UV fluid treatment system with a removable LED light source assembly on the side

Abstract

A fluid treatment system for treating a fluid with ultraviolet (UV) radiation includes a reactor which includes a treatment chamber having an inlet for the fluid to enter the treatment chamber and an outlet for the fluid to exit the treatment chamber. The fluid flows through the treatment chamber from the inlet to the outlet, generally along the longitudinal axis of the treatment chamber. The system further includes at least one light source assembly which is detachably coupled to the reactor so that the light source assembly can be inserted into the treatment chamber laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis. The at least one light source assembly includes a light source unit which includes an array of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for emitting UV irradiation into the treatment chamber to treat the fluid.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] (Cross-reference of related applications) This application claims priority to Provisional Application No. 63 / 531,647, filed on 9 August 2023. [Background technology]

[0002] Water sterilization is crucial to guarantee water quality. Water sources can be contaminated with pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, algae, molds, and yeasts, making them unsafe for human and animal consumption. One method of water sterilization is ultraviolet (UV) radiation treatment, where UV light is irradiated onto the water. UV radiation damages the DNA, RNA, and proteins in pathogens, inactivating them and making the water safe for use and consumption. UV radiation treatment can be used in household, municipal, commercial, and industrial water systems. Conventional UV radiation treatment systems vary depending on the application. For example, large-scale industrial and commercial systems, such as municipal water treatment plants, may include large reactors containing multiple UV lamps, such as mercury lamps, to efficiently sterilize large volumes of water. However, mercury lamp-based systems carry the risk of mercury contamination of the treated water if, for example, a UV lamp is damaged when removed for maintenance and cleaning.

[0003] On the other hand, household systems can be designed for smaller amounts of water used in homes and can use UV light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that do not contain harmful substances, making them safer to use than mercury lamps. UV LEDs also have a longer operating life than mercury lamps and have lower voltage and power requirements. However, because UV LEDs are low-power, even in household systems, multiple LEDs may be required for sufficient sterilization. In known systems, a UV LED assembly is positioned within the reactor chamber along the main axis of the reactor and includes an array of UV LEDs positioned along the main axis of the chamber so that UV light can be irradiated as the fluid passes through the chamber.

[0004] Household systems can be installed inline with existing household plumbing, for example, at the water inlet point to the household piping. However, space may be limited around existing household plumbing, and reactors are often placed in confined spaces. This can make it difficult to remove the UV LED assembly for cleaning or other maintenance to remove fouling material without disturbing the piping connections. In addition, during use, the UV LED assembly and associated electrical components can generate considerable heat, especially on the back side of the UV LED array, making it difficult to efficiently cool the UV LED assembly. Excessive heating of the LEDs can reduce their radiant output and shorten their effective lifespan. [Overview of the project]

[0005] This disclosure provides a fluid treatment system for treating fluids using UV radiation that overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks. For example, the fluid treatment system disclosed herein may include a light source assembly that can be easily removed for cleaning and other services without disturbing piping connections, even in confined spaces. The light source assembly of this fluid treatment system can also be efficiently cooled to avoid overheating.

[0006] The fluid processing system includes a reactor which includes a processing chamber having an inlet for the fluid to enter the processing chamber and an outlet for the fluid to exit the processing chamber. The fluid flows through the processing chamber from the inlet to the outlet, generally along the longitudinal axis of the processing chamber. The system further includes at least one light source assembly which is detachably connected to the reactor so that the light source assembly can be inserted into the processing chamber laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis. The at least one light source assembly includes a light source unit which includes an array of LEDs for emitting UV radiation into the processing chamber to process the fluid. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1]A perspective view of the fluid processing system is shown. [Figure 2] This is a cross-sectional view of the fluid processing system along line AA in Figure 1. [Figure 3A] This is a partial cross-sectional view of the light source assembly removed from the reactor. [Figure 3B] This is a partial cross-sectional view of the light source assembly attached to the reactor. [Figure 4] A perspective view of the reactor is shown. [Figure 5A] This is a perspective view showing the light source assembly. [Figure 5B] This is a perspective view showing the light source assembly. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view showing the light source unit. [Figure 7] This is an exploded perspective view showing the light source unit. [Figure 8] This is a perspective view showing a fluid processing system. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] The following description provides many details to help understand the disclosure. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the systems and methods of the disclosure are implementable without these details, and that many variations or modifications are possible from the embodiments described.

[0009] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a fluid treatment system comprising at least one light source assembly comprising an array of UV LEDs for irradiating a fluid flowing through a treatment chamber of a reactor with UV radiation for purposes such as sterilization, purification, and disinfection. The light source assembly is removably inserted into the treatment chamber of the reactor in a direction laterally to the longitudinal axis of the treatment chamber. The light source assembly may be inserted into the treatment chamber through a lateral opening formed in the outer wall of the reactor. For example, the light source assembly may be inserted into the treatment chamber in a direction laterally or perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the treatment chamber, such as in the radial direction of the reactor. This arrangement allows the light source assembly to be removed laterally from the treatment chamber in a direction laterally to the longitudinal axis for servicing, cleaning, etc. Thus, the light source assembly can be easily removed from and inserted into the treatment chamber even in confined spaces without disturbing piping connections.

[0010] The light source unit is placed inside the processing chamber so that it is immersed in the fluid to be processed.

[0011] Therefore, the light source unit can be continuously cooled by a fluid flowing through a chamber that collides with and flows around the light source unit. In this arrangement, the fluid being treated comes into contact not only with the front of the light source unit from which UV radiation is emitted, but also with the rear of the light source unit from which considerable heat is often generated. Thus, the rear of the light source unit is cooled by the fluid being treated, preventing the UV LED from overheating.

