UV sanitizing assemblies with high dose features and methods for controlling the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9932245-B2
Application number	US-201514807184-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 23, 2015
Priority date	Jul 23, 2014
Publication date	Apr 3, 2018
Grant date	Apr 3, 2018

Abstract

A purifying system for treating a fluid with UV light including a housing defining: a chamber having a treatment zone; an inlet; and an outlet. The light source supplies UV light to the treatment zone. The inlet, the tubular housing, or the outlet may extend inward into the chamber so that the fluid passes close to the light source and has a relatively increased duration in the treatment zone. The purifying system may also have a sensor coupled to the housing or light source for generating a first signal indicative of a first parameter of the treatment zone. A microcontroller can control the light source based on a signal from the sensor and data characterizing the light source. The microcontroller may also vary operation of the light source and collect data to create the data characterizing the light source.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid purifying system for treating a fluid with UV light comprising:
a housing defining: a chamber having a treatment zone; an inlet; and an outlet so that the fluid entering the inlet passes through the treatment zone and exits through the outlet;
a light source mounted in the chamber for supplying UV light output to the treatment zone, wherein at least one of the inlet, the housing, or the outlet extends radially inward into the chamber adjacent the light source so that the fluid passes close to the light source and has a relatively increased duration in the treatment zone in order to egress from the outlet;
a first sensor coupled to at least one of the housing or light source for generating a first signal indicative of a first parameter of the treatment zone; and
a microcontroller for receiving the first signal and controlling operation of the light source, the microcontroller including: memory storing an instruction set and first data related to characterization of the light source including magnitude of change in the UV light output across a power range and corresponding response times; and a processor for running the instruction set, the processor being in communication with the memory,
wherein the processor is operative to: control the light source based on the first signal and the first data; and vary operation of the light source and empirically collect data to create the first data related to characterization so that during operation when additional UV light output is required, a rate of change in the UV light output is used to determine a magnitude of power to the light source.

2. A fluid purifying system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first parameter is selected from the group consisting of: a temperature of the fluid in the treatment zone; a temperature of the light source; a UV output; a flow of the fluid in the treatment zone; a light source arc current; a light source voltage; and a light source response time.

3. A fluid purifying system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first parameter is at least two parameters selected from the group consisting of: a temperature of the fluid in the treatment zone; a temperature of the light source; a UV output; a flow of the fluid in the treatment zone; a light source arc current; a light source voltage; and a light source response time.

4. A fluid purifying system comprising:
a) a light source assembly including:
i) a housing defining: a chamber having a treatment zone; an inlet; and an outlet so that the fluid entering the inlet passes through the treatment zone and exits through the outlet;
ii) a light source mounted in the chamber for supplying UV light to the treatment zone, wherein the fluid in the treatment zone at least partially surrounds the light source; and
iii) a first sensor for generating a first signal indicative of a temperature of the fluid in the treatment zone; and

b) a microcontroller for receiving the first signal and controlling operation of the light source, the microcontroller including:
i) memory storing an instruction set and first data related to characterization of the light source assembly for different temperatures of the fluid in the treatment zone versus UV light output of the light source at varying current levels; and
ii) a processor for running the instruction set, the processor being in communication with the memory, wherein the processor is operative to control the light source based on the first signal and the first data so that during operation an optimum current level is chosen based upon the temperature of the fluid in the treatment zone.

5. A fluid purifying system as recited in claim 4 , wherein the processor is operative to vary operation of the light source and collect data to create the first data related to characterization.

6. A fluid purifying system as recited in claim 4 , wherein the first data includes magnitude of change in UV output across a range of powers and corresponding response times.

7. A fluid purifying system as recited in claim 4 , wherein the first parameter is selected from the group consisting of: a temperature of the fluid in the treatment zone; a temperature of the light source; a UV output; a flow of the fluid in the treatment zone; a light source arc current; a light source voltage; and a light source response time.

8. A fluid purifying system as recited in claim 4 , wherein the first sensor is an infra-red sensor.

9. A fluid purifying system as recited in claim 4 , wherein the first sensor monitors a temperature of liquid mercury droplets in the light source.

10. A fluid purifying system for treating a fluid with UV light comprising:
a housing defining: a chamber having a treatment zone; an inlet; and an outlet so that the fluid entering the inlet passes through the treatment zone and exits through the outlet; and
a light source mounted in the chamber for supplying UV light to the treatment zone;
a first sensor coupled to at least one of the housing or light source for generating a first signal indicative of a first parameter of the treatment zone, wherein the first sensor monitors a temperature of liquid mercury droplets in the light source; and
a microcontroller for receiving the first signal and controlling operation of the light source based upon the first signal to optimize efficiency.

11. A fluid purifying system as recited in claim 10 , wherein the first signal indicates a temperature of the fluid.

12. A fluid purifying system as recited in claim 10 , the microcontroller includes: memory storing an instruction set and first data related to characterization of the light source including magnitude of change in UV output across a power range and corresponding response times; and a processor for running the instruction set, the processor being in communication with the memory, wherein the processor is operative to: control the light source based on the first signal and the first data.

13. A fluid purifying system as recited in claim 12 , wherein the processor is operative to vary operation of the light source.

14. A fluid purifying system as recited in claim 10 , further comprising:
a housing defining: a chamber having a treatment zone; an inlet; and an outlet so that the fluid entering the inlet passes through the treatment zone and exits through the outlet;
a light source mounted in the chamber for supplying UV light to the treatment zone, wherein at least one of the inlet, the housing, or the outlet extends radially inward into the chamber;
wherein:
at least one of the inlet, the housing, or the outlet extends radially inward adjacent the light source so that the fluid passes close to the light source in order to egress from the outlet;
at least one of the inlet, the housing, or the outlet extends radially inward so that the fluid has a relatively increased duration in the treatment zone before egress from the outlet; and
the outlet includes a tube inserted therein to form a tubular flange extending into the chamber.

Assignees

• Watts Regulator Co

Inventors

• Schmitt Craig
• Sarchese Michael
• Powell Colin

Classifications

• C02F2209/40

  Liquid flow rate · CPC title

• C02F2209/006

  comprising a software program or a logic diagram · CPC title

• C02F2209/02

  Temperature · CPC title

• C02F1/325 Primary

  Irradiation devices or lamp constructions · CPC title

• C02F2201/3223

  Single elongated lamp located on the central axis of a turbular reactor · CPC title