Abstract:
A method of cleaning fouling materials from a radiation module, the method comprising the steps of: (i) immersing at least a portion of the radiation module in a fluid; and (ii) subjecting the radiation module to vibration at a frequency sufficient to substantially inhibit fouling materials adhering to the at least one radiation source. A radiation module for use in a fluid treatment system comprising: a support member for mounting the module in the fluid treatment system; at least one radiation assembly extending from the support member; and vibration generation means associated with the at least one radiation assembly. The radiation module is self-cleaning and can take the form of a radiation module or a radiation sensor module. Incorporation of the radiation source module in a fluid treatment system is also described.
Abstract:
A fluid treatment device comprising a housing for receiving a flow of fluid, the housing comprising a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a fluid treatment zone disposed between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, and at least one radiation source module disposed in the fluid treatment zone, the at least one radiation source module comprising a radiation source sealably connected to a leg, the leg sealably mounted to the housing, the radiation source being disposed substantially parallel to the flow of fluid. A method of treating a fluid in a housing comprising a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a fluid treatment zone disposed between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, the fluid treatment zone having at least one radiation source disposed therein is also described. The method comprises the steps of: (i) providing a flow of the fluid to the fluid inlet; (ii) feeding the flow of fluid from the fluid inlet to the fluid treatment zone in a manner substantially parallel to the at least one radiation source; (iii) irradiating the flow of fluid in the fluid treatment zone; and (iv) feeding the flow of fluid to the fluid outlet. During the method, the flow of fluid through the fluid inlet, the fluid outlet and the fluid treatment zone is substantially collinear. The fluid treatment device and method are ideally suited (but not limited) to inactivate microorganisms present in water.
Abstract:
A process for treating a fluid comprising at least one chemical contaminant. The process comprises the steps of: (i) contacting the fluid with a particulate adsorbent material; (ii) allowing the adsorbent material to adsorb the chemical contaminant to produce a substantially purified fluid and a contaminant-carrying adsorbent material; (iii) separating the contaminant-carrying adsorbent material from the substantially purified fluid; (iv) contacting the contaminant-carrying adsorbent material with an aqueous slurry of a photocatalytic metal oxide powder in the presence of an electron acceptor and electromagnetic radiation in at least one of ultraviolet and visible regions; (v) allowing the contaminant to decompose to form a product which dissociates from the contaminant-carrying adsorbent to provide a regenerated adsorbent material, the aqueous slurry and the product; (vi) separating and recycling the regenerated adsorbent material to step (i); and (vii) recycling the aqueous slurry to step (iv). The process may be used to remove contaminants from and thereby purify fluids such as water, off-gases from air stripping processes and chimney gases.
Abstract:
An optical radiation sensor comprising a housing having an inlet which allows radiation to enter the housing, and further comprising the following elements serially disposed after the inlet in the path of the radiation: attenuating aperture means, filter means and sensor means. The attenuating aperture means reduce the amount of UV radiation on the sensor means and improve the sensors resistance to degradation in a high intensity UV radiation environment. A fluid disinfection system incorporating the sensor is also described.
Abstract:
A fluid disinfection unit comprising a fluid treatment housing, an electrical supply module and electrical connection means connecting the fluid treatment housing and the electrical supply module; the fluid treatment housing comprising a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet in communication with a reaction chamber, an ultraviolet radiation lamp disposed in the reaction chamber and having a first electrical connection receiving means at a first end thereof and a second end thereof being closed, the second end of the ultraviolet radiation lamp being received and held in place by fixture means; the electrical supply module comprising ballast means and a second electrical connection receiving means; and the electrical connection means comprising lamp receptacle connector means at one end thereof for removable connection to the ultraviolet radiation lamp and electrical connection receiving means for connection to the electrical supply module.
Abstract:
A fluid treatment system includes one or more radiation sources arranged in an irradiation zone within a treatment zone through which fluid to be treated passes and is irradiated. The irradiation zone has a closed cross section to maintain the fluid within a predefined maximum distance from the radiation source. Preferably, the irradiation zone comprises a reduced cross-sectional area perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow and thus the fluid flow velocity is increased through the irradiation zone. This allows the fluid to enter the treatment zone at relatively low speed, traverse the irradiation zone at high speed and exit the treatment zone again at relatively low speed to minimize the loss of hydraulic head throughout the system. Fluid entering the treatment zone passes through an inlet transition region wherein the cross-sectional area is reduced prior to entering the irradiation zone and fluid exiting the irradiation zone passes through an outlet transition region wherein the cross-sectional area is increased. Each transition region is designed to reduce hydraulic head losses as the fluid flow velocity is increased and decreased. In the irradiation zone, radiation sources are mounted on radiation modules which are arranged to provide improved accessibility for maintenance. The radiation modules may also be provided with cleaning assemblies which are operable to remove materials fouling the radiation sources in situ while the radiation sources are in the irradiation zone.