[0012] Figure 1 shows a top perspective view of an exemplary fluid treatment system 100, and Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the fluid treatment system along line AA in Figure 1. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the treatment system 100 includes a reactor 102 which includes a treatment chamber 110 for receiving a flow of fluid for UV radiation treatment. The treatment chamber 110 extends along its longitudinal axis L and includes an inlet 106 through which the fluid passes when introduced into the treatment chamber 110 and an outlet 108 through which the fluid passes when discharged from the treatment chamber 110 after treatment. The longitudinal axis L may substantially coincide with the longitudinal axis of the reactor 102. The inlet 106 and outlet 108 are in fluid communication with the treatment chamber 110, and the fluid may flow through the treatment chamber 110 from the inlet 106 to the outlet 108, generally along the longitudinal axis L of the treatment chamber. For example, the inlet 106 and outlet 108 may be located on opposite sides of the treatment chamber 110 along the longitudinal axis L. The processing chamber 110 may be separate from the reactor 102 that contains the fluid flow. For example, the processing chamber 110 may be located within an outer reactor 102 that has its own inlet and outlet connections that guide the flow to the inlet and outlet of the processing chamber 110.

[0013] In one embodiment, the fluid treatment system 100 may be a residential system for sterilizing household water. The system 100 may be installed between a water source, such as a well or a municipal water supply facility, and household plumbing. For example, the system 100 may be installed at the point where water enters the household plumbing. The system 100 may be integrated into existing plumbing for treating fluids flowing through the pipes. For example, the inlet 106 and outlet 108 may be connected to the plumbing to provide inline flow and easy connection to the plumbing without using L-shaped or elbow pipe fittings. The system 100 may be installed to integrate with household plumbing in the basement of the house where water flows from external plumbing that is in fluid communication with a well or water treatment facility and enters the house. The inlet 106 receives water flowing from the water source, the treatment chamber treats the water with UV radiation to make it safe to use, and the outlet 108 can supply the treated water to the household plumbing downstream. For residential systems, the processing chamber 110 may have a capacity in the range of, for example, approximately 0.25 L to 10 L, 0.5 L to 5 L, or 1 L to 3 L. For example, when used in a household system, the reactor 102 may be designed for a fluid flow such as water or other aqueous fluid (e.g., a fluid containing at least 75% or at least 90% water) passing through the processing chamber 110 at a flow rate in the range of 1 to 25 gallons (gpm), 5 to 20 gpm, or 10 to 15 gpm per minute. Of course, sometimes the fluid in the reactor 102 may be substantially stagnant, in which case the flow rate may be less than 1 gpm, less than 0.5 gpm, or less than 0.25 gpm. However, the fluid processing system 100 is not limited to use in household systems and may be used in other systems such as industrial or municipal systems. In that case, the capacity of the processing chamber 100 and / or the flow rate of the fluid passing through the processing chamber 110 may be higher.

[0014] The processing system 100 further includes first and second light source assemblies 120a and 120b, which are detachably connected to the reactor 102. The first and second light source assemblies 120a and 120b each include first and second light source units 122a and 122b, respectively, which are positioned within the processing chamber 110 to treat a fluid flowing through the chamber 110 with UV radiation for disinfection, purification, sterilization, etc. The first and second light source units 122a and 122b each include arrays of UV LEDs 124a and 124b, respectively, which are configured to emit UV radiation within the processing chamber 110 of the reactor 102. The UV LEDs 124a and 124b may emit light in the UV spectrum, for example, in the wavelength band of about 100 nm to about 405 nm, in the wavelength band of about 140 nm to about 330 nm, or in the wavelength band of about 200 nm to about 320 nm. UV light in the above wavelength range has a high germicidal effect and can kill at least 99% of microorganisms such as bacteria, parasites, fungi, viruses, and molds in the fluid, making the fluid safe to use and consume. The efficiency of LED124a and 124b in converting electrical energy to UV light energy can be in the range of approximately 3% to 30%, approximately 4% to 15%, or approximately 5% to 10%. The reactor supplies 5 mJ / cm³ of UV light to the fluid at the target flow rate and target water quality. 2 ~100 mmJ / cm 2 Or approximately 30 mJ / cm² 2 It may be designed to supply a certain UV dose, or it may be designed to supply any other suitable UV dose to the fluid.

[0015] As shown in Figure 2, the first and second light source units 122a, 122b may include first and second housings 130a, 130b, each housing containing first and second LED arrays 124a, 124b, respectively. The first and second housings 130a, 130b may further include first and second UV-transmitting windows 132a, 132b, each positioned to cover the first and second LED arrays 124a, 124b, respectively. The UV-transmitting windows 132a, 132b may be sealed within the housings 130a, 130b via O-rings 134a, 134b. Further details relating to the first and second light source units 122a, 122b will be described in reference to Figures 5A-7.

[0016] In FIGS. 1 and 2, the "y" direction is parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the processing chamber 110 and the direction of fluid flow through the processing chamber 110 between the inlet 106 and the outlet 108. The "x" and "z" directions are the radial directions of the reactor 102, and the "z" direction is parallel to the insertion / removal direction of the light source units 122a, 122b into the processing chamber 110 of the reactor 102.

