Marine environment antifouling system and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9235048-B2
Application number	US-201313940814-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 12, 2013
Priority date	Jul 13, 2012
Publication date	Jan 12, 2016
Grant date	Jan 12, 2016

Abstract

The present invention relates to systems and methods for reducing fouling of a surface of an optically transparent element with a light source. According to one aspect, the invention is a system including an LED for emitting UV-C radiation, a mount for directing emitted UV-C radiation toward the optically transparent element, and control circuitry for driving the LED. The system may be used to remove a desired amount of biofilm.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for reducing fouling of a surface of an optically transparent element subjected to a marine environment including a marine fluid, the system comprising:
a plurality of mounts disposed about the surface of the optically transparent element and extending into the marine environment, each mount including an LED for emitting UV-C radiation through the marine fluid from a distal end of each mount, each mount angling its distal end inward and downward toward and proximate to the surface of the optically transparent element;
wherein the surface of the optically transparent element is curved, wherein the optically transparent element allows for the transmission of light therethrough into a housing, and wherein the LED in each mount is disposed in a watertight enclosure that is separate from the housing; and
control circuitry for driving the LED.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the optically transparent element is selected from the group consisting of a window and a lens.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the emitted UV-C radiation has a wavelength in a range of about 265 nm to about 295 nm.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the watertight enclosure comprises a UV transparent port.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry, when activated, maintains a duty cycle of the LED of at least about 10%.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein an attenuated dosage reaching the surface is at least about 0.5 kJ/m 2 .

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein a kill efficiency at the surface is at least about 95%.

8. A method for reducing fouling of a surface of an optically transparent element subjected to a marine environment including a marine fluid, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a plurality of mounts disposed about the surface of the optically transparent element and extending into the marine environment, each mount including an LED for emitting UV-C radiation through the marine fluid from a distal end of each mount, each mount angling its distal end inward and downward toward and proximate to the surface of the optically transparent element;
wherein the surface of the optically transparent element is curved, wherein the optically transparent element allows for the transmission of light therethrough into a housing, and wherein the LED in each mount is disposed in a watertight enclosure that is separate from the housing;
driving each LED to emit UV-C radiation with a duty cycle of at least about 10% while the optically transparent element is subjected to the marine fluid; and
directing emitted UV-C radiation toward the optically transparent element.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the optically transparent element is selected from the group consisting of a window and a lens.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the emitted UV-C radiation has a wavelength in a range of about 265 nm to about 295 nm.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the watertight enclosure comprises a UV transparent port.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the optically transparent element comprises a UV transparent material.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein an attenuated dosage reaching the surface is at least about 0.5 kJ/m 2 .

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein a kill efficiency at the surface is at least about 95%.

Assignees

• Woods Hole Oceanographic Inst

Inventors

• Farr Norman Erwin
• Pontbriand Clifford Thomas
• Peters Timothy Goodwin

Classifications

• B63B59/04

  Preventing hull fouling (anti-fouling paints C09D5/16) · CPC title

• B63B59/08

  of underwater surfaces while afloat (B63B59/10 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B08B7/0057

  by ultraviolet radiation · CPC title

• G02B27/0006 Primary

  with means to keep optical surfaces clean, e.g. by preventing or removing dirt, stains, contamination, condensation (G02B1/18 takes precedence; cleaning in general B08B) · CPC title

• G02B23/22

  Underwater equipment {(for submarine periscopes G02B23/08; arrangements on floating structures of underwater viewing devices B63C11/49; arrangement of visual watch equipment on submarines B63G8/38)} · CPC title