Apparatus and method for disinfecting fluids

A method of operating a disinfection apparatus to disinfect a fluid, said disinfection apparatus including container having a fluid entry opening and a fluid exit opening, said container having an inner volume, said inner volume including an entry volume, a disinfection volume and an exit volume, said entry volume adjacent to said fluid entry opening and said disinfection volume at a first end of said disinfection volume, said exit volume adjacent to said fluid exit opening and said disinfection volume at a second end of said disinfection volume, a first diverter and a second diverter, both of said diverters disposed within said entry volume of said container, a disinfection unit coupled to a side of said container, said disinfection unit including a disinfection module, a disinfection barrier and a computer coupled to said disinfection module through a control and data interface, said computer including a processor and an associated memory coupled to said processor, said processor executing program instructions within said memory to activate control signals within said control and data interface, said disinfection barrier providing an interface between said disinfection unit and said container at said disinfection volume, said interface providing access to said disinfection volume for said disinfection module, said method comprising:

• introducing the fluid into said container at said entry opening and into said entry volume;
• diverting a portion of the fluid within said entry volume with said first diverter;
• diverting a portion of the fluid within said entry volume with said second diverter;
• channeling said fluid into said disinfection volume with said second diverter and said disinfection barrier;
• executing program instructions with said processor to control said disinfection module with said computer;
• releasing a disinfection agent from said disinfection module, said disinfection agent being delivered through said disinfection barrier to said disinfection volume to disinfect the fluid;
• and
• introducing the fluid into said exit volume for evacuation from said container.