Radiant energy – Fluent material containment – support or transfer means – With irradiating source or radiating fluent material
Patent
1988-08-08
1990-10-16
Anderson, Bruce C.
Radiant energy
Fluent material containment, support or transfer means
With irradiating source or radiating fluent material
250435, 250438, G01N 2105
Patent
active
049637509
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates, in general, to improvements in a process and apparatus for the sterilization of fluid media and relates more particularly, but not exclusively, to an improved process and to an improved form of apparatus or unit for the sterilization of water. The invention also relates to an improved form of what might be termed an irradiation tube for use in such sterilization processes and apparatus or units.
Throughout the ensuing description, for ease of explanation referance will be made to an especially preferred embodiment of the present invention, involving a process and apparatus for use in the sterilization of water. It should be realized, however, that the process and apparatus in accordance with the present invention will be equally suited for the sterilization of other fluid media and is not intended to be restricted solely to the preferred embodiment described.
Nowadays the need for water sterilization is regarded as being critical, for a variety of reasons. This is especially the case in less developed areas and/or areas not blessed with adequate water storage facilities. At the present time there is a considerable need for the provision of sterilizing equipment or apparatus which will be capable of handling large volumes of fluid media. Such a need has arisen, in some areas or instances, by reason of the demands for more efficient and higher productivity of the greater populations evident these days, and the increased usage of water by such larger populations. In yet other instances sterilization is made essential by virtue of the adverse effects of our modern society on ecological conditions in general.
The prior art processes, apparatus and units employed for such purposes have been found to be somewhat inappropriate, especially where an economical treatment of substantially large volumes of fluid is required, since the resorting to or reliance upon large flow media pipes has been found, in accordance with the prior art, to reduce the effective rate of efficiency of "kill" of fungi, bacteria, viruses and/or other pollutants in the fluid under consideration.
The most commonly employed method of sterilizing such fluid media, in particular water, involves exposure of that medium to what is termed a lethal dose of radiation, more especially ultra-violet radiation, of a so-called germicidal wavelength. Apparatus employed for such purposes served to expose a flow of fluid medium to radiation from a suitable source, for example an ultra-violet lamp or lamps, or a source of ultra-violet radiation of any known type. In this regard it should be realized that, in accordance with accepted and well-established standards set down by the relevant authorities, an acceptable "kill" rate for bacteria is of the order of 99.99%. A "kill" rate below that figure is not satisfactory.
The prior art or known apparatus generally involved a source of radiation (lamp or the like) disposed within a hollow tubular element and around which a fluid medium to be sterilized was adapted to be passed or flowed. Experimentation has revealed that the material actually employed for making such a hollow tubular element can have a marked effect on the efficiency of irradiation, in terms of percentage "kill" of bacteria, fungi, etc. present in the fluid medium. Tubular elements constructed from fused silica or quartz have been found to exhibit good transmissibility to ultra-violet radiation, but such fused silica or quartz elements have been found to be subject to fouling, involving the building up or accumulation of a film on such tubular elements, thereby resulting in a loss of transmissibility therethrough of the radiation employed for purposes of sterilization. Of course the greater the degree of fouling of such fused silica or quartz tubular elements, then the lesser is the transmissibility of such fouled tubes to ultra-violet radiation and, accordingly, the efficiency of operation in terms of percentage "kill" of bacteria, fungi, viruses etc. is reduced. In a practical sense it then became necessary to regula
REFERENCES:
patent: 3634025 (1975-01-01), Landry
patent: 3894236 (1975-07-01), Hazelrigg
patent: 4101777 (1978-07-01), Reid
Anderson Bruce C.
Bushnell Richard
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