[0017] The first and second light source assemblies 120a, 120b are further disposed outside the reactor 102 and removably connected to the first and second side ports 112a, 112b formed in the outer wall 104 of the reactor 102 to support the light source units 122a, 122b suspended in the processing chamber 110, and include the first and second caps 138a, 138b.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 2, the first and second light source assemblies 120a, 120b are removably coupled to the reactor 102 via caps 138a, 138b such that the first and second light source units 122a, 122b are disposed within the processing chamber 110 and are oriented to direct UV radiation at the fluid flowing through the processing chamber 110. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the light source units 122a, 122b are concentric with the chamber 110 and are orthogonal to both the longitudinal axis L of the processing chamber 110 and the direction of fluid flow (along the y-direction) through the processing chamber 110 between the inlet 106 and the outlet 108. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the light source units 122a, 122b can be arranged in any suitable orientation to sufficiently treat the fluid flowing through the processing chamber 110 with UV radiation. The light source units 122a, 122b are such that the planes of the UV-transmissive windows 132a, 132b and / or the planes of the backs (i.e., non-emitting surfaces) of the housings 130a, 130b are lateral or orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the reactor 102 and / or lateral or orthogonal to the direction of fluid flow through the processing chamber 110. For example, the planes of the windows 132a, 132b and / or the planes of the backs of the light source units 122a, 122b can be oriented at any suitable angle, such as an angle in the range of 20° to 160°, 30° to 150°, or 45° to 135°, lateral to the longitudinal axis L of the processing chamber 110. The planes of the windows 132a, 132b and / or the planes of the backs of the light source units 122a, 122b can additionally or alternatively be lateral or orthogonal to the direction of fluid flow through the processing chamber 110 and be oriented at an angle in the range of 20° to 160°, 30° to 150°, or 45° to 135°.

[0019] Similarly, the first and second LED arrays 124a, 124b may be positioned in a plane that is lateral to or perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the reactor 102 and / or lateral to or perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow through the processing chamber 110. The planes of the first and second LED arrays 124a, 124b may be oriented lateral to the longitudinal axis L of the processing chamber 110 at any suitable angle, such as in the range of 20° to 160°, 30° to 150°, or 45° to 135°. The LED arrays 124a, 124b may be oriented lateral to or perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow through the processing chamber 110 so as to be oriented at angles in the range of 20° to 160°, 30° to 150°, or 45° to 135° with respect to the direction of fluid flow.

[0020] The first and second light source assemblies 120a, 120b may be arranged in the processing chamber 110 such that the first and second LED arrays 124a, 124b face each other. For example, in this context, “face each other” may mean that the first and second light source units 122a, 122b are arranged such that the beams of UV radiation from the first and second LED arrays 124a, 124b overlap each other at least partially. For example, the light-emitting sides of the light source units 122a, 122b (i.e., the sides through which UV light passes, e.g., the sides of the UV-transmitting windows 132a, 132b) may face each other directly at a normal angle, be offset from each other along the longitudinal axis L or other directions, or be at an angle to each other, as will be described in more detail below.

[0021] In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the first and second light source assemblies 120a, 120b are such that the principal direction of the radiation beam emitted by the first and second LED arrays 124a, 124b is indicated by arrow R. a and R b They are arranged so as to face each other along the R. In particular, the first light source assembly 120a has the array of first LEDs 124a facing the second light source unit 122b approximately R. aIt emits UV radiation in a direction, and the back of the first light source unit 122a is arranged to face the outlet 108. The second light source assembly 120b is such that the array 124b of the second LEDs of the second light source unit 122b emits UV radiation generally in the R b direction, and the back of the second light source unit 122b is arranged to face the inlet 106. In FIG. 2, the UV LED arrays 124a, 124b are each arranged in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis L. Since the LED arrays 124a, 124b are directly opposed to each other along the longitudinal axis L, the main directions R a and R b of the radiation beams are generally parallel to and / or coincide with the longitudinal axis L. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this arrangement, and the first and second light source assemblies 120a, 120b can be arranged in any suitable manner such that the radiation beams from the arrays 124a, 124b of the first and second LEDs at least partially overlap each other.

[0022] For example, in another embodiment, the light-emitting sides of the light source units 122a, 122b can face each other (e.g., directly face each other) along a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis L (e.g., at an angle in the range of 20° to 160°, 30° to 150°, or 45° to 135° from the longitudinal axis L). In this case, the direction extending between the light-emitting sides of the first and second light source units 122a, 122b and perpendicular to the planes of the first and second LED arrays 124a, 124b is transverse to the longitudinal axis L, e.g., at any angle in the above ranges.

[0023] Alternatively or additionally, the first and second light source assemblies 120a, 120b may be arranged such that the light source units 122a, 122b are offset from each other. For example, one or both of the light source units 122a, 122b may be offset from the longitudinal axis or from each other in the radial or widthwise direction of the reactor 102 (e.g., transverse to the longitudinal axis L), so that the beams of UV radiation emitted from the light source units 122a, 122b only partially overlap. In such an arrangement, the center of the first LED array 124a may not coincide with the center of the second LED array 124b, and the centers of one or both of the LED arrays 124a, 124b may be offset from the longitudinal axis and / or offset from each other.

[0024] In the embodiments described above, the first and second light source assemblies 120a and 120b may be arranged such that the planes of the first and second LED arrays 124a and 124b are generally parallel to each other. However, the disclosure is not limited to this arrangement, and the first and second light source assemblies 120a and 120b may be arranged such that the planes of the LED arrays 124a and 124b are at an angle to each other. For example, the planes of the LED arrays 124a and 124b may be at an angle in the range of, for example, 5° to 175°, 20° to 150°, or 45° to 135°, or any other suitable angle.

[0025] The time the fluid is exposed to UV radiation can be extended by arranging the first and second light source assemblies 120a, 120b such that the first and second LED arrays 124a, 124b face each other (for example, so that the beams of UV radiation at least partially overlap each other). This ensures that the fluid flowing through the processing chamber is sufficiently irradiated with UV radiation to sterilize the fluid so that it is safe for use and consumption. For example, the first and second light source assemblies 120a, 120b are arranged such that the first and second LED arrays 124a, 124b face each other and along the longitudinal axis L of the processing chamber 110 and / or the direction of fluid flow along the main direction R a , R bBy arranging them to emit UV radiation toward each other, the fluid flowing through the chamber 110 can be irradiated with UV light over substantially the entire length of the chamber 110 or most of its length.

