Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FLUID TREATMENT SYSTEM, RADIATION SOURCE
ASSEMBLY AND RADIATION SOURCE MODULE
TECHNICAL FIELD
In one of its aspects, the present invention relates to a radiation source
assembly. In another of its aspects, the present invention relates to a
radiation
source module comprising a novel radiation source assembly having incorporated
therein an optical radiation sensor.
BACKGROUND ART
Optical radiation sensors are known and find widespread use in a number
of applications. One of the principal applications of optical radiation
sensors is
in the field of ultraviolet radiation fluid disinfection systems.
It is known that the irradiation of water with ultraviolet light will
disinfect
the water by inactivation of microorganisms in the water, provided the
irradiance
and exposure duration are above a minimum "dose" level (often measured in
units
of microWatt seconds per square centimetre). Ultraviolet water disinfection
units
such as those commercially available from Trojan Technologies Inc. under the
tradenames LN700 and UV8000, employ this principle to disinfect water for
human consumption. Generally, water to be disinfected passes through a
pressurized stainless steel cylinder which is flooded with ultraviolet
radiation.
Large scale municipal waste water treatment equipment such as that
commercially available from Trojan Technologies Inc. under the trade-names
UV3000 and UV4000, employ the same principal to disinfect waste water.
Generally, the practical applications of these treatment systems relates to
submersion of treatment module or system in an open channel wherein the
wastewater is exposed to radiation as it flows past the lamps. For further
discussion of fluid disinfection systems employing ultraviolet radiation, see
any
one of the following:
United States Patent 4,482,809,
United States Patent 4,872,980,
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United States Patent 5,006,244,
United States Patent 5,418,370,
United States Patent 5,539,210, and
United States Patent 5,590,390.
In many applications, it is desirable to monitor the level of ultraviolet
radiation present within the water under treatment. In this way, it is
possible to
assess, on a continuous or semi-continuous basis, the level of ultraviolet
radiation, and thus the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the
disinfection
process.
It is known in the art to monitor the ultraviolet radiation level by
deploying one or more passive sensor devices near the operating lamps in
specific
locations and orientations which are remote from the operating lamps. These
passive sensor devices may be photodiodes, photoresistors or other devices
that
respond to the impingent of the particular radiation wavelength or range of
radiation wavelengths of interest by producing a repeatable signal level (in
volts
or amperes) on output leads.
Conventional ultraviolet disinfection systems often incorporate arrays of
lamps immersed in a fluid to be treated. Such an arrangement poses
difficulties
for mounting sensors to monitor lamp output. The surrounding structure is
usually a pressurized vessel or other construction not well suited for
insertion of
instrumentation. Simply attaching an ultraviolet radiation sensor to the lamp
module can impede flow of fluid and act as attachment point for fouling and/or
blockage of the ultraviolet radiation use to treat the water. Additionally,
for many
practical applications, it is necessary to incorporate a special cleaning
system for
removal of fouling materials from the sensor to avoid conveyance of misleading
information about lamp performance.
It would be desirable to have a radiation source assembly and module
containing same which incorporated an optical radiation sensor that does not
interfere with the flow of water or exposure of the fluid being treated to
radiation.
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DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel radiation source
module which obviates or mitigates at least one of the above-mentioned
disadvantages of the prior art.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel radiation
source assembly which obviates or mitigates at least one of the above-
mentioned
disadvantages of the prior art.
Accordingly, in one of its aspects, the present invention provides a
radiation source module for use of fluid treatment system, the module
comprising:
a frame having a first support member;
at least one radiation source assembly extending from and in engagement
(preferably sealing engagement) with a first support member, the at least one
radiation source assembly comprising at least one radiation source disposed
within a protective sleeve; and
an optical radiation sensor disposed within the protective sleeve.
In another of its aspects, the present invention provides a radiation source
assembly for use in a radiation source module, the radiation source assembly
comprising at least one radiation source and an optical radiation sensor, both
the
at least one radiation source and the optical radiation sensor being disposed
within a protective sleeve.
In yet another of its aspects, the present invention provides a fluid
treatment system comprising:
a fluid treatment zone;
at least one radiation source assembly disposed in the fluid treatment
zone, the at least one radiation source assembly comprising at least one
radiation
source disposed within a protective sleeve; and
an optical radiation sensor disposed within the protective sleeve.
In a preferred embodiment of the fluid treatment system, the fluid
treatment zone comprises a housing through which fluid flows. Preferably, the
at least one radiation source assembly is secured to the housing.
