WO2003031338A2

WO2003031338A2 - Apparatus for the treatment of water with elongated uv lamp

Info

Publication number: WO2003031338A2
Application number: PCT/CA2002/001502
Authority: WO
Inventors: Demao Wang
Original assignee: Photoscience Japan Corporation
Priority date: 2001-10-09
Filing date: 2002-10-04
Publication date: 2003-04-17
Also published as: AU2002331482A1; WO2003031338A3

Abstract

Apparatus for the treatment of water, for domestic or similar use. In one embodiment, the apparatus has an elongated housing (2) with inlet (6) and outlet (7) at the same end. An elongated cylindrical tube (10) extends within the housing (2), thereby forcing water to pass within the housing (2) but exterior to the tube (10), then into the tube (10) and past a radiation source (11) to the outlet (7). In another embodiment, the inlet and outlet are at opposed ends, and water must pass around a baffle (28) at the outlet.

Description

APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF WATER

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to apparatus for the treatment of water, and especially to a small water treatment apparatus that is particularly intended for the treatment of low pressures and low flows of water e.g. domestic or other low flow or low pressure applications. In embodiments of the invention, the apparatus is a portable water treatment apparatus.

Background to the Invention

There are a variety of the techniques for the treatment of water to render the water potable for domestic use, or to improve the quality of potable water for domestic use. Such techniques include the use of filters to remove particulate matter and other contaminants and/or to remove matter that is dissolved in the water. Such filters typically include those containing carbon.

Apparatus is also known for the treatment of water with ultraviolet radiation. Examples of such apparatus include small water treatment units intended for domestic use. These units may be suitable for location on the countertop of a kitchen, or to be conveniently attached to a wall of a kitchen or other area of a house, and to be connected to a supply of water. The units may also be used on passenger vehicles e.g. aircraft, ships, trains or the like, or in other areas for the supply of a relatively low flow of potable water. Large high rate commercial or municipal water treatment units that use ultraviolet radiation are also known, such units typically employing multiple arrays of ultraviolet radiation lamps located in channels or pipe systems through which the water is passed.

Ultraviolet radiation for the treatment of water typically utilizes an elongated radiation source in the form of an elongated ultraviolet lamp located within a quartz sleeve. In domestic water treatment units, the lamp and sleeve are typically located within a tube or housing through which the water to be treated is passed. One example of a water treatment unit with the lamp located within a tube is the apparatus disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,008,045. This patent describes the use of diffuser plates to impart turbulence and rotational flow of water within the tube, to improve the uniformity and predictability of the treatment of the water. International Patent Application, WO 00/75081 , however, states that it has been found that the pressure drop or head loss that occurs across such diffusers is relatively high, which may preclude the use of the diffuser at low water pressures. The use of a fin to impart turbulence to water as it flows into the annular chamber of a water treatment unit is described in U.S. 4,141 ,686, however, it is taught that such a fin arrangement is not well adapted to impart a spiral flow of water. U.S. Patent 6,245,229 describes a water treatment device having an inlet baffle plate with orifices.

Additional apparatus for the treatment of water and which is capable of being used for the domestic or similar treatment of water at low flow or water pressures would be useful. It is therefore desirable to provide an apparatus that obviates some of the shortcomings of the prior art.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention is directed to a small, compact and portable apparatus for the treatment of water.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention provides apparatus for the treatment of water, the apparatus comprising:

(a) an elongated housing having a first end and a second end, said first end having a water inlet and a water outlet, said second end being closed; (b) an elongated cylindrical tube having a first end and a second end and extending within the housing from the first end of the housing towards the second end of the housing, said second end of the elongated cylindrical tube being spaced from the second end of the housing and having a support guide therein, said elongated cylindrical tube being in fluid flow communication with the water outlet at said first end of the elongated housing;

(c) an elongated ultraviolet radiation source concentrically located within the elongated tube and extending between the first end of the elongated cylindrical tube and the support guide, said elongated ultraviolet radiation source being in a sealed relationship with the first end of the housing and having electrical connections from the radiation source through said first end of the housing;

(d) said support guide having an axial sleeve adapted to accommodate and support the elongated ultraviolet radiation source, said support guide having at least two deflector vanes located between the axial sleeve and the elongated cylindrical sleeve; and

(e) a fluid flow passage from said water inlet through said housing exterior to the elongated cylindrical tube, through the support guide and into the elongated cylindrical tube, past the elongated ultraviolet radiation source and to the water outlet.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the deflector vanes are non-planar.

In another embodiment, the support sleeve has at least three deflector vanes. In a further embodiment, the deflector vanes are at an angle of 10-

40° to the axis of the elongated cylindrical tube.