[0026] Alternatively, the light source assemblies 120 may be arranged so as not to face each other. For example, one or more of the light source assemblies 120 (first, second, third, etc.) may be arranged to generally face the same direction. For example, one or more of the light source assemblies 120 may be arranged to generally face the inlet 106 (e.g., emitting UV light toward the inlet 106), or the light source assemblies 120 may be arranged to generally face the outlet 108. In other embodiments, one or more of the light source assemblies 120 may be arranged to face opposite directions. For example, the first light source assembly 120a may generally face the inlet 106, and the second light source assembly 120b may generally face the outlet 108, and vice versa.

[0027] Continuing to refer to Figure 2, the light source units 122a and 122b are positioned within the processing chamber 110 so as to be immersed in a fluid flowing through the chamber for UV treatment. In other words, the fluid flowing through the processing chamber 110 collides with the light source units 122a and 122b and flows around them. The fluid collides not only with the front light-emitting side of the light source units 122a and 122b, but also with the rear of the light source units 122a and 122b, where a large amount of heat is often generated, and flows around it. Therefore, the fluid being treated can be used to continuously cool the light source units 122a and 122b.

[0028] Figures 1 and 2 show an exemplary fluid treatment system 100 including two light source assemblies 120a and 120b, but the disclosure is not limited to a specific number of light source assemblies, as long as there are enough light source assemblies to sterilize the fluid. The number of light source assemblies 120 may be determined based on the flow rate and / or the level of sterilization. For example, the treatment system 100 may include any suitable number of light source assemblies for sterilizing the fluid, for example, at least one, at least two or at least three light source assemblies, up to 20 light source assemblies, up to 10 light source assemblies or up to 5 light source assemblies.

[0029] The fluid processing system 100 may further include a flow sensor 114 for measuring the flow rate of the fluid flowing through the processing chamber 110. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the flow sensor 114 may be integrated into the outlet 108. Alternatively, the flow sensor 114 may be integrated into the inlet 106 or inside the processing chamber 110. The flow rate may be used to adjust the power of the UV LED in proportion to the flow rate. For example, if the flow rate is low or there is no flow rate, the power to the UV LED 124 may be turned off or reduced to a low idle power. This may include, for example, switching to pulse width modulation at the idle output.

[0030] Figures 3A and 3B show an example of detachably connecting the light source assembly 120 to the reactor 102. Figure 3A shows the light source assembly 120 in an open state, not connected to the reactor 102, and Figure 3B shows the light source assembly 120 in a closed state, connected to the reactor 102. In Figure 3A, the light source assembly 120 is either connected to or detached from the reactor 102. As shown in Figure 3A, the light source unit 122 can be detachably connected to the reactor 102 by inserting it into the processing chamber 110 through the opening of the port 112 of the reactor 102 in a direction lateral to the longitudinal axis L (e.g., in the Z direction), and connecting the cap 138 to the port 112 of the reactor 102. Similarly, the light source assembly 120 can be removed from the reactor 102 by removing the cap 138 from the port 112 and removing the light source unit 122 from the reactor 102's processing chamber 110 in a lateral direction (e.g., Z direction) relative to the longitudinal axis L. As shown in Figure 3B, the cap 138 is connected to the lateral port 112 of the reactor 102 to detachably connect the light source assembly 120 to the reactor 102. The light source assembly may include sealing elements such as an O-ring or gasket (e.g., 136 in Figure 5B) to form a watertight seal between the light source assembly and the lateral port 112. The light source assembly may also include sealing elements to form a watertight seal between the light source assembly and the port of the processing chamber 110.

[0031] In Figures 3A and 3B, the light source unit 122 is inserted into and removed from the processing chamber 110 along the Z direction, which crosses the longitudinal axis L of the processing chamber 110 (for example, at an angle of about 90 degrees). However, the disclosure is not limited to this arrangement, and the light source unit 122 may be inserted into and removed from the processing chamber 110 by movement along any suitable angle direction, such as 20° to 160°, 30° to 150°, or 45° to 135°, with respect to the longitudinal axis L of the processing chamber 110.

[0032] During use, the light source unit 122 of the light source assembly 120 may periodically become contaminated with foreign matter, which may impair its ability to transmit UV radiation to the fluid. When the contamination reaches a certain level, the light source unit 122 can be cleaned to remove the fouling material and optimize the system. By positioning the light source assembly 120 so as to be insertable and removable laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis L of the processing chamber 110, the light source assembly 120 can be easily removed from the reactor 102 without disturbing the piping connections for cleaning to remove fouling material from the light source unit 122, or for other routine maintenance, service, or replacement. This is particularly advantageous when the system is installed in existing household plumbing where space is limited.

[0033] Referring to Figure 4, the reactor 102 may have a substantially cylindrical body defined by an outer wall 104. For example, the reactor 102 may have a circular cross-sectional shape, as shown in Figure 4. However, the disclosure is not limited to any particular cross-sectional shape, and the reactor 102 may have various other cross-sectional shapes, such as elliptical, polygonal shapes including squares or rectangles, or semicircular shapes. In the case of a residential system, the reactor 102 may have a length in the range of 100 mm to 1,000 mm, 200 mm to 500 mm, or 240 mm to 350 mm in the direction along the longitudinal axis L from the inlet 106 to the outlet 108. The processing chamber 110 of the reactor 102 may have a diameter or width dimension in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L, in the range of 25 mm to 250 mm, 50 mm to 200 mm, or 75 mm to 150 mm. The processing chamber and the reactor may be the same article, or the processing chamber may be a separate chamber within the reactor.

