Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Chemical reactor – With means applying electromagnetic wave energy or...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-07
2001-02-27
Gorgos, Kathryn (Department: 1741)
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Chemical reactor
With means applying electromagnetic wave energy or...
C422S186000, C422S186070
Reexamination Certificate
active
06193939
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for ultraviolet treatment of fluids such as water. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus that employs a particular arrangement of ballasts and ultraviolet lamps.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
It is known to treat water with ultraviolet light in order to destroy undesirable bacteria and other microorganisms. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,719 which issued Aug. 26, 1997 to Kurtz et al. discloses an ultraviolet lamp rack assembly comprising an array of vertically disposed ultraviolet lamps for the treatment of fluids. The assembly has a separate enclosure for the housing at least one ballast and electronic components to power the lamps. Kurtz et al. indicate that substantial amounts of heat are generated during functioning of the ballast and that cooling is required. Cooling is provided by blowing air through the enclosure, or by means of air conditioning or the use of a heat exchanger.
Another arrangement is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,019,256 which issued May 28, 1991 to Ifill et al. This patent discloses an ultraviolet lamp rack assembly comprising a vertical array of horizontally disposed ultraviolet lamps for the treatment of waste water. A power control panel is provided at a location remote from the rack assembly for the inclusion of ballasts and various electronic components. Alternatively, the ballasts for the lamps may be located in a submerged vertical conduit which forms a part of the rack. One of the problems associated with such an arrangement is that the ballasts are difficult to remove from the rack, and if one ballast needs to be replaced then all of the ballasts must be removed. This is inefficient, as the ultraviolet treatment unit is out of service for a long period of time. Variations of the device of U.S. Pat. No. 5,019,256 to Ifill et al. are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,482,809, 4,872,980 and 5,006,244 to J. M. Maarschalkerweerd which issued Nov. 13, 1984, Oct. 10, 1989 and Apr. 9, 1991 respectively. The ballasts and power supply to the lamps are separate from the lamps and lamp racks.
Most commercial treatment systems for water, in which the water is treated with ultraviolet radiation, use ultraviolet lamps which have electrodes therein and are associated with ballasts. The present invention is also suitable for lamps which are electrodeless and are associated with high frequency excitation couplers. A description of a typical electrodeless lamp and coupler may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,277 to W. P. Lapatovich which issued Dec. 3, 1991.
The present invention attempts to overcome the deficiencies of the previous systems and provide a system which is easily maintained.
The term “wire”, as used herein in relation to the present invention, includes a plurality of wires, e.g. as in a cable.
The terms “comprising/comprises” when used in this specification are taken to specify the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention provides a radiation source assembly for use with a fluid, comprising:
at least one radiation source adapted to be immersed in said fluid when the assembly is in use, the source producing radiation by excitation of a gas;
at least one excitation controlling means for controlling excitation of gas within the radiation source, said excitation controlling means being adapted to be immersed in said fluid when the assembly is in use;
a first elongate frame member having a portion adapted to be immersed in the fluid when the assembly is in use, the frame member being connected to at least one of a) the radiation source and b) the excitation controlling means; and
electrical conducting means for providing electrical energy to the excitation controlling means.
In one embodiment, the radiation source is a lamp for emitting ultraviolet radiation.
In another embodiment, the lamp has electrodes and the excitation controlling means is a ballast electrically connected to the lamp.
In a further embodiment, the lamp is an electrodeless lamp and the excitation controlling means is a high frequency coupler.
In another aspect of the present invention provides a radiation source assembly for use with a material selected from the group consisting of a liquid and a flowing fluid, comprising:
a) when the material is a liquid,
at least one radiation source adapted to be immersed in said liquid when the assembly is in use;
at least one excitation controlling means for controlling excitation of gas within the radiation source, said excitation controlling means being adapted to be immersed in said liquid when the assembly is in use;
and electrical conducting means for providing electrical energy to the excitation controlling means; or
b) when the material is a flowing fluid,
at least one radiation source adapted to be immersed in said flowing fluid when the assembly is in use;
at least one excitation controlling means for controlling excitation of gas within the radiation source, said excitation controlling means being adapted to be immersed in said flowing fluid when the assembly is in use;
and electrical conducting means for providing electrical energy to the excitation controlling means.
In yet another embodiment, the radiation source assembly has a first elongate frame member having a portion adapted to be immersed in the liquid or flowing fluid when the assembly is in use, and the frame member is connected to at least one of the radiation source, a radiation-transparent sleeve for the radiation source and the excitation controlling means.
In a further embodiment, the radiation source is adjacent to the excitation controlling means.
In one embodiment, the radiation source is a lamp for emitting ultraviolet radiation.
In another embodiment, the lamp has electrodes and the excitation controlling means is a ballast electrically connected to the lamp.
In a further embodiment, the lamp is an electrodeless lamp and the excitation controlling means is a high frequency coupler.
In another embodiment, the ballast is supported by the first elongate frame member.
In a further embodiment, the ballast is elongate and has first and second opposed ends, the first end of which is mounted on said portion, the lamp is elongate and has first and second opposed ends, the first end of which is connected to the second end of the ballast.
In another embodiment, the lamp is elongate and has first and second ends, the first end of which is connected to the ballast and the second end of the lamp is supported by the first elongate frame member.
In a further embodiment, the assembly has a plurality of excitation controlling means, each with a radiation source associated therewith.
In yet another embodiment, the assembly has a plurality of radiation sources connected to each excitation controlling means.
In another embodiment, the electrical conducting means includes, for each excitation controlling means, an electrical wire which extends from the excitation controlling means to a location which is not immersed in the liquid or flowing fluid.
In a further embodiment, all of the electrical wires have a coating which is in contact with the liquid or flowing fluid.
In another embodiment, the assembly has a second elongate frame member, and when each ballast is supported by the first elongate frame member, the second end of each associated lamp is supported by said second elongate frame member.
In another embodiment, the ballast and lamp are encased in a transparent sleeve which is fluid-tight.
In a further embodiment, the transparent sleeve is mounted at a first end with a fluid-tight connection to the portion of the first elongate frame member.
In another embodiment, the transparent sleeve is mounted at the first end with a fluid-tight connection to the portion of the first elongate frame member, and mounted at a second end to the second elongate frame member.
In yet another embod
Gorgos Kathryn
Nicolas Wesley A.
Ridout & Maybee
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