United States Patent M

United States Patent m
Hillman
[54] ULTRAVIOLET METHOD FOR
DISINFECTION AND STERILIZATION OF FLUIDS
[76] Inventor: Leon Hillman, 141 Pine Ter., Demarest, N.J. 07626
[21] Appl. No.: 141,558
[22] Filed:
Apr. 18,1980
[51] Int. C1.3..................;.............................A61L 2/10
[52] U.S. CI.................................... 422/24; 23/230 A;
250/429; 250/430; 250/435; 250/436; 250/437;
422/111; 422/28
[58] Field of Search........................... 422/24, 111, 28;
23/230 A; 250/428, 429, 430, 435, 436, 437
[56]
References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
1,150,117 8/1915 Henri et al.......................... 250/430
3,182,193 5/1965 Ellner et al.......................422/24 X
3,566,105 2/1971 Wihrost et al..................250/430 X
3,837,800 9/1974 Wood....................................422/24
3,948,772 4/1976 Ellner ............................... 422/24 X
4,179,616 12/1979 Coviello et al................. 250/429 X
[21] Appl. No.: 141,558
[22] Filed:
Apr. 18,1980
[51] Int. C1.3..................;.............................A61L 2/10
[52] U.S. CI.................................... 422/24; 23/230 A;
250/429; 250/430; 250/435; 250/436; 250/437;
422/111; 422/28
[58] Field of Search........................... 422/24, 111, 28;
23/230 A; 250/428, 429, 430, 435, 436, 437
[56]
References Cited
1,150,117 8/1915 Henri et al.......................... 250/430
3,182,193 5/1965 Ellner et al.......................422/24 X
3,566,105 2/1971 Wihrost et al..................250/430 X
3,837,800 9/1974 Wood....................................422/24
3,948,772 4/1976 Ellner ............................... 422/24 X
4,179,616 12/1979 Coviello et al................. 250/429 X
ULTRAVIOLET METHOD FOR DISINFECTION AND STERILIZATION OF FLUIDS
This invention relates to the disinfection and sterilization of fluids and more specifically to a novel and improved method and
apparatus for the disinfection and sterilization of fluids utilizing ultraviolet radiation devices which extends the life of such
devices, conserves energy and at the same time insures reliable and uniform treatment of the fluids at all times. The invention
further contemplates the utilization of controlled chemical treatment in combination with ultraviolet radiation which results in
operating efficiencies far in excess of either procedure alone.
The effectiveness of ultraviolet radiation in the sterilization of fluids is well known and a wide variety of systems have been
developed for the sterilization of water for both commercial and residential applications. Known ultraviolet sterilization systems
are generally of the brute force type limited to specific operating range limits of turbidity, flow rate, temperature and the like to
provide ultraviolet exposure considered to be sufficient to insure desired sterilization for at least the major portion of the
ultraviolet lamp life. Since the radiation intensity of the ultraviolet lamps decreases with use, known systems are generally
designed for proper sterilization near the end of the lamp life with the result that excess operating energy is used when the lamps
are new. Furthermore, known systems are designed for specific ranges of turbidity and flow rates to insure satisfactory operation
and unexpected changes will result either in failure to properly sterilize or in the use of excessive energy.
The control system in accordance with the invention becomes increasingly important from the standpoint of both reliability and
economy in the treatment of lower quality and larger quantities of water. With this invention, lamp life as compared with brute
force systems is greatly increased and at the same time substantial reductions in energy requirements are effected. At the same
time, great reliability is insured since the required energy (radiation intensity and time of exposure) is imparted to the liquid at all
times. Accordingly, this invention has as one of its objects the provision of a novel and improved method and apparatus for the
sterilization of fluids which not only insures proper sterilization but also attains that end by controlling lamp power, waveform
and starting conditions and modifying lamp power or intensity in accordance with physical conditions, such as flow rate,
temperature, turbidity and the like of the fluid. In this way, the apparatus will provide the threshold of energy necessary for the
destruction of selected undesirable organisms and viruses over a wide range of fluid characteristics and operating conditions. At
the same time, the entire operation can be terminated substantially instantaneously should the ultraviolet radiation source or
sources be incapable of imparting the required energy to the fluid.
Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel and improved method and apparatus for the sterilization of
fluids which not only greatly increases lamp life while affording the ultraviolet energy for the destruction of microorganisms but
in instances wherein fluid flow and quality vary over wide limits the conservation of energy through the use of this invention can
be a more economical substitute for chemical disin-fection treatments than known ultraviolet sterilization methods and apparatus.
Still another object of the invention resides in a novel and improved method and apparatus for the sterilization
5 of fluids and particularly liquids which affords not only increased lamp life but a substantial saving in energy by a continuous
modulated control of the energy threshold and exposure as the fluid characteristics, such as flow, turbidity and other conditions
change.
10 Still another object of the invention resides in a novel and improved method and apparatus for the sterilization of fluids
wherein the ultraviolet energy imparted to the fluid and/or the rate of flow of the fluid can be controlled to insure proper
sterilization. For instance, in15 stead of maintaining uniform flow and modifying the energy imparted to the fluid in accordance with changes in the
characteristics of the fluid, the ultraviolet lamps can be operated at maximum intensity and the flow can be controlled to insure
proper sterilization.
20 A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a method and apparatus for the disinfection and sterilization
utilizing the combined effects of both chemical and ultraviolet systems. With the novel and improved control system in
accordance with the inven25 tion, measured quantities of a suitable chemical such as chlorine can be introduced into the liquid depending on the liquid
characteristics and flow. With this arrangement, disinfection by the chemical continues beyond the ultraviolet treatment and the
combined cost of the
30 chemical and electrical energy is substantially less than the cost of either system alone. In many applications, the resultant cost
can be less than 20 to 25 percent of the cost of either system. Thus, not only is considerable economy realized by this synergistic
effect but residual
35 chlorine can be maintained within tolerable limits.
The invention comprises a novel and improved ultraviolet sterilization system for sterilization of fluids embodying ultraviolet
generating means capable of producing a desired energy threshold and exposure for said
40 fluids under adverse conditions of fluid quality throughout the life of the lamps, means for continuously monitoring at least
selected characteristics of the fluid and radiant energy emitted from the generating means, means for modifying the magnitude of
ultraviolet radia45 tion in accordance with the monitored characteristics to provide the desired energy threshold and exposure to effect
sterilization and controlling the characteristics of the energy supply to the generating means to maximize further the life of the
generating means. The invention
50 further provides a system for controlling fluid flow in accordance with changes in fluid characteristics while maintaining
ultraviolet energy at a maximum or in the alternative modifying fluid flow if the ultraviolet intensity and exposure time is
insufficient to achieve proper
55 sterilization. Means are also provided for controlling the admission of a disinfecting chemical to the liquid in accordance with
liquid characteristics while at the same time sterilizing the liquid with controlled ultraviolet radiation.
60 The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description and
accompanying drawings forming part of this invention.
IN THE DRAWINGS
65
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the apparatus for the sterilization of fluids utilizing ultraviolet radiation; FIG.
2 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of FIG. 2 with the housing wall removed;
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 3 taken along 5 the line 44 thereof;
FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 2 taken along the line 55 thereof;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the structure shown in FIG. 2 with sections taken along the lines 66, 66 10 thereof;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary end view of FIG. 2 taken in the direction of arrow 7; and
FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating the circuitry for controlling the intensity of the radiation produced by 15 the ultraviolet
radiation sources.
FIG. 9 graphically represents a typical example of the power demand required to meet variations normally experienced in the
ultraviolet sterilization of liquids.
The effectiveness of ultraviolet radiation for the ster- 20 ilization of fluids and particularly water has been recognized for many
years. Known devices utilizing ultraviolet radiation embody appropriate means for the circulation of the liquid in close proximity
to ultraviolet lamps in order to expose all of the liquid to the radiation and 25 at the same time provide the desired exposure to
effect the destruction of micro-organisms. The design concept of such systems, however, involved the determination of the
radiation intensity of the lamps at or near the end of the lamp life and sufficient lamps were provided to 30 obtain the necessary
exposure time to effect the desired sterilization. Under those conditions, new lamps therefore afforded radiation intensities far in
excess of that required to effect the desired sterilization. Such procedures while being generally satisfactory for use with 35
liquids having known physical and chemical characteristics are not reliable under conditions wherein the characteristics of the
liquid are subject to variations. Moreover, even under conditions wherein some control is exercised over the characteristics of the
liquid, insuffi- 40 cient radiation may, nevertheless, be experienced particularly toward the end of the normal lamp life. To
compensate for such deficiencies in known systems, efforts have been made to insure the provision of radiation intensities and
exposure far in excess of that which 45 would be normally required to effect the desired ends. The efficiencies of known systems,
therefore, are not only poor as far as energy consumption is concerned but operation of the lamps at maximum intensity at all
times also materially shortens the life of the lamps. Moreover, 50 known systems do not provide for unexpected variations of
water characteristics, flow rate and the like and should the ultraviolet lamps be nearing the end of their normal life and if water
turbidity for instance should change materially, it is most likely that proper steriliza- 55 tion will not be effected. With this
invention, however, effective sterilization is insured notwithstanding changes in the water even though they may vary
over wide ranges within design limits that may be selected. Should such variations exceed design limits, an alarm 60 can be
provided and termination of the process effected. With the method and apparatus according to the invention, sterilization can be
attained at a cost competitive with and often far less than chemical treatment.
It is well recognized that a wide variety of structures 65 may be employed for the purpose of subjecting fluids and specifically
water to ultraviolet radiation for the purpose of sterilization. One such structure, as illus-trated in the drawings, provides for the
flow of water lengthwise of elongated ultraviolet radiating lamps though it is evident that the water can be directed transversely
of the lamps, so called laminar flow, and that other lamp configurations may be employed.
Referring now to the drawings and more specifically to FIGS. 1 through 7, the illustrated embodiment of the invention includes a
housing 10 containing the ultraviolet sterilizing apparatus generally denoted by the numeral 11. The apparatus 11 is shown and
illustrated in diagrammatic form in FIG. 1 while in the remaining figures details of the structure are illustrated. Referring to FIG.
1, a water inlet conduit 12 is connected to one side of the header 13. The water then flows to the right through tubes 14 and 15
into the header 18 thence through tubes 16 and 17 for return to the header 13 and discharge through the outlet conduit 19. The
inlet conduit 12 includes a plurality of sensors to determine certain physical characteristics of the liquid to be treated. In the
instant embodiment of the invention, the temperature sensor 20 having leads 20a extending therefrom records the temperature of
the liquid in the inlet. This sensor is followed by a turbidity sensor consisting of a suitable light source 21 having leads 21a
extending therefrom for energizing the light source and a photoelectric sensor 22 having leads 22a extending therefrom. The flow
detector is denoted by the numeral 23 having leads 23a and the conductivity detector is denoted by the numeral 24 having leads
24a extending therefrom. These measurements made by the sensors are utilized, as will be discussed in connection with FIG. 8, to
effect in combination with other measurements, the operation of the ultraviolet radiation sources.
Referring more specifically to FIGS. 2 through 7, the headers 13 and 18 are essentially of rectangular configuration with the
header 13 having longitudinal bores 25 and 25' extending inwardly from opposing ends to points spaced from the center to
provide a central barrier 25a. The face 27 of the header 13 has four openings each denoted by the numeral 28 for frictionally
receiving one end of each of the tubes 14 through 17. A suitable sealing compound may be employed to insure water tight joints.
Similarly, the face 29 of the header 18 has a plurality of corresponding openings 30 to receive the opposing ends of the tubes 14
through 17 in like manner. The headers 13 and 18 with the tubes 14 through 17 disposed therebetween are then held in position
by a plurality of bolts 31 as viewed more clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3.
Tubular elements formed of quartz or other suitable radiation transparent material and denoted by the numeral 32 extend through
each of the tubes 14 through 17 and through cooperating openings 33 in the wall 34 of the header 13 and similarly through
openings 35 in the wall 36 of the header 18. It will be observed that the tubes 32 protrude slightly beyond the walls 34 and 36 of
the headers 13 and 18 and are held in position by annular caps 37 and 38. Each tubular element 32 is sealed by an O-ring 39 as
illustrated more clearly in FIG. 5. More specifically, each of the caps 37 as well as the caps 38 on the header 18 has an enlarged
opening 40 for slidably receiving the tubular element 32. The remainder of the opening 41 through each cap 37 and 38 is
approximately equal to the inside diameter of the element 32 and the caps 37 each include three or more spacing elements 42 to
center tubular lamps 44 through 47 within openings 41 of the caps 37 by engagement with the lamp ferrals 43 on one end of each
lamp. Since the ferrals 43 on the other end of each lamp are centered by fixedly positioned sockets, as will be described, air can
readily circulate in the space between each lamp and the associated surrounding element 32. Each of the caps 37 and 38 is held in
position by screws 48 as will be observed more 5 clearly in FIG. 7.
As previously mentioned, the ultraviolet radiation sources 44 through 47 are in the form of tubular structures having an elongated
radiation transparent tube 49 carrying tubular ferrals 43 on each end thereof. Cylin- 10 drical terminals 51 extend from each end
of each lamp for engagement with sockets as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In these figures, it will be observed that an elongated
channel member 53 is disposed parallel to the header 18 and carries insulated sockets 54 in spaced relationship to 15 the wall 36
of the header 18. The channel member 53 is held in precisely spaced relationship by a pair of bolts 53'. Each of the sockets 54 is
precisely aligned with the axis of the associated radiation transparent tube 32 so that a lamp inserted from the left side of the
structure as 20 shown in the figures will frictionally engage the associated socket 54 and thus maintain the. lamp in proper
position within the apparatus. Similar sockets 55 individually engage terminals 51 on the left end of the ultraviolet lamps as
illustrated.
25
It is often desirable to control the turbulence of the liquid being treated with apparatus in accordance with the invention though it
is desirable to avoid devices that will function to impede or otherwise resist the flow of the liquid. In the instant embodiment of
the invention, 30 turbulence can be controlled by adjusting the curvatures of the liquid flow path within the headers 13 and 18. In
addition, turbulence can also be controlled by utilizing movable closure elements 56 on each end of the header 18. In this
instance, it will be observed that 35 the closure 56 are sealed to the inner bore of the header 18 by O-rings 57 and suitable means
may be provided for moving the closures 56 inwardly and outwardly of the ends of the header 18. In this way, turbulence can be
controlled without imparting any significant resistance 40 to the flow of the liquid through the apparatus.
FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 7 illustrate additional sensing devices for use in the control of the energy fed to the ultraviolet lamps 44 through
47. It was previously pointed out in connection with FIG. 1 that sensors for 45 measuring liquid, temperature, flow, turbidity and
conductivity played important roles in controlling the intensity of ultraviolet radiation and exposure time in order to insure proper
sterilization of the liquid. In addition to those factors, it is desirable to measure con- 50 tinuously the operating conditions of the
ultraviolet lamps as well as the penetration of the ultraviolet radiation through the liquid surrounding each of the lamps. For
instance, measuring the ultraviolet radiation directly from the lamp surface will provide a continuous 55 indication of the
intensity of the radiant energy while measurement of the ultraviolet radiation at the surface of the liquid through windows in the
liquid conducting tubes 14 through 17 will indicate the degree of absorption of the radiation by the liquid. Insufficient intensity
60 at the surface of the liquid will therefore necessitate either increase in the intensity of the radiation or in the alternative an
increase in the exposure time. The temperature at the surface of each lamp will insure proper operation of the lamps. For instance,
the temperature of 65 a lamp may change with lamp current and if the lamp temperature should increase beyond a known
optimum value, the intensity of the radiation will decrease. Fur-thermore, lamp temperature provides an indication of ambient
temperature conditions which can be adjusted to attain the desired operating temperature for the lamps. Accordingly, lamp
temperature constitutes a significant factor and insures efficient operation of the apparatus.
The sensing devices for lamp temperature, intensity of radiation at the surface of the lamp and intensity of radiation at the surface
of the liquid are shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 7. The sensor for measuring lamp temperature is shown more clearly in FIG. 5 and
comprises a thermistor 58 or other suitable device carried by an L-shaped bracket 59 having one leg 60 secured to the cap 37 by
means of a screw 61 and a second leg 62 extending in the space between the lamp 44 and the surrounding radiation transparent
tube 32. The thermistor 58 is carried at the inner end of the leg 62 and the wires 58' from the thermistor 58 would normally be
carried by the bracket leg 62 and properly insulated therefrom. The bracket 62 is formed of resilient material so that when the
lamp 44 is in place the thermistor 58 will bear tightly against the lamp surface and at the same time the resiliency will permit the
lamp to be readily withdrawn for repair or replacement. Lamp intensity is measured by a suitable photo detector 63 carried within
an opening 64 in manifold 13. If desired, the radiation intensity sensor 63 may include a suitable filter that will pass only a
selected radiation bandwidth found most effective for a selected sterilization process. Any deviation of the lamp from the selected
bandwidth will immediately indicate a loss of radiation and this condition can be rectified by proper adjustment of lamp current
and/or voltage unless of course the lamp is near the end of its life which factor can also be determined by the relationship of lamp
intensity to lamp temperature, current and/or voltage.
The intensity of the radiation at the outer surface of the liquid flowing through the tubes 14 through 17 is measured by a photo
detector 65 mounted on the surface of each of the tubes 14 through 17. For this purpose, each of the tubes is provided with a
window 66 to which the photo detector or other equivalent device is secured. As in the case of the intensity measuring device 63,
the device 65 may also be provided with a suitable filter. In this way, adequate penetration of the liquid by the radiation can be
assured throughout the entire sterilizing process.
As previously mentioned, the effectiveness of ultraviolet radiation in the destruction of micro-organisms and viruses is known. It
is also known that ultraviolet radiation of the order of 2,537 angstroms is the most effective germicidal wavelength and that
ultraviolet energy is generally given in terms of micro-watt seconds per square centimeter. Published information is generally
available indicating the total energy required for the destruction of selected micro-organisms and such energy ranges from as low
as 1,600 micro-watt seconds per square centimeter for 90 percent effectiveness against certain organisms to as much as 440,000
microwatt seconds per square centimeter for other organisms for complete colonization destruction. Utilizing known ultraviolet
sterilizing systems which are essentially all of the brute force type, the inefficiencies are of such great magnitude that ultraviolet
sterilization processes have been restricted by cost effectiveness as compared with known conventional chemical treatments such
as treatment utilizing chlorine. With the instant invention however, the apparatus is not only controlled to provide only that
power necessary to destroy selected micro-organisms but the adjustment can be modified during operation in the event more or
less energy is required for the destruction of the organisms. It has also been found, as previously pointed out, that the life of 5
ultraviolet lamp sources can be more than doubled by controlling both lamp current and voltage to provide only that radiation