[0034] As described above, the reactor 102 includes first and second lateral ports 112a, 112b, which include openings formed in the outer wall 104 to receive first and second light source assemblies 120a, 120b. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and it may have any number of ports corresponding to the number of light source assemblies. For example, the reactor 102 may include at least one, at least two or at least three ports 112, and may include up to 20, up to 10 or up to 5 ports 112. The ports 112a, 112b may include female or male threads 113a, 113b designed to screw-in engage with the threads 137 (shown in Figure 5B) of the cap 138 of the light source assembly 120. Alternatively, the ports 112a, 112b may include any other connection mechanisms suitable for detachably connecting to the light source assemblies 120a, 120b.

[0035] Figures 5A and 5B show perspective views of an exemplary light source assembly 120, Figure 6 shows a perspective view of an exemplary light source unit 122 including an array of multiple UV LEDs 124, and Figure 7 shows an exploded view of the light source unit 122. The light source unit 122 of assembly 120 has a disc shape. For example, the light source unit may have a pack-like shape. However, this disclosure is not limited to any particular shape, and the light source unit 122 may have any suitable shape, including but not limited to cylindrical, conical, frustoconical, cubic, rectangular, etc. For example, the light source unit 122 may have a circular cross-sectional shape, as shown in Figures 5A, 5B and 6. However, this disclosure is not limited to any particular cross-sectional shape, and the light source unit 122 may have various other cross-sectional shapes, such as elliptical, polygonal shapes including squares or rectangles, semicircular shapes, etc. Regardless of their shape, the light source units 122a and 122b can be sized relative to the processing chamber 110 to allow sufficient fluid flow within the reactor 102 so that the fluid is processed efficiently. In this regard, the cross-sectional area of ​​one of the light source units 122a on a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L may be 25% to 60% of the cross-sectional area of ​​the processing chamber 110, or 35% to 45% of the cross-sectional area of ​​the processing chamber 110. The light source assembly may include optical elements to optimize the distribution of light reaching the fluid. These elements may include a window 132 with a curved surface, individual lenses or lens assemblies associated with each LED light source, parabolic or other curved reflectors associated with each LED light source, and parabolic or other curved reflectors associated with the entire LED assembly.

[0036] The light source unit 122 may include a thickness dimension oriented along the longitudinal axis L of the processing chamber 110 within the processing chamber 110, and a width dimension oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the processing chamber 110 within the processing chamber 110. The maximum width dimension of the light source unit 122 may be at least twice the maximum thickness dimension of the light source unit 122. The maximum width dimension of the light source unit 122 may be 2 to 20 times, 3 to 15 times, or 5 to 10 times the maximum thickness dimension of the light source unit 122. For example, if the light source unit 122 is cylindrical and has a circular cross-sectional shape, the width dimension may correspond to the diameter of the light source unit 122, and the thickness dimension may correspond to the length of the cylindrical light source unit 122 oriented along the longitudinal axis of the processing chamber 110 within the processing chamber 110 and perpendicular to the diameter of the light source unit 122.

[0037] The light source unit 122 includes a housing 130 in which an array of UV LEDs 124 is arranged. The housing 130 may be made at least partially of a thermally conductive material such as stainless steel, aluminum, copper, or an alloy thereof, in order to facilitate heat dissipation from the light source unit 122 to the fluid being processed in the chamber 110. For example, at least the back of the housing 130 opposite the light-emitting side may be made of a thermally conductive material in order to facilitate heat dissipation from the light source unit 122 to, for example, the fluid being processed.

[0038] The housing 130 may define the shape of the light source unit 122. For example, the housing 130 may have a disc shape, such as a pack-like shape. However, this disclosure is not limited to any particular shape, and the housing 130 may have any suitable shape, including but not limited to cylindrical, conical, frustoconical, cubic, rectangular, etc. For example, the housing 130 may have a circular cross-sectional shape, as shown in Figures 5A, 5B, and 6. However, this disclosure is not limited to any particular cross-sectional shape, and the housing 130 may have various other cross-sectional shapes, such as elliptical, polygonal shapes including squares or rectangles, semicircular shapes, etc. The faces and sides opposite the windows are depicted as flat surfaces, but may be shaped to optimize fluid flow by incorporating curves, baffles, protrusions, or other features. Similarly, the support posts 146 may be rectangular, elliptical, or round (e.g., circular) in cross-section.

[0039] The housing 130 may include a thickness dimension oriented along the longitudinal axis L of the processing chamber 110 within the processing chamber 110, and a width dimension oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the processing chamber 110 within the processing chamber 110. The maximum width dimension of the housing 130 may be at least twice the maximum thickness dimension of the housing 130. The maximum width dimension of the housing 130 may be 2 to 20 times, 3 to 15 times, or 5 to 10 times the maximum thickness dimension of the housing 130. For example, if the housing 130 is cylindrical and has a circular cross-sectional shape, the width dimension may correspond to the diameter of the housing 130, and the thickness dimension may correspond to the length of the cylindrical housing 130 oriented along the longitudinal axis of the processing chamber 110 within the processing chamber 110 and perpendicular to the diameter of the housing 130.