A further aspect of the present invention provides apparatus for the treatment of water, the apparatus comprising: (a) an elongated housing having a first end and a second end, said first end having a water inlet and said second end having a water outlet;

(b) said first end of the elongated housing having a support guide therein; (c) an elongated ultraviolet radiation source concentrically located within the elongated housing and extending between the second end of the elongated housing and the support guide, said elongated ultraviolet radiation source being in a sealed relationship with the second end of the housing and having electrical connections from the radiation source through said second end of the housing;

(d) said support guide having an axial sleeve adapted to accommodate and support the elongated ultraviolet radiation source, said support guide having at least two deflector vanes located between the axial sleeve and the elongated cylindrical sleeve;

(e) said elongated housing having an annular baffle extending inwardly at said outlet, said baffle forming a section of reduced cross-sectional area in the elongated housing at said outlet; and (f) a fluid flow passage from said water inlet through the support guide, past the elongated ultraviolet radiation source, through the section of reduced cross-sectional area and around the baffle to the outlet. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is a support guide adapted to support a radiation source for the treatment of water, said support guide comprising: a guide sleeve provided at one end of said radiation source, said guide sleeve having a fluid passage therein; said fluid passage having at least two deflector vanes for providing spiral or vortex flow of water around said radiation source.

Brief Description of the Drawings The present invention is further understood and illustrated by the embodiments shown in the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a section of the water treatment apparatus of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of an end view of a support guide of the water treatment apparatus of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of a cross-section, through A- A, of the support guide of Fig. 2, with attached elongated cylindrical tube; and

Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of a section of a second embodiment of water treatment apparatus of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The present invention relates to apparatus for the treatment of water. In a first embodiment of the invention, the apparatus is in the form of an elongated housing having a water inlet and a water outlet at one end, with the opposed end being closed. An elongated cylindrical tube extends within the housing, with the end of the elongated cylindrical tube away from the inlet and outlet being spaced from the end of the housing. An elongated ultraviolet radiation source is concentrically located within the elongated tube and is supported within the elongated tube by a support guide located in the end of the tube. The support guide has an axial sleeve adapted to accommodate and support the elongated ultraviolet radiation source, and at least two deflector vanes located between the axial sleeve and the elongated cylindrical sleeve. The water treatment unit has a fluid flow passage from the water inlet through said housing exterior to the elongated cylindrical tube, through the support guide and into the elongated cylindrical tube, past the elongated ultraviolet radiation source and to the water outlet.

The water treatment apparatus is illustrated by the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 , being generally indicated by 1. Apparatus 1 has housing 2 with housing cap 3. Housing 2 is elongated, extending from first end 4 that contains housing cap 3 to second end 5 which is a closed end. Housing cap 3 has inlet 6 and outlet 7. Inlet channel 8 extends from inlet 6 through housing cap 3, and similarly outlet channel 9 extends through housing cap 3 to outlet 7. Elongated cylindrical tube 10 extends from housing cap 3 towards second end 5 of housing 2, but terminates prior to second end 5 so that elongated cylindrical tube 10 is spaced from second end 5. Elongated cylindrical tube 10 is supported by housing cap 3. Outlet channel 9 extends from outlet 7 into elongated cylindrical tube 10, but inlet channel 8 is exterior to elongated cylindrical tube 10.

Elongated cylindrical tube 10 houses elongated radiation source 11. Elongated radiation source 11 is in the form of an elongated ultraviolet lamp 12 within quartz tube 13. Elongated radiation source 11 extends through bushing 14 in housing cap 3, and is provided with electrical connections 15. Elongated radiation source 11 is supported by bushing 14 and by support guide 16 that is located in the opposed end of elongated cylindrical tube 10. Support guide 16 has an axially located guide sleeve 17 to receive and support the end of elongated radiation source 11. Support guide 16 has fluid passage 18 that surrounds guide sleeve 17, with fluid passage 18 having at least two deflector vanes 19, of which only one is shown in Fig. 1. Support guide 16 is described further below.

Apparatus 1 has a fluid flow passage that extends from inlet 6 through inlet channel 8 into channel 20. Channel 20 is located between housing 2 and elongated cylindrical tube 10 and is annular in shape i.e. it surrounds elongated cylindrical tube 10. The fluid flow passage extends from channel 20 through fluid passage 18 in support guide 16, and then passes within elongated cylindrical tube 10 i.e. between walls of elongated cylindrical tube 10 and quartz tube 13, thereby forming an annular treatment channel 21. The fluid flow passage extends from annular treatment channel 21 into outlet channel 9 to outlet 7.

It is understood that apparatus 1 has seals as required to seal the apparatus and prevent leakage of water.

