Abstract:
Provided herein are systems and methods for the treatment and purification of fluids (e.g., water) using a light-emitting diode (LED) light source. In one embodiment, for example, there is provided a fluid flow conduit having an LED light source and a photo-catalytic material disposed therein. The LED light source emits ultraviolet light with a peak wavelength between about 265 nm and about 400 nm. In operation, the photo-catalytic material absorbs the ultraviolet light from the LED light source, and releases free radicals into the fluid. The free radicals then degrade organic substances (e.g., bacteria) in the fluid.
Abstract:
A thermoelectric generation apparatus 1 including a high-temperature pipe 10 through which a high-temperature fluid passes; a low-temperature pipe 20 disposed horizontally adjacent to the high-temperature pipe 10 and through which a low-temperature fluid having a temperature lower than that of the high-temperature fluid passes; a thermoelectric module 32 interposed between the high-temperature pipe 10 and the low-temperature pipe 20 and generating power using a temperature difference between the high-temperature pipe 10 and the low-temperature pipe 20; a fluid chamber 28 connected to an upper portion. and a lower portion of the low-temperature pipe 20, parallel to the low-temperature pipe 20 and a fluid replenisher 110 capable of replenishing the fluid chamber 28 with the low-temperature fluid in a liquid state.
Abstract:
A system and method is provided for filtration and purification of a liquid. A purification system can be used for filtration and purification of water. A system can include a raw water treatment system, an ultra filtration system, a reverse osmosis purification system, and a solar power system. A purification system can include hardware and controls for decreasing energy use and system inefficiency by monitoring and controlling temperatures of individual components, of the system, or of the purified liquid. A purification system can include a wetted ground and ground monitoring system control or improve the effectiveness of a ground.
Abstract:
A water filtration unit, comprising: a housing; a passive separator in the housing to receive a pressurized source of particulate-heavy water, to separate most of the particulate mass from the water and to output particulate-lean water; particulate egress means disposed at least partly within the housing to receive, and allow disposal of, the particulate separated from the water; at least one filtration module in the housing to each receive the particulate-lean water simultaneously, to filter remaining particulate and contaminants from the particulate-lean water by allowing passage of the water through porous filtration media of each module under gravity; and at least one outlet conduit coupled to an outlet in a wall of the housing to receive filtered water from the filtration modules and provide the filtered water to a fluid sink outside the housing.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a device and also a method for determining the degree of disinfection, and for determining the time point when a defined degree of disinfection is reached by a liquid, in particular drinking water, that is situated in a container which is light-permeable at least in a UV range. The device comprises in this case a UV measuring appliance for measuring the intensity of the UV radiation in the region of the container, a data analysis unit to which the values of the UV intensity which are measured by the UV measuring device are fed, and wherein the data analysis unit converts the UV intensity values measured at the start of a measurement at defined time points to form a characteristic, and wherein the data analysis unit compares the characteristics determined at defined time points with a predetermined characteristic, which predetermined characteristic corresponds to a defined degree of disinfection of the liquid, and wherein the device comprises at least one signal output appliance which, in the event that the determined characteristics reaches or exceeds the value of the predetermined characteristic, provides the signal output.
Abstract:
In accordance with the present invention, there are provided solar water pasteurizers that are portable, efficient, inexpensive and easy to use. In its simplest form, the solar pasteurizer includes a transparent container such as a bag or envelope that contains at least one energy converting structure and has sufficient insulation to enable heating water to a temperature of at least 65° C. (and preferably to a temperature of at least 70° C.) for a time sufficient to achieve pasteurization (at 65-70° C., a period of only about 6 minutes is required for pasteurization). Invention solar pasteurizers are particularly useful for pasteurizing water. In additional embodiments, invention solar pasteurizers include additional features, such as, for example, a water pasteurization indicator, and a receptacle for retaining same within the invention container. In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, there are provided methods for pasteurizing water employing solar pasteurizers described herein, as well as kits suitable to convert any transparent water tight container into a solar water pasteurizer.
Abstract:
Embodiments of the invention are directed toward a novel pressurized vapor cycle for distilling liquids. In an embodiment of the invention, a liquid purification system is revealed, including the elements of an input for receiving untreated liquid, a vaporizer coupled to the input for transforming the liquid to vapor, a head chamber for collecting the vapor, a vapor pump with an internal drive shaft and an eccentric rotor with a rotatable housing for compressing vapor, a condenser in communication with the vapor pump for transforming the compressed vapor into a distilled product, and an electric motor with motor rotor and magnets hermetically sealed within the fluid pressure boundary of the distillation system.
Abstract:
Photovoltaic-powered reverse osmosis system. The system includes a photovoltaic panel for generating electricity and includes a heat exchanger in thermal contact with the photovoltaic panel. The salt-containing feed water is fed to a reverse osmosis unit to produce clean water therefrom. Fluid circuitry, including a pump, circulates the feed water through the heat exchanger to cool the photovoltaic panel and to heat the feed water. It also delivers the heated feed water to the reverse osmosis unit for desalination. Cooling the solar panel and heating the RO feed water increases the total amount of clean water produced. In a preferred embodiment, a thermal controller manages the temperatures of the photovoltaic panel and the feed water by controlling the flow of feed water through the fluid circuitry. The photovoltaic panel temperature is minimized and the temperature of the feed water is maximized subject to a constraint on maximum feed water temperature.
Abstract:
A wearable or portable intermittently operable hydration system (10) includes a purification module (22, 50) that contains one or more solid state UV devices that are positioned in the path of hydrating fluid, or water, flow through the hydration system to a mouthpiece (18). The UV LEDs are instant on devices with essentially no ramp-up required, and a sensor (20) or the opening of a push-pull valve (53) controls the turning on of the UV LEDs. The fluid flow path may run from a bladder (12) in a backpack (19) worn by the user, a sports bottle (54) worn by or carried by the user or may be through a water filtration system that a user operates via a pump. The power for the purification module may come from batteries, solar cells, fuel cells, power converted from pumping or winding action or any combination thereof.