US 2019/0100445 A1 · Ultraviolet Irradiation of Aquatic Environment

Abstract

Ultraviolet irradiation of an aquatic environment for the purposes of sterilization, disinfection, and/or cleaning fluids and surfaces associated with the aquatic environment. The aquatic environment can be irradiated using an ultraviolet illuminator having at least one ultraviolet radiation source and at least one sensor to detect conditions of the aquatic environment including fluid conditions and/or surface conditions associated with the aquatic environment. A control unit, operatively coupled to the at least one ultraviolet radiation source and the at least one sensor, determines a presence of algae growth about the aquatic environment. The control unit is further configured to direct the at least one ultraviolet radiation source to irradiate the aquatic environment at locations where there is a presence of algae growth for removal and suppression of further growth, monitor the irradiation with the at least one sensor, and adjust irradiation parameters as a function of detected conditions.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An ultraviolet illuminator for treating an aquatic environment having a body of fluid interacting with biota, comprising:

at least one ultraviolet radiation source configured to irradiate the aquatic environment;
at least one sensor to detect conditions of the aquatic environment including fluid conditions and/or surface conditions associated with the aquatic environment;
and
a control unit, operatively coupled to the at least one ultraviolet radiation source and the at least one sensor, wherein the control unit is configured to determine a presence of algae growth about the aquatic environment, direct the at least one ultraviolet radiation source to irradiate aquatic environment at locations where there is a presence of algae growth for removal thereof and suppression of further algae growth, monitor the irradiation of the aquatic environment with the at least one sensor, and adjust irradiation parameters of the at least one ultraviolet radiation source as a function of conditions detected by the at least one sensor.

1 more element

A system, comprising:

an aquatic environment having a body of fluid interacting with biota and a walled surface that defines an area encompassing the body of fluid and the biota;
and
an ultraviolet illuminator for treating the aquatic environment, the ultraviolet illuminator comprising:
a housing configured for placement in a plurality of locations about the aquatic environment;
a set of ultraviolet radiation sources located about the housing to irradiate the aquatic environment;
a set of sensors to detect conditions of the aquatic environment including fluid conditions and/or surface conditions associated with the aquatic environment;
and
a control unit, operatively coupled to the set of ultraviolet radiation sources and the set of sensors, wherein the control unit is configured to determine a presence of algae growth about the aquatic environment, direct the set of ultraviolet radiation sources to irradiate aquatic environment at locations where there is a presence of algae growth for removal thereof and suppression of further growth, monitor the irradiation of the aquatic environment with the set of sensors, and adjust irradiation parameters of the set of ultraviolet radiation sources as a function of conditions detected by the set of sensors.

5 more elements

A system, comprising:

an aquatic environment having a body of fluid interacting with biota and a walled surface that defines an area encompassing the body of fluid and the biota;
an ultraviolet illuminator for treating the aquatic environment, the ultraviolet illuminator comprising:
a housing configured for placement in a plurality of locations about the aquatic environment;
a set of ultraviolet radiation sources located about the housing to irradiate the aquatic environment;
a set of sensors to detect conditions of the aquatic environment including fluid conditions and/or surface conditions associated with the aquatic environment, wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors comprises a visible camera configured to obtain images from various locations about the aquatic environment;
and
a control unit, operatively coupled to the set of ultraviolet radiation sources and the set of sensors, wherein the control unit is configured to determine a presence of algae growth about the aquatic environment by comparing images from each of the locations obtained by the visible camera over different times, direct the set of ultraviolet radiation sources to irradiate aquatic environment at locations where there is a presence of algae growth for removal thereof and suppression of further growth, monitor the irradiation of the aquatic environment with the visible camera, and adjust irradiation parameters of the set of ultraviolet radiation sources as a function of conditions detected by the visible camera;
and
a fluid permeable, ultraviolet radiation blocking material configured for placement in the aquatic environment in a portion of the body of fluid, the fluid permeable, ultraviolet radiation blocking material separating the portion of the body of fluid into a first section containing only fluid and a second section containing fluid and biota, wherein the plurality of ultraviolet radiation sources are configured to irradiate the fluid in the first section for removal of the algae growth, while the fluid permeable, ultraviolet radiation blocking material prevents the irradiation of the fluid and biota in the second section, and permits the algae removed from the first section to pass through and collect at a bottom portion of the second section.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Ultraviolet Irradiation of Aquatic Environment

Life of this patent

Ultraviolet Irradiation of Aquatic Environment

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20