In use, water enters apparatus 1 at inlet 6 and passes through the fluid flow passage as described above. The water passes down channel 20 and through support guide 16 into annular treatment channel 21. In annular treatment channel 21 , the water is subjected to treatment with ultraviolet radiation from elongated radiation source 11. Turbulent flow is imposed on the water, both by the water having to reverse flow between channel 20 and annular treatment channel 21 and the disruption to the flow imparted by deflector vanes 19. The consequence is that the flow of water in annular treatment channel 21 is spiral turbulent flow, and more effective treatment of microorganisms in the water may be achieved.

Fig. 2 shows an end view of an embodiment of support guide 16 of the water treatment apparatus. Support guide 16 has guide sleeve 17, which receives and supports one end of the elongated radiation source. Guide sleeve 17 is annularly located about the longitudinal axis of support guide 16. Support guide 16 also has peripheral sleeve 22, which fits within and is retained in the end of the elongated cylindrical tube 10. Guide sleeve 17 and peripheral sleeve 22 are interconnected by deflector vanes 19. Six deflector vanes are shown in Fig. 2, but it is understood that the number of deflector vanes in support guide 16 may be varied.

The deflector vanes are preferably disposed around guide sleeve 17, as shown. Support guide 16 preferably has at least two deflector vanes, and in preferred embodiments has three to six deflector vanes. High numbers of deflector vanes may impede the flow of water and lead to pressure drop or head loss. Such impeding of flow may depend on the flow rate of the water.

Fig. 3 shows a cross-section of support guide 16, through A-A of Fig. 2, with an elongated cylindrical tube 10 attached to guide sleeve 16. Guide sleeve 17 is annularly disposed about the longitudinal axis of elongated cylindrical tube 10. Guide sleeve 17 is shown as being open- ended, but it may be in the form of a cap that accepts and accommodates the end of the radiation source and/or quartz sleeve. In the embodiment of Fig. 3, deflector vane 19 is shown as being at an angle of 31° with respect to the lateral axis of the elongated cylindrical tube i.e. at 59° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the elongated cylindrical tube. The angle of the deflector vane may be varied, for example over a range of 10-40° with respect to the lateral axis or 50-80° with respect to the longitudinal axis. Deflector vanes 19 are also shown as being planar. However, in other embodiments of the invention, the deflector vanes are curved in the direction of flow of water i.e. curved towards the longitudinal axis of the elongated cylindrical tube. In such embodiments, the deflector vanes may be in the shape of a blade on a fan.

In the second embodiment of the water treatment apparatus of the present invention, there is an elongated housing having a first end and a second end. The first end has a water inlet and the second end has a water outlet. The first end of the elongated housing also has a support guide therein, to support an elongated ultraviolet radiation source concentrically located within the elongated housing and extending between the second end of the elongated housing and the support guide.

The elongated ultraviolet radiation source is in a sealed relationship with the second end of the housing and has electrical connections from the radiation source through the second end of the housing. The support guide has an axial sleeve adapted to accommodate and support the elongated ultraviolet radiation source. The support guide also has at least two deflector vanes located between the axial sleeve and the elongated cylindrical sleeve. The elongated housing has an annular baffle extending inwardly at the outlet, the baffle forming a section of reduced cross- sectional area in the elongated housing at the outlet. The fluid flow passage from the water inlet passes through the support guide, past the elongated ultraviolet radiation source, through the section of reduced cross-sectional area and around the baffle to the outlet. The water treatment apparatus is illustrated by the second embodiment shown in Fig. 4, being generally indicated by 20. Apparatus 20 has elongated housing 21 with housing cap 22. Housing 21 is elongated, extending from first end 23 that contains inlet cap 24. Inlet 25 extends through inlet cap 24. The second end of housing 21 has housing cap 22. The second end of housing 21 also has outlet 26 in the form of outlet cap 27 that extends from and through the side wall of housing 21 juxtaposed to housing cap 22. Annular baffle 28 is located at outlet cap 27 and extends inward into housing 21 to form a shield over outlet 26 through outlet cap 27. Annular baffle 28 prevents direct ingress of water from housing 21 into outlet 26, and forces water to flow through a section of reduced cross-sectional area, 29, around annular baffle 28 and into outlet 26. Elongated radiation source 30 is in the form of an elongated ultraviolet lamp 31 within quartz tube 32. Elongated radiation source 30 extends through housing cap 22, and is provided with electrical connections 33. Elongated radiation source 30 is supported by housing cap 22 and by support guide 34 that is located in the opposed end of elongated housing 22 juxtaposed to inlet 25. Support guide 34, which has been described above, has an axially located guide sleeve 35 to receive and support the end of elongated radiation source 30. Guide sleeve 35 is shown in the form of a cap that receives and retains the end of radiation source 30. Support guide 34 has fluid passage 36 that surrounds guide sleeve 35, with fluid passage 36 having at least two deflector vanes 38, of which only one is shown in Fig. 4. Support guide 34 is described further above. Apparatus 20 has a fluid flow passage that extends from inlet 25 through fluid passage 36 in support guide 34, and then passes within elongated housing 21. Elongated housing 21 forms an annular treatment channel. The fluid flow passage is narrowed at baffle 28, and the water must pass through the section of reduced cross-sectional area 29 and around baffle 28 to outlet 26. Baffle 28 thus prevents or reduces direct flow or short-circuiting of flow of water from elongated housing 21 into outlet 26.

