Increasing turbulent mixing in a UV system

Details Increasing turbulent mixing in a UV system Increasing turbulent mixing in a UV system

2000-01-07

2001-05-01

Simmons, David A. (Department: 1724)

Liquid purification or separation

With means to add treating material

C422S186300, C250S438000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06224759

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to systems that use ultraviolet (UV) light to control organisms and more particularly to the dosage of UV radiation that the organism is ,subjected to in passing through the system.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
As is well known, UV light may be used to disinfect water including wastewater. The UV light inhibits the replication of any pathogenic microorganisms in the water or wastewater. Recently, UV light has been proposed for controlling zebra and related mussels present in the lake and river water used by power plants.
The key to using UV light to control an organism, be it a microorganism or mussel, is that the organism receive an adequate dose of UV light so that it will be unable to survive. The dose of radiation received by an organism is defined by:
Dose=Intensity×Time.
wherein Time is the time of exposure of a given organism to the UV light in seconds, Intensity is measured in W/cm
2
, and Dose is measured in W·sec/cm
2
. For a given UV lamp power output, the intensity will diminish with increasing radial distance from the lamp.
One example of using UV light to control an organism is the wastewater disinfection system described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,019,256 (“the '256 Patent”) which issued on May 28, 1991 and is assigned to an assignee who is related to the assignee of the present invention. The system has a frame on which are mounted one or more modular racks. Each rack has an array of two or more lamp units. Each lamp unit consists of a UV lamp surrounded by a quartz sleeve. Each lamp has contacts for connection to a source of electrical power only at one end of the lamp and the quartz sleeve is closed at one end.
The lamp units are assembled so that the closed end of the quartz sleeve is at end of the lamp not having the electrical power connection contacts. Each rack has two opposed legs. One of the legs has two or more swivel sleeves mounted thereon. Each swivel sleeve is associated with a respective one of the lamp units. The limp units are mounted on the rack so that the closed end of the quartz sleeve slides into the swivel sleeve. A portion of the closed end of the quartz sleeve resides in the swivel sleeve.
In a UV system such as that described in the '256 Patent, the intensity is at a minimum at point
2
in
FIG. 7
c
. If an organism remains near the centerline when it passes through the lamp array it will experience a reduced UV dosage as compared to the UV dosage received by an organism that travels an irregular turbulent path through the lamp array. The turbulent pathline will bring the organism closer to the quartz sleeves and therefore closer to the lamps.
Therefore, it is desirable to increase the turbulent mixing already existent in the system as the organism traverses the lamp array. Since the cost of the quartz sleeve is related to its length, it is also desirable to increase the turbulent mixing in the system in a manner that reduces the length of the quartz sleeve. It is further desirable to ensure that there is turbulent mixing throughout the UV system lamp array as the organism traverses the system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A method for increasing turbulent mixing in a UV system that is to be immersed in a liquid. The system has at least one lamp unit. The method includes the step of installing a ring-shaped device at a predetermined location on the exterior surface of the lamp unit.
A UV system for immersion in a liquid. The system has at least one lamp unit. The system also has a ring-shaped device located at a first predetermined position on the exterior surface of the lamp unit.
A UV system for immersion in a liquid. The system has a UV lamp unit mounted between upstream and downstream end retainers. The system also has a ring-shaped device mounted on the upstream end retainer adjacent the lamp unit.


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