# US 10,869,943 B2 · Treatment of fluid transport conduit with ultraviolet radiation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,869,943 B2 - Document ID: US10869943B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/471,584 - Filed: 2017-03-28 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-31 - Assignees: Sensor Electronic Technology, Inc. - Applicants: Sensor Electronic Technology, Inc. - Inventors: Alexander Dobrinsky; Michael Shur - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10869943B2 ## CPC - A61L 2/10: Ultraviolet [UV] radiation - A61L 2/088: using photocatalysts or photosensitisers - B08B 7/0057: {by ultraviolet radiation} - B08B 9/0321: {using pressurised, pulsating or purging fluid (E04F17/126 takes precedence)} - B67D 1/07: Cleaning beverage-dispensing apparatus {(B67D1/0834, B67D1/0837 take precedence)} - G02B 6/0021: {for housing at least a part of the light source, e.g. by forming holes or recesses} - G02B 6/102: {for infrared and ultraviolet radiation} - A61L 2202/11: Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps - A61L 2202/14: Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs - A61L 2202/17: Combination with washing or cleaning means - B67D 2001/075: {Sanitising or sterilising the apparatus} - B67D 2210/00015: UV radiation - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL - B67D: DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes B08B9/02; emptying or filling of bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels, or similar containers, not otherwise provided for B67C; water supply E03; pipe systems F17D; domestic hot-water supply systems F24D; measuring volume, volume flow, mass flow or liquid level, metering by volume G01F; coin-freed or like apparatus G07F) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract An approach for treating a fluid transport conduit with ultraviolet radiation is disclosed. A light guiding unit, operatively coupled to a set of ultraviolet radiation sources, encloses the fluid transport conduit. The light guiding unit directs ultraviolet radiation emitted from the ultraviolet radiation sources to ultraviolet transparent sections on an outer surface of the fluid transport conduit. The emitted ultraviolet radiation passes through the ultraviolet transparent sections, penetrates the fluid transport conduit and irradiates the internal walls. A control unit adjusts a set of operating parameters of the ultraviolet radiation sources as a function of the removal of contaminants from the internal walls of the fluid transport conduit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fluid transport conduit treatment system, comprising: a fluid transport conduit having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the fluid transport conduit includes a plurality of ultraviolet transparent windows distributed on the outer surface of the conduit and ultraviolet reflective material on the inner surface of the conduit; a light guiding layer enclosing the fluid transport conduit; a plurality of ultraviolet radiation sources coupled to the light guiding layer, wherein each of the ultraviolet radiation sources is configured to emit ultraviolet radiation through at least one of the ultraviolet transparent windows, wherein the light guiding layer is configured to receive the ultraviolet radiation and guide the ultraviolet radiation into an internal portion of the fluid transport conduit towards the ultraviolet reflective material, wherein the ultraviolet reflective material is configured to recycle the ultraviolet radiation throughout the internal portion of the fluid transport conduit, the recycled ultraviolet radiation contacting internal walls on the inner surface of the fluid transport conduit and a control unit to direct the plurality of ultraviolet radiation sources to deliver a predetermined dosage of ultraviolet radiation to the internal walls of the fluid transport conduit for a predetermined duration. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fluid transport conduit treatment system of claim 1, wherein the light guiding layer comprises a plurality of ports, each port separating segments of the light guiding layer, and wherein each port is configured to receive one of the plurality of ultraviolet radiation sources. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The fluid transport conduit treatment system of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of reflective elements configured for placement over the plurality of ports, wherein each port without an ultraviolet radiation source coupled thereto has one of the plurality of reflective elements placed there over, and each port having an ultraviolet radiation source coupled thereto has one of the plurality of reflective elements placed over both the ultraviolet radiation source and the port. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fluid transport conduit treatment system of claim 1, wherein the fluid transport conduit comprises a set of ultraviolet transparent domains on the inner surface of the conduit, each ultraviolet transparent domain located adjacent one of the ultraviolet transparent windows, wherein each ultraviolet transparent domain is configured for ultraviolet transmission and light guiding of ultraviolet radiation into the internal portion of the fluid transport conduit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the ultraviolet reflective material comprises segments of ultraviolet reflective elements, wherein each segment of ultraviolet reflective material is placed between ultraviolet transparent domains. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein at least one of the segments of ultraviolet reflective elements comprises a porous section having a multitude of pores. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, further comprising a cleansing fluid source operatively coupled to the fluid transport conduit, the light guiding layer, and the control unit, wherein the cleansing fluid source is configured to deliver a cleaning fluid into the internal portion of the fluid transport conduit through the light guiding layer and each of the segments of ultraviolet reflective elements having the porous section with the multitude of pores, the cleansing fluid dislodging contaminants from the internal walls consequent to passing through the porous section. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The fluid transport conduit treatment system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of ultraviolet radiation sources are distributed over the surface area of the fluid transport conduit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The fluid transport conduit treatment system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of ultraviolet radiation sources cover only a limited portion of surface area of the fluid transport conduit, wherein the plurality of ultraviolet radiation sources extend uniformly in an axial direction from a first end of the fluid transport conduit to an opposing second end of the fluid transport conduit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet reflective material comprises a diffusive ultraviolet reflective layer disposed on the inner surface of the fluid transport conduit in a location that opposes a direction that ultraviolet radiation emitted from the plurality of ultraviolet radiation sources enters into the internal portion of the conduit. ### Claim 11 A system, comprising: a fluid transport conduit having an inner surface with ultraviolet reflective material; a plurality of ultraviolet radiation sources configured to emit ultraviolet radiation; a light guiding layer enclosing the fluid transport conduit, wherein the light guiding layer is configured to direct the ultraviolet radiation emitted from the plurality of ultraviolet radiation sources into the fluid transport conduit to irradiate internal walls on the inner surface of the fluid transport conduit, wherein the light guiding layer is configured to receive the ultraviolet radiation and guide the ultraviolet radiation into an internal portion of the fluid transport conduit towards the ultraviolet reflective material, wherein the ultraviolet reflective material is configured to recycle the ultraviolet radiation throughout the internal portion of the conduit, the recycled ultraviolet radiation contacting the internal walls on the inner surface of the fluid transport conduit; a control unit to direct the plurality of ultraviolet radiation sources to emit a predetermined dosage of ultraviolet radiation to the internal walls on the inner surface of the fluid transport conduit via the light guiding layer for a predetermined duration; and a power source to provide power to the plurality of ultraviolet radiation sources and the control unit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, further comprising a cleansing mixing unit located within the fluid transport conduit, wherein the cleansing mixing unit is configured to mix a chemical de-scaler with fluid in the fluid transport conduit, the mixing of the chemical de-scaler with the fluid promoting dislodgment of contaminants from the internal walls on the inner surface of the fluid transport conduit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of ultraviolet radiation sources, the light guiding layer, the control unit, and the power source form a disinfection module adapted for connection to additional sections of the fluid transport conduit, wherein the disinfection module forms a cross-connection between two adjacent sections of the fluid transport conduit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, further comprising at least one sensor to sense an intensity of a distribution of ultraviolet radiation within the light guiding layer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the internal walls on the inner surface of the fluid transport conduit comprises one of a non-biofouling material and an ultraviolet photo-catalyst. ### Claim 16 A system, comprising: a fluid transport conduit having an inner surface with ultraviolet reflective material and ultraviolet transparent sections placed between the ultraviolet reflective material; a light guiding layer enclosing the fluid transport conduit, wherein the light guiding layer comprises segments of ultraviolet reflective elements and an ultraviolet extraction surface to diffusively scatter ultraviolet radiation from the light guiding layer, a plurality of ultraviolet radiation sources operatively coupled to the light guiding layer to direct ultraviolet radiation into an internal portion of the fluid transport conduit, wherein the light guiding layer receives the ultraviolet radiation emitted from the plurality of ultraviolet radiation sources and guides the ultraviolet radiation through the ultraviolet transparent sections on the inner surface of the fluid transport conduit via the segments of ultraviolet reflective elements and the ultraviolet extraction surface, the emitted ultraviolet radiation penetrating into the internal portion of the fluid transport conduit, wherein the ultraviolet reflective material on the inner surface the fluid transport conduit recycles the ultraviolet radiation within the internal portion of the conduit, the recycled ultraviolet radiation contacting internal walls on the inner surface of the fluid transport conduit; and a control unit to adjust a plurality of operating parameters of the plurality of ultraviolet radiation sources as a function of removal of contaminants from the internal walls of the fluid transport conduit, wherein the plurality of operating parameters include a duration that the ultraviolet radiation sources emit ultraviolet radiation, a dosage of ultraviolet radiation delivered by the ultraviolet radiation sources, and a power setting for operating the ultraviolet radiation sources. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, further comprising at least one sensor to monitor one of the operating parameters during disinfection of the internal walls of the fluid transport conduit with the ultraviolet radiation, the control unit controlling the disinfecting of the internal walls of the fluid transport conduit as a function of the monitoring by the sensor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the fluid transport conduit comprises a porous section extending from an outer surface of the fluid transport conduit to the internal walls of the fluid transport conduit. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, further comprising a cleansing fluid source, and wherein the light guiding layer comprises a fluid intake port that is configured to deliver a cleansing fluid from the cleansing fluid source to the porous section of the fluid transport conduit to clean the internal walls of the fluid transport conduit. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the ultraviolet transparent sections of the fluid transport conduit form rigid domains of conduit, and sections of the fluid transport conduit without the ultraviolet transparent sections form flexible domains of conduit.