[0040] The UV-transmitting window 132 may be positioned on the other side (i.e., the light-emitting side) of the housing 130 so as to cover the UV LED 124. The UV LED 124 is positioned to emit UV radiation through the UV-transmitting window 132. The window 132 may be made of any material that transmits UV radiation well, such as quartz or quartz glass. The UV-transmitting window 132 may be machined and have a substantially flat surface, or it may have a curved surface. The plane of the UV-transmitting window 132 may be parallel to the width dimension of the light source unit 122 and the housing 130. The window may be sealed to prevent fluid from entering the light source unit 122. For example, as shown in Figure 7, the window 132 may be secured to the housing by a cap 131 or other sealing material. The cap 131 may screw into a male thread of the housing 130 to secure the window 132 to the array of UV LEDs 124 arranged inside the housing 130. Alternatively, the cap 131 may be connected to the housing 130 by another suitable connection mechanism, such as snap-fitting into a groove in the housing 130. One or more O-rings 134 may be used to seal the window 132 to the body of the housing 130. A second O-ring or flat ring 135 may be incorporated to act as a buffer between the window 132 and the cap 131 or housing 130. For example, one or more of the O-rings 134, 135 may be made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). One or both of the O-rings or flat rings 134, 135 may provide cushioning to protect the window 132 from damage caused by pressure within the processing chamber 110.

[0041] The UV LEDs 124 are mounted and electrically connected to a circuit board 128, such as a printed circuit board (PCB) or a metal-core printed circuit board (MCPCB), located in the housing 130 on the opposite side of the window 132. The circuit board 128 may be embedded within the housing 130. The plane of the circuit board 128 may be oriented parallel to the width dimension of the light source unit 122 and the housing 130. The UV LEDs 124 may be arranged on the circuit board 128 in any suitable pattern. The number of UV LEDs 124 arranged in the light source unit 122 may be determined based on the flow rate and / or sterilization level. In one example, the light source unit 122 may contain a number of UV LEDs 124 in the range of 5 to 100, 15 to 50, or 10 to 30.

[0042] The circuit board 128 may include a metal backing or metal core made of a thermally conductive material such as copper, aluminum, or their alloys to facilitate heat conduction from the light source unit 122. For example, heat generated by the light source unit 122 can be dissipated to the fluid being processed in the processing chamber 110 through the thermally conductive backing or core and the thermally conductive housing 130. The thermally conductive backing on the circuit board 128 may be in direct contact with the thermally conductive backing of the housing 130 to facilitate heat dissipation into the fluid. Alternatively, thermally conductive paste, pads, or solder may be used to conduct heat from the circuit board 128 to the housing 130.

[0043] The light source unit 122 may be positioned within the processing chamber 110 such that the UV-transmitting window 132, the array of LEDs 124, the circuit board 128, and the back (non-radiating side) of the housing 130 are stacked in this order along the direction of the thickness dimension of the light source unit 122 that extends along the longitudinal axis L of the processing chamber 110.

[0044] The processing chamber 110 and / or the light source unit 122 may optionally include a UV reflector to facilitate the irradiation of UV light onto the fluid flowing through the chamber 110. For example, the UV reflector may be made of a well-reflective material such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), aluminum, or stainless steel. The UV reflector may be provided as a coating applied to the inner surface of the processing chamber 110, or, for example, on the polished inner surface of the chamber 110 if the chamber walls are made of a reflective material. Alternatively or additionally, the UV reflector may be provided within the light source unit 122, for example, as a parabolic reflector or reflective coating material provided on a circuit board 128.

[0045] The light source unit 122 may further include one or more sensors. The sensors may be mounted on the circuit board 128 and electrically coupled, or otherwise provided within the light source unit 122, or may include their own circuit board. For example, as shown in Figure 5A, the light source unit 122 may include a UV light intensity sensor 126. The intensity sensor 126 may be located at the center of the light source unit 122, such as at the center of the circuit board 128, or at any other suitable location within or on the light source unit 122 or on the circuit board 128, as shown in Figure 5A. The intensity sensor 126 may be designed to measure the intensity of UV light incident thereon. For example, the intensity sensor 126 can measure the intensity of UV light emitted by an opposing light source unit, or the intensity of UV light emitted by a light source unit (self-light source unit) in which the sensor is located, through lateral radiation or reflected light from the window 132, or through light reflected by the processing chamber. The intensity sensor 126 may be, for example, an intensity sensor chip, a photodiode, a photodetector, a photoresistor, a UV phototube, or any other suitable sensor for measuring the intensity of UV light.

[0046] Intensity measurement can be used to evaluate and monitor the health of the light source unit 122. LEDs degrade over time, and monitoring the intensity of the light emitted by the LED 124 helps to assess how the LED degrades. Additionally, the UV sensor 126 can be used to monitor for contamination of the light source unit 122 to determine whether the light source unit 122 needs to be cleaned. As mentioned above, during use, the light source unit 122 will periodically become contaminated with foreign matter, which can interfere with its ability to transmit UV radiation to the fluid and cause a decrease in intensity. Therefore, the intensity sensor 126 can be used to determine whether the light source unit 122 needs to be removed for cleaning or other repairs. If the sensor 126 detects a decrease in intensity, the system may output a notification in the form of sound, light, or other error message indicating that the light source unit 122 requires repair or cleaning.

[0047] For example, referring to Figure 2, in order to determine the health or condition of light source units 122a and 122b, the intensity sensor 126 in the first light source unit 122a may measure the intensity of light emitted by the second light source unit 122b in order to evaluate the health of the second light source unit 122b or to determine whether the second light source unit 122b should be cleaned or repaired while the first light source unit 122a is temporarily turned off. Then, the second light source unit 122b may be temporarily turned off, and the intensity sensor 126 in the second light source unit 122b may measure the intensity of light emitted by the first light source unit 122a in order to evaluate the health of the first light source unit 122a and / or to determine whether the first light source unit 122a should be cleaned or repaired. Additionally, the intensity sensor 126 can monitor the health and condition of the light source unit 122 (self-light source unit) in which the sensor 126 is located by temporarily turning off other light source units and measuring the light intensity of the self-light source unit 122 through lateral radiation from the LED 124 or reflected light from the window 132 of the self-light source unit 122.