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Thus, the present inventor has discovered that, by placing an optical
radiation sensor within a protective sleeve commonly employed in combination
with a radiation source, a number of advantages accrue. For example, the need
to periodically clean the surface of the sensor from fouling materials is
obviated
since the sensor is disposed within the protective sleeve. This is
particularly
advantageous when the radiation source assembly is used in conjunction with a
cleaning system (e.g., one of the cleaning systems in the '370, '210
and/or'390
patents referred to above). Specifically, since the cleaning system serves the
purpose of removing fouling materials from the protective sleeve to allow for
optimum dosing of radiation, a separate cleaning system for the sensor is not
required. Further, since the optical radiation sensor is disposed within an
existing
element (the protective sleeve) of the radiation source module, incorporation
of
the sensor in the module does not result in any additional hydraulic head loss
and/or does not create a "catch" for fouling materials. Other advantages will
be
apparent to those skilled in the art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to
the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a side elevation of an embodiment of the present radiation
source module;
Figure 2 is a sectional view of a trio of radiation source modules including
the radiation source module illustrated in Figure 1; and
Figure 3 illustrates an enlarged sectional view taken along line A-A in
Figure 2.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
With reference to Figures 1-2, a radiation source module 100 is illustrated.
Radiation source module 100 comprises a pair of support legs 105,110 depending
from a crosspiece 115. Disposed between support legs 105,110 are a trio of
radiation source assemblies 120,125,130. Each radiation source assembly
120,125,130 comprises a radiation source 140 (e.g., an ultraviolet emitting
lamp)
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disposed within a protective sleeve 145 (e.g., typically made of quartz). The
design of support legs 105,110 and radiation source assemblies 120 is
preferably
as is described in United States Patents 4,872,980 and 5,006,244 referred to
hereinabove.
Preferably, each protective sleeve 145 is connected to support leg 105 via
a coupling nut 150. The details of this connection are preferably as set out
in
copending United States patent application S.N. 09/258,142 (Traubenberg et
al.).
With reference to Figures 2 and 3, radiation source assembly 125
comprises an optical radiation sensor 150 disposed within protective sleeve
145
adjacent support leg 110. Optical sensor 150 comprises a window 155(optional)
which receives incident radiation and passes this radiation into a body 160
that
contains a photodiode (not shown) or other radiation sensor material as
described
above. A signal related to the amount of radiation sensed is then sent from
body
160 through a lead 165 which is connected to a conventional control system
which allows the user to ascertain the level of radiation sensed compared to a
predetermined benchmark.
Preferably, sensor 160 is oriented within protective sleeve 145 in a
manner that it receives incident radiation from at least one, preferably both,
of
adjacent radiation source assemblies 120,130. In other words, it is preferred
that
sensor 150 not receive incident radiation from the radiation source contained
within the same protective sleeve in which sensor 150 is housed.
The sensor itself may be chosen from conventional sensors. For example,
a suitable sensor is commercially available from UDT Sensors Inc. (Hawthorne,
California).
As shown in Figure 2, radiation source module 100 may be a member of
an array of radiation source modules which do not contain an optical radiation
source sensor. Thus, the trio of radiation source modules illustrated in
Figure 2
could be placed in an open channel as shown in United States Patents 4,872,980
and 5,006,244 and used to treat wastewater as set out in those patents.
While the present invention has been described with reference to preferred
and specifically illustrated embodiments, it will of course be understood by
those
skilled in the arts that various modifications to these preferred and
illustrated
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embodiments may be made without the parting from the spirit and scope of the
invention. For example, while the present invention has been illustrated with
reference to radiation source modules similar in general design to those
taught in
United States Patents 4,872,980 and 5,006,244, it is possible to employ the
present radiation source assembly in a module such as the one illustrated in
United States Patents 5,418,370 , 5,539,210 and 5,590,390 - i.e., in a module
having a single support for one or more elongate source assemblies extending
therefrom.. Further, it is possible to employ the present radiation source
assembly in a fluid treatment device such as those commercially available from
Trojan Technologies Inc. under the tradenames UV700 and UV8000. Still,
further, while, in the embodiments illustrated and described above, the
optical
sensor is disposed at the end of the projective sleeve opposite the end where
electrical connections for the lamp are located, it possible to locate the
optical
radiation sensor at the same end as the electrical connections for the lamp
thereby
allowing for use of the protective sleeve having one closed end. Still
further, it
is possible to utilize an optical radiation source sensor disposed between two
radiation sources, all of which are disposed within a protective sleeve. Other
modifications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present
invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
All publications, patents and patent applications referred to herein are
incorporated by reference in their entirety to the same extent as if each
individual
publication, patent or patent application was specifically and individually
indicated to be incorporated by reference in its entirety.
