Apparatus and Methods for Treating Fluids Using Ultraviolet Light

An apparatus for the treatment of a fluid, comprising:

• (a) a cylindrical chamber having a double-elliptical cross-section provided by partially overlapping first and second ellipses, wherein the ellipses have co-linear major axes and overlapping second focal points, wherein the cylindrical chamber includes a reflective inner surface;
• (b) an ultraviolet-transmissive conduit suitable for transmitting a fluid, the ultraviolet-transmissive conduit positioned at the overlapping second focal points of the first and second ellipses, wherein the ultraviolet-transmissive conduit traverses a length of the cylindrical chamber;
• (c) a mixing system configured to induce mixing of a fluid flowed through the ultraviolet-transmissive conduit;
• (d) a first ultraviolet light source and a second ultraviolet light source positioned within the cylindrical chamber, wherein the first and second ultraviolet light sources are substantially equidistant from the ultraviolet-transmissive conduit and on opposite sides of the major axis of the first ellipse of the double-elliptical cross-section;
• and
• (e) a third ultraviolet light source and a fourth ultraviolet light source positioned within the cylindrical chamber, wherein the third and fourth ultraviolet light sources are substantially equidistant from the ultraviolet-transmissive conduit and on opposite sides of the major axis of the second ellipse of the double-elliptical cross-section,
• wherein the first, second, third, and fourth ultraviolet light sources provide a non-uniform irradiance of the ultraviolet-transmissive conduit, and wherein substantially all of a fluid flowed through the ultraviolet-transmissive conduit is irradiated by ultraviolet light.

An apparatus for the treatment of a fluid, comprising:

• (a) a cylindrical chamber having a double-elliptical cross-section provided by partially overlapping first and second ellipses, wherein the ellipses have co-linear major axes and wherein the cylindrical chamber includes a reflective inner surface;
• (b) an ultraviolet-transmissive conduit suitable for transmitting a fluid, wherein a first portion of the ultraviolet-transmissive conduit traverses a length of the cylindrical chamber and is positioned at a first point on the major axis of the first ellipse, wherein a second portion of the ultraviolet-transmissive conduit traverses a length of the cylindrical chamber and is positioned at a first point on the major axis of the second ellipse;
• (c) a mixing system configured to induce mixing of a fluid flowed through the ultraviolet-transmissive conduit;
• (d) a first ultraviolet light source and a second ultraviolet light source positioned within the cylindrical chamber, wherein the first and second ultraviolet light sources are substantially equidistant from the first portion of the ultraviolet-transmissive conduit and on opposite sides of the major axis of the first ellipse of the double-elliptical cross-section;
• (e) a third ultraviolet light source and a fourth ultraviolet light source positioned within the cylindrical chamber, wherein the third and fourth ultraviolet light sources are substantially equidistant from the second portion of the ultraviolet-transmissive conduit and on opposite sides of the major axis of the second ellipse of the double-elliptical cross-section;
• and
• (f) a fifth ultraviolet light source positioned within the cylindrical chamber between the first and second portions of the ultraviolet-transmissive conduit and on the overlapping major axes of the first and second ellipses,
• wherein the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth ultraviolet light sources provide a non-uniform irradiance of the first and second portions of the ultraviolet-transmissive conduit, and wherein substantially all of a fluid flowed through the ultraviolet-transmissive conduit is irradiated by ultraviolet light.

An apparatus for the treatment of a fluid, comprising:

• (a) an ultraviolet-transmissive conduit suitable for containing a flowing fluid, the ultraviolet-transmissive conduit positioned within and traversing a length of a cylindrical chamber that includes a reflective inner surface;
• (b) a mixing system configured to induce mixing of a fluid flowed through the ultraviolet-transmissive conduit;
• and
• (c) a plurality of ultraviolet light sources positioned in an even distribution around the ultraviolet-transmissive conduit, each ultraviolet light source including a parabolic reflector,
• wherein the ultraviolet light sources provide a non-uniform irradiance of the ultraviolet-transmissive conduit, and wherein substantially all of a fluid flowed through the ultraviolet-transmissive conduit is irradiated by ultraviolet light.

An apparatus for the treatment of a fluid, comprising:

• (a) a cylindrical chamber that includes a reflective inner surface, wherein the cylindrical chamber has an elliptical cross-section;
• (b) an ultraviolet-transmissive conduit suitable for transmitting a fluid, traversing a length of the cylindrical chamber;
• (c) an angular feed attached to the ultraviolet-transmissive conduit, wherein the angular feed comprises an inlet having a first diameter and an outlet having a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is greater than the first diameter;
• (d) one or more ultraviolet light sources positioned within the cylindrical chamber,
• wherein the ultraviolet light sources provide a non-uniform irradiance of the ultraviolet-transmissive conduit, and wherein substantially all of a fluid flowed through the ultraviolet-transmissive conduit is irradiated by ultraviolet light.