It is understood that apparatus 20 has seals as required to seal the apparatus and prevent leakage of water. In use, water enters apparatus 20 at inlet 25 and passes through the fluid flow passage as described above. Treatment of the water occurs as the water passes through housing 21 and passed radiation source 30. Turbulent and spiral flow is imposed on the water by deflector vanes 38. Baffle 28 prevents short-circuiting of the flow of water by preventing the water from flowing directly from the inlet to the outlet. Consequently, the water uses the entire volume of housing 21. The deflector vanes 38 and baffle 28 cause the microorganisms to be subjected to the average fluence of UV light. The consequence is that the flow of water through the apparatus promotes more effective treatment of microorganisms in the water. The apparatus of the present invention provides a small ultraviolet water treatment unit that is capable of operating with low flows and at low water pressure. The apparatus may be used for domestic use or in vehicles or other places where water is treated at low flows and at low pressure.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been described herein in detail, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Apparatus for the treatment of water, said apparatus comprising:

(a) an elongated housing having a first end and a second end, said first end having a water inlet and a water outlet, said second end being closed;

(b) an elongated cylindrical tube having a first end and a second end and extending within the housing from the first end of the housing towards the second end of the housing, said second end of the elongated cylindrical tube being spaced from the second end of the housing and having a support guide therein, said elongated cylindrical tube being in fluid flow communication with the water outlet at said first end of the elongated housing;

(c) an elongated ultraviolet radiation source concentrically located within the elongated tube and extending between the first end of the elongated cylindrical tube and the support guide, said elongated ultraviolet radiation source being in a sealed relationship with the first end of the housing and having electrical connections from the radiation source through said first end of the housing; (d) said support guide having an axial sleeve adapted to accommodate and support the elongated ultraviolet radiation source, said support guide having at least two deflector vanes located between the axial sleeve and the elongated cylindrical sleeve; and (e) a fluid flow passage from said water inlet through said housing exterior to the elongated cylindrical tube, through the support guide and into the elongated cylindrical tube, past the elongated ultraviolet radiation source to the water outlet.

2. The apparatus of Claim 1 in which the deflector vanes are non- planar.

3. The apparatus of Claim 1 in which the support sleeve has at least two deflector vanes.

4. The apparatus of Claim 1 in which the support sleeve has three to six deflector vanes.

5. The apparatus of Claim 1 in which the deflector vanes are at an angle of 10-40° to the axis of elongated cylindrical tube.

6. Apparatus for the treatment of water, said apparatus comprising:

(a) an elongated housing having a first end and a second end, said first end having a water inlet and said second end having a water outlet;

(b) said first end of the elongated housing having a support guide therein;

(c) an elongated ultraviolet radiation source concentrically located within the elongated housing and extending between the second end of the elongated housing and the support guide, said elongated ultraviolet radiation source being in a sealed relationship with the second end of the housing and having electrical connections from the radiation source through said second end of the housing;

(d) said support guide having an axial sleeve adapted to accommodate and support the elongated ultraviolet radiation source, said support guide having at least two deflector vanes located between the axial sleeve and the elongated cylindrical sleeve; (e) said elongated housing having an annular baffle extending inwardly at said outlet, said baffle forming a section of reduced cross-sectional area in the elongated housing at said outlet; and

(f) a fluid flow passage from said water inlet through the support guide, past the elongated ultraviolet radiation source, through the section of reduced cross-sectional area and around the baffle to the outlet.

7. The apparatus of Claim 6 in which the deflector vanes are non- planar.

8. The apparatus of Claim 7 in which the support sleeve has at least three deflector vanes.

9. The apparatus of Claim 6 in which the deflector vanes are at an angle of 10-40° to the axis of elongated cylindrical tube.

10. The apparatus of Claim 6 in which the baffle prevent direct flow from the elongated housing into the outlet.

11. A support guide adapted to support a radiation source for the treatment of water, said support guide comprising: a guide sleeve provided at one end of said radiation source, said guide sleeve having a fluid passage therein; said fluid passage having at least two deflector vanes for providing spiral or vortex flow of water around said radiation source.