[0048] By placing the intensity sensor 126 inside or on top of at least one of the light source units 122a, 122b, it becomes unnecessary to provide a separate sensor module, including a housing, dedicated window, seal, and electrical components for the sensor 126, which could increase cost and reliability issues. Alternatively, the sensor 126 can be sealed within the light source unit 122 and electrically connected to the same circuit board 128 as the UV LED 124.

[0049] The light source unit 122 may include any other suitable sensor in place of or in addition to the intensity sensor 126, or the light source unit 122 may not include any such sensor. For example, as shown in Figure 5A, the light source unit 122 may include a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the light source unit 122. In Figure 5A, the temperature sensor 127 is mounted on the circuit board 128 near the intensity sensor 126, but the disclosure is not limited to this arrangement, and the temperature sensor 127 may be mounted anywhere on the circuit board 128 or otherwise provided within the light source unit 122. The temperature sensor 127 may be located in the center of the light source unit 122 where it is likely to become the hottest during use. The temperature sensor 127 may be a thermistor or thermocouple, or any other sensor suitable for sensing the temperature within the light source unit 122. The temperature sensor 127 may be used to determine whether or not fluid is flowing through the chamber 110. For example, as fluid flows through the chamber 110, the light source unit 122 is cooled by the flowing fluid, so the temperature of the light source unit 122 may decrease accordingly as the fluid flows through the chamber 110. A temperature sensor 127 may be used to monitor the status of the flow sensor 114. For example, if the temperature sensor 127 measures a temperature change indicating fluid flow, but the flow sensor 114 does not detect flow, this may indicate that the flow sensor 114 is not functioning correctly. In such a case, the flow rate can be determined from the temperature change of the light source unit 122 and the temperature of the water, and the determined flow rate may be used temporarily to adjust the power to the UV LED 124 instead of shutting down the system. The light source may also include a humidity sensor, which may be used to detect leaks.

[0050] The circuit board 128 may further include a connector 142, such as a multi-pin connector, for electrically connecting the circuit board 128 to a power supply. For example, the connector may be connected to one end of a ribbon cable 140 (shown in Figure 5B). As will be described in more detail below, the ribbon cable 140 extends outside the light source unit 122. For example, the other end of the ribbon cable 140 may be connected to a circuit board 148 located inside the cap 138.

[0051] As described above, the light source assembly 120 also includes a cap 138 for connecting the assembly to the reactor 102. The light source unit 122 is mounted on a mounting arm 146 extending from the cap 138. A ribbon cable 140 can be arranged to extend from a connector 142 through an internal channel of the mounting arm 146 into the inside of the cap 138, where it connects to a connector 144 provided on the circuit board 148. The circuit board 148 inside the cap 138 can be connected to a power supply. For example, referring to Figure 8, the internal circuit boards 128 of each of the light source assemblies 120a and 120b are electrically connected to a power supply via cables 121a and 121b.

[0052] The cap 138 further includes a screw 137 for connecting to a lateral port 112 of the reactor 102. For example, the screw 137 of the cap 138 may be designed to screw-engage with a screw 113 provided on the lateral port 112 of the reactor 102. However, the disclosure is not limited to screw connections, and any other suitable connection mechanism may be used.

[0053] Referring to Figure 8, the fluid processing system 100 may further include a controller 150 connected to a power source such as a power grid via a plug 151. The controller 150 may be configured to control the transmission of power to the system 100. For example, the controller 150 can transmit power from the power grid to each of the light source assemblies 120a and 120b via cables 121a and 121b to power the arrays of LEDs 124a and 124b housed within the light source assemblies 120a and 120b, and to sensors such as an intensity sensor 126 or a temperature sensor 127. Similarly, the controller 150 can transmit power from the power grid to a flow sensor 114 via cable 116.

[0054] The controller 150 may be configured to control the functions of the system 100 based on measurements received from one or more sensors, including, for example, a flow sensor 114, an intensity sensor 126, and a temperature sensor 127, in accordance with the methods described above. For example, the controller 150 may control the flow sensor 114 to periodically measure the flow rate of the fluid flowing through the processing chamber 110. The flow sensor 114 can transmit the measured flow rate to the controller 150. The controller 150 may use the measured flow rate to adjust the power supplied to the light source assemblies 120a and 120b.

[0055] The controller 150 may also periodically control the system 100 to assess the health and / or contamination of the light source units 122a, 122b by measuring the intensity of UV light using one or more intensity sensors 126 within the light source units 122a, 122b, in accordance with the method described above. The intensity sensors 126 can transmit the measured intensity to the controller 150. If it is determined that one or more of the light source units 122a, 122b are malfunctioning or require service or maintenance, including cleaning to remove fouling material, the controller 150 may output a notification, such as sound, light, or other notification, in accordance with the method described above.

[0056] The controller 150 includes hardware, such as circuits for processing digital signals and circuits for processing analog signals. The controller 150 may include, for example, one or more circuit devices (e.g., ICs) or one or more circuit elements (e.g., resistors, capacitors) on a circuit board. The controller 150 may be a central processing unit (CPU) or any other suitable processor. The controller 150 may be a dedicated or general-purpose computer or processing system, or part thereof. One or more controllers, processors, or processing units, memory, and a bus that operably connects various components, including memory, to the controller may be used. The controller 150 may include modules that perform the methods described herein. Modules may be programmed into the integrated circuits of a processor or loaded from memory, storage devices, networks, or a combination thereof. For example, the controller 150 can execute instructions of an operating system and other systems, along with software algorithms, machine learning algorithms, computer executable instructions, and processing functions of a fluid processing system.

