Systems and methods for performing the bacterial disinfection of a fluid using point radiation sources
A system for disinfecting a fluid, including: a flow cell including one or more inlet ports and one or more outlet ports, wherein the flow cell is configured to communicate a fluid containing a biological contaminant from the one or more inlet ports to the one or more outlet portions 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; and 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 throughout the interior portion of the flow cell. In one exemplary embodiment, the flow cell is an integrating sphere. Optionally, the system also includes a photocatalyzing material disposed on at least a portion of the interior surface of the flow cell.
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 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 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 1 , further comprising a photocatalyzing material disposed on at least a portion of the interior surface of the flow cell.
5. 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.
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 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 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 8 , further comprising providing a photocatalyzing material disposed on at least a portion of the interior surface of the flow cell.
12. 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.
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 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 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.