Systems and methods for performing the bacterial disinfection of a fluid using point radiation source

1. A system for disinfecting a fluid, comprising:

a flow cell comprising one or more inlet ports and one or more outlet ports, wherein the flow cell is configured to communicate a fluid from the one or more inlet ports to the one or more outlet ports through an interior portion thereof; and

one or more point radiation sources disposed about the flow cell, wherein the one or more point radiation sources are operable for delivering radiation to the fluid;

wherein an interior surface of the flow cell is operable for reflecting the radiation delivered to the fluid by the one or more point radiation sources;

wherein the flow cell is an integrating spherical cavity comprising curved and concaved opposed interior surfaces without internal corners and with all interior points visible from all other interior points;

wherein the one or more point radiation sources are disposed about a periphery of the integrating cavity;

wherein the interior surface is a Lambertian reflectance material having a reflectance of 90% or more and is operable for reflecting the radiation delivered to the fluid by the one or more point radiation sources and creating a diffuse source from the radiation such that a radiation intensity is uniform and independent of direction throughout the entire interior portion of the flow cell when the flow cell is filled with a substantially or partially transparent medium and the one or more point radiation sources are small in area as compared to the interior surface area of the flow cell, and a radiation energy level is equal to or less than that of the one or more point radiation sources; and

wherein the interior surface and interior portion define a single flow cell corresponding to the entire integrating cavity.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more point radiation sources comprise one or more of one or more semiconductor optical sources, one or more light-emitting diode optical sources, one or more ultraviolet optical sources, and one or more deep-ultraviolet optical sources.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more mechanical baffles or stirring mechanisms disposed within the interior portion of the flow cell for selectively modifying a flow of the fluid therethrough.

4. The system of claim 3 , further comprising a photocatalyzing material disposed on at least a portion of a surface of the one or more mechanical baffles or stirring mechanisms.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a photocatalyzing material disposed on at least a portion of the interior surface of the flow cell.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a controller operable for selectively activating/deactivating the one or more point radiation sources.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a controller operable for selectively controlling the residence time of the fluid in the interior portion of the flow cell.

8. A method for disinfecting a fluid, comprising:

providing a flow cell comprising one or more inlet ports and one or more outlet ports, wherein the flow cell is configured to communicate a fluid from the one or more inlet ports to the one or more outlet ports through an interior portion thereof; and

providing one or more point radiation sources disposed about the flow cell, wherein the one or more point radiation sources are operable for delivering radiation to the fluid;

wherein an interior surface of the flow cell is operable for reflecting the radiation delivered to the fluid by the one or more point radiation sources;

wherein the flow cell is an integrating spherical cavity comprising curved and concaved opposed interior surfaces without internal corners and with all interior points visible from all other interior points;

wherein the one or more point radiation sources are disposed about a periphery of the integrating cavity;

wherein the interior surface is a Lambertian reflectance material having a reflectance of 90% or more and is operable for reflecting the radiation delivered to the fluid by the one or more point radiation sources and creating a diffuse source from the radiation such that a radiation intensity is uniform and independent of direction throughout the entire interior portion of the flow cell when the flow cell is filled with a substantially or partially transparent medium and the one or more point radiation sources are small in area as compared to the interior surface area of the flow cell, and a radiation energy level is equal to or less than that of the one or more point radiation sources; and

wherein the interior surface and interior portion define a single flow cell corresponding to the entire integrating cavity.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the one or more point radiation sources comprise one or more of one or more semiconductor optical sources, one or more light-emitting diode optical sources, one or more ultraviolet optical sources, and one or more deep-ultraviolet optical sources.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising providing one or more mechanical baffles or stirring mechanisms disposed within the interior portion of the flow cell for selectively modifying a flow of the fluid therethrough.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising providing a photocatalyzing material disposed on at least a portion of a surface of the one or more mechanical baffles or stirring mechanisms.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising providing a photocatalyzing material disposed on at least a portion of the interior surface of the flow cell.

13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising providing a controller operable for selectively activating/deactivating the one or more point radiation sources.

14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising providing a controller operable for selectively controlling the residence time of the fluid in the interior portion of the flow cell.

15. A system for disinfecting a fluid, comprising:

a flow cell comprising one or more inlet ports and one or more outlet ports, wherein the flow cell is configured to communicate a fluid comprising a biological contaminant from the one or more inlet ports to the one or more outlet ports through an interior portion thereof; and

one or more point radiation sources disposed about the flow cell, wherein the one or more point radiation sources are operable for delivering radiation to the biological contaminant;

wherein an interior surface of the flow cell is operable for reflecting the radiation delivered to the biological contaminant by the one or more point radiation sources;

wherein the interior surface of the flow cell is operable for reflecting the radiation delivered to the biological contaminant by the one or more point radiation sources such that a radiation intensity is uniform and independent of direction throughout the interior portion of the flow cell when the flow cell is filled with a substantially or partially transparent medium and the one or more point radiation sources are small in area as compared to the interior surface area of the flow cell;

wherein the flow cell is an integrating spherical cavity comprising curved and concaved opposed interior surfaces without internal corners and with all interior points visible from all other interior points;

wherein the one or more point radiation sources are disposed about a periphery of the integrating cavity;

wherein the interior surface is a Lambertian reflectance material having a reflectance of 95% or more and is operable for reflecting the radiation delivered to the fluid by the one or more point radiation sources and creating a diffuse source from the radiation such that a radiation energy level is equal to or less than that of the one or more point radiation sources; and

wherein the interior surface and interior portion define a single flow cell corresponding to the entire integrating cavity.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the one or more point radiation sources comprise one or more of one or more semiconductor optical sources, one or more light-emitting diode optical sources, one or more ultraviolet optical sources, and one or more deep-ultraviolet optical sources.

17. The system of claim 15 , further comprising a photocatalyzing material disposed on at least a portion of the interior surface of the flow cell.