Fluid disinfection apparatus and methods

Abstract

Aspects of exemplary fluid disinfection apparatus and methods are described. One aspect is a disinfection apparatus comprising a body comprising a reflecting chamber, a fluid channel to direct a fluid into reflecting chamber, and radiation source positioned to output a disinfecting radiation into the chamber. The body may include an inlet and outlet. For example, the inlet may extend through the body to receive a fluid at a first velocity; the reflecting chamber may extend along an axis of the body; and the outlet may extend through an end of the reflecting chamber to discharge the fluid from the body. In this example, the fluid channel may direct the fluid from the inlet into the reflecting chamber at a second velocity smaller than the first velocity; and the radiation source may be positioned to output the disinfecting radiation into the reflecting chamber toward the outlet.

1 . A reactor apparatus comprising:
 a body including an inlet extending through the body to receive a fluid at a first velocity, a reflecting chamber extending along an axis of the body, and an outlet extending through an end of the reflecting chamber to discharge the fluid from the body;   a fluid channel in the body to direct a fluid from the inlet into the reflecting chamber at a second velocity smaller than the first velocity; and   a radiation source positioned to output a disinfecting radiation into the reflecting chamber toward the outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein at least an opening of the inlet is generally transverse with the axis. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein at least an opening of the outlet is generally parallel to the axis. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein at least an opening of the outlet is coaxial with the axis. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the radiation source is coaxial with the axis so that a portion of the disinfecting radiation is discharged from the outlet with the fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the portion of discharged radiation further disinfects the fluid downstream of the apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a cross-section of the reflecting chamber across the axis is circular. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body and the reflecting chamber include a similar shape or volume along the axis. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the similar shape or volume is cylindrical, conical, polygonal, pyramidal, spherical, or prismatic. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein dimensions of the reflecting chamber and the radiation source are configured to distribute the disinfecting radiation throughout the reflecting chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the axis extends between a first end of the body and a second end of the body, the radiation source is disposed at the first end, the reflecting chamber is disposed between the first and second ends, and the outlet extends through the first end. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the inlet is adjacent the first end. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein interior surfaces of the reflecting chamber include a UV reflective material. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the reflecting chamber has a length and a diameter, and the length divided by the diameter is equal to between approximately 0.5 and approximately 2. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the length divided by the diameter is equal to between approximately 0.5 and approximately 3. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid channel at least partially surrounds the reflecting chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the reflecting chamber is defined by an internal structure extending along the axis in the body. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the radiation source includes one or more point sources. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the one or more point sources emit the disinfecting radiation in a direction generally parallel to the axis. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a window disposed between the radiation source and the reflective chamber, wherein the disinfecting radiation passes through the window. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the window seals the radiation source from the fluid. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the disinfecting radiation includes a wavelength of between approximately 200 nm to approximately 320 nm. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the disinfecting radiation includes a peak wavelength of between approximately 230 nm to approximately 300 nm. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the radiation source is a UV-LED. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the radiation source has a lens. 
     
     
         26 . A method comprising:
 directing a fluid from an inlet of a body at a first velocity into a reflecting chamber at a second velocity less than the first velocity; and   exposing the fluid to a disinfecting radiation output into the reflecting chamber toward the outlet; and   discharging the fluid from the body out of an outlet extending through an end of the reflecting chamber.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the body comprises a fluid channel and directing the fluid comprises directing the fluid through the fluid channel. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the reflecting chamber has a length and a diameter, and the length divided by the diameter is equal to between approximately 0.5 and approximately 2. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the reflecting chamber has a length and a diameter, and the length divided by the diameter is equal to between approximately 0.5 and approximately 3. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the inlet and outlet are disposed at one end of the body, and directing the fluid further comprises: directing the fluid from the inlet in a first direction along the axis; and directing the fluid into reflecting chamber in a second direction along the axis, wherein the first direction is different from second direction. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein directing the fluid further comprises directing the fluid from the first direction to the second direction. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein directing the fluid through the fluid channel comprises causing the fluid to at least partially surround the reflecting chamber. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein directing the fluid through the fluid channel comprises directing the fluid between an interior surface of the body and an exterior surface of the reflecting chamber. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the second velocity is less than 50% of the first velocity. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein exposing the fluid to the disinfecting radiation comprises outputting the disinfecting radiation from a radiation source disposed on the body. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising diverting the fluid from the fluid channel into the reflecting chamber with an internal surface of the body disposed adjacent the radiation source. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising outputting the disinfecting radiation towards the outlet. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37  further comprising outputting the disinfecting radiation from one or more point sources of the radiation source. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the inlet is generally transverse with the outlet, further comprising discharging at least a portion of the disinfecting radiation out of the outlet with fluid. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising causing the disinfecting radiation to be reflected off of reflective surfaces of the reflecting chamber. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein exposing the fluid to the disinfecting radiation comprises outputting the disinfecting radiation through a window disposed between the radiation source and reflecting chamber. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising causing the disinfecting radiation to have a wavelength of between approximately 200 nm to approximately 320 nm. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising causing the disinfecting radiation to have a peak wavelength of between approximately 230 nm to approximately 300 nm. 
     
