Light treatment monitoring and data collection in a fluid treatment system using light for the treatment of fluid products

A treatment system using light comprising:

• a light source for providing a light treatment, the light treatment having a spectrum of wavelengths within a range of 170 to 2600 nm;
• a treatment chamber containing a product to be treated with the light treatment, the light treatment for treating the product;
• and
• a spectrometer having an input collector positioned to receive a portion of the light treatment, the spectrometer for measuring a fluence of the portion of the light treatment for each of a plurality of wavelengths of the spectrum of wavelengths simultaneously.

A method for use with a system for the deactivation of microorganisms using light comprising:

• illuminating a product with a light treatment having a spectrum of wavelengths, the product being transmissive to at least 1% of light having at least one wavelength within a range of 170 to 2600 nm, the light treatment intended to treat the product;
• measuring a fluence level for a portion of the light treatment illuminating the product for each of a plurality of wavelengths of the spectrum of wavelengths;
• measuring a fluence level for a portion of the light treatment transmitting through the product for each of the plurality of wavelengths of the spectrum of wavelengths;
• and
• generating an absorption profile across each of the plurality of wavelengths for the product based upon a comparison of the results of the measuring steps.

A monitoring system for use with a treatment system for treating products using light comprising:

• a light source for illuminating a product with a light treatment having a spectrum of wavelengths, the product being transmissive to at least 1% of light having at least one wavelength within a range of 170 to 2600 nm, the light treatment intended to treat the product;
• a first optical detector positioned to measure a fluence level for a portion of the light treatment illuminating the product for each of a plurality of wavelengths of the spectrum of wavelengths;
• a second optical detector positioned to measure a fluence level for a portion of the light treatment transmitting through the product for each of the plurality of wavelengths of the spectrum of wavelengths;
• and
• a controller coupled to the first optical detector and the second optical detector for generating an absorption profile across the plurality of wavelengths for the product based upon a comparison of the results of the measuring steps.

A method for use with a treatment system using light comprising:

• illuminating a treatment chamber with a light treatment having a spectrum of wavelengths, the treatment chamber transmissive to at least 1% of light having at least one wavelength within a range of 170 to 2600 nm, the treatment chamber being empty but adapted to flow a product therethrough that is to be treated with the light treatment;
• measuring a fluence level for a portion of the light treatment illuminating the treatment chamber for each of a plurality of wavelengths of the spectrum of wavelengths;
• measuring a fluence level for a portion of the light treatment transmitting through the treatment chamber for each of the plurality of wavelengths of the spectrum of wavelengths;
• comparing the respective fluence levels measured for each of the plurality of wavelengths;
• and
• determining, based upon the comparing step, whether the treatment chamber is ready for the product to be flowed through the treatment chamber for operation.

A monitoring system for use with a treatment system using light comprising:

• a light source for illuminating a treatment chamber with a light treatment having a spectrum of wavelengths, the light treatment having a known fluence level at each of a plurality of wavelengths of the spectrum of wavelengths;
• the treatment chamber transmissive to at least 1% of light having at least one wavelength within a range of 170 to 2600 nm, the treatment chamber being empty but adapted to flow a product therethrough that is to be treated with the light treatment;
• a first optical detector for measuring a fluence level for a portion of the light treatment illuminating the treatment chamber for each of the plurality of wavelengths of the spectrum of wavelengths;
• a second optical detector for measuring a fluence level for a portion of the light treatment transmitting through the treatment chamber for each of the plurality of wavelengths of the spectrum of wavelengths;
• and
• a controller coupled to the first optical detector and the second optical detector, the controller adapted to perform the following steps:
• comparing the respective fluence levels measured for each of the plurality of wavelengths;
• and
• determining, based upon the comparing step, whether the treatment chamber is ready for the product to be flowed through the treatment chamber for operation.

A method for use with a treatment system using light comprising:

• flowing a buffer fluid through a fluid flow path of the treatment system, the buffer fluid having known physical and optical absorption properties across a plurality of wavelengths of a spectrum of wavelengths;
• illuminating the buffer fluid with a light treatment having a known fluence level at each of the plurality of wavelengths of the spectrum of wavelengths, a portion of the fluid flow path and the product are transmissive to at least 1% of light having at least one wavelength within a range of 170 to 2600 nm;
• measuring a fluence level at one or more of the plurality of wavelengths for a portion of the light treatment transmitting through the buffer fluid;
• verifying, based on the measuring step, the optical absorption properties of the buffer fluid;
• determining, based upon the verifying step, whether the optical properties of the fluid flow path are within an acceptable range for operation.

