Fluid treatment system

Abstract

There is described a fluid treatment system which may which may be used with radiation sources that do not require a protective sleeve—e.g., excimer radiation sources. An advantage of the present fluid system treatment is that the radiation sources may be removed from the fluid treatment zone without necessarily having to shut down the fluid treatment system, remove the fluid, break the seals which retain fluid tightness, replace/service radiation source and than reverse the steps. Instead, the present fluid treatment system allows for service/replacement of the radiation sources in the fluid treatment zone during operation of the fluid treatment system.

1 . A fluid treatment system comprising:
 an inlet;   an outlet;   a fluid treatment zone disposed between the inlet and the outlet;   at least one elongate excimer radiation lamp assembly disposed in the fluid treatment zone, the excimer radiation lamp comprising an annular cross-section to define an elongate passageway aligned with a longitudinal axis of the lamp assembly; and   a guide element disposed in the elongate passageway.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid treatment system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the guide element also functions as an electrode for operation of the radiation lamp assembly thereby avoiding the need to disconnect the electrical connection to the radiation lamp assembly during service. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid treatment system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the guide element functions as part of the cooling circuit thereby avoiding the need to disconnect cooling during service of the radiation lamp assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid treatment system defined in  claim 2 , wherein the guide element comprises a securing element for retention of the radiation lamp assembly in the fluid treatment zone. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid treatment system defined in  claim 2 , wherein the guide element is removably engageable with respect to the fluid treatment zone to allow for service of the radiation lamp assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid treatment system defined in  claim 2 , wherein the guide element is configured to be retained during treatment of fluid in the fluid treatment zone. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid treatment system defined in  claim 2 , wherein the guide element is configured to be retained during service of the radiation lamp assembly. 
     
     
         8 . A fluid treatment system comprising:
 a fluid treatment zone;   at least one elongate excimer radiation lamp assembly disposed in the fluid treatment zone, the excimer radiation lamp assembly comprising: an elongate member having an annular cross-section to define an elongate passageway aligned with a longitudinal axis of the lamp assembly and an electrode element in electrical connection with at least a portion of the elongate passageway; and   at least one grounding element disposed exteriorly of the elongate member   wherein the at least one grounding element performs at least one further function.   
     
     
         9 . The fluid treatment system defined in  claim 8 , wherein the at least one further function is one or more of: cooling, parameter sensing, cooling fluid transfer, hydraulic fluid transfer, tensioning, electrical connection, locating, compressive loading and wiper drive. 
     
     
         10 . An excimer radiation lamp assembly comprising:
 a mounting element for mounting the lamp assembly in a fluid treatment system;   an elongate member having an annular cross-section to define an elongate passageway aligned with a longitudinal axis of the lamp assembly secured to the mounting element;   an electrode element in electrical connection with at least a portion of the elongate passageway; and   at least one grounding element disposed exteriorly of the elongate member connected to the mounting element and being electrically insulated with respect to the electrode element.   
     
     
         11 . The excimer radiation lamp assembly defined in  claim 10 , wherein the at least one grounding element is configured to perform at least one further function. 
     
     
         12 . The excimer radiation lamp assembly defined in  claim 11 , wherein the at least one further function is selected from: cooling, parameter sensing, cooling fluid transfer, hydraulic fluid transfer, tensioning, electrical connection, locating, compressive loading and wiper drive. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid treatment system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the fluid treatment zone is configured to receive a pressurized flow of fluid. 
     
     
         14 . The fluid treatment system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the fluid treatment zone is configured to receive a non-pressurized flow of fluid. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid treatment system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the fluid treatment zone is open with respect to a flow of fluid therethrough. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid treatment system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the fluid treatment zone comprises a closed cross-section with respect to a flow of fluid therethrough. 
     
     
         17 . The fluid treatment system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the radiation source assembly comprises a radiation excimer lamp. 
     
     
         18 . The fluid treatment system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the radiation source assembly comprises a light emitting diode (LED) lamp. 
     
     
         19 . The fluid treatment system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the radiation source assembly comprises a low pressure UV radiation lamp. 
     
     
         20 . The fluid treatment system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the radiation source assembly comprises a medium pressure UV radiation lamp. 
     
     
         21 . The fluid treatment system defined in  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of radiation source assemblies disposed in the fluid treatment zone.