 195, a radiation source is disposed 196 The radiation source is an ultraviolet lamp. The ultraviolet lamp is not particularly restricted and the choice of it is within the reach of a person skilled in the art. A pair of spacers 197 are disposed within the quartz sleeve 195, and serve to center and hold in place the radiation source 196 within the quartz sleeve 195 The electrical connection and radiation source control 196 is conventional and within the scope of a person skilled in the art As described in the application for copending U.S. Patent 08 / 323,808, filed October 17, 1994, radiation source module 225 is self-cleaning by intermittent or continuous operation of transducer 190, during irradiation of fluid flow More specifically, the operation The transducer 190 results in reciprocal vibration of the quartz sleeve 195 in a substantially parallel direction to the elongated shaft of the quartz sleeve 195. Said vibration can be effected using a piezoelectric transducer, preferably a ceramic piezoelectric transducer. Said vibration can be carried out using a ceramic piezoelectric transducer. These piezoelectric ceramic transducers have been conventionally used in sonar applications. A suitable piezoelectric ceramic transducer useful in the present radiation source module is commercially available from EDO Corporation (Sait Lake City, Utah) and consists essentially of a ceramic component that meets the specifications of U.S. Navy Type 1 (I) or U.S. Navy Type 3 (iii) As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, a ceramic that meets the specifications of U.S. Navy Type 1 is a hard lead zirconate titanate with a Curie point greater than about 310 ° C and a ceramic that meets U.S. specifications. Navy Type 3 is a very hard lead zirconate titanate with a Curie point greater than about 290 ° C. Detailed specifications of these ceramic specifications can be found at the Department of Defense Military Standard DOD-STD 1376A (SD), dated February 28, 1984. the comments of which are incorporated herein by reference Generally, the means of generation of vibration. preferably a piezoelectric transducer, more preferably an annular piezoelectric transducer, is one that can be operated at a frequency in the range from about 1 kHz to about 100 kHz, preferably from about 10 kHz to about 20 kHz, more preferably about 10 kHz to about 15 kHz It will of course be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that the illustrated embodiments of the radiation source module may vary to be suitable for the particular fluid treatment system without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the number, type and arrangement of the seal rings (ie, O-rings, tapered rings, etc.) may vary while maintaining an airtight seal. In addition, the use of in situ means to clean the radiation source module is an option, if the on-site means for cleaning the radiation source module is used, it may be a different device to the vibration cleaning device described above. It should be understood that, while illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described herein, the present invention is not limited to these illustrative embodiments and that variations and other alternatives may be presented to those skilled in the art without departing from the intended spirit and scope of the invention. the invention as defined by the appended claims

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A fluid treatment device comprising a housing for receiving a fluid flow, the housing comprising a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a fluid treatment zone disposed between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet , and at least one radiation source module disposed in the fluid treatment zone, at least one radiation source module comprising a radiation source connected hermetically to a limb, the extremity mounted hermetically to the housing, the source of radiation. radiation being disposed substantially in parallel to the fluid flow.
2. The fluid treatment device defined in claim 1, wherein the fluid inlet, the fluid outlet, and the fluid treatment zone have substantially the same cross section.
3. The fluid treatment device defined in claim 1, wherein the fluid inlet, the fluid outlet and the fluid treatment zone are arranged in a substantially colinear form.
4. The fluid treatment device defined in claim 1, wherein the housing has a substantially elongate cylinder.
5. The fluid treatment device defined in claim 1, wherein the housing has a substantially circulating section.
6. The fluid treatment device defined in claim 1, wherein at least one radiation source module comprises at least one ultraviolet lamp
7. The fluid treatment device defined in claim 6, wherein at least one The radiation source module comprises a sleeve arranged around a portion of the exterior of at least one ultraviolet lamp.
8. The fluid treatment device defined in claim 1, further comprising cleaning means for removing unwanted materials from the exterior of at least one radiation source module
9. The fluid treatment device defined in claim 1, further comprising means for monitoring the level of radiation that is being emitted from the radiation source.