A monitoring system for use with a treatment system using light comprising:

• a fluid flow path of the treatment system for flowing a buffer fluid therethrough, the buffer fluid having known physical and optical absorption properties across a plurality of wavelengths of a spectrum of wavelengths;
• a light source for illuminating the buffer fluid with a light treatment having a known fluence level at each of the plurality of wavelengths of the spectrum of wavelengths, wherein a portion of the fluid flow path and the product are transmissive to at least 1% of light having at least one wavelength within a range of 170 to 2600 nm;
• an optical detector positioned to measure a fluence level at one or more of the plurality of wavelengths for a portion of the light treatment transmitting through the buffer fluid;
• and
• a controller coupled to the optical detector, the controller adapted to perform the following steps:
• verifying, based on the measuring step, the optical absorption properties of the buffer fluid;
• and
• determining, based upon the verifying step, whether the optical properties of the fluid flow path are within an acceptable range for operation.

A method for use with a treatment system using light comprising:

• flowing a buffer fluid through a fluid flow path of the treatment system, the buffer fluid having known physical and optical absorption properties, the flowing establishing an operational condition of the treatment system;
• determining whether the operational condition has been established;
• flowing a fluid product through the fluid flow path, the fluid product to be treated with a light treatment;
• and
• illuminating the fluid product with the light treatment.

A treatment system using light comprising:

• a fluid flow path of the treatment system for flowing a buffer fluid therethrough to establish an operational condition of the treatment system, the buffer fluid having known physical and optical absorption properties;
• means for determining whether the operational condition has been established;
• means for flowing a fluid product through the fluid flow path, the fluid product to be treated with the light treatment;
• and
• a light source for illuminating the fluid product with a light treatment.

A method for use with a fluid treatment system using light comprising:

• illuminating a treatment chamber of a treatment system with a light treatment, the treatment chamber containing a product to be treated with the light treatment, a portion of the treatment chamber and the product transmissive to at least 1% of light having at least one wavelength within a range of 170 to 2600 nm;
• measuring a fluence level of a portion of the light treatment transmitting through the treatment chamber at a first location proximate to a first portion of the treatment chamber;
• and
• measuring a fluence level of a portion of the light treatment transmitting through the treatment chamber at a second location proximate to a second portion of the treatment chamber, the second location positionally offset from the first location, the first location and the second location within a portion of a profile of the treatment chamber.

A light treatment monitoring system comprising:

• a treatment chamber for containing a product to be treated with a light treatment, at least a portion of the treatment chamber and the product transmissive to at least 1% of light having at least one wavelength within a range of 170 to 2600 nm;
• a first optical detector positioned to measure a fluence level of light transmitting through a first portion of the treatment chamber;
• and
• a second optical detector positioned to measure a fluence level of light transmitting through a second portion of the treatment chamber, the second portion positionally offset from the first location.

A light treatment monitoring system comprising:

• a treatment chamber for containing a product to be treated with a light treatment, a portion of the treatment chamber and the product transmissive to at least 1% of light having at least one wavelength within a range of 170 to 2600 nm;
• an optical detector positioned to measure a fluence level of light transmitting through a first portion of the treatment chamber;
• and
• a position adjustment structure coupled to the optical detector, the position adjustment structure moveable in one or more directions to reposition the optical detector at different locations within a portion of a profile of treatment chamber.

A method of fluid decontamination comprising:

• flowing a fluid product through a treatment chamber, the fluid product and the treatment chamber transmissive to at least 1% of light having at least one wavelength within a range of 170 to 2600 nm;
• illuminating the fluid product and the treatment chamber with at least one pulse of light;
• measuring an amount of the light illuminating the fluid product and the treatment chamber;
• and
• measuring an amount of the light transmitting through the fluid product and the treatment chamber.

A monitoring system for a fluid treatment system comprising:

• a light source for providing pulses of light;
• a treatment chamber positioned to receive the pulses of light, wherein a fluid product to be treated flows therethrough, wherein at least a portion of the treatment chamber and the fluid product are transmissive to at least 1% of light having at least one wavelength within a range of 170 to 2600 nm;
• a first process monitor for measuring a fluence level of the pulses of light provided by the light source that illuminate the treatment chamber and the fluid product;
• and
• a second process monitor for measuring a fluence level of portions of the pulses of light transmitting through the treatment chamber and through the fluid product.

A method of calibrating a spectroradiometer comprising:

• calibrating a first spectrum of wavelengths of an operating spectrum of the spectroradiometer with a first calibration light source, the first calibration light source not providing an accurate calibration of the spectroradiometer in the first spectrum of wavelengths;
• calibrating a second spectrum of wavelengths of the operating spectrum of the spectroradiometer with a second calibration light source, the second calibration light source providing an accurate calibration of the spectroradiometer in the second spectrum of wavelengths, a portion of the first spectrum of wavelengths overlapping the second spectrum of wavelengths;
• and
• adjusting the calibration of the first spectrum of wavelengths based on a difference between the first calibration and the second calibration at the portion of first spectrum of wavelengths overlapping the second spectrum of wavelengths to generate an absolute irradiance calibration file that is sufficient to calibrate the spectroradiometer across the first spectrum of wavelength and the second spectrum of wavelengths.