     
         44 . The method  claim 26 , wherein exposing the fluid to the disinfecting radiation comprises outputting a UV radiation. 
     
     
         45 . An apparatus comprising:
 a body including an inlet extending through the body to receive a fluid at a first velocity, a reflecting means extending along an axis of the body, and an outlet extending through an end of the reflecting means to discharge the fluid from the body,   a flow means in the body for directing a fluid from the inlet into the reflecting means at a second velocity smaller than the first velocity; and   a radiation means for outputting a disinfecting radiation into the reflecting means toward the outlet.   
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 45  wherein at least an opening of the inlet is generally transverse with the axis 
     
     
         47 . The apparatus of  claim 46  wherein at least an opening of the outlet is generally parallel to the axis. 
     
     
         48 . The apparatus of  claim 46  wherein at least an opening of the outlet is coaxial with the axis. 
     
     
         49 . The apparatus of  claim 47  wherein the radiation source is coaxial with the axis so that a portion of the disinfecting radiation is discharged from the outlet with the fluid. 
     
     
         50 . The apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein the portion of discharged radiation further disinfects the fluid downstream of the apparatus. 
     
     
         51 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein a cross-section of the reflecting means across the axis is circular. 
     
     
         52 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein the body and the reflecting means include a similar shape or volume along the axis. 
     
     
         53 . The apparatus of  claim 52  wherein the similar shape or volume is cylindrical, conical, polygonal, pyramidal, or spherical. 
     
     
         54 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein dimensions of the reflecting means and the radiation means are configured to distribute the disinfecting radiation throughout the reflecting means. 
     
     
         55 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein the axis extends between a first end of the body and a second end of the body, the radiation means is disposed at the second end, the reflecting means is disposed between the first and second ends, and the outlet extends through the first end. 
     
     
         56 . The apparatus of  claim 55  wherein the inlet is adjacent the first end. 
     
     
         57 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein interior surfaces of the reflecting means include a UV reflective material. 
     
     
         58 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein the reflecting means has a length and a diameter, and the length divided by the diameter is equal to between approximately 0.5 and approximately 2. 
     
     
         59 . The apparatus of  claim 58  wherein the length divided by the diameter is equal to between approximately 0.5 and approximately 3. 
     
     
         60 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein the flow means at least partially surrounds the reflecting means. 
     
     
         61 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein the reflecting means is defined by an internal structure extending along the axis in the body. 
     
     
         62 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein the radiation means includes one or more point sources. 
     
     
         63 . The apparatus of  claim 62  wherein the one or more point sources emit the disinfecting radiation in a direction generally parallel to the axis. 
     
     
         64 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , further comprising a transmitting means disposed between the radiation means and the reflecting means, wherein the disinfecting radiation passes through the transmitting means. 
     
     
         65 . The apparatus of  claim 64  wherein the transmitting means seals the radiation means from the fluid. 
     
     
         66 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein the disinfecting radiation includes a wavelength of between approximately 200 nm to approximately 320 nm. 
     
     
         67 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein the disinfecting radiation includes a peak wavelength of between approximately 230 nm to approximately 300 nm. 
     
     
         68 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein the radiation means comprises a UV-LED. 
     
     
         69 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein the radiation means comprises a lens.