10. The fiuid treatment device defined in claim 1, wherein the limb comprises a conduit for transporting electrical connection means to the radiation source.
11. The fluid treatment device defined in claim 1, wherein the end of the distal end of the radiation source comprises a mounting plate sealed to the housing
12. The fiuid treatment device defined in claim 1, comprising a plurality of radiation source modules mounted circumferentially to the housing to define a radiation source ring.
13. The fluid treatment device defined in claim 12, wherein the radiation source modules are disposed substantially equidistantly to one another.
14. The fluid treatment device defined in claim 12, comprising two or more radiation source rings.
15. A method for treating a fluid in a housing comprising a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a fluid treatment zone disposed between the fluid inlet and the outlet of fi uids, the fiuid treatment zone having by itself minus a source of radiation disposed therein, the method comprising the steps of: (i) providing a fluid flow to the fluid inlet; (ii) feeding the fluid fiow from the fluid inlet to the fluid treatment zone in a manner substantially parallel to at least one source of radiation; (iii) irradiating the fluid flow in the fluid treatment zone; and (iv) feeding the fluid flow to the fluid outlet; wherein the flow of fluids through the fluid inlet, the fluid outlet and the fluid treatment zone is substantially co-linear. The method defined in claim 15, comprising the additional step of selecting the fluid inlet, the fluid outlet and the fluid treatment zone having substantially the same cross section. 17. The method defined in claim 15, wherein the housing is a substantially elongate cylinder 18. The method defined in claim 15, wherein the housing has a substantially circular cross section. The method defined in claim 15, wherein at least one radiation source module comprises at least one ultraviolet lamp. The method defined in claim 19, wherein at least one radiation source module further comprises a cuff around an outside portion of at least one ultraviolet lamp. 21. The method defined in claim 22, comprising the additional step of removing unwanted materials from outside of at least one set of radiation source. 22. The method defined in claim 15, comprising the additional step of monitoring the level of radiation that is being emitted from the radiation source. 23. The fluid treatment device defined in claim 7, further comprising means for generating vibration in contact with the sleeve, the vibration generation means capable of effecting reciprocal vibration of the sleeve to remove unwanted materials from the sleeve. The fluid treatment device defined in claim 23, wherein the vibration generating means is a piezoelectric transducer. The fluid treatment device defined in claim 24, wherein the piezoelectric transducer has an operating frequency of approximately 1 kHz at approximately 100 kHz 26 The fluid treatment device defined in claim 24, wherein the piezoelectric transducer has an operating frequency of about 10 kHz to about e20 kHz. The method defined in claim 15 wherein the reciprocal vibration is out at a frequency of a about 1 kHz about 100 kHz 28 The method defined in claim 15, wherein the reciprocal vibration is carried out at a frequency of about 10 kHz to about 20 kHz. The method defined in claim 15, wherein the fluid is water SUMMARY A fluid treatment device comprising a housing for receiving a fluid flow, the housing comprising a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a fiuid treatment zone disposed between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, and at least one radiation source module disposed in the fluid treatment zone, at least one radiation source module comprising a radiation source hermetically connected to a limb, the extremity mounted hermetically to the housing, the radiation source being disposed substantially parallel to the flow of fluids. A method for treating a fluid in a housing comprising a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a fluid treatment zone disposed between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, also describes the fluid treatment zone having at least one source of radiation disposed therein. The method comprises the steps of: (i) providing a fluid flow to the fluid inlet; (ii) feeding the fluid flow from the fluid inlet to the fluid treatment zone in a manner substantially parallel to at least one source of radiation; (iii) irradiating the fluid flow in the fluid treatment zone; and (iv) feeding the fluid flow to the fluid outlet; wherein the flow of fluids through the fluid inlet, the fluid outlet and the fluid treatment zone is substantially co-linear. The device and method for treatment of fiuids are ideally suited (but not limited) to inactivate microorganisms present in the water.