[0057] The controller 150 may be operable with a number of other general-purpose or dedicated computing system environments or configurations. Examples of well-known computing systems, environments and / or configurations suitable for use with the disclosed embodiments may include, but are not limited to, personal computer systems, server computer systems, thin clients, thick clients, portable devices such as tablets and mobile devices, laptop devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems, set-top boxes, programmable home electronic devices, network PCs, minicomputer systems, mainframe computer systems, and distributed cloud computing environments including any of the above systems or devices.

[0058] This disclosure further relates to a non-temporary computer-readable storage medium configured to store a computer-executable program that causes a computer to perform functions such as those for carrying out the disclosed method. The computer-readable storage medium may further store real-time data collected by the controller 150 and computer-executable instructions. The storage medium may include memory and / or any other storage device. Memory may be, for example, computer random access memory (RAM). Memory may be semiconductor memory such as SRAM and DRAM. Storage devices may be, for example, registers, magnetic storage devices such as hard disk drives, optical storage devices such as optical disc drives, internal or external hard drives, servers, solid-state storage devices, CD-ROMs, DVDs, other optical or magnetic disk storage devices, or other storage devices.

[0059] While the embodiments disclosed herein have been described in relation to the treatment of water and / or aqueous fluids by UV radiation treatment, this disclosure is not limited to water and aqueous fluids and can be used to treat any fluid, including liquids, vapors, gels, plasmas, and gases. Similarly, this disclosure is not limited to residential UV treatment systems and can be applied to industrial, municipal, and commercial systems.

[0060] It will be understood that the features and functions disclosed above, or alternatives thereof, may be desirablely combined with different systems and methods. Furthermore, various alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements may subsequently be made by those skilled in the art, and these are intended to be included in the disclosed embodiments. Thus, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A fluid processing system for processing fluids with ultraviolet (UV) radiation, A reactor comprising a processing chamber including an inlet into which the fluid enters the processing chamber and an outlet out which the fluid exits the processing chamber, wherein the fluid is configured to flow within the processing chamber from the inlet to the outlet, generally along the longitudinal axis of the processing chamber, A light source assembly comprising at least one light source unit including an array of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) configured to emit UV radiation into the processing chamber for processing the fluid, which is detachably connected to the reactor so as to be insertable into the processing chamber in a direction laterally to the longitudinal axis, A fluid processing system equipped with the following features.

2. The fluid processing system according to claim 1, wherein the array of LEDs is arranged in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the processing chamber.

3. The fluid processing system according to claim 1, wherein the array of LEDs is arranged in a plane perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow through the processing chamber.

4. The fluid processing system according to claim 1, wherein the light source unit of the at least one light source assembly is located within the processing chamber so as to be immersed in the fluid flowing through the processing chamber.

5. The fluid processing system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one light source assembly is configured to be mounted from the processing chamber through an opening in the outer wall of the reactor in a direction laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis.

6. The at least one light source assembly is A first light source assembly including a first light source unit disposed within the processing chamber, A second light source assembly including a second light source unit disposed within the processing chamber, The fluid processing system according to claim 1, including the following:

7. The fluid processing system according to claim 6, wherein the first light source unit and the second light source unit are configured to emit UV radiation toward each other along the longitudinal axis of the processing chamber.

8. The fluid processing system according to claim 6, wherein the first light source unit and the second light source unit are configured to emit UV radiation in the same direction along the longitudinal axis of the processing chamber.

9. The fluid processing system according to claim 1, wherein the light source unit of the at least one light source assembly includes a housing, and the array of LEDs is mounted on a circuit board within the housing.

10. The fluid processing system according to claim 9, wherein the housing is made of a thermally conductive material.

11. The fluid processing system according to claim 10, wherein the housing comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, aluminum, copper, and alloys thereof.

12. The fluid processing system according to claim 9, wherein the housing includes a UV-transmitting window positioned to cover the array of LEDs, and the array of LEDs is configured to emit UV radiation through the UV-transmitting window.

13. The fluid processing system according to claim 9, wherein the housing includes a thickness dimension oriented along the longitudinal axis of the processing chamber within the processing chamber and a width dimension oriented laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the processing chamber within the processing chamber, the maximum width dimension of the housing being at least twice the maximum thickness dimension of the housing.

14. The fluid processing system according to claim 1, wherein the light source unit of the at least one light source assembly has a disc shape.

15. The fluid processing system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one light source assembly further includes a cap movably connected to a lateral port formed in the outer wall of the reactor, and the light source unit is attached to the end of a mounting arm extending from the cap into the processing chamber.

16. The fluid processing system according to claim 1, wherein the light source unit of the at least one light source assembly is concentric with the processing chamber.

17. The fluid processing system according to claim 1, wherein the light source unit further includes an intensity sensor configured to measure the intensity of incident UV radiation.

18. The fluid processing system according to claim 1, wherein the light source unit of the at least one light source assembly further includes a temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature of the light source unit.

19. The fluid processing system according to claim 1, configured to be installed inline in a pipe at the water inlet point from the water source.

20. A method for assembling a fluid processing system according to claim 1, Inserting the light source unit of the at least one light source assembly into the processing chamber in a direction laterally to the longitudinal axis of the processing chamber, Connecting the at least one light source assembly to the reactor, A method that includes this.

21. A method for disassembling a fluid processing system according to claim 1, Removing at least one of the light source assemblies from the reactor, The light source unit is moved laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis from the processing chamber of the reactor through an opening in the outer wall of the reactor, A method that includes this.

22. A method for treating a fluid with UV radiation using the fluid treatment system described in claim 1, Introducing fluid into the processing chamber of the reactor through the aforementioned inlet, The fluid flowing through the processing chamber is irradiated with the UV radiation emitted by the light source unit of the at least one light source assembly, A method that includes this.

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