intensity necessary for achievement of the objects of the apparatus. With this invention, efficiencies of the order of one hundred
times those 10 attainable with known apparatus can be achieved and in many cases enables ultraviolet sterilization to be economically competitive with chemical processes. The importance of this invention becomes even more evident upon consideration
of the adverse effects of chlo- 15 rine on the human body not to mention taste when chlorine is utilized for sterilization of
drinking water. Chlorine is also being found particularly disadvantageous because of the results of research showing a connection
between cancer and chlorination when com- 20 bined with other chemicals found in water. Further, the cost of chlorine has been
constantly increasing, chlorine control presents serious complications both in metering as well as its deleterious affect on water
handling equipment.
25
FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of one circuit for automatically controlling the intensity of radiation from the ultraviolet radiation
sources in accordance with the invention. It will be observed that a microprocessor 70 is utilized to perform the basic functions of
logic and 30 forms part of the basic control 71 which includes the memory address bus 72, a random access memory (RAM) 73,
a programmable read only memory (PROM) 74, a read only memory (ROM) 75 and a clock 70'. A self contained battery 76 is
used as a constant 35 standby source for the random access memory.
The information pertaining to the characteristics of the fluid being sterilized or disinfected is fed from the sensors 20, 22, 23 and
24 through the leads 20a, 22a, 23a and 24a to the multiplexing gates 77 and represent tem- 40 perature, turbidity, flow and
conductivity respectively. The blocks 44 through 47 represent the measuring devices associated with the four ultraviolet radiation
lamps 44 through 47 and the blocks are denoted by the same numerals utilized to denote the lamps. For in- 45 stance, the lead 58a
coupling the block 44 to the multiplexing gates 77 provides a signal proportional to lamp temperature. The lead 63a provides a
signal proportional to intensity of radiation measured at the surface of the radiation transparent element 32, the lead 65a pro- 50
vides a signal proportional to radiation intensity at the surface of the fluid while the leads 44a and 446 provide signals
proportional to current and voltage respectively in the lamp 44. The signals from the sensors associated with lamps 45 through 47
are similarly denoted by the 55 subscripts b, c and d respectively except for the lamp current and voltage which leads are denoted
by the numerals 45a, 46a, 47a and 456, 466 and 476 respectively.
The multiplex gates 77 feed information to the data 60 bus 78 and through an analog to digital converter 79 to the microprocessor
70. A keyboard 80 and display 81 are connected to the data bus 78 together with an alarm 82. Lamp control information is fed
from the microprocessor 70 through the digital to analog convertor 83 65 to the multiplex gates 84. There is also a coupling between data bus 78 and the microprocessor 70 to provide for the transmission of information to the microprocessor via the
keyboard and for retrieving information for presentation on the digital display 81 and a coupling between the data bus and
multiplex gates 84.
The multiplex gates 84 produce lamp control signals which are fed to control devices 85 through 88 such as Triacs or other
similar devices. AC power is fed to the Triacs 85 through 88 via the leads 89, 90, 91, 92 and 93 and the power outputs from the
Triacs 85 through 88 are fed to ballasts 94 through 97. The ballasts are required for starting the lamps 44 through 47 and maintaining the ionization within each lamp after starting has been completed.
It has been found that the life of ultraviolet lamps is materially affected by the characteristics of the energy utilized for starting
the lamp and maintaining its operation. More specifically, sharp transients in the energy applied to ultraviolet lamps materially
shorten the life of the lamps and accordingly the energy from each ballast 94 through 97 is each fed through an individual filter
98 through 101 for removal of energy peaks. For this purpose, the filters would be either low-pass or band-pass filters which are
tuned to remove all frequencies greater than the frequency of the AC power. The outputs from the filters 98 through 101 are fed
through leads 54a and 55a to the lamp 44, 546 and 556 to the lamp 45, 54c and 55c to the lamp 46 and 54c? and 55^ to the lamp
47. Suitable devices 44a through 47a are interconnected with the leads 55a through 550? to produce current signals which are fed
to the multiplexing gates 77. Similarly, voltage signals are obtained from the filters 98 through 101 via the leads 446 through 476
which are also fed to the multiplexing gates 77. In this way, both voltage and current in the lamps can be controlled as it has been
found that through careful control of both starting and operating voltages and currents as well as maintenance of a proper
waveshape, lamp life can be significantly extended.
It is to be understood that the foregoing block diagram presents only one embodiment of a possible circuit arrangement utilizing a
microprocessor for achieving modulated power control of the ultraviolet lamps. As mentioned, the sensors each produce an
analog voltage which is adjusted to vary over a predetermined range. The analog and digital converter 79 codes these inputs for
transmission to the microprocessor 70. The ROM would preferably be preprogrammed with an executive program which
constitutes the basis for the microprocessor functions. The PROM 74 provides for auxiliary functions which may be unique to a
particular installation. The input to this memory is by way of the keyboard 80 or other similar alpha-numeric terminal. Control
items such as time of day or related timing functions may be entered into storage in this way. Variable data which may be
required for computation is stored in the random access memory 73.
The microprocessor 70 utilizes a clock 70' as the time base for all internal functions and compares the value of the various inputs
with established limits set in the memory. Off normal values provides an alarm output indicating an abnormal or undesired
condition of operation. The display 81 which may also include a data printer can provide data in response to a code introduced by
the keyboard 80 so that an operator can check on any specific condition of the operation as for instance the ultraviolet intensity of
each lamp.
The output from the microprocessor is then converted by the digital to analog convertor 83 and functions through the
multiplexing gates 84 to constantly
adjust the magnitude of the voltage fed to each of the lamps 44 through 47.
In addition to the factors introduced into the computer as illustrated in FIG. 8 for control of radiation intensity, other factors such
as the deposit of materials on the quartz elements 32 surrounding the lamps can be introduced as constants or measured values
and may be utilized to operate a suitable cleaning mechanism which would automatically remove deposits periodically. This io
may be an important factor in many applications in as much as it affects the transparency of the tubular elements 32.
To illustrate the importance of this invention, let it be assumed that a sterilizer is required under ideal conditions to sterilize a
clear liquid having a fixed flow of a hundred liters per minute (38,000 gallons per day). Under these conditions, the input power
required would be approximately 200 watts or 4.8 KW/hrs. per 20 day. However, it is well recognized that ideal conditions do not
always exist and that a variation in turbidity, less than ideal operating conditions including older lamps, unclean lamp protecting
elements and off optimum temperature can require as much as 75 times the 25 power required for the ideal case even assuming
constant flow. Under these conditions, as much as 15 KW input would be required or approximately 360 KW/hrs. per day. In this
one instance, it can be seen that through the control of the intensity of the radiation to provide only that radiation required for
sterilization of the liquid under actual conditions that a material saving in power can be effected. It also follows that under these
conditions lamp life would be greatly extended.
The foregoing example while being an extreme case nevertheless emphasizes the significant gain even under other conditions.
When treating waste water for instance, the influent conditions may vary from hour to ^ hour, daily or seasonally. If all factors
remain the same and only the influent turbidity changes from an absorption coefficient of 0.005 to 0.5, a ten-fold energy difference would be experienced. The foregoing assumes a constant flow rate though in actual practice the flow 45 rate will also vary
materially and this of course would greatly further modify the power requirements. If conductivity, such as metallic content, pH
and the like of the water, should change, this would further increase the ratio of power required between the so-called ideal and
worst conditions. Under these combined circumstances, it is possible to have an energy ratio as great as 15,000 to 1 though in
practical application such an energy ratio would be excessive for economic and size 55 reasons and therefore practical limits
would be imposed on permissible variables. Notwithstanding such limits, significant gains in efficiency of one or two orders of
magnitude can readily be realized over known methods and apparatus. From the foregoing, it becomes eminently apparent why
known large volume devices and methods, all of the brute force type, are extremely limited in their application to low flow, clear
liquid systems and therefore under more severe conditions are not cost effective as a means for practical disinfection or sterilization as evidenced from the following Table I and FIG. 9 of the drawings. Table I lists a plurality of variables such as lamp life
etc., the total range of each said variables and the energy required under the worst, nominal and ideal conditions. The worst case
requires the use of maximum available energy to properly sterilize a liquid under the most adverse conditions that may be
experienced in a specific application. The ideal case requires the least power while the nominal case represents the normal
changes of the variables from the worst case that could be expected in actual practice. The percentages shown for each of the
variables indicates that part of the total power required in each of the three cases if all other variables remained constant. Thus, if
the flow rate dropped from an estimated maximum flow to a nominal or average flow the energy requirement would be reduced
to 35% of the maximum energy required. The final columns in the table show the power ratio for each of the variables with the
column entitled "Nominal Range" being the ratio of the worst case to the nominal case and the column entitled "Maximum
Range" being the ratio of the worst case to the ideal case.
The energy reductions indicated for the variables are conservative estimates and in the case when all of the variables change so
that energy requirements are reduced from the worst case to the nominal case, the resultant energy is reduced to 1/135 of the
energy required for the worst case. In many applications, extremely wide variations can be experienced in each of the variables.
This may occur chiefly in industrial plants where waste water is generally filtered and then sterilized prior to disposal. In such
cases, composition of the water, flow rate, solid content and the like can vary over extremely wide limits and at greatly varying
periodicities. Should the ideal case exist for even short periods of time, it would be possible to reduce the energy requirements to
1/15000 of the power required for the worst case. It is therefore evident that in any application, including the treatment of
drinking water, variations in flow and water characteristics will be experienced with the result that this invention will effect
savings in energy not heretofore considered possible or even probable.
Taking an even more conservative view of conditions that may exist in actual practice and assume that liquid flow and chemistry
remain constant, a 12:1 gain in en- 5 ergy savings is realized with variations from the worst case to the nominal case while the
energy ratio from the worst case to the ideal case is 75:1. Since the apparatus in accordance with the invention functions to
change energy requirements far more rapidly than changes in 10 any of the variables can occur, maximum operating efficiency is
maintained at all times. It is therefore evident that with this invention substantial energy savings can be effected and at the same
time effective sterilization attained.
15
A typical example of the power demand to meet variations normally experienced in the use of ultraviolet radiation for the
sterilization of liquids is shown in FIG. 9. The illustrated graph is hypothetical but nevertheless closely approximates conditions
existing in actual appli- 20 cations wherein the flow rate and liquid quality are constant. For the first hour or more of operation, it
is assumed that the influent is ideal, that is, relatively clear. This portion of the'graph is denoted by A and it will be noted that
even under such conditions small 25 variations such as turbidity and the like are present. These variations are sensed by the
apparatus in accordance with the invention and the energy imparted to the liquid follows these variations and accordingly affords
some energy reduction.
30
Section B of the graph illustrates the increase of energy required for an increase in turbidity which in this case is approximately
1800 watts. Section C of the graph indicates a further two or three fold increase in energy required as a result of deposits on the
protective 35 jackets surrounding the lamps after several hundreds of hours of operation. Section D of the graph represents the
increase in power, approximately two-fold, should lamp temperature drift to either side of a normal value for most efficient lamp
operation. At this point, the 40 power requirements have now increased from 200 watts to over 10,000 watts as the result of
changes in only three variables. Section E of the graph shows the probable increase in power required due to aging of the lamps
and possibly other changes with the result that a maxi- 45 mum constant power of 15,000 watts would be required to insure
proper sterilization in prior art uncontrolled systems.
Section F of the graph shows a reduction in power as the result of adjustment of lamp temperature. It will be 50 observed that the
mere adjustment of lamp temperature reduces power from a value in excess of 10,000 watts to below 4,000 watts. Section G of
the graph represents a gradual increase in power because of lamp aging and corresponds essentially to graph section E.
55
It will be observed that the repetitive variations occurring at section A of the graph shown in FIG 9 actually continue throughout
the entire graph. Since, as pointed out above, the apparatus in accordance with the invention senses these variations more rapidly
than they 60 occur, the energy imparted to the liquid will also fluctuate and provide the required radiation intensity to effect the
desired sterilization. Thus, a further saving of energy is realized throughout the entire process.
In the foregoing description of the invention, for 65 ultraviolet lamps are employed for sterilization of the fluid and under these
conditions the flow rate would normally be at a reduced value and limitations would of course be placed on turbidity and
conductivity. It is evident, however, that apparatus in accordance with the invention may employ any number of ultraviolet
radiating sources and that the sources may be of any desired size and configuration. For instance, in the treatment of turbid waste
water, it is conceivable that hundreds of ultraviolet lamps would be employed with each of the lamps being controlled in
accordance with the invention in order to insure reliable operation of the apparatus. At the same time, should conditions occur
which would not require operation of all of the lamps, the apparatus would automatically inactivate one or more lamps not
required to effect sterilization.
It is apparent from the foregoing that the lamps 44 through 47 can be controlled in a variety of ways. One procedure is to provide
for the simultaneous control of the intensity of all lamps in accordance with fluid flow and characteristics as previously
described. A more important procedure which affords a significant improvement in efficiency and provides greater latitude of
operation involves independent control of each lamp. With such an arrangement, the intensities of the lamps are individually
controlled whereby one lamp, for instance, may be at a high intensity while the remaining lamps may be at the same or different
reduced intensities. Under these conditions, the apparatus can handle, more precisely, a far wider range of fluid conditions and
thus effect a further material improvement in efficiency.
The invention heretofore described provides for the control of the radiation intensity in response to fluid characteristics and flow
relative to monitored operating conditions of the lamps. In certain applications, it may be desirable to maintain substantially
uniform ultraviolet radiation intensity and modify the fluid flow in response to fluid characteristics. For this purpose, an
electrically operated flow control valve 110 (FIGS. 1 and 8), having control conductors 111, is coupled to the inlet conduit 12.
The flow control valve 110 is connected by means of a driving amplifier 112 to the multiplex gates 84. With this arrangement and
by appropriately programming the control 71, fluid characteristics as well as the condition of the lamps and the intensity of the
radiation penetrating the fluid will function to control the fluid flow rate to insure proper sterilization of the fluid.
It is well known that chemical disinfection using chemicals such as chlorine for instance is widely used in industry and generally
constitutes the principal means for disinfecting drinking water. Not only is chlorine relatively expensive and the apparatus for
controlling the admission of chlorine into a liquid system costly, but chlorine in quantities presently required materially and
adversely affects the taste of drinking water and in addition has been found to be a cancer causing agent. Chlorine is also
generally considered a disinfecting agent rather than a sterilizing agent and thus has little, if any, affect on some viruses. It has
been suggested that it is possible to utilize both ultraviolet sterilization and chemical disinfection which utilizes the advantages of
both systems, namely sterilization and continued disinfection. With this invention, it has been found that the cost of water
treatment utilizing both ultraviolet radiation and chemical treatment is materially below the cost of either system alone. Based on
information presently available, it has been determined that with a combined system chlorine requirements can be reduced to
about one-tenth to one-fifteenth of the normal requirements and energy requirements for ultraviolet radiation to about one-tenth
to one-quarter of the energy normally required. Thus by using the combination of the two systems with this invention, a profound
synergistic is realized in that the cost can be reduced to the order of 20 to 25 percent of the cost of either system alone.
To achieve this end, an electrically operated chlorine control valve 113 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 8 is connected by means of
conductors 115 to the multiplex gates 84 through a driver amplifier 114. By appropriately programming the control 71, precise
amounts of 10 chlorine can be fed to the fluid and at the same time coordinated with the ultraviolet radiation to achieve the most
economical operating conditions for fluid characteristics and flow.
While the term "sterilization" is broadly defined as 15 the destruction of all living organisms, the use of the term "sterilization"
herein is also intended to include the reduction of at least certain living organisms to a predetermined maximum count as well as
disinfection which in the general sense means the total or partial 20 destruction of harmful living organisms.
While only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is apparent that alterations, changes and
modifications may be made without departing from the true scope and spirit thereof.
25
What is claimed is:
1. The method of destroying undesirable microorganisms in a fluid utilizing ultraviolet radiation comprising passing said fluid in
proximity to at least one electrically energized ultraviolet radiation source, mea- 30 suring at least selected physical
characteristics of said fluid including turbidity and the rate of flow of said fluid and operating conditions of said source including
source intensity and radiation absorption and periodically modifying the relationship of at least said rate of 35 flow to said source
intensity in accordance with said physical characteristics to continuously impart a predetermined quantity of energy to said fluid
per unit volume thereof, said quantity of energy being predetermined based on said measured physical characteristics 40 to
provide the desired destruction of micro-organisms. 2. The method according to claim 1 including the step of filtering the energy
fed to said radiation source to remove high frequency energy pulses such as switching transients and the like.
3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said measured physical characteristics of the fluid further includes electrical
conductivity and temperature.
4. The method according to claim 1 including the step of modifying the energy imparted to said fluid by said source in
accordance with changes in the physical characteristics and flow of said fluid.
5. The method according to claim 1 wherein said energy imparted to said fluid is maintained substantially constant and said fluid
flow is modified in accordance with changes in fluid characteristics.
6. The method according to claim 1 including the steps of feeding a chemical disinfectant into said fluid and controlling the
admission of said chemical disinfectant to maintain a preselected relationship between chemical flow and the ultraviolet energy
imparted to said fluid per unit volume of fluid.
7. The method of destroying undesirable living organisms in a fluid according to claim 1 including the steps of passing said fluid
in proximity to at least one electrically energized ultraviolet radiation source, continuously measuring the temperature of said
source and continuously adjusting said temperature to optimize the efficiency of said source.
8. The method according to claim 1 wherein said radiation source is in the form of an elongated tube surrounded by a radiation
transparent tube and measuring said source intensity at the outer surface of said radiation transparent tube.
9. The method according to claim 8 which further includes the steps of measuring the temperature of said source, and the
radiation produced by said source within a selected band of wavelengths and modifying the operation of said source to effect the
generation of the desired intensity within said selected band of wavelengths.
*****
65

Hillman
[21] Appl. No.: 141,558
[22] Filed:
Apr. 18,1980
[51] Int. C1.3..................;.............................A61L 2/10
[52] U.S. CI.................................... 422/24; 23/230 A;
250/429; 250/430; 250/435; 250/436; 250/437;
422/111; 422/28
[58] Field of Search........................... 422/24, 111, 28;
23/230 A; 250/428, 429, 430, 435, 436, 437
[56]
References Cited
1,150,117 8/1915 Henri et al.......................... 250/430
3,182,193 5/1965 Ellner et al.......................422/24 X
3,566,105 2/1971 Wihrost et al..................250/430 X
3,837,800 9/1974 Wood....................................422/24
3,948,772 4/1976 Ellner ............................... 422/24 X
4,179,616 12/1979 Coviello et al................. 250/429 X
4,204,956 5/1980 Flatow..............................422/24 X
4,255,383 3/1981 Schenck................................ 422/24
4,296,066 10/1981 Schenck..........................422/111 X
4,302,677 11/1981 Albertsson et al..................250/429
4,304,996 12/1981 Blades............................. 250/435 X
Primary ExaminerBarry S. Richman
Attorney, Agent, or FirmEugene E. Geoffrey, Jr.
[57]
ABSTRACT
An ultraviolet sterilization and disinfection system for fluids which includes apparatus for sensing selected operating
characteristics such as physical characteristics of the fluid to be disinfected or sterilized and the operating conditions of the
ultraviolet sources proportioning these variable and generally non-linear parameters and modifying such factors as fluid flow,
ultraviolet energy imparted to the fluid to insure destruction of selected organisms without the use of excessive energy. Control
may also be provided for the admission of selected quantities of disinfecting chemicals such as chlorine to the fluid.
9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures
ULTRAVIOLET METHOD FOR DISINFECTION AND STERILIZATION OF FLUIDS
This invention relates to the disinfection and sterilization of fluids and more specifically to a novel and improved method and
apparatus for the disinfection and sterilization of fluids utilizing ultraviolet radiation devices which extends the life of such
devices, conserves energy and at the same time insures reliable and uniform treatment of the fluids at all times. The invention
further contemplates the utilization of controlled chemical treatment in combination with ultraviolet radiation which results in
operating efficiencies far in excess of either procedure alone.
The effectiveness of ultraviolet radiation in the sterilization of fluids is well known and a wide variety of systems have been
developed for the sterilization of water for both commercial and residential applications. Known ultraviolet sterilization systems
are generally of the brute force type limited to specific operating range limits of turbidity, flow rate, temperature and the like to
provide ultraviolet exposure considered to be sufficient to insure desired sterilization for at least the major portion of the
ultraviolet lamp life. Since the radiation intensity of the ultraviolet lamps decreases with use, known systems are generally
designed for proper sterilization near the end of the lamp life with the result that excess operating energy is used when the lamps
are new. Furthermore, known systems are designed for specific ranges of turbidity and flow rates to insure satisfactory operation
and unexpected changes will result either in failure to properly sterilize or in the use of excessive energy.
The control system in accordance with the invention becomes increasingly important from the standpoint of both reliability and
economy in the treatment of lower quality and larger quantities of water. With this invention, lamp life as compared with brute
force systems is greatly increased and at the same time substantial reductions in energy requirements are effected. At the same
time, great reliability is insured since the required energy (radiation intensity and time of exposure) is imparted to the liquid at all
times. Accordingly, this invention has as one of its objects the provision of a novel and improved method and apparatus for the
sterilization of fluids which not only insures proper sterilization but also attains that end by controlling lamp power, waveform
and starting conditions and modifying lamp power or intensity in accordance with physical conditions, such as flow rate,
temperature, turbidity and the like of the fluid. In this way, the apparatus will provide the threshold of energy necessary for the
destruction of selected undesirable organisms and viruses over a wide range of fluid characteristics and operating conditions. At
the same time, the entire operation can be terminated substantially instantaneously should the ultraviolet radiation source or
sources be incapable of imparting the required energy to the fluid.
Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel and improved method and apparatus for the sterilization of
fluids which not only greatly increases lamp life while affording the ultraviolet energy for the destruction of microorganisms but
in instances wherein fluid flow and quality vary over wide limits the conservation of energy through the use of this invention can
be a more economical substitute for chemical disinfection treatments than known ultraviolet sterilization methods and apparatus.
Still another object of the invention resides in a novel and improved method and apparatus for the sterilization
5 of fluids and particularly liquids which affords not only increased lamp life but a substantial saving in energy by a continuous
modulated control of the energy threshold and exposure as the fluid characteristics, such as flow, turbidity and other conditions
change.
10 Still another object of the invention resides in a novel and improved method and apparatus for the sterilization of fluids
wherein the ultraviolet energy imparted to the fluid and/or the rate of flow of the fluid can be controlled to insure proper
sterilization. For instance, in15 stead of maintaining uniform flow and modifying the energy imparted to the fluid in accordance with changes in the
characteristics of the fluid, the ultraviolet lamps can be operated at maximum intensity and the flow can be controlled to insure
proper sterilization.
20 A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a method and apparatus for the disinfection and sterilization
utilizing the combined effects of both chemical and ultraviolet systems. With the novel and improved control system in
accordance with the inven25 tion, measured quantities of a suitable chemical such as chlorine can be introduced into the liquid depending on the liquid
characteristics and flow. With this arrangement, disinfection by the chemical continues beyond the ultraviolet treatment and the
combined cost of the
30 chemical and electrical energy is substantially less than the cost of either system alone. In many applications, the resultant cost
can be less than 20 to 25 percent of the cost of either system. Thus, not only is considerable economy realized by this synergistic
effect but residual
35 chlorine can be maintained within tolerable limits.
The invention comprises a novel and improved ultraviolet sterilization system for sterilization of fluids embodying ultraviolet
generating means capable of producing a desired energy threshold and exposure for said
40 fluids under adverse conditions of fluid quality throughout the life of the lamps, means for continuously monitoring at least
selected characteristics of the fluid and radiant energy emitted from the generating means, means for modifying the magnitude of
ultraviolet radia45 tion in accordance with the monitored characteristics to provide the desired energy threshold and exposure to effect
sterilization and controlling the characteristics of the energy supply to the generating means to maximize further the life of the
generating means. The invention
50 further provides a system for controlling fluid flow in accordance with changes in fluid characteristics while maintaining
ultraviolet energy at a maximum or in the alternative modifying fluid flow if the ultraviolet intensity and exposure time is
insufficient to achieve proper
55 sterilization. Means are also provided for controlling the admission of a disinfecting chemical to the liquid in accordance with
liquid characteristics while at the same time sterilizing the liquid with controlled ultraviolet radiation.
60 The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description and
accompanying drawings forming part of this invention.
IN THE DRAWINGS
65
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the apparatus for the sterilization of fluids utilizing ultraviolet radiation;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of FIG. 2 with the housing wall removed;
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 3 taken along 5 the line 44 thereof;
FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 2 taken along the line 55 thereof;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the structure shown in FIG. 2 with sections taken along the lines 66, 66 10 thereof;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary end view of FIG. 2 taken in the direction of arrow 7; and
FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating the circuitry for controlling the intensity of the radiation produced by 15 the ultraviolet
radiation sources.
FIG. 9 graphically represents a typical example of the power demand required to meet variations normally experienced in the
ultraviolet sterilization of liquids.
The effectiveness of ultraviolet radiation for the ster- 20 ilization of fluids and particularly water has been recognized for many
years. Known devices utilizing ultraviolet radiation embody appropriate means for the circulation of the liquid in close proximity
to ultraviolet lamps in order to expose all of the liquid to the radiation and 25 at the same time provide the desired exposure to
effect the destruction of micro-organisms. The design concept of such systems, however, involved the determination of the
radiation intensity of the lamps at or near the end of the lamp life and sufficient lamps were provided to 30 obtain the necessary
exposure time to effect the desired sterilization. Under those conditions, new lamps therefore afforded radiation intensities far in
excess of that required to effect the desired sterilization. Such procedures while being generally satisfactory for use with 35
liquids having known physical and chemical characteristics are not reliable under conditions wherein the characteristics of the
liquid are subject to variations. Moreover, even under conditions wherein some control is exercised over the characteristics of the
liquid, insuffi- 40 cient radiation may, nevertheless, be experienced particularly toward the end of the normal lamp life. To
compensate for such deficiencies in known systems, efforts have been made to insure the provision of radiation intensities and
exposure far in excess of that which 45 would be normally required to effect the desired ends. The efficiencies of known systems,
therefore, are not only poor as far as energy consumption is concerned but operation of the lamps at maximum intensity at all
times also materially shortens the life of the lamps. Moreover, 50 known systems do not provide for unexpected variations of
water characteristics, flow rate and the like and should the ultraviolet lamps be nearing the end of their normal life and if water
turbidity for instance should change materially, it is most likely that proper steriliza- 55 tion will not be effected. With this
invention, however, effective sterilization is insured notwithstanding changes in the water even though they may vary
over wide ranges within design limits that may be selected. Should such variations exceed design limits, an alarm 60 can be
provided and termination of the process effected. With the method and apparatus according to the invention, sterilization can be
attained at a cost competitive with and often far less than chemical treatment.
It is well recognized that a wide variety of structures 65 may be employed for the purpose of subjecting fluids and specifically
water to ultraviolet radiation for the purpose of sterilization. One such structure, as illustrated in the drawings, provides for the flow of water lengthwise of elongated ultraviolet radiating lamps though it is evident that
the water can be directed transversely of the lamps, so called laminar flow, and that other lamp configurations may be employed.
Referring now to the drawings and more specifically to FIGS. 1 through 7, the illustrated embodiment of the invention includes a
housing 10 containing the ultraviolet sterilizing apparatus generally denoted by the numeral 11. The apparatus 11 is shown and
illustrated in diagrammatic form in FIG. 1 while in the remaining figures details of the structure are illustrated. Referring to FIG.
1, a water inlet conduit 12 is connected to one side of the header 13. The water then flows to the right through tubes 14 and 15
into the header 18 thence through tubes 16 and 17 for return to the header 13 and discharge through the outlet conduit 19. The
inlet conduit 12 includes a plurality of sensors to determine certain physical characteristics of the liquid to be treated. In the
instant embodiment of the invention, the temperature sensor 20 having leads 20a extending therefrom records the temperature of
the liquid in the inlet. This sensor is followed by a turbidity sensor consisting of a suitable light source 21 having leads 21a
extending therefrom for energizing the light source and a photoelectric sensor 22 having leads 22a extending therefrom. The flow
detector is denoted by the numeral 23 having leads 23a and the conductivity detector is denoted by the numeral 24 having leads
24a extending therefrom. These measurements made by the sensors are utilized, as will be discussed in connection with FIG. 8, to
effect in combination with other measurements, the operation of the ultraviolet radiation sources.
Referring more specifically to FIGS. 2 through 7, the headers 13 and 18 are essentially of rectangular configuration with the
header 13 having longitudinal bores 25 and 25' extending inwardly from opposing ends to points spaced from the center to
provide a central barrier 25a. The face 27 of the header 13 has four openings each denoted by the numeral 28 for frictionally
receiving one end of each of the tubes 14 through 17. A suitable sealing compound may be employed to insure water tight joints.
Similarly, the face 29 of the header 18 has a plurality of corresponding openings 30 to receive the opposing ends of the tubes 14
through 17 in like manner. The headers 13 and 18 with the tubes 14 through 17 disposed therebetween are then held in position
by a plurality of bolts 31 as viewed more clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3.
Tubular elements formed of quartz or other suitable radiation transparent material and denoted by the numeral 32 extend through
each of the tubes 14 through 17 and through cooperating openings 33 in the wall 34 of the header 13 and similarly through
openings 35 in the wall 36 of the header 18. It will be observed that the tubes 32 protrude slightly beyond the walls 34 and 36 of
the headers 13 and 18 and are held in position by annular caps 37 and 38. Each tubular element 32 is sealed by an O-ring 39 as
illustrated more clearly in FIG. 5. More specifically, each of the caps 37 as well as the caps 38 on the header 18 has an enlarged
opening 40 for slidably receiving the tubular element 32. The remainder of the opening 41 through each cap 37 and 38 is
approximately equal to the inside diameter of the element 32 and the caps 37 each include three or more spacing elements 42 to
center tubular lamps 44 through 47 within openings 41 of the caps 37 by engagement with the lamp ferrals 43 on one end of each
lamp. Since the ferrals 43 on the
other end of each lamp are centered by fixedly positioned sockets, as will be described, air can readily circulate in the space
between each lamp and the associated surrounding element 32. Each of the caps 37 and 38 is held in position by screws 48 as will
be observed more 5 clearly in FIG. 7.
As previously mentioned, the ultraviolet radiation sources 44 through 47 are in the form of tubular structures having an elongated
radiation transparent tube 49 carrying tubular ferrals 43 on each end thereof. Cylin- 10 drical terminals 51 extend from each end
of each lamp for engagement with sockets as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In these figures, it will be observed that an elongated
channel member 53 is disposed parallel to the header 18 and carries insulated sockets 54 in spaced relationship to 15 the wall 36
of the header 18. The channel member 53 is held in precisely spaced relationship by a pair of bolts 53'. Each of the sockets 54 is
precisely aligned with the axis of the associated radiation transparent tube 32 so that a lamp inserted from the left side of the
structure as 20 shown in the figures will frictionally engage the associated socket 54 and thus maintain the. lamp in proper
position within the apparatus. Similar sockets 55 individually engage terminals 51 on the left end of the ultraviolet lamps as
illustrated.
25
It is often desirable to control the turbulence of the liquid being treated with apparatus in accordance with the invention though it
is desirable to avoid devices that will function to impede or otherwise resist the flow of the liquid. In the instant embodiment of
the invention, 30 turbulence can be controlled by adjusting the curvatures of the liquid flow path within the headers 13 and 18. In
addition, turbulence can also be controlled by utilizing movable closure elements 56 on each end of the header 18. In this
instance, it will be observed that 35 the closure 56 are sealed to the inner bore of the header 18 by O-rings 57 and suitable means
may be provided for moving the closures 56 inwardly and outwardly of the ends of the header 18. In this way, turbulence can be
controlled without imparting any significant resistance 40 to the flow of the liquid through the apparatus.
FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 7 illustrate additional sensing devices for use in the control of the energy fed to the ultraviolet lamps 44 through
47. It was previously pointed out in connection with FIG. 1 that sensors for 45 measuring liquid, temperature, flow, turbidity and
conductivity played important roles in controlling the intensity of ultraviolet radiation and exposure time in order to insure proper
sterilization of the liquid. In addition to those factors, it is desirable to measure con- 50 tinuously the operating conditions of the
ultraviolet lamps as well as the penetration of the ultraviolet radiation through the liquid surrounding each of the lamps. For
instance, measuring the ultraviolet radiation directly from the lamp surface will provide a continuous 55 indication of the
intensity of the radiant energy while measurement of the ultraviolet radiation at the surface of the liquid through windows in the
liquid conducting tubes 14 through 17 will indicate the degree of absorption of the radiation by the liquid. Insufficient intensity
60 at the surface of the liquid will therefore necessitate either increase in the intensity of the radiation or in the alternative an
increase in the exposure time. The temperature at the surface of each lamp will insure proper operation of the lamps. For instance,
the temperature of 65 a lamp may change with lamp current and if the lamp temperature should increase beyond a known
optimum value, the intensity of the radiation will decrease. Furthermore, lamp temperature provides an indication of ambient temperature conditions which can be adjusted to attain the desired
operating temperature for the lamps. Accordingly, lamp temperature constitutes a significant factor and insures efficient operation
of the apparatus.
The sensing devices for lamp temperature, intensity of radiation at the surface of the lamp and intensity of radiation at the surface
of the liquid are shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 7. The sensor for measuring lamp temperature is shown more clearly in FIG. 5 and
comprises a thermistor 58 or other suitable device carried by an L-shaped bracket 59 having one leg 60 secured to the cap 37 by
means of a screw 61 and a second leg 62 extending in the space between the lamp 44 and the surrounding radiation transparent
tube 32. The thermistor 58 is carried at the inner end of the leg 62 and the wires 58' from the thermistor 58 would normally be
carried by the bracket leg 62 and properly insulated therefrom. The bracket 62 is formed of resilient material so that when the
lamp 44 is in place the thermistor 58 will bear tightly against the lamp surface and at the same time the resiliency will permit the
lamp to be readily withdrawn for repair or replacement. Lamp intensity is measured by a suitable photo detector 63 carried within
an opening 64 in manifold 13. If desired, the radiation intensity sensor 63 may include a suitable filter that will pass only a
selected radiation bandwidth found most effective for a selected sterilization process. Any deviation of the lamp from the selected
bandwidth will immediately indicate a loss of radiation and this condition can be rectified by proper adjustment of lamp current
and/or voltage unless of course the lamp is near the end of its life which factor can also be determined by the relationship of lamp
intensity to lamp temperature, current and/or voltage.
The intensity of the radiation at the outer surface of the liquid flowing through the tubes 14 through 17 is measured by a photo
detector 65 mounted on the surface of each of the tubes 14 through 17. For this purpose, each of the tubes is provided with a
window 66 to which the photo detector or other equivalent device is secured. As in the case of the intensity measuring device 63,
the device 65 may also be provided with a suitable filter. In this way, adequate penetration of the liquid by the radiation can be
assured throughout the entire sterilizing process.
As previously mentioned, the effectiveness of ultraviolet radiation in the destruction of micro-organisms and viruses is known. It
is also known that ultraviolet radiation of the order of 2,537 angstroms is the most effective germicidal wavelength and that
ultraviolet energy is generally given in terms of micro-watt seconds per square centimeter. Published information is generally
available indicating the total energy required for the destruction of selected micro-organisms and such energy ranges from as low
as 1,600 micro-watt seconds per square centimeter for 90 percent effectiveness against certain organisms to as much as 440,000
microwatt seconds per square centimeter for other organisms for complete colonization destruction. Utilizing known ultraviolet
sterilizing systems which are essentially all of the brute force type, the inefficiencies are of such great magnitude that ultraviolet
sterilization processes have been restricted by cost effectiveness as compared with known conventional chemical treatments such
as treatment utilizing chlorine. With the instant invention however, the apparatus is not only controlled to provide only that power necessary to destroy selected micro-organisms but the adjustment can be modified during operation in the
event more or less energy is required for the destruction of the organisms. It has also been found, as previously pointed out, that
the life of 5 ultraviolet lamp sources can be more than doubled by controlling both lamp current and voltage to provide only that
radiation intensity necessary for achievement of the objects of the apparatus. With this invention, efficiencies of the order of one
hundred times those 10 attainable with known apparatus can be achieved and in many cases enables ultraviolet sterilization to be
economically competitive with chemical processes. The importance of this invention becomes even more evident upon
consideration of the adverse effects of chlo- 15 rine on the human body not to mention taste when chlorine is utilized for
sterilization of drinking water. Chlorine is also being found particularly disadvantageous because of the results of research
showing a connection between cancer and chlorination when com- 20 bined with other chemicals found in water. Further, the cost
of chlorine has been constantly increasing, chlorine control presents serious complications both in metering as well as its
deleterious affect on water handling equipment.
25
FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of one circuit for automatically controlling the intensity of radiation from the ultraviolet radiation
sources in accordance with the invention. It will be observed that a microprocessor 70 is utilized to perform the basic functions of
logic and 30 forms part of the basic control 71 which includes the memory address bus 72, a random access memory (RAM) 73,
a programmable read only memory (PROM) 74, a read only memory (ROM) 75 and a clock 70'. A self contained battery 76 is
used as a constant 35 standby source for the random access memory.
The information pertaining to the characteristics of the fluid being sterilized or disinfected is fed from the sensors 20, 22, 23 and
24 through the leads 20a, 22a, 23a and 24a to the multiplexing gates 77 and represent tem- 40 perature, turbidity, flow and
conductivity respectively. The blocks 44 through 47 represent the measuring devices associated with the four ultraviolet radiation
lamps 44 through 47 and the blocks are denoted by the same numerals utilized to denote the lamps. For in- 45 stance, the lead 58a
coupling the block 44 to the multiplexing gates 77 provides a signal proportional to lamp temperature. The lead 63a provides a
signal proportional to intensity of radiation measured at the surface of the radiation transparent element 32, the lead 65a pro- 50
vides a signal proportional to radiation intensity at the surface of the fluid while the leads 44a and 446 provide signals
proportional to current and voltage respectively in the lamp 44. The signals from the sensors associated with lamps 45 through 47
are similarly denoted by the 55 subscripts b, c and d respectively except for the lamp current and voltage which leads are denoted
by the numerals 45a, 46a, 47a and 456, 466 and 476 respectively.
The multiplex gates 77 feed information to the data 60 bus 78 and through an analog to digital converter 79 to the microprocessor
70. A keyboard 80 and display 81 are connected to the data bus 78 together with an alarm 82. Lamp control information is fed
from the microprocessor 70 through the digital to analog convertor 83 65 to the multiplex gates 84. There is also a coupling between data bus 78 and the microprocessor 70 to provide for the transmission of information to the microprocessor via the keyboard and for retrieving information for presentation on the digital display 81 and a coupling between the data bus
and multiplex gates 84.
The multiplex gates 84 produce lamp control signals which are fed to control devices 85 through 88 such as Triacs or other
similar devices. AC power is fed to the Triacs 85 through 88 via the leads 89, 90, 91, 92 and 93 and the power outputs from the
Triacs 85 through 88 are fed to ballasts 94 through 97. The ballasts are required for starting the lamps 44 through 47 and maintaining the ionization within each lamp after starting has been completed.
It has been found that the life of ultraviolet lamps is materially affected by the characteristics of the energy utilized for starting
the lamp and maintaining its operation. More specifically, sharp transients in the energy applied to ultraviolet lamps materially
shorten the life of the lamps and accordingly the energy from each ballast 94 through 97 is each fed through an individual filter
98 through 101 for removal of energy peaks. For this purpose, the filters would be either low-pass or band-pass filters which are
tuned to remove all frequencies greater than the frequency of the AC power. The outputs from the filters 98 through 101 are fed
through leads 54a and 55a to the lamp 44, 546 and 556 to the lamp 45, 54c and 55c to the lamp 46 and 54c? and 55^ to the lamp
47. Suitable devices 44a through 47a are interconnected with the leads 55a through 550? to produce current signals which are fed
to the multiplexing gates 77. Similarly, voltage signals are obtained from the filters 98 through 101 via the leads 446 through 476
which are also fed to the multiplexing gates 77. In this way, both voltage and current in the lamps can be controlled as it has been
found that through careful control of both starting and operating voltages and currents as well as maintenance of a proper
waveshape, lamp life can be significantly extended.
It is to be understood that the foregoing block diagram presents only one embodiment of a possible circuit arrangement utilizing a
microprocessor for achieving modulated power control of the ultraviolet lamps. As mentioned, the sensors each produce an
analog voltage which is adjusted to vary over a predetermined range. The analog and digital converter 79 codes these inputs for
transmission to the microprocessor 70. The ROM would preferably be preprogrammed with an executive program which
constitutes the basis for the microprocessor functions. The PROM 74 provides for auxiliary functions which may be unique to a
particular installation. The input to this memory is by way of the keyboard 80 or other similar alpha-numeric terminal. Control
items such as time of day or related timing functions may be entered into storage in this way. Variable data which may be
required for computation is stored in the random access memory 73.
The microprocessor 70 utilizes a clock 70' as the time base for all internal functions and compares the value of the various inputs
with established limits set in the memory. Off normal values provides an alarm output indicating an abnormal or undesired
condition of operation. The display 81 which may also include a data printer can provide data in response to a code introduced by
the keyboard 80 so that an operator can check on any specific condition of the operation as for instance the ultraviolet intensity of
each lamp.
The output from the microprocessor is then converted by the digital to analog convertor 83 and functions through the
multiplexing gates 84 to constantly
adjust the magnitude of the voltage fed to each of the lamps 44 through 47.
In addition to the factors introduced into the computer as illustrated in FIG. 8 for control of radiation intensity, other factors such
as the deposit of materials on the quartz elements 32 surrounding the lamps can be introduced as constants or measured values
and may be utilized to operate a suitable cleaning mechanism which would automatically remove deposits periodically. This io
may be an important factor in many applications in as much as it affects the transparency of the tubular elements 32.
To illustrate the importance of this invention, let it be assumed that a sterilizer is required under ideal conditions to sterilize a
clear liquid having a fixed flow of a hundred liters per minute (38,000 gallons per day). Under these conditions, the input power
required would be approximately 200 watts or 4.8 KW/hrs. per 20 day. However, it is well recognized that ideal conditions do not
always exist and that a variation in turbidity, less than ideal operating conditions including older lamps, unclean lamp protecting
elements and off optimum temperature can require as much as 75 times the 25 power required for the ideal case even assuming
constant flow. Under these conditions, as much as 15 KW input would be required or approximately 360 KW/hrs. per day. In this
one instance, it can be seen that through the control of the intensity of the radiation to provide only that radiation required for
sterilization of the liquid under actual conditions that a material saving in power can be effected. It also follows that under these
conditions lamp life would be greatly extended.
The foregoing example while being an extreme case nevertheless emphasizes the significant gain even under other conditions.
When treating waste water for instance, the influent conditions may vary from hour to ^ hour, daily or seasonally. If all factors
remain the same and only the influent turbidity changes from an absorption coefficient of 0.005 to 0.5, a ten-fold energy difference would be experienced. The foregoing assumes a constant flow rate though in actual practice the flow 45 rate will also vary
materially and this of course would greatly further modify the power requirements. If conductivity, such as metallic content, pH
and the like of the water, should change, this would further increase the ratio of power required between the so-called ideal and
worst conditions. Under these combined circumstances, it is possible to have an energy ratio as great as 15,000 to 1 though in
practical application such an energy ratio would be excessive for economic and size 55 reasons and therefore practical limits
would be imposed on permissible variables. Notwithstanding such limits, significant gains in efficiency of one or two orders of
magnitude can readily be realized over known methods and apparatus. From the foregoing, it becomes eminently apparent why
known large volume devices and methods, all of the brute force type, are extremely limited in their application to low flow, clear
liquid systems and therefore under more severe conditions are not cost effective as a means for practical disinfection or sterilization as evidenced from the following Table I and FIG. 9 of the drawings.
Table I lists a plurality of variables such as lamp life etc., the total range of each said variables and the energy required under the
worst, nominal and ideal conditions. The worst case requires the use of maximum available energy to properly sterilize a liquid
under the most adverse conditions that may be experienced in a specific application. The ideal case requires the least power while
the nominal case represents the normal changes of the variables from the worst case that could be expected in actual practice. The
percentages shown for each of the variables indicates that part of the total power required in each of the three cases if all other
variables remained constant. Thus, if the flow rate dropped from an estimated maximum flow to a nominal or average flow the
energy requirement would be reduced to 35% of the maximum energy required. The final columns in the table show the power
ratio for each of the variables with the column entitled "Nominal Range" being the ratio of the worst case to the nominal case and
the column entitled "Maximum Range" being the ratio of the worst case to the ideal case.
The energy reductions indicated for the variables are conservative estimates and in the case when all of the variables change so
that energy requirements are reduced from the worst case to the nominal case, the resultant energy is reduced to 1/135 of the
energy required for the worst case. In many applications, extremely wide variations can be experienced in each of the variables.
This may occur chiefly in industrial plants where waste water is generally filtered and then sterilized prior to disposal. In such
cases, composition of the water, flow rate, solid content and the like can vary over extremely wide limits and at greatly varying
periodicities. Should the ideal case exist for even short periods of time, it would be possible to reduce the energy requirements to
1/15000 of the power required for the worst case. It is therefore evident that in any application, including the treatment of
drinking water, variations in flow and water characteristics will be experienced with the result that this invention will effect
savings in energy not heretofore considered possible or even probable.
Taking an even more conservative view of conditions that may exist in actual practice and assume that liquid flow and chemistry
remain constant, a 12:1 gain in en- 5 ergy savings is realized with variations from the worst case to the nominal case while the
energy ratio from the worst case to the ideal case is 75:1. Since the apparatus in accordance with the invention functions to
change energy requirements far more rapidly than changes in 10 any of the variables can occur, maximum operating efficiency is
maintained at all times. It is therefore evident that with this invention substantial energy savings can be effected and at the same
time effective sterilization attained.
15
A typical example of the power demand to meet variations normally experienced in the use of ultraviolet radiation for the
sterilization of liquids is shown in FIG. 9. The illustrated graph is hypothetical but nevertheless closely approximates conditions
existing in actual appli- 20 cations wherein the flow rate and liquid quality are constant. For the first hour or more of operation, it
is assumed that the influent is ideal, that is, relatively clear. This portion of the'graph is denoted by A and it will be noted that
even under such conditions small 25 variations such as turbidity and the like are present. These variations are sensed by the
apparatus in accordance with the invention and the energy imparted to the liquid follows these variations and accordingly affords
some energy reduction.
30
Section B of the graph illustrates the increase of energy required for an increase in turbidity which in this case is approximately
1800 watts. Section C of the graph indicates a further two or three fold increase in energy required as a result of deposits on the
protective 35 jackets surrounding the lamps after several hundreds of hours of operation. Section D of the graph represents the
increase in power, approximately two-fold, should lamp temperature drift to either side of a normal value for most efficient lamp
operation. At this point, the 40 power requirements have now increased from 200 watts to over 10,000 watts as the result of
changes in only three variables. Section E of the graph shows the probable increase in power required due to aging of the lamps
and possibly other changes with the result that a maxi- 45 mum constant power of 15,000 watts would be required to insure
proper sterilization in prior art uncontrolled systems.
Section F of the graph shows a reduction in power as the result of adjustment of lamp temperature. It will be 50 observed that the
mere adjustment of lamp temperature reduces power from a value in excess of 10,000 watts to below 4,000 watts. Section G of
the graph represents a gradual increase in power because of lamp aging and corresponds essentially to graph section E.
55
It will be observed that the repetitive variations occurring at section A of the graph shown in FIG 9 actually continue throughout
the entire graph. Since, as pointed out above, the apparatus in accordance with the invention senses these variations more rapidly
than they 60 occur, the energy imparted to the liquid will also fluctuate and provide the required radiation intensity to effect the
desired sterilization. Thus, a further saving of energy is realized throughout the entire process.
In the foregoing description of the invention, for 65 ultraviolet lamps are employed for sterilization of the fluid and under these
conditions the flow rate would normally be at a reduced value and limitations would of
course be placed on turbidity and conductivity. It is evident, however, that apparatus in accordance with the invention may
employ any number of ultraviolet radiating sources and that the sources may be of any desired size and configuration. For
instance, in the treatment of turbid waste water, it is conceivable that hundreds of ultraviolet lamps would be employed with each
of the lamps being controlled in accordance with the invention in order to insure reliable operation of the apparatus. At the same
time, should conditions occur which would not require operation of all of the lamps, the apparatus would automatically inactivate
one or more lamps not required to effect sterilization.
It is apparent from the foregoing that the lamps 44 through 47 can be controlled in a variety of ways. One procedure is to provide
for the simultaneous control of the intensity of all lamps in accordance with fluid flow and characteristics as previously
described. A more important procedure which affords a significant improvement in efficiency and provides greater latitude of
operation involves independent control of each lamp. With such an arrangement, the intensities of the lamps are individually
controlled whereby one lamp, for instance, may be at a high intensity while the remaining lamps may be at the same or different
reduced intensities. Under these conditions, the apparatus can handle, more precisely, a far wider range of fluid conditions and
thus effect a further material improvement in efficiency.
The invention heretofore described provides for the control of the radiation intensity in response to fluid characteristics and flow
relative to monitored operating conditions of the lamps. In certain applications, it may be desirable to maintain substantially
uniform ultraviolet radiation intensity and modify the fluid flow in response to fluid characteristics. For this purpose, an
electrically operated flow control valve 110 (FIGS. 1 and 8), having control conductors 111, is coupled to the inlet conduit 12.
The flow control valve 110 is connected by means of a driving amplifier 112 to the multiplex gates 84. With this arrangement and
by appropriately programming the control 71, fluid characteristics as well as the condition of the lamps and the intensity of the
radiation penetrating the fluid will function to control the fluid flow rate to insure proper sterilization of the fluid.
It is well known that chemical disinfection using chemicals such as chlorine for instance is widely used in industry and generally
constitutes the principal means for disinfecting drinking water. Not only is chlorine relatively expensive and the apparatus for
controlling the admission of chlorine into a liquid system costly, but chlorine in quantities presently required materially and
adversely affects the taste of drinking water and in addition has been found to be a cancer causing agent. Chlorine is also
generally considered a disinfecting agent rather than a sterilizing agent and thus has little, if any, affect on some viruses. It has
been suggested that it is possible to utilize both ultraviolet sterilization and chemical disinfection which utilizes the advantages of
both systems, namely sterilization and continued disinfection. With this invention, it has been found that the cost of water
treatment utilizing both ultraviolet radiation and chemical treatment is materially below the cost of either system alone. Based on
information presently available, it has been determined that with a combined system chlorine requirements can be reduced to
about one-tenth to one-fifteenth of the normal requirements and energy requirements for ultraviolet radiation to
about one-tenth to one-quarter of the energy normally required. Thus by using the combination of the two systems with this
invention, a profound synergistic is realized in that the cost can be reduced to the order of 20 to 25 percent of the cost of either
system alone.
To achieve this end, an electrically operated chlorine control valve 113 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 8 is connected by means of
conductors 115 to the multiplex gates 84 through a driver amplifier 114. By appropriately programming the control 71, precise
amounts of 10 chlorine can be fed to the fluid and at the same time coordinated with the ultraviolet radiation to achieve the most
economical operating conditions for fluid characteristics and flow.
While the term "sterilization" is broadly defined as 15 the destruction of all living organisms, the use of the term "sterilization"
herein is also intended to include the reduction of at least certain living organisms to a predetermined maximum count as well as
disinfection which in the general sense means the total or partial 20 destruction of harmful living organisms.
While only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is apparent that alterations, changes and
modifications may be made without departing from the true scope and spirit thereof.
25
What is claimed is:
1. The method of destroying undesirable microorganisms in a fluid utilizing ultraviolet radiation comprising passing said
fluid in proximity to at least one electrically energized ultraviolet radiation source, mea- 30 suring at least selected
physical characteristics of said fluid including turbidity and the rate of flow of said fluid and operating conditions of
said source including source intensity and radiation absorption and periodically modifying the relationship of at least
said rate of 35 flow to said source intensity in accordance with said physical characteristics to continuously impart a
predetermined quantity of energy to said fluid per unit volume thereof, said quantity of energy being predetermined
based on said measured physical characteristics 40 to provide the desired destruction of micro-organisms.
2. The method according to claim 1 including the step of filtering the energy fed to said radiation source to remove high
frequency energy pulses such as switching transients and the like.
3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said measured physical characteristics of the fluid further includes electrical
conductivity and temperature.
4. The method according to claim 1 including the step of modifying the energy imparted to said fluid by said source in
accordance with changes in the physical characteristics and flow of said fluid.
5. The method according to claim 1 wherein said energy imparted to said fluid is maintained substantially constant and said fluid
flow is modified in accordance with changes in fluid characteristics.
6. The method according to claim 1 including the steps of feeding a chemical disinfectant into said fluid and controlling the
admission of said chemical disinfectant to maintain a preselected relationship between chemical flow and the ultraviolet energy
imparted to said fluid per unit volume of fluid.
7. The method of destroying undesirable living organisms in a fluid according to claim 1 including the steps of passing said fluid
in proximity to at least one electrically energized ultraviolet radiation source, continuously measuring the temperature of said
source and continuously adjusting said temperature to optimize the efficiency of said source.
8. The method according to claim 1 wherein said radiation source is in the form of an elongated tube surrounded by a radiation
transparent tube and measuring said source intensity at the outer surface of said radiation transparent tube.
9. The method according to claim 8 which further includes the steps of measuring the temperature of said source, and the
radiation produced by said source within a selected band of wavelengths and modifying the operation of said source to effect the
generation of the desired intensity within said selected band of wavelengths.
*****
1. 65
United States Patent [i<q

Johnson
[54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WATER TREATMENT AND PURIFICATION USING GAS ION PLASMA
SOURCE AND DISINFECTANT METAL ION COMPLEXES
[75] Inventor: Dennis E. J. Johnson, Aurora, 111.
[73] Assignee: Aqua-Ion Systems, Inc., Littleton, Colo.
[21] Appl. No.: 326,339
[22] Filed:
Oct 20,1994
[51] Int. CI.6 ........................................................ C02F 1/50
[52] U.S. CI...........................210/192; 204/293; 210/199;
210/205; 210/223; 205/752; 205/756; 205/760; 422/186.12; 422/186.15; 422/186.3
[58] Field of Search .....................................204/149, 150,
204/152, 293; 210/748, 764, 192, 198.1,

199, 205, 243, 223; 422/22, 24, 29, 186.07,
186.1, 186.12, 186.15, 186.3; 205/752,
756, 760
[56]
References Cited
3,186,929 6/1965 Rippie.....................................204/155
3,697,420 10/1972 BlaisdeU et al......................... 210/695
4,094,783 6/1978 Jackson.....................................210/97
438,326 12/1980 Wolf........................................210/695
4,343,707 8/1982 Lucas ......................................210/695
4,382,866 5/1983 Johnson ..................................210/748
4,492,618 1/1985 Eder........................................204/152
4,562,014 12/1985 Johnson ....................................261/76
4,563,286 1/1986 Johnson et al.......................... 210/721
4,640,782 2/1987 Budeson .................................210/764
4,655,933 4/1987 Johnson et al.......................... 210/721
4,752,401 6/1988 Bodenstein..............................210/764
4,857,204 8/1989 Joklik......................................210/695
4,936,979 6/1990 Brown.....................................210/192
4,956,080 9/1990 Josefik ....................................210/109
5,013,417 5/1991 Judd, Jr. .................................. 204/228
5,192,423 3/1993 Duczmal et al........................ 209/164
5,443,719 8/1995 Johnson et al.......................... 210/101
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
478770 7/1929 Germany ............................... 210/223
WO8102685 10/1981 WTPO.
Primary Examiner-Peter A. Hruskoci Attorney, Agent, or FirmMichael de Angeli
[57]
ABSTRACT
A system for disinfecting water streams comprises a source of ionized plasma, that is, a stream of air including ionized oxygen
and nitrogen gas molecules, including ozone, and an additional source of metal ions. The gas plasma is introduced into the water
stream upstream of the metal ion stream to produce a variety of oxidizing, coagulating, and disinfecting reactions. Further, the
metal ions combine with the gas ions to form additionally known disinfectant compounds. The source of ionized gas molecules is
an ultraviolet lamp juxtaposed to a coil providing electric and/or magnetic fields, to excite and ionize oxygen and nitrogen
molecules of the air. The sacrificial electrodes may comprise alloy members of the metal elements to be provided to the water
stream. A DC potential applied to the electrodes is uniformly reversed at intervals, to encourage sacrificial erosion thereof. The
system may be provided as a retrofit disinfectant, coagulation, and purification plant for swimming pools or like closed loop
domestic or industrial water systems, or used for non-chemical treatment of drinking water and/or non-chemical purification
treatment for environmental water purification and safe discharge applications, replacing chlo-rination and other conventional
chemical coagulation treatments.
22 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WATER TREATMENT AND PURIFICATION USING
GAS ION PLASMA SOURCE AND DISINFECTANT METAL ION COMPLEXES
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to apparatus and methods for treating contaminated water while avoiding conventional chemical
treatments. More particularly, the invention provides methods and apparatus for oxidizing and coagulating contaminants in water,
followed by their removal, thus disinfecting the water, while avoiding the introduction of large quantities of toxic chemicals such
as chlorine or polymeric chemical coagulants into the water stream.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The treatment of water to kill biological contaminants, such as algae, bacteria, viruses, and the like, and to coagulate and remove
these pollutants, as well as non-biological particulates, contaminant metals, and the like, and in particular, to disinfect water for
drinking or to "decontaminate" water for safe environmental discharge, has a long history. Nonetheless, the practice of water
treatment continues to evolve as new discoveries are made.
Typical prior practices comprise addition of chlorine to the water stream, to kill bacteria, algae, viruses, and the like, along with
addition of anionic or cationic polymeric coagulants. Electrostatic interaction between the contaminants and the coagulants tends
to coagulate the contaminants into particles large enough to be removed by filtration or settling.
As of the filing of this application, it appears very likely that the practice of chemical chlorination, long the preferred method of
disinfecting drinking, industrial, and swimming pool water streams and the like, will be banned or severely restricted within the
next few years.
Accordingly, a substantial need exists for methods of removing contaminants from water avoiding chlorine or other chemicals
thought to be toxic. More specifically, a need exists for methods of water treatment and disinfection not involving introduction of
chlorine or additional toxic chemical treatment substances into the water stream.
Preferably, any water treatment method replacing chlorination and other chemical treatment would be economically practiced,
and apparatus for its practice would be available as a unit for retrofitting systems now employing chlorination and chemical
treatment, such as swimming pool disinfecting systems, drinking water processing plants, and/or industrial wastewater treatment
systems. In this connection, while the present invention is described herein primarily as a replacement for chlorination and
chemical treatment in connection with swimming pool, drinking water, and/or industrial water streams, and the like, the present
invention may find application in many other water streams where purification and disinfection must be accomplished without
chemical coagulant treatments.
The present inventor has been working in the field of purification of contaminated water systems without employment of chlorine
and chemical treatments or the like for some years. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,563,286 and 4,655,933 to the present inventor and Scott J.
Johnson. These patents both recognize that a water stream can be purified by introduction of ionized oxygen tending to oxidize
various pollutants, and teach further that ionized oxygen can be produced by exposing atmospheric air to ultraviolet light,
particularly in the presence of permanent magnets.
U.S. Pat No. 4,562,014 to the inventor herein discloses a system for introducing oxidant gases such as ionized oxygen into a
water stream. A venturi is employed for dispersing the gas in the liquid stream; thorough mixing of the gas and
5 liquid streams is encouraged by the drop in pressure after the venturi. The teachings of this patent are employed in the present
invention, as will be apparent from the discussion below.
U.S. Pat. No. 4^82,866, also to the present inventor,
10
shows a system for performing electrochemical filtration to remove flocculated or coagulated pollutants from a contaminated
water stream.
Copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/200,749 in the name of the present inventor and another discloses
15
further improvements in the removal of contaminants from water streams by encouraging flocculation thereof, such that
physical separation is then possible. The teachings of copending Ser. No. 08/200,749 may be employed together with the
teachings of the present invention, where the nature
20
of the contaminated water stream indicates that both techniques may be of use.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
25 It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a system for removal of pollutants, impurities, organics, and other
undesirable components of a water stream, avoiding addition of significant quantities of chlorine and/or other toxic or undesirable
foreign chemical treatment components
30 into the water stream.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a system for the treatment of water wherein disinfectant and coagulating
compounds are formed by reaction in situ, greatly increasing the efficiency of production and employment of
35 such synthesized disinfecting and coagulating compounds.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an
apparatus for treatment of water for certain specified process
streams, such as swimming pool filtration and disinfection
water streams, drinking water filtration and disinfection
40
water streams, and/or industrial wastewater, which can be retrofit as a direct replacement for preexisting chlorination or like
chemical treatment equipment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
45
The above objects of the invention and needs of the art, and others which will appear as the discussion below proceeds, are
satisfied by the present invention, which in a typical embodiment comprises a source of oxygen and
50 nitrogen ion molecules, as well as increased quantities of paramagnetic oxygen molecules, thus producing a stream of ionized
plasma from the air, a source of a stream of ionized metal atoms such as copper, silver, and stannous atoms, a source of free
electrons, and means for mixing the streams
5S of ionized gas, electrons, and ionized metal atoms with the water stream to be treated. The result is that known disinfectant
compounds such as the algjcide copper nitrate (Cu+ NO-3), the bactericide silver nitrate (Ag^NO^), and the viricide and fungicide
stannous tartrate (Sn^CÔ-6), are
60 produced in situ, at high efficiency. Accordingly, algae, bacteria, viruses, and fungi are destroyed by biocidal compounds
formed directly in the water stream. The fact that ions are added to the water stream in quantity encourages electrostatic attraction
of the various components and their
65 coagulation, allowing removal by settling or filtration.
In a preferred embodiment, a plasma, that is, a stream of ionized gas molecules, is produced by exposing a stream of
atmospheric air to a lamp emitting both ultraviolet and
ing to the invention, such as environmental decontamination
infrared radiation, while providing one or both of electric

treatment, swimming pool water disinfection systems, and
and magnetic fields in the vicinity of the lamp. Preferably,
the like. As indicated above, the invention may find signififhe lamp drive current is pulsated periodically; also
cant initial widespread use in replacement of presently
preferably, conditions are such that free electrons are pro- 5 existing chlorination and chemical coagulation and purifivided as well. The stream of air, including a substantial
cation plants for swimming pools, and the invention will be
plasma fraction of paramagnetic oxygen, ionized oxygen
described in that environment. However, it should be appreand nitrogen gas molecules, and free electrons, is introduced
dated that the invention has use in treatment of many other
into the water stream by connecting the exposure chamber in
sorts of contaminated water streams as well, including
which the plasma is formed to an area of low pressure in the
treatment of drinking water, and treatment of water prior to
water stream, typically formed by a venturi through which
environmental discharge in systems not recycling water.
the water stream passes.
Referring to FIG. 1, a fixed quantity of water is continuMetal ions are added to the water stream, having had the
ally supplied to and removed from an end use 10, such as a
ionized gas molecules introduced thereto, by passing the
swimming pool, drinking water source, industrial water
stream between electrically charged electrodes comprising 15 stream, or any contaminated body of water, from which a
atoms of the metal ions to be added. In a preferred
stream of water is periodically withdrawn, treated,
embodiment, the electrodes may simply be cast of a mixture
disinfected, and reused. According to the invention, a stream
of stannous, copper, and silver metals in the desired propor12 of air including a substantial fraction of ionized oxygen
tions. A DC voltage, the polarity of which is alternated at
and nitrogen gas molecules and free electrons, or "plasma",
intervals on the order of one or several minutes, is applied 20 is added to the stream of water from the end use 10 at a
across the electrodes, so that an electric field exists
venturi eductor 14. The stream 12 of air including ionized
therebetween, causing sacrificial decomposition of the
gas molecules is provided by an ionized gas source 18
electrodes, and providing further energy driving the desired
powered by an AC power supply 16. Differing embodiments
reactions. Ionized metal atoms are detached from the elecof the ionized gas source 18 are discussed below in controdes and entrained in the water stream, for immediate 25 nection with FIGS. 2-5 and 6.
synthesis reaction with the ionized molecules of oxygen and
A stream of metal ions from a source 20 is then introduced
nitrogen entering from the stream of air. The result is that
mt0 me mixed stream of water from end use 10 and air
various coagulant and disinfectant compounds are formed in
including ionized molecules from source 18. In one
situ in the water, tending to coagulate and disinfect the
embodiment, detailed below in connection with FIGS. 7 and
various contaminant constituents of the water stream to be 30 8, me source 20 of metal ions may comprise a pair of
treated. The water stream may then be recirculated in a
charged metallic electrodes 52 exposed directly to the water
reactor tank for a period on the order of minutes, to ensure
stream. The electrodes 52 are formed of the metals to be
substantially complete coagulation and/or disinfection, and
added to the water stream, and are connected to a source 22
is then filtered to remove the killed organics as well as any
0f TJC potential, the polarity of which is preferably reversed
coagulated particulates or flocculated solids.
35 at intervals on the order of one to several minutes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Accordingly, an electric field exists between the electrodes
The invention will be better understood if reference is
52, which accordingly behave as sacrificial electrodes, i.e., individual atoms of the electrodes enter the water stream.
made to the accompanying drawings, in which:
According to an important aspect of the invention, the
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an overall system for 4Q ionized meta]Hc atoms from ^ electrodes 22 chemically
nonchemical treatment of water according to the invention;
react ^ e ionized gas molecules of ^ plasma n
FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of
largely in the region between and surrounding the electrodes
an ionized gas source for providing a stream of ionized gas
52) forming a variety of biocidal disinfectant metal ion
atoms
5
compounds, killing various organic substances in the water.
FIG. 3 shows a cross-section taken along the line 33 of 45 For example, electrodes suitable for use in swimming
F*G- 2;
pool and typical environmental water treatment applications
FIG. 4 shs an enlarged view of an assembly of an
may comprise stannous, silver, and copper metals in the
ultraviolet lamp and coil used in one embodiment of the
relative proportions 5:10:85 respectively by weight The
ionized gas source according to the invention;
plasma stream 12 of air including ionized atoms may include
FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of circuitry supplying 50 various ionized forms of nitrogen, oxygen, ozone, free
the ultraviolet lamp and coil with electrical power;
electrons, and combinations thereof, as discussed further
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view through two identical
below. The ionized gas atoms of the plasma stream 12 react
assemblies of a second embodiment of an ionized gas
with the oppositely ionized metal ions from the electrodes to
source, again comprising a coil surrounding an ultraviolet
form a number of beneficial water treatment compounds.
lamp in an exposure chamber;
55 Included in these are Sn^CÔ"-6, a known viricide and
FIG. 7 shows a perspective cutaway view of a portion of
fungicide; Cu+MTj, a known algicide; and Ag*Mr3, a
the system, illustrating the venturi at which the ionized gas
known bactericide. Therefore, according to the invention, by
stream is added to the water stream, and the electrodes
combining the water stream to be treated with specific metal
whereby metal ions are added to the water stream for
ions and an ionized plasma of oxygen and nitrogen gas
reaction with the ionized gas atoms; and
60 molecules and electrons, algae, bacteria, viruses, fungi, and
other
FIG. 8 shows a preferred construction of the ion addition
organic contaminants are destroyed in the water stream
system of FIG. 7.
without addition of undesirable chemicals. Further, as the
gas plasma and ions are charged, a strong electrostatic
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED

coagulant effect is provided. Disinfection and coagulation
EMBODIMENT
65 according to the invention are accomplished at very high
FIG. 1 depicts an overall block diagram view of a typical
efficiency due to the strong oxidizing and coagulation capaclosed-cycle water system including water treatment accordbility of the ionized oxygen/nitrogen plasma ion gas species.
Further, as the disinfectant compounds are formed in situ,

radiation is particularly suitable for ionizing oxygen in
the
that is, in the very water stream to be treated, no processing
air and some fraction of the nitrogen, while the
infrared
or handling steps or the like are required, simplifying the
radiation may additionally ionize nitrogen. Each lamp
36 is
apparatus required, while the ionized gas and metal ions
surrounded by an axial wire strip coil 42 typically
comprishave very limited opportunity to recombine or otherwise 5 ing a number of parallel conductors (see FIG. 5), which
when
lose their disinfectant and coagulant efficiency.
energized provide an electric and/or magnetic
field in
A& *u
u t.
u- A M. A
the vicinity of the corresponding ionizing lamp 36.
t~ *_
After the water stream has been combined with the
, J . ^ ,
.
.- ,
,
As
plasma stream at 14 and with the metal ions at 20, the water
shownin FIG 4, each ultraviolet lamp 36 may be
A.
stream may be stored in a reactor tank 24 if necessary to
^fff w^n a hoUow Plastlc co]1 su|Port mbe &> *&*
provide sufficient retention time for the disinfectant reac- w Wlth holes, 40t0 ab **% Passage of ^ ^ *** coA 42
ls
tions to be completed. Typically, reactor tank 24 would only
assembled over the tube 38 and comprises one or
more
be used in certain industrial and environmental water treatconductors for carrying a current and thereby
emitting an
e ectnc
ment applications and will not be necessary in a swimming
J and/or magnetic field in the ty of the lamp 36
F
pool water recycling and disinfecting system. The water
examPle' m the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 the cod
stream is then filtered as indicated at 26 to remove the killed 15 42 W comprise a number of parallel thin (e.g. 22
gauge)
st ess sted
organics as well as any coagulated particulates or the like
^
*es> sPaced from one anrthf bJ Native
from the water stream, after which the water stream may be
Plas*c ^^ woven mt0a flat n band> s *?*
returned to the end use 10. A pump 28 may be provided to
relatively large current can be passed from one end of
the
c t0
motivate water mrough the system as needed.
f f"5 other- *e ^ *? energized and
, .
,. . ,
20 electrical power is supplied to the coil 42, atmospheric air
In a specific example, in order to retrofit a disinfectant
wimin me cofl 42 ig subjected tQ Kmyel mtense radiation
system according to the invention in place of the chlonnafrom me ^ mdudin both short wavelengh ^^^
ton plant of a conventional swimming pool or drinking
and jnfiared radiati
and ^ t0 an electric ^^
water treatment system, the chlonnation plant is; simply
^ of eleclric ^
ne(ic fld(L ^
tic fleld
replaced with a venturi eductor device 14, at which the
^^ m
^ responsive to the exact configuration
plasma stream 12 is mixed with tiie water stream^ and a
^ /one
rf me ^ ^ flow rate rf ^
h ^
sacrificial electrode metal ion addition unit 20, at which the
deflned b <xmbdna 30 fc controlled such mat me a
metalhcions are added to me water stream The replacement
^ me ^^^ in
residence ^ of atm
heric ^
si
process is quite straightforward and readuy accomplished.
me ^^^ rf ^ lamp and coil combinations is on me OTder
In this connection, it will be appreciated that adding the 3Q 0f seVeral minutes. A substantial fraction of the oxygen
and
plasma stream 12 at the venturi eductor 14 is highly useful
nitrogen molecules of the air in the vicinity of the
assembly
in that the conduit 29 carrying the plasma stream 12 can be
0f the lamp and coil are ionized under these
conditions.
connected to the venturi just after the point of minimum
mG s shows a schematic <&mam 0f a typical lamp and
cross-sectional area, such that the plasma stream will be
coil circuit suitable for practice of the invention. As
exposed to a partial vacuum. See FIG. 7. Accordingly, the 35 indicated, AC power is supplied at line connection 16 and
ionized plasma gas stream will be drawn into and mixed
me coil 42 is m series with me lamp ^^ supply M Power
thoroughly with the water stream without necessity of an

supply M preferably comprises a solid state power supply
additional pump or the like, simplifying and reducing the
providing pulsating "bursts" of current to lamp 36;
pulsing
cost of the system and rendering its retrofit to preexisting
the current results in shorter and more intense UV
energy
swimming pool disinfectant system, and other types of w being produced below 180 nm. In the embodiment of the
environmental water treatment apphcations, very convemvention shown by FIGS. 2rA, up to four twelve-inch 20
ment
watt low pressure mercury vapor lamps may be provided,
FIGS. 2-5 show a first embodiment of an ionized gas
each powered by an individual power supply. Each lamp
source 18 suitable for use in systems having relatively small
power supply provides pulsating electrical power
that aver-to moderate water treatment demand. FIGS. 2-4 illustrate 45 ages 90 volts at 250 milliamps and 60 Hz;
typically, the the physical embodiment of the device, and FIG. 5 shows
voltage and current are both controlled to
periodically typical power supply connections. As indicated above, the
exceed their average values by 30%.
More particularly, by basic components of the ionized gas source 18 are means for
thus pulsing the power
supplied to the lamp, the filaments confining a quantity of atmospheric air in a reaction zone in
never cool fully
but remain hot, such that a substantial which the air is exposed to radiation from a suitable ultra- 50 fraction of
energy is UV of less than 180 nm wavelength. violet lamp while simultaneously experiencing one or both
Such
low pressure mercury vapor lamps are further stimu-of electric and magnetic fields, in order to ionize the highest
lated by such pulsating current to emit a substantial fraction possible percentage of the oxygen and nitrogen atoms in
the
0f increased short wavelength ultraviolet energy in the passing airflow.
160-185 nm range, with further components in the 250-265
In the FIGS. 2-5 embodiment, a stream of air is drawn 55 nm range, and with additional wide bandwidth infrared
into a sealed boxlike container 30 through air intake openenergy as well. As noted above, it is generally
understood ings 32 in its lid fitted with glass wool or other filters 34,
that ultraviolet radiation effectively
stimulates ionization of such that an air flow path is established from the air intakes
oxygen, and nitrogen to a
lesser degree, while infrared 32, through an exposure zone in the box 30, to an exit tube
radiation further
stimulates ionization of nitrogen. 44 connected by conduit 29 (FIG. 7) to the venturi eductor 60 Furthermore,
exposure of atmospheric oxygen to radiation 14. Within the box 30 are disposed one or more "low
and electric
and magnetic fields increases the normal para-pressure" mercury vapor ultraviolet lamps 36 each surmagnetism
of the oxygen molecules, increasing the chemi-rounded by a coil 42 providing electric and magnetic fields
cal
activity thereof, particularly while disposed in the elec-above and below the lamp along the lengthwise axis. As is
trie field between the charged metal ion electrodes 52. well known, such lamps emit ionizing ultraviolet radiation
65 Without intending to limit the scope of the claims in the 184 and 254 nm wavelength bands, as well as emitting
appended hereto to any particular theory of operation, it is additional wide bandwidth infrared radiation. The
ultraviolet
believed that a number of distinct ionic species are produced
in the plasma gas source 18, each of which may contribute separately and beneficially to water treatment by oxidation and
coagulation of contaminants, further resulting in disinfection as provided by the system of the invention. In a first reaction,
nitrogen molecules are understood to be ionized 5 and energized by ultraviolet and infrared radiation, and are further energized
by the surrounding electric and magnetic fields, to generate ionized nitrogen and release a free electron according to the
following equation:
10
[N=N]5N=N+-KT
The ionized nitrogen gas thus provided assists in coagulation of waterborne contaminant debris and particles, if any are present;
equally important, this reaction releases an 15 additional free electron (e~) which may further assist in a variety of oxygen gas
generation and ionization reactions.
A further reaction which is thought to occur is the generation of singlet molecular oxygen (C^""") according to the following
equation:
20
[o=o]t50<r5"~oo"Those of skill in the art will recognize that this equation indicates that oxygen ions (0 2~) as well as partially negatively charged
dipoles (02a_), that is, singlet molecular 25 oxygen, are formed in the presence of pulsating ultraviolet radiation and the electric
and magnetic fields provided according to the invention. The negatively charged oxygen ions and partially charged singlet
molecular oxygen stimulate coagulation, oxidation, and/or carboxylation of any 30 particulate debris or contaminants present,
and may oxidize and destruct various contaminant species for removal.
As mentioned, the oxygen and nitrogen ions react with the stream of metallic species added by the electrode unit 20 as discussed
above to form additional specific chemical disin- 35 fectant molecules.
Test results demonstrating the generation of singlet molecular oxygen by apparatus generally as described herein, and the
efficiency of singlet molecular oxygen in water purification according to the invention, are provided in 40 Appendix I, attached
hereto and forming a part of this application. Further test results are available which demonstrate the generation of highly reactive
species of paramagnetic molecular oxygen.
As the ionized oxygen molecules collide with one 45 another, ozone (0 3) is also formed in the plasma. Ozone is known to be
highly reactive and destructive to organic molecules, as discussed in applicant's prior patents referred to above. Further, polar
combinations of two oxygen atoms with one nitrogen atom are also formed, and are also useful 50 in contributing to the
molecular destruction of organic contaminants. Pulsating the lamp current, providing additional UV photon energy in the 160 to
180 nm range, also results in the production of more highly paramagnetic oxygen ions.
55
It can thus be seen that stimulation of the molecules of the atmospheric air by simultaneous exposure to ultraviolet and infrared
radiation of a variety of wavelengths and to electric and/or magnetic field energy promotes the formation of various reactive
species of both nitrogen and oxygen ions, 60 which in turn make a direct contribution to purification of water streams according
to the invention, and also react with one another and with metallic ions, as discussed further below, to provide an additional
disinfectant water treatment effect The free electrons released by ionization of the 65 nitrogen molecules further tend to stimulate
higher ionized states of plasma ion oxygen.
The additional chemical disinfectant compounds which are desirably formed include, but are not limited to, the known
bactericide Ag^M)^, Cu^NO^, known to be algicidal, and the known fungicide and viricide Sn^T^HÔ" - 6. These compounds
may be formed in situ by disposing electrodes 52 of copper, silver, and stannous materials in the proportions desired in the water
stream, as indicated in FIG. 7, and supplying suitable power thereto. Power supply 22 applies DC power, typically 12 volts at one
ampere, across the two electrodes, while the mixed stream of ionized gas and water to be disinfected flows therebetween. An
electric field thus exists between the charged electrodes 52; and the electrodes 52 are sacrificial in that over time their materials
erode away, giving up individual metallic atoms to the water stream. These atoms will be ionized, depending on the charge
applied, and will combine with the nitrogen and oxygen ions in the water stream, having been introduced at inlet 50, to form the
disinfectant compounds mentioned above in situ. However, it is to be understood that other compounds might also be formed,
and that the electrodes may include other metals. Further, it is not necessary to the utility of the invention that the disinfectant
compounds be formed in precise proportions or the like.
As indicated in FIG. 7, the stream of air including plasma, again, a variety of ionized gas atoms and free electrons, is introduced
by conduit 29 into the water stream at 50, just downstream of the throat of venturi 14. The advantage of so doing is that the gas
stream experiences a reduced pressure, i.e., a partial vacuum, and hence will be drawn into and mixed with the water stream,
establishing an air flow path from the air intake 32 (FIG. 2) through the exposure zone to the venturi 14.
In one convenient method of fabrication of the sacrificial ionizer (see FIG. 8), the electrodes 52 may simply be supported in the
water stream by being mechanically fastened to a PVC plastic pipe cap 51 threaded into a tee fitting 53 interposed in the line.
Preferably, the polarity of the DC potential applied to electrodes 52 is reversed at intervals, e.g. on the order of one to two
minutes, so that the rate of sacrifice is even; if the DC polarity were not periodically reversed, one electrode would erode much
faster than the other. The shape of the electrodes, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, wherein a generally semi-circular notch 52a is
formed at the free end of each of the two electrodes 52 in the water stream, is also significant; it has been found that provision of
the notches 52a tends to equalize the rate of sacrificial erosion of the electrode material along the length of the electrodes. In a
prior design, wherein the electrodes were square-ended, the electrode materials tended to be sacrificially eroded from the tips of
the electrodes much more quickly than near their support ends, so that they became tapered over time.
It will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that in many circumstances it is desirable to control the rate of addition of
chemical species to a reaction such that the reaction is stoichiometric, or nearly so. However, stoichi-ometry is not necessary in
the present reaction. The rate of addition of ionized gas atoms in the plasma is estimated to be typically one hundred times the
stoichiometric rate at which the metal atoms of the electrodes are eroded away. The rate of supply of addition of ionized gas is
proportional to the power supplied to the lamp power supplies and coils, while the rate of erosion of the electrodes 52 is
proportional to the rate of supply of current to the electrodes. These rates may be controlled responsive to the amount of
pollutants to be removed from the water stream. Typical gas flow rates in a small to moderate demand installation may be one to
five
CFM, while electrodes weighing on the order of 1 kg each may last six months to a year if 12 VDC is supplied at one ampere.
Where a greater quantity of water is to be disinfected and treated, a second embodiment of the ionized gas source 18 5 according
to the invention may be employed. An example of this embodiment of this element of the invention shown in FIG. 6 includes two
thirty-six-inch 150 watt low pressure mercury vapor ultraviolet lamps 66; lamps 66 and the associated components may be
multiplied according to the to total water treatment and disinfectant demand. Each lamp 66 is located inside a plastic tube 68
sealed at one end 70 and open at the other, to create an air intake 71 which will typically be provided with a filter 73. Within each
plastic tube 68 is a carbon steel tube 72 which serves to support a 15 coil 74 of wire helically wrapped once along the length of
tube 72 parallel to the axis of the UV lamp 66. Accordingly, as indicated in connection with the embodiment of the reactor shown
in FIGS. 2-4, the UV lamp 66 is surrounded by a coil 74 providing an electric and/or magnetic field in the 20 vicinity of the lamp.
Preferably each coil is in series with a corresponding solid state lamp power supply 75, as indicated. Typical 150 watt lamp
power supplies provide pulsating current averaging 180 VAC at 750 milliamps; as above, typically the power is pulsated such
that the voltage 25 and current both periodically increase by 30% from then-average values. The plastic tubes 68 are typically
2Vi" OD, to receive the carbon steel tubes 72, having the coils 74 wrapped therearound, with the UV lamps 66 within the carbon
steel tubes 72 such that an exposure zone is defined 30 within each tube. The upper outlet of each plastic tube 68 is connected to
venturi 14 (FIG. 1), such that an air stream is drawn along an air flow path from the lower ends of the tubes. Air in the exposure
zone is subjected to UV radiation and substantial magnetic and electric fields for a residence 35 time determined by the flow rate
of the air through the tubes. As above, the residence time of the air in the exposure zone defined by the interior of the tubes 72 is
preferably on the order of 1-2 minutes.
In both embodiments of the lamps and power supplies, 40 under certain circumstances, the lamp current can be conveniently
pulsed, providing ignition current to the lamp filaments and generating increased ionizing energy from the lamp. In particular,
where the heater filaments 63 provided at either end of conventional low pressure ultraviolet lamps 45 36 (see FIG. 5) are located
within the magnetic field provided by the corresponding coil, the lamp may be extinguished regularly, e.g. corresponding to the
60 Hz line frequency. This has the effect of causing the heater filaments 63 to be pulsed repetitively and rapidly, and accordingly
to 50 emit a greater proportion of ionizing radiation in the ultraviolet range of 160 to 180 nm wavelength, as well as more
infrared, than if the lamp 36 were steadily lit As noted above, such short-wavelength UV ionizes oxygen very effectively, while
infrared radiation can be particularly use- 55 ful in ionizing nitrogen. As the nitrogen is ionized, free electrons are produced
which may further assist in oxygen gas ionization. Accordingly, there may be water streams wherein the specific configuration of
the lamp and coil combination can desirably be configured to pulse the lamp 60 current, optimizing both oxygen and nitrogen gas
ion production.
The scaling of the components of the system to suit the amount of water to be processed and the amount of water treatment and
disinfection needed thereby responsive to the 65 particular process treatment required is within the skill of the art. In a relatively
small system, two of the twelve-inch, 20
watt lamps of the FIGS. 2-4 embodiment may be provided in container 30, supplying the ionized gas plasma thus produced to a
single venturi, just upstream of a single pair of electrodes. In a system requiring more treatment and disinfection, four of the 20
watt lamps of the FIGS. 2-4 embodiment may be provided in a single container 30, and their output split between two Venturis
and two pairs of electrodes. In an industrial or larger environmental system requiring still higher levels of water treatment and
disinfection, a pair of the much larger 150 watt lamps as shown in FIG. 6 may be employed, and the plasma produced thereby
split between two Venturis feeding two pairs of electrodes. Other modifications are, of course, within the skill of the art.
While a number of preferred embodiments of the invention and alternative configurations thereof have been disclosed, these are
not intended to be limiting of the invention, but merely as exemplary thereof. The invention is to be limited only by the following
claims.
What is claimed is:
1. Apparatus for removing pollutants, impurities, organics, and other undesirable components from a water stream, comprising:
means for defining a stream of atmospheric air;
means for exposing said stream of atmospheric air to ultraviolet radiation including components between 160-185 and 250-265
nm and to infrared radiation of predetermined energy content, while passing said stream of air through coil means connected to
power supply means, such that said stream of air is simultaneously exposed to a magnetic field and to said ultraviolet and infrared
radiation, whereby a stream of air including ionized gas molecules, including ionized oxygen and nitrogen atoms and molecules
is generated;
means for introducing said stream of air including ionized gas molecules to said water stream;
means for providing a stream of ions of elements which, when chemically combined with said ionized gas molecules, form
compounds having one or more of bactericidal, viricidal, algicidal and fungicidal disinfection properties;
means for mixing said water stream, having had said stream of ionized gas molecules introduced thereinto, with said stream of
ions of elements under circumstances such that said compounds are formed in situ and one or more of bacteria, viruses, algae,
and fungi in said water stream are killed; and
means for filtering said water stream after said exposure step, to remove said killed bacteria, viruses, algae, and fungi therefrom.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for mixing said water stream with a stream of ions of elements comprises at
least a pair of oppositely-charged metallic electrodes formed of said elements, and means for directly exposing said water stream
to said electrodes.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said electrodes are formed of stannous, silver, and copper metals, in proportions
selectedresponsive to the characteristics of the water stream.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said stannous, silver, and copper metals of said electrodes are provided in the proportions of
5:10:85 by weight respectively, for treatment of water streams as typically encountered in swimming pool, drinking water,
industrial water purification, and other types of environmental water treatment applications.
5. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising means for applying a DC potential, the polarity of which is reversed at intervals,
across said electrodes.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for denning a stream of atmospheric air comprises means for denning an air
flow path from an intake, through an exposure zone, to a point at which said stream of air is mixed with said water stream, and
wherein said means for exposure of said stream of air to ultraviolet and infrared radiation and said coil means are located in said
exposure zone, whereby a stream of air including ionized gas plasma molecules is generated.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said means for exposure of said air to ultraviolet and infrared radiation comprises an
elongated lamp, and a power supply supplying a pulsed AC drive signal to said lamp, and wherein said coil means substantially
encloses said lamp emitting said radiation.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said pulsation is synchronized to the AC power waveform supplying power to said power
supply means.
9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said coil means comprises a helical coil wrapped lengthwise about a metallic tube enclosing
each said elongated lamp.
10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said coil means comprises a number of spaced metallic wires extending lengthwise along
each said elongated lamp.
11. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a venturi through which said water stream flows, such that said stream
experiences negative relative pressure in the vicinity of said venturi, and conduit means connecting said exposure zone to the
point at which said stream experiences negative relative pressure, such that said stream of ionized gas molecules is drawn into
and mixed with said water stream.
12. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said means for denning an atmospheric air flow path from an intake, through an exposure
zone, to a point at which said air stream is mixed with said water stream comprises a sealed container having an air intake
opening and an exit port, and conduit means connected between said exit port and said point at which said air stream is mixed
with said water stream, said exposure zone being located in said container.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said container comprises one or more elongated tubular members for receiving elongated
lamps emitting said radiation, the intake of said container being located at one end of each said tubular member, and the conduit
means being connected to the opposite end thereof.
14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said container comprises a sealed box for receiving one or more elongated lamps
emitting said radiation, and means for denning an air flow path through said box from an intake to an exit port thereof, located
such that air flowing along said defined flow path is exposed to radiation from said one or more lamps for a predetermined
minimum average residence time.
15. A water treatment and disinfecting system for retrofit applications and the like, comprising:
means for ionizing gas molecules in an atmospheric air stream and supplying said air stream to an outlet,
said means for ionizing gas molecules comprising at least one lamp driven by a first power supply to emit both ultraviolet and
infrared radiation, and at least one coil
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
means connected to a second power supply means to emit a magnetic field, both said lamp and said coil means being disposed in
a container defining an air flow path from an intake to said outlet, said coil means being disposed around at least a portion of said
air flow path, and said at least one lamp being disposed such that a stream of atmospheric air drawn through said container is
simultaneously exposed to radiation from said ionizing lamp and to a magnetic field emitted by said coil means for an average
residence time of at least on the order of one minute, whereby a significant fraction of the oxygen and nitrogen atoms of said air
stream are ionized thereby;
a conduit comprising a venturi, for being interposed in a preexisting water line, said venturi having a throat and an inlet
connected to the outlet of said means for ionizing, said inlet being disposed downstream of the throat of said venturi, whereby
said air stream is drawn into and mixed with water flowing in said water line by negative relative pressure experienced at said
inlet in said venturi;
at least one pair of electrodes disposed in said conduit downstream of said inlet in said venturi, whereby ionized gas molecules in
said air stream having been mixed with said water stream are exposed to said electrodes; and
third power supply means for applying a DC potential across said electrodes.
16. The system of claim 15 wherein plural combinations each of a lamp and a coil means are provided in a single container.
17. The system of claim 15 wherein said lamp is elongated, and said coil means comprises a continuous conductor wrapped
helically around said elongated lamp.
18. The system of claim 15 wherein said lamp is elongated, and said coil means comprises a plurality of individual wires running
generally parallel to the direction of elongation of said elongated lamp.
19. The system of claim 15 wherein the material of said electrodes is selected from stannous, silver, and copper metals,
combinations thereof, and other metals selected responsive to the composition of the water stream to be purified and the material
to be disinfected therein.
20. The system of claim 19 wherein said electrodes each comprise elongated members having one free end exposed to the stream
of water to be treated, and an opposite end connected to said power supply means, and wherein said free end of each electrode is
notched inward in a semicircular concave manner.
21. The system of claim 15, wherein said third power supply means applying DC power to said electrodes is controlled such that
the polarity applied to the electrodes is reversed at intervals on the order of one minute.
22. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said first power supply means for supplying power to said lamp provides pulsed power,
such that said lamp is periodically extinguished and reiUuminated.

Johnson
54] METHOD FOR WATER TREATMENT AND PURD7ICATION USING GAS ION PLASMA SOURCE AND
DISINFECTANT METAL ION COMPLEXES
[76] Inventor: Dennis E. J. Johnson, 8530 Windfall Way, Black Forest, Colo. 80908
[21] Appl. No.: 627,277 [22] Filed:
Apr. 4,1996
Related U.S. Application Data
[63] Continuation-in-part of Set No. 326,339, Oct. 20,1994.
[51] Int CI.6 ........................................................ C02F 1/32
[52] U.S. CI...........................210/748; 210/752; 210/758;
210/764; 205/752; 205/756; 205/760; 250/431; 250/435; 422/23; 422/29
[58] Field of Search .............................204/293; 205/752,
205/756, 760; 210/748, 764, 192, 198.1,
199, 205, 223, 243, 752, 758; 250/431,
435, 438; 422/22. 24, 29,186.07, 186.1,
186.12, 186, 15, 186.3
[56]
References Cited
992,980 5/1911 Patin .......................................210/748
3,186,929 6/1965 Rippie .....................................204/155
3,697,420 10/1972 Blaisdell et al......................... 210/695
4,094,783 6/1978 Jackson .....................................210/97
4,128,788 12/1978 Lowther .................................. 315/176
4,238,326 12/1980 Wolf........................................ 210/695
4,343,707 8/1982 Lucas ...................................... 210/695
4,382,866 5/1983 Johnson .................................. 210/748
4,492,618 1/1985 Eder ........................................204/152
4,562,014 12/1985 Johnson ....................................261/76
4,563,286 1/1986 Johnson et al.......................... 210/721
4,640,782 2/1987 Budeson .................................210/764
4,655,933 4/1987 Johnson et al.......................... 210/721
4,752,401 6/1988 Bodenstein..............................210/764
4,781,805 11/1988 Dahlgten et al........................ 205/760
4,857,204 8/1989 Joklik......................................210/695
4,936,979 6/1990 Brown..................................... 210/192
4,956,080 9/1990 Josefik .................................... 210/109
5,013,417 5/1991 Judd, Jr. .................................. 204/228
5,192,423 3/1993 Duczmaletal........................ 209/164
5,368,705 11/1994 Cassidy ...................................204/293
5,443,719 8/1995 Johnson et al.......................... 210/101
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
478770 7/1929 Germany ............................... 210/223
WO8102685 10/1981 WIPO.
Primary ExaminerPeter A. Hruskoci Attorney, Agent, or FirmMichael de Angeli
[57]
ABSTRACT
A system for disinfecting water streams comprises a source of ionized plasma, that is, a stream of air including ionized oxygen
and nitrogen gas atoms and molecules, ozone, and singlet molecular oxygen, and an additional source of metal ions. The gas
plasma is introduced into the water stream upstream of the metal ion stream to produce a variety of oxidizing, coagulating, and
disinfecting reactions. Further, the metal ions combine with the gas ions to form additionally known disinfectant compounds. The
source of ionized gas molecules is an ultraviolet lamp driven at very high frequency by a pulsated signal and optionally
juxtaposed to a coil providing electric and/or magnetic fields, to excite and ionize oxygen and nitrogen molecules of the air. The
metal ions are provided by sacrificial electrodes comprising alloy members of the metal elements to be provided to the water
stream. A DC potential applied to the electrodes is uniformly reversed at intervals, to encourage sacrificial erosion thereof. The
system may be provided as a retrofit disinfectant, coagulation, and purification plant for swimming pools or like closed loop
domestic or industrial water systems, or used for non-chemical treatment of drinking water and/or non-chemical purification
treatment for environmental water purification and safe discharge applications, replacing chlo-rination and other conventional
chemical coagulation treatments.
METHOD FOR WATER TREATMENT AND
PURIFICATION USING GAS ION PLASMA
SOURCE AND DISINFECTANT METAL ION
COMPLEXES
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 08/326339, filed Oct. 20, 1994.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to apparatus and methods for treating contaminated water while avoiding conventional chemical
treatments. More particularly, the invention provides methods and apparatus for oxidizing and coagulating contaminants in water,
followed by their removal, thus disinfecting the water, while avoiding the introduction of large quantities of toxic chemicals such
as chlorine or polymeric chemical coagulants into the water stream.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The treatment of water to kill biological contaminants, such as algae, bacteria, viruses, and the like, and to coagulate and remove
these pollutants, as well as non-biological particulates, contaminant metals, and the like, and in particular, to disinfect water for
drinking or to "decontaminate" water for safe environmental discharge, has a long history. Nonetheless, the practice of water
treatment continues to evolve as new discoveries are made.
Typical prior practices comprise addition of chlorine to the water stream, to kill bacteria, algae, viruses, and the like, along with
addition of anionic or cationic polymeric coagulants. Electrostatic interaction between the contaminants and the coagulants tends
to coagulate the contaminants into particles large enough to be removed by filtration or settling.
As of the filing of this application, it appears very likely that the practice of chemical chlorination, long the preferred method of
disinfecting drinking, industrial, commercial, and swimming pool water streams and the like, will soon be banned or severely
restricted due to toxicity of chlorine compounds and environmental pollution caused by their use.
Accordingly, a substantial need exists for methods of removing contaminants from water avoiding chlorine or other chemicals
thought to be toxic. More specifically, a need exists for methods of water treatment and disinfection not involving introduction of
chlorine or additional toxic and hazardous chemical treatment substances into the water stream.
Preferably, any water treatment method replacing chlorination and other chemical treatment would be economically practiced,
and apparatus for its practice would be available as a unit for retrofitting systems now employing chlorination and chemical
treatment, such as swimming pool disinfecting systems, commercial drinking water processing plants, and/ or industrial
wastewater treatment systems. In this connection, while the present invention is described herein primarily as a replacement for
chlorination and chemical treatment in connection with swimming pool, drinking water, and/or industrial water streams, and the
like, the present invention may find application in many other water streams where purification and disinfection must be accomplished without chemical and/or coagulant treatments.
The present inventor has been working in the field of purification of contaminated water systems without employment of chlorine
and chemical treatments or the like for
some years. See U.S. Pat Nos. 4,562,286 and 4,655,933 to the present inventor and Scott J. Johnson. These patents both
recognize that a water stream can be purified by introduction of ionized oxygen tending to oxidize various pollutants, and 5 teach
further that ionized oxygen can be produced by exposing atmospheric air to ultraviolet light, particularly in the presence of
permanent magnets.
U.S. Pat No. 4,562,014 to the inventor herein discloses a system for introducing oxidant gases such as ionized oxygen
10
into a water stream. A venturi is employed for dispersing the gas in the liquid stream; thorough mixing of the gas and liquid
streams is encouraged by the drop in pressure after the venturi. The teachings of this patent are employed in the present invention,
as will be apparent from the discussion
15
below.
U.S. Pat. No. 4382,866, also to the present inventor, shows a system for performing electrochemical filtration to remove
flocculated or coagulated pollutants from a contaminated water stream.
20
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/200,749, now U.S. Pat No. 5,443,719, in the name of the present inventor and another, and
copending with the parent Ser. No. 08/326339, discloses further improvements in the removal of contami2, nants from water streams by encouraging flocculation thereof, such that physical separation is then possible. The teachings of
U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,719 may be employed together with the teachings of the present invention where the nature of the
contaminated water stream indicates that
3_ both techniques may be of use.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a system for removal of pollutants, impurities, organics, and 35 other
undesirable components of a water stream, avoiding addition of significant quantities of chlorine and/or other toxic or undesirable
foreign chemical treatment components into the water stream.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a system 40 for the treatment of water wherein disinfectant and coagulating
compounds are formed by reaction in situ, greatly increasing the efficiency of production and employment of such synthesized
disinfecting and coagulating compounds.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus for treatment of water for certain specified process streams, such as
swimming pool filtration and disinfection water streams, drinking water filtration and disinfection water streams, and/or
industrial wastewater streams, and which can be retrofit as a direct replacement for preexisting chlorination or like chemical
treatment equipment
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above objects of the invention and needs of the art,
55 and others which will appear as the discussion below
proceeds, are satisfied by the present invention, which in a
typical embodiment comprises a source of oxygen and
nitrogen ion molecules, as well as increased quantities of
paramagnetic oxygen molecules, thus producing a stream of
60 ionized plasma from the air, a source of a stream of ionized
metal atoms such as copper, silver, and stannous atoms, a
source of free electrons, and means for mixing the streams
of ionized gas, electrons, and ionized metal atoms with the
water stream to be treated. The result is that known disin65 fectant compounds such as the algicide copper nitrate (Cu +
NO~3), the bactericide silver nitrate (AgTSO-^), and the
viricide and fungicide stannous tartrate (Sn++C4H40--fi), are
produced in situ, at high efficiency. Accordingly, algae, bacteria, viruses, and fungi are destroyed by biocidal compounds formed
directly in the water stream. The fact that ions are added to the water stream in quantity encourages electrostatic attraction of the
various contaminant compo- 5 nents and their coagulation, allowing removal by settling or filtration.
In a preferred embodiment, a plasma, that is, a stream of ionized gas molecules, is produced by exposing a stream of atmospheric
air to a lamp emitting both ultraviolet and 10 infrared radiation, while providing one or both of electric and magnetic fields in the
vicinity of the lamp. Preferably, the lamp drive current is pulsated periodically; also preferably, conditions are such that free
electrons are provided as well. The stream of air, including a substantial 15 plasma fraction of paramagnetic oxygen, ionized
oxygen and ionized nitrogen gas molecules, as well as free electrons released by ionization of nitrogen atoms, is introduced into
the water stream by connecting the exposure chamber in which the plasma is formed to an area of low pressure in the 20 water
stream, typically formed by a venturi through which the water stream passes.
Metal ions are added to the water stream, having had the ionized gas molecules introduced thereto, by passing the stream between
electrically charged sacrificial electrodes comprising atoms of the metal ions to be added. In a preferred embodiment, the
electrodes may simply be cast of a mixture of stannous, copper, and silver metals in the desired proportions. A DC voltage, the
polarity of which is alternated at intervals on the order of one or several minutes, 3 is applied across the electrodes, so that an
electric field exists therebetween, causing sacrificial decomposition of the electrodes, and providing further energy driving the
desired reactions. Ionized metal atoms are detached from the elec35
trodes and entrained in the water stream, for immediate synthesis reaction with the ionized molecules of oxygen and nitrogen
entering from the stream of air. The result is that various coagulant and disinfectant compounds are formed in situ in the water,
tending to coagulate and disinfect the various contaminant constituents of the water stream to be treated. The water stream may
then be recirculated in a reactor tank for a period on the order of minutes, to ensure substantially complete coagulation and/or
disinfection, and is then filtered to remove the killed organics as well as any coagulated particulates, flocculated solids, or other
debris.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be better understood if reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:
50
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an overall system for non-chemical treatment of water according to the invention;
FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of an ionized gas source for providing a stream of ionized gas atoms;
55
FIG. 3 shows a cross-section taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of an assembly of an ultraviolet lamp and coil used in one embodiment of the gQ ionized gas
source according to the invention;
FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of circuitry supplying the ultraviolet lamp and coil with electrical power;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view through two identical assemblies of a second embodiment of an ionized gas 65 source, again
comprising a coil surrounding an ultraviolet lamp in an exposure chamber;
FIG. 7 shows a perspective cutaway view of a portion of the system, illustrating the venturi at which the ionized gas stream is
added to the water stream, and the electrodes whereby metal ions are added to the water stream for reaction with the ionized gas
atoms;
FIG. 8 shows a preferred construction of the ion addition system of FIG. 7;
FIGS. 9-11 show a further embodiment of the unit for producing a stream of ionized gas molecules wherein:
FIG. 9 shows a perspective, partly cutaway view,
FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view through a reactor cylinder duct, ultraviolet lamp, and magnetic field applying coil, and
FIG. 11 shows a plan view, and
FIGS. 12-14 show a further embodiment wherein:
FIG. 12 is a perspective view,
FIG. 13 is a partially cutaway plan view, and
FIG. 14 is a section along line 1414 of FIG. 13.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 depicts an overall block diagram view of a typical closed-cycle water system including water treatment according to the
invention, such as environmental decontamination treatment, swimming pool water disinfection systems, industrial water
treatment systems, and the like. As indicated above, the invention may find significant initial wide-spread use in replacement of
presently existing chlorination and chemical coagulation and purification plants for swimming pools, and the invention will be
described in that environment. However, it should be appreciated that the invention has use in treatment of many other sorts of
contaminated water streams as well, including treatment of drinking water, and/or treatment of water prior to environmental
discharge in systems not recycling water.
Referring to FIG. 1, a fixed quantity of water is continually supplied to and removed from an end use 10, such as a swimming
pool, drinking water source, industrial water stream, or any contaminated body of water, from which a stream of water is
periodically withdrawn, treated, disinfected, and reused. According to the invention, a stream 12 of air including a substantial
fraction of ionized oxygen and nitrogen gas molecules and free electrons, or "plasma", is added to the stream of water from the
end use 10 at a venturi eductor 14. The stream 12 of air including ionized gas molecules is provided by an ionized gas source 18
powered by an AC power supply 16. Differing embodiments of the ionized gas source 18 are discussed below in connection with
FIGS. 2-5 and 6.
A stream of metal ions from a source 20 is then introduced into the mixed stream of water from end use 10 and air including
ionized gas molecules from source 18. In one embodiment, detailed below in connection with FIGS. 7 and 8, the source 20 of
metal ions may comprise a pair of charged metallic alloy electrodes 52 exposed directly to the water stream. The electrodes 52
are formed of the metals to be added to the water stream, and are connected to a source 22 of DC potential, the polarity of which
is preferably reversed at intervals on the order of one to several minutes. Accordingly, an electric field exists between the
electrodes 52, which accordingly behave as sacrificial electrodes, i.e., individual metallic atoms of the electrodes enter the water
stream. According to an important aspect of the invention, the ionized metallic atoms from the electrodes 22 chemically react
with the ionized gas molecules of the plasma 12,
largely in the region between and surrounding the electrodes

swirnming pool disinfectant systems, and other types of
52, forming a variety of biocidal disinfectant metal ion
environmental water treatment applications, very conveoompounds, killing various biological agents and organic
nient
substances in the water.
FIGS. 2-5 show a first embodiment of an ionized gas For
example, electrodes suitable for use in swimming 5 source 18 suitable for use in systems having relatively small pool and
typical environmental and/or industrial water treatto moderate water treatment demand. FIGS. 2-4 illustrate ment
applications may comprise stannous, silver, and copper
the physical embodiment of the device, and FIG. 5 shows metals in
the relative proportions 5:10:85 respectively by
typical power supply connections. As indicated above, the weight The plasma
stream 12 of air including ionized atoms
basic components of the ionized gas source 18 are means for may include various
ionized forms of nitrogen, oxygen, 10 confining a quantity of atmospheric air in a reaction zone in ozone, free electrons, and
combinations thereof, as diswhich the air is exposed to radiation from a suitable ultra-cussed further below. The ionized gas
atoms of the plasma
violet lamp while simultaneously experiencing one or both stream 12 react with the oppositely ionized
of
metal ions from
electric and magnetic fields, in order to ionize the highest the electrodes to form a number of beneficial
water treatpossible percentage of the oxygen and nitrogen atoms in the ment compounds. Included in these are Sn^CÔ6,
a 15 Passing airflow.
fc
known viricide and fungicide; Oi^STCr,,, a known algicide;
^ F108- 2~5 embodiment, a stream of air is drawn
into a sealed boxUke
and Ag^Cr3, a known bactericide. Therefore, according to
container 30 through air intake openthe invention, by combining the water stream to be treated
>*& 32lts J*tfitted with glass wool or other arr cleaning
with specific metal ions and an ionized plasma of oxygen
^ ** *** an arr flow path is established from the
and nitrosen pas molecules and electrons algae bacteria
m mtakeS 32 throa h m
'
exposure zone in the box 30, to an
and nitrogen gas molecules and electrons, algae bacteria 20 a& ^ m connected b conduit 29 (FIG 7) t0 ^ venmri
viruses, fungi and other organic contaminants are destroyed
eductor u ^^ fte ^ ^ m ^^ ^ or more ^
in the water stream without addition of undesirable chemi^m
ultraviolet lamps 36 each sur-
cals. Further, as the gas plasma and ions are charged, a

rounded by a mxM-mre strip or "ribbon" (as shown) or a
strong electrostatic coagulant effect is provided. Etfsinfecspiral coil 42 providing electric and magnetic fields to
tion and coagulation according to the invention are accom- 25 energize the atoms of the air in the vicinity of the lamp. As
plished at very high efficiency due to the strong oxidizing
is weji known, such lamps emit ionizing ultraviolet radiation
and coagulation capability of the ionized oxygen/nitrogen
1D. the 184 and 254 nm wavelength bands, as well as emitting
plasma ion gas species. Further, as the disinfectant comadditional wide bandwidth infrared radiation. The ultraviolet
pounds are formed in situ, that is, in the very water stream
radiation is particularly suitable for ionizing oxygen in the
to be treated, no additional mechanical processing or han- 30 air and some fraction of the nitrogen, while the infrared
dling steps or the like are required, simplifying the apparatus
radiation may additionally ionize nitrogen. In the embodirequired, while the ionized gas and metal ions have very
ment shown, each lamp 36 is surrounded by an axial
limited opportunity to recombine or otherwise lose their
multi-wire ribbon 42 typically comprising a number of
disinfectant and coagulant efficiency.
parallel conductors (see FIG. 5), which when energized
After the water stream has been combined with the 35 provide a longitudinal electric and/or magnetic field in the
plasma stream at 14 in close proximity to the electrode
vicinity of the corresponding ionizing lamp 36.
sources of metal ions at 20, the water stream may be stored
As shown in FIG. 4, each ultraviolet lamp 36 may be
in a reactor tank 24 if necessary to provide sufficient
disposed within a hollow plastic cylindrical support tube 38,
retention time for the final disinfectant reactions to be
drilled with holes 40 to aUow ready passage of air. An axial
completed. Typically, reactor tank 24 would only be used in 40 multi-wire ribbon 42 is assembled over the tube 38 and
certain industrial and environmental water treatment applicomprises one or more conductors for carrying a current and
cations and will not be necessary in a swimming pool water
thereby emitting an elongated electric and/or magnetic field
recycling and disinfecting system or the like. The water
m the vicinity of the lamp 36. For example, in the embodistream is then filtered as indicated at 26 to remove the killed
ment 0f FIGS. 4 and 5, the multi-wire ribbon 42 may
organics as well as any coagulated particulates or the like 45 comprise a number of parallel thin (e.g. 22 gauge) stainless
from the water stream, after which the water stream may be
steel wires, spaced from one another by insulative plastic
returned to the end use 10. A pump 28 may be provided to
material woven into a flat ribbon, so that a moderately large
motivate water through the system as needed.
current can be passed from one end of the ribbon to the other.
In a specific example, in order to retrofit a disinfectant
When the lamp 36 is energized and electrical power is system
according to the invention in place of the chlorina- 50 supplied to the wires of the ribbon 42, atmospheric air tion plant of a
conventional swimming pool or drinking
passing through the ribbon 42 is subjected to relatively water treatment system, the
chlorination plant is simply
intense radiation from the lamp, including both short wave-replaced with a venturi eductor
device 14, at which the
length ultraviolet and infrared radiation, and also to an plasma stream 12 is mixed with the water
stream, and a
electric and/or magnetic field due to current flowing in the sacrificial electrode metal ion addition unit 20, at
which the 55 conductors of the ribbon. The proportions of electric and metallic ions are added to the water stream. The
replacement
magnetic field strength are generally responsive to the exact process is quite straightforward and readily
accomplished.
configuration and number of wires of the ribbon. As noted,
In this connection, it will be appreciated that adding the
the longitudinal conductors of the ribbon can be combined
plasma stream 12 at the venturi eductor 14 is highly useful
with or replaced by a helical conductor wound on tubes 38
in that the conduit 29 carrying the plasma stream 12 can be 60 and providing a solenoidal field. The flow rate of air through
connected to the venturi just after the point of minimum
the exposure zone defined by container 30 is controlled such
cross-sectional area, such that the plasma stream will be
that the average residence time of atmospheric air passing in
exposed to a partial vacuum. See FIG. 7. Accordingly, the
the vicinity of the lamp and coil combinations is on the order
ionized plasma gas stream will be drawn into and mixed
of several minutes. A substantial fraction of the oxygen and
thoroughly with the water stream without necessity of an 65 nitrogen molecules of the air in the vicinity of the assembly
additional pump or the like, simplifying and reducing the
of the lamp and ribbon and/or coil are ionized under these
cost of the system and rendering its retrofit to preexisting
conditions.
FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of a typical lamp and ribbon power supply circuit suitable for practice of the invention. As
indicated, AC power is supplied at line connection 16 and the multi-wire ribbon 42 is in series with the lamp power supply 64.
Power supply 64 preferably comprises a solid state power supply providing pulsating "bursts" of current to lamp 36; pulsing the
current results in shorter and more intense UV energy being produced below 180 nm, at wavelengths as short as 160 nm.. In the
embodiment of the invention shown by FIGS. 2-4, up to four twelve-inch 20 watt low pressure mercury vapor lamps may be
provided, each powered by an individual power supply. Each lamp power supply provides pulsating electrical power that
averages 90 volts at 250 milliamps. While 60 Hz current can be supplied directly to the lamps, significantly more radiation is
emitted if much higher frequency (20,000-50, 000 Hz) AC is supplied to the lamp filament. Further preferably, the voltage and
current are both controlled to periodically exceed their average values by at least about 30%. More particularly, the high
frequency power supplied may be modulated by a superimposed signal, such that the maximum amplitude of the high frequency
signal is varied at a much lower frequency. For example, the usual 60 Hz line power can be used as the modulating signal. In this
case, the amplitude of the high frequency signal will be varied between 0 and 100% of its maximum value 120 times per second.
Other rates and waveforms of the modulating signal are within the scope of the invention. For example, if the power supplied to
the lamp is pulsed between 70 and 100% of its maximum value, the lamp filaments never cool fully but remain hot, such that a
substantial fraction of energy is UV photon burst energy of less than 180 nm wavelength. Such low pressure mercury vapor
lamps are further stimulated by such pulsating current to emit a substantial fraction of increased short wavelength ultraviolet
energy in the 160-185 nm range, with further components in the 250-265 nm range, and with additional wide bandwidth infrared
energy as well. As noted above, it is generally understood that ultraviolet radiation effectively stimulates ionization of oxygen,
and nitrogen to a lesser degree, while infrared radiation further stimulates ionization of nitrogen. Furthermore, exposure of
atmospheric oxygen to radiation and electric and magnetic fields increases and intensifies the normal paramagnetism of the
oxygen molecules, increasing the chemical activity thereof, particularly while disposed in the electric field between the charged
metal ion electrodes 52.
Without intending to limit the scope of the claims appended hereto to any particular theory of operation, it is believed that a
number of distinct ionic species are produced in the plasma gas source 18, each of which may contribute separately and
beneficially to water treatment by oxidation and coagulation of contaminants, further resulting in disinfection as provided by the
system of the invention. In a first reaction, nitrogen molecules are understood to be ionized and energized by ultraviolet and
infrared radiation, and are further energized by the surrounding electric and magnetic fields, to generate ionized nitrogen and
release a free electron according to the following equation:
[N=N]5N=N++e-
The ionized nitrogen gas thus provided assists in coagulation of waterborne contaminant debris and particles, if any are present;
equally important, this reaction releases an additional free electron (e~) which may further assist in a variety of oxygen gas
generation and ionization reactions.
A further reaction which is thought to occur is the generation of singlet molecular oxygen (Oj"*") according to the following
equation:
e"+[0=0] *0-CTsatO-Oar-
Those of skill in the art will recognize that this equation indicates that oxygen ions (0 2~) as well as partially negatively charged
dipoles (02a~), that is, singlet molecular oxygen, and free electrons, are formed in the presence of
10 pulsating ultraviolet radiation and the electric and magnetic fields provided according to the invention. The negatively charged
oxygen ions and partially charged singlet molecular oxygen stimulate coagulation, oxidation, and/or carboxyla-tion of any
particulate debris or contaminants present, and
15 may oxidize and destruct various contaminant species for removal, including the oxidation and destruction of bacteria and
virus.
As mentioned, the oxygen and nitrogen ions react with the stream of metallic species added by the electrode unit 20 as
20 discussed above to form additional specific chemical disinfectant molecules.
Test results demonstrating the generation of singlet molecular oxygen by apparatus generally as described herein, and the
efficiency of singlet molecular oxygen in
25 water purification according to the invention, are provided in Appendix I, attached hereto and forming a part of this
application. Further test results are available which demonstrate the generation of highly reactive species of paramagnetic
molecular oxygen.
30 As the ionized oxygen molecules collide with one another, ozone (0 3) is also formed in the plasma. Ozone is known to be
highly reactive and destructive to organic molecules, as discussed in applicant's prior patents referred to above. Further, polar
combinations of two oxygen atoms
35 with one nitrogen atom are also formed, and are also useful in contributing to the molecular destruction of organic
contaminants. Pulsating the lamp current, providing additional UV photon energy in the 160 to 180 nm range, also results in the
production of more highly paramagnetic oxy40 gen ions.
It can thus be seen that stimulation of the molecules of the atmospheric air by simultaneous exposure to ultraviolet and infrared
radiation of a variety of wavelengths and to electric and/or magnetic field energy promotes the formation of
45 various reactive species of both nitrogen and oxygen ions, which in turn make a direct contribution to purification of water
streams according to the invention, and also react with one another and with metallic ions, as discussed further below, to provide
an additional disinfectant water treatment
50 effect. The free electrons released by ionization of the nitrogen molecules further tend to stimulate higher ionized states of
plasma ion oxygen.
The additional chemical disinfectant compounds which are desirably formed include, but are not limited to, the
55 known bactericide AgÔ^, Cu+NO_3, known to be algicidal, and the known fungicide and viricide Sn^CyÔ --6. These
compounds may be formed in situ by disposing metallic electrodes 52 of copper, silver, and stannous materials in the proportions
desired in the water stream, as indicated in FIG. 7, and supplying suitable power thereto. Power supply 22 applies DC power,
typically 12 volts at one ampere, across the two electrodes, while the mixed stream of ionized gas and water to be disinfected
flows therebetween. An electric field thus exists between the charged electrodes 52; and the electrodes 52 are sacrificial in that
over time their materials erode away, giving up individual metallic atoms to the water stream. These atoms will be ionized,
depending on
60
65
the charge applied, and will combine with the nitrogen and oxygen ions in the water stream, having been introduced at inlet 50, to
form the disinfectant compounds mentioned above in situ. However, it is to be understood that other compounds might also be
formed, and that the electrodes 5 may include other metals. Further, it is not necessary to the utility of the invention that the
disinfectant compounds be formed in precise proportions or the like.
More specifically, and as set forth more fully in copending Ser. No. 08/627,278 (Attorney's Docket DJ-10) the metals 10 of the
electrodes may also include manganese, so that the permanganate ion (Mn0 4~) is formed. Electrodes of 80 weight % Mn, balance
silver are useful Up to 10.0 weight % silica may also be added to the melt of the electrode metals prior to casting. The addition of
silica allows the 15 molten metals to mix more readily, easing casting, has a catalyst effect in that it appears to aid in more
uniform sacrificial loss of the electrode materials in use, and appears to render the disinfection process more efficient As little as
0.25-1.0 weight % silica is useful in easing the casting 20 process, depending on the other materials in the melt
As indicated in FIG. 7, the stream of air including plasma, again, a variety of ionized gas atoms and free electrons, is introduced
by conduit 29 into the water stream at 50, just downstream of the throat of venturi 14. The advantage of so 25 doing is that the
gas stream experiences a reduced pressure, i.e., a partial vacuum, and hence will be drawn into and mixed with the water stream,
establishing an air flow path from the air intake 32 (FIG. 2) through the exposure zone to the venturi 14.
30
In one convenient method of supporting the sacrificial electrodes 52 in the water stream, the electrodes are mechanically fastened
to a PVC plastic pipe cap 51 threaded into a tee fitting 53 interposed in the line (see FIG. 8).
Preferably, the polarity of the DC potential applied to 35 electrodes 52 is reversed at intervals, e.g. on the order of one to two
minutes, so that the rate of sacrifice is even; if the DC polarity were not periodically reversed, one electrode would erode much
faster than the other. The shape of the electrodes, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, wherein a 40 generally semi-circular notch 52a
is formed at the free end of each of the two electrodes 52 in the water stream, is also significant; it has been found that provision
of the notches 52a tends to equalize the rate of sacrificial erosion of the electrode material along the length of the electrodes, par45 ticularly when at least 0.25-1 weight % silica is added. In a prior design, wherein the electrodes were square-ended, and no
silica was added, the electrode materials tended to be sacrificially eroded from the tips of the electrodes much more quickly than
near their support ends, so that they 50 became tapered over time.
FIGS. 9-11 show a further embodiment for producing an ionized gas plasma. In this embodiment, two ultraviolet lamps 100 are
provided, each within tubular duct members 102 which may serve additional functions, depending on 55 their exact structure. In
the embodiment shown, as illustrated by the cross-sectional view of FIG. 10, the ultraviolet lamp 100 is in the center of the
cylindrical duct assembly 102. In this embodiment, the duct assembly comprises an inner plastic tube 104 and an outer plastic
tube 106. Sup- 60 ported therebetween is a member 108 for applying a magnetic field within the duct 102. As described above in
connection with FIG. 4, this member 108 may comprise a multi-wire ribbon consisting of a number of parallel wires spaced from
one another by woven plastic web material, as 65 shown in partial cutaway view in FIG. 11. The wires of this material can then
be connected in parallel to one another
across a power supply for applying an appropriate magnetic field, all as discussed generally above. A spiral wound wire coil may
also or additionally be disposed between inner and outer tubes 104, 106 and connected to a suitable power supply for providing a
solenoidal magnetic field. The combination of the strip ribbon and the solenoid wire wound coil affords an intense magnetic field
to stimulate the ionizing of atoms in the gas stream.
In the embodiment of FIG. 9, air enters a sealed container 110 through one or more inlet openings 112 provided with filter
material 114, as indicated by arrow 116. The air is removed from the container 110 via an outlet tube 118 which is connected by a
tee fitting 120 to the interior of the duct members 102, as shown in FIG. 11. Outlet tube 118 is connected to a venturi eductor or
the like for drawing vacuum, as above, so as to draw ambient air through the inlet 112 and the duct members 102, and out
through the tee fitting 120. While the air within duct members 102 is exposed to the ultraviolet lamps 100, a substantial fraction
of the gas atoms thereof are ionized; specifically, ionized oxygen atoms and molecules, including singlet molecular oxygen,
ionized nitrogen, and ozone are formed by exposure to UV, and, if provided, to a magnetic field.
The lamps 100 are supplied with power by suitable power, supplies 122. The power supplies 122 are connected in series with the
filaments of the lamps as shown, and are also in series with metal plates 124, disposed in each corner of container 110. The plates
124 can be straight as shown in FIG. 11, or curved as shown in FIG. 9. The effect of connecting plates 124 in series with the
power supplies as shown is that airborne dust tends to be attracted to the charged plates 124. The dust is thus prevented from
settling on the lamps and attenuating the radiation emitted thereby.
As also shown schematically in FIG. 11, conventional fluorescent lamp starters 126 are also in series with the ultraviolet lamps
110 and power supplies 122. While conventional starters as depicted are functional, modern solid state starters are a better choice
for reasons of economy.
In the preferred embodiment, power supplies 122 provide high frequency AC power to the lamps, e.g., between about 20,00050,000 Hz, 500-1500 ma, and 50-150 V. The current may simultaneously be pulsated at a much lower frequency, as discussed.
Use of these very high frequency pulsed power supplies provides substantial additional ultraviolet radiation at a relatively small
cost in lamp life, with no additional energy costs. A particularly useful combination of power characteristics is 80 V, 800 ma, and
40,000-45,000 Hz. Lamps 100 may be those sold as 30 watt ultraviolet ionizing lamps. It will be apparent that the power applied
thereto according to this aspect of the invention is well over 30 watts, which of course is the reason for the somewhat reduced
lamp life. However, in view of the very significant additional energy output by the lamps (estimated to be 30-50% higher), it is in
fact good economic sense to operate at the higher voltage, current, and frequency mentioned. The same improvements in lamp
power supply, particularly the use of very high frequency pulsated AC, can be employed in connection with the other
embodiments of plasma gas generators discussed herein. Ionization of nitrogen in particular is increased by pulsation of the UV
lamp power supplies, particularly when a magnetic field is also applied.
In the event it is desired to apply a magnetic field to the gas in ducts 102 by way of supplying power to the parallel wires in
insulative mesh 108 and/or to solenoidal wire coils wrapped around ducts 102, here 115 V AC is suitable. A separate power
supply 123 is of course required for this
purpose. Magnetic fields of up to 25,000-100,000 gauss may thus be generated. As the magnetic field is increased, the percentage
of the gas atoms ionized increases similarly.
In a further alternative, the inside surfaces of the duct members 102 may be mirrored to reflect the ultraviolet 5 radiation into the
air until it is fully absorbed, thus increasing the efficiency of ionization due to complete utilization of the ultraviolet radiation.
The mirroring can be a metallic coating provided on the interior of the tubes 102, a thin sheet of stainless steel or other reflective
sheet metal formed into a tube, and disposed within a plastic tube 102, or stainless to steel tubing or the equivalent provided as
duct member 102. Each of these alternatives is considered to be within the scope of the invention.
FIGS. 12-14 show a further embodiment of the invention and several alternatives thereof. In particular, FIGS. 12-14 15 show a
particularly convenient method of mounting the duct members 130 which surround respective ultraviolet lamps 132. As above,
duct members 130 may be clear plastic tubes, may have mirrored surfaces, and may also support coils indicated at 141, for
applying a magnetic field to air within the ducts 130. The lamps 132 are concentric within their respective ducts 130, and the
entire assembly is disposed within a container 134, generally as discussed above. Air entering container 134 through an air inlet
136 and exiting through an exit tube 138 connected to the interiors of the tubes 130 is constrained to flow through duct members
130. 25 More specifically, the air is constrained to remain in the duct members 130 for a period of time (e.g., 30-120 seconds)
sufficient that substantial numbers of ions of atomic and molecular oxygen, ionized nitrogen, and ozone, as above, are formed.
Power supplies as above are provided to drive 30 the lamps and energize the coils.
The ultraviolet lamps 132 are conventionally supplied with four stainless steel spring wire connectors 140; two connectors are in
series with each of two filaments, one filament at either end of each lamp. These spring connector 35 members 140 are normally
sufficiently durable that they can serve as the entire support of the lamps 142. Alternatively, a metallic bracket 142 having a hole
144 therein for receiving insulative terminations of each end of lamps 132 can be secured to the end of the cylindrical duct 130 as
indicated in FIG. 12, to provide a more positive support for lamps 132. If used, brackets 142 would be provided at each end of
each lamp.
The cylindrical ducts 130 may be conveniently supported within the container 134 as shown. Short sections 146 of fiberglass
channel section material, which is commercially 45 available and relatively inexpensive, securely cradle each duct 130, and are
secured to a longer section of the same material 148 by sheet metal screws 150 or the like. Ducts 130 can be secured to the short
sections 146 of the channel material by flexible plastic members having integral buckle 50 members 152, e.g., those commonly
sold as "Zip-ties" for securing electrical wires and the like. The embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 12-14 can thus be
assembled with essentially no custom parts whatsoever, and using only very simple tools, and is therefore admirably suited for 55
low-cost implementation of the invention, broadening its applicability to all sorts of water streams requiring disinfection
according to the invention.
It will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that in many circumstances it is desirable to control the rate of addition of
chemical species to a reaction such that the m reaction is stoichiometric, or nearly so. However, stoichi-ometry is not necessary in
the present reaction. The rate of addition of ionized gas atoms in the plasma is estimated to be typically one hundred times the
stoichiometric rate at which the metal atoms of the electrodes are eroded away. 65 The rate of supply of addition of ionized gas is
proportional to the power supplied to the lamp power supplies and coils,
while the rate of erosion of the metallic sacrificial electrodes 52 is proportional to the rate of supply of current to the electrodes.
These rates may be controlled responsive to the composition and amount of pollutants to be removed from the water stream.
Typical gas flow rates in a small to moderate demand installation may be one to five CFM, while electrodes weighing on the
order of 0.5-1 kg each may last six months to a year if 12 VDC is supplied at not more than one ampere.
Where a greater quantity of water is to be disinfected and treated, a further embodiment of the ionized gas source 18 according to
the invention may be employed. An example of this embodiment of this element of the invention shown in FIG. 6 includes two
thirty-six-inch 50 watt low pressure mercury vapor ultraviolet lamps 66; lamps 66 and the associated components may be
multiplied according to the total water treatment and disinfectant demand. Each lamp 66 is located inside a plastic tube 68 sealed
at one end 70 and open at the other, to create an air intake 71 which will typically be provided with a filter 73. Within each plastic
tube 68 is a carbon steel tube 72 which serves to support a solenoidal coil 74 of wire helically wrapped once along the length of
tube 72 parallel to the axis of the UV lamp 66. Accordingly, as indicated in connection with the embodiment of the reactor shown
in FIGS. 2-4, the UV lamp 66 is surrounded by a solenoidal coil 74 providing an electric and/or magnetic field in the vicinity of
the lamp. Preferably each coil is in series with a corresponding solid state lamp power supply 75, as indicated. 50 watt lamp
power supplies providing pulsating current averaging 180 VAC at 750 milliamps may be used; as above, preferably highfrequency AC power is provided, and pulsated such that the voltage and current both periodically increase by at least 30% from
their average values. The plastic tubes 68 are typically 2Vi" OD, to receive the carbon steel tubes 72, having the solenoid coils 74
wrapped therearound, with the UV lamps 66 within the carbon steel tubes 72 such that an exposure zone is defined within each
tube. The upper outlet of each plastic tube 68 is connected to venturi 14 (FIG. 1), such that an air stream is drawn along an air
flow path from the lower ends of the tubes. Air in the exposure zone is subjected to UV radiation and substantial magnetic and
electric fields for a residence time determined by the flow rate of the air through the tubes. As above, the residence time of the air
in the exposure zone defined by the interior of the tubes 72 is preferably on the order of 1-2 minutes.
As noted, in each of the embodiments of the lamps and power supplies, under certain circumstances, the lamp current can be
conveniently pulsed, providing ignition current to the lamp filaments and generating increased ionizing energy from the lamp. In
particular, where the heater filaments 63 provided at either end of conventional low pressure ultraviolet lamps 36 (see FIG. 5) are
located within the magnetic field provided by the corresponding coil, the lamp may be extinguished regularly, e.g. corresponding
to the 60 Hz line frequency. This has the effect of causing the heater filaments 63 to be pulsed repetitively and rapidly, and
accordingly to emit a greater proportion of ionizing radiation in the ultraviolet range of 160 to 180 nm wavelength, as well as
more infrared, than if the lamp 36 were steadily lit. As noted above, such short-wavelength UV ionizes oxygen very effectively,
while infrared radiation can be particularly useful in ionizing nitrogen. As the nitrogen is ionized, free electrons are produced
which may further assist in oxygen gas ionization. Accordingly, there may be water streams with higher contamination levels
wherein the specific configuration of the lamp and coil combination can desirably be configured to pulse the lamp current,
optimizing both oxygen and nitrogen gas ion production.
The scaring of the components of the system to suit the amount of water to be processed and the amount of water
treatment and disinfection needed thereby responsive to the particular process treatment required is within the skill of the art. In a
relatively small system, two of the twelve-inch, 20 watt lamps of the FIGS. 2-4 embodiment may be provided in container 30,
supplying the ionized gas plasma thus 5 produced to a single venturi, just upstream of a single pair of electrodes. In a system
requiring more treatment and disinfection, four of the 20 watt lamps of the FIGS. 2-4 embodiment may be provided in a single
container 30, and their output split between two Venturis and two pairs of electrodes. The units of FIGS. 9-11 may likewise by
multiplied as desirable responsive to the water stream to be processed. In an industrial or larger environmental system requiring
still higher levels of water treatment and disinfection, a pair of the much larger 50 watt lamps as shown in FIG. 6 may be
employed, and the plasma produced 15 thereby split between two Venturis feeding two pairs of metallic sacrificial electrodes.
Other modifications are, of course, within the skill of the art.
While a number of preferred embodiments of the invention and alternative configurations thereof have been 20 disclosed, these
are not intended to be limiting of the invention, but merely as exemplary thereof. The invention is to be limited only by the
following claims.
What is claimed is:
1. A method for removing pollutants, impurities, organics, 2s and other undesirable components from a water stream, comprising
the steps of:
defining a stream of atmospheric air;
passing said stream of atmospheric air through an exposure zone including a source of ultraviolet radiation 30 including
components between 160-185 and 250-265 nm wavelength, said air stream in said exposure zone passing through the interior of
conductive coil means connected to power supply means for emitting one or both of electric and magnetic fields, whereby a
stream 35 of air including a substantial fraction of ionized gas molecules is generated;
introducing said stream of air including ionized gas molecules to said water stream;
providing a stream of ions of elements which, when chemically combined with the ions of said stream of ionized gas molecules,
form compounds having one or more of bactericidal, viricidal, algicidal and fungicidal disinfection properties;
mixing said water stream, having had said stream of air including ionized gas molecules introduced thereinto, with said stream of
ions of elements, under conditions such that one or more of said compounds are formed in situ, and such that one or more of
bacteria, viruses, 50 algae, and fungi in said water stream are killed; and
filtering said water stream after said mixing step, to remove said killed bacteria, viruses, algae, and fungi therefrom.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said water stream is 55 mixed with said stream of ions of elements by exposing said water
stream to charged metallic sacrificial electrodes formed of said elements.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein said sacrificial electrodes comprise two or more of stannous, silver, manganese, and copper
metals, in proportions selected responsive to the undesired components of the water stream.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the stannous, silver, and copper metals of said electrodes are provided in the approximate
proportions of 5:10:85 respectively by weight
5. The method of claim 3, where between about 0.25-10 65 weight % silica is added to the metals of said electrodes.
6. The method of claim 3, wherein the ionized gas molecules formed include one or more of 0 2-, N2+, 02, and 03 ions, whereby
one or more of CuNO-3 algicide, Ag+NO-3 bactericide and Sa++C4U40-6 fungicide and viri-cide disinfectant compounds are
formed.
7. The method of claim 2, wherein at least two said electrodes are provided, and a DC potential, the polarity of which is reversed
at intervals, is applied across said electrodes.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein current at approximately one ampere and 12 VDC is applied across said electrodes, and
comprising the further step of reversing the polarity of said current at intervals on the order of two minutes.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein said water stream is passed through a venturi, producing a reduced pressure point downstream
thereof, and said stream of air including ionized gas molecules is introduced at or near said reduced pressure point.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein said stream of air is further exposed to infrared radiation in said exposure zone.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein both said ultraviolet and said infrared radiation are generated by an ultraviolet lamp,
powered by a power supply applying AC to said ultraviolet lamp, and said method further comprising the step of ducting air so as
to remain in the vicinity of said lamp for exposure to said ultraviolet radiation for at least a predetermined average exposure time.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein said power supply supplies AC current at 20,000-50,000 Hz.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein said AC power applied to said lamp is further pulsated at a relatively low frequency.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein said air being exposed to ultraviolet radiation is further exposed to one or both of electric and
magnetic fields by application of a suitable alternating-current drive signal to said conductive coil means, said coil means
substantially enclosing one or more elongated lamps emitting said radiation.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein said conductive coil means comprises a helical coil wrapped lengthwise about a metallic
tube enclosing each said elongated lamp.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein said conductive coil means comprises a number of spaced metallic wires extending
lengthwise along each said elongated lamp.
17. A method for disinfecting a water stream, comprising the steps of:
providing a container having an inlet for inlet of air and an outlet for outlet of air, otherwise being sealed, and having an
ultraviolet lamp driven at 50-150 V, 500-1500 ma and 20,000-50,000 Hz mounted therein,
drawing a stream of atmospheric air into said container through said inlet for exposure to ultraviolet radiation from said lamp,
such that a fraction of oxygen and nitrogen molecules of said air stream are ionized; and
mixing said stream of air with said ionized oxygen and nitrogen molecules therein with said water stream;
wherein metallic plates are disposed within said container and connected in series between a power supply driving said lamp and
filaments of said lamp, such that said metallic plates attract dust therefrom within said sealed container.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein said power supply means for supplying power to said lamp provides pulsed power.
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United States Patent [i<q

204/152, 293; 210/748, 764, 192, 198.1,

atmospheric air to a lamp emitting both ultraviolet and

ing to the invention, such as environmental decontamination

infrared radiation, while providing one or both of electric

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED

Further, as the disinfectant compounds are formed in situ,

thoroughly with the water stream without necessity of an

United States Patent m

FIG. 3 shows a cross-section taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2;

largely in the region between and surrounding the electrodes

exposure zone in the box 30, to an

cals. Further, as the gas plasma and ions are charged, a

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