# US 9,040,938 B2 · Device comprising a source for emitting ultraviolet light

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- Number: US 9,040,938 B2
- Document ID: US9040938B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/389,667
- Filed: 2010-08-12
- Published: 2012-06-07
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2009-08-13
- Assignees: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
- Applicants: Paulus Cornelis Duineveld; Eva Mondt; Harko Jan Taekema; Willem Sjouke Wijma; Marc Alexander Pastoors; Wilhelmus Hendrikus Maria Bruggink
- Inventors: Paulus Cornelis Duineveld; Eva Mondt; Harko Jan Taekema; Willem Sjouke Wijma; Marc Alexander Pastoors; Wilhelmus Hendrikus Maria Bruggink
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9040938B2

## CPC

- C02F 1/325: {Irradiation devices or lamp constructions}
- A61L 2/10: Ultraviolet [UV] radiation
- C02F 2201/3223: Single elongated lamp located on the central axis of a turbular reactor
- C02F 2201/3228: Units having reflectors, e.g. coatings, baffles, plates, mirrors
- C02F 2201/328: Having flow diverters (baffles)
- C02F 2301/022: Laminar
- C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes)
- 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)

## Abstract

A device (1) comprises a source (20) for emitting ultraviolet light, an inlet (30) for letting in fluid to the device (1), an outlet (40) for letting out fluid from the device (1), and means (51, 52) for performing a straightening action of a flow of fluid through the device (1). The flow straightening means comprise at least one flow straightening element (51, 52) having inlet openings for letting in fluid at one side and outlet openings for letting out fluid at another side, wherein each inlet opening is in communication with a plurality of outlet openings, and wherein the element (51, 52) comprises a maze of randomly arranged, interconnected holes. In such a structure, a water element that is moving from one side of the element (51, 52) to another side may take one of various paths, as a result of which variations in inlet conditions can be dampened.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device, comprising:
a source for emitting ultraviolet light, an inlet for letting in fluid to the device,
an outlet for letting out fluid from the device, and
means for performing a straightening action on a flow of fluid through the device,
wherein the flow straightening means are arranged in a fluid path from the inlet to the outlet, and
wherein the flow straightening means comprise an inlet flow straightening element arranged at an inlet area of the device having a first plurality of inlet openings for letting in fluid at one side (A) and a first plurality of outlet openings for letting out fluid at another side (B),
an outlet flow straightening element arranged at an outlet area of the device having a second plurality of inlet openings for letting in fluid at one side (A) and a second plurality of outlet openings for letting out fluid at another side(B),
wherein said first plurality of inlet openings is in fluid communication with said plurality of said first outlet openings,
wherein said second plurality of inlet openings is in fluid communication with said second plurality of outlet openings,
wherein the inlet flow straightening element and the outlet flow straightening element each comprise a maze of randomly arranged, interconnected holes for realizing a plurality of randomly arranged fluid passages through the respective elements,
wherein the element is arranged for performing a flow straightening action at one of an inlet area and an outlet area of the device, and
wherein the inlet flow straightening element is arranged at a position for shielding at least one area of the device from the ultraviolet light that is emitted by the ultraviolet source during operation of the device, and
wherein the outlet flow straightening element is arranged at a position for shielding at least one other area of the device from the ultraviolet light that is emitted by the ultraviolet source during operation of the device.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein each inlet opening of the flow straightening element is in communication with all of the outlet openings.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein the flow straightening element comprises a foam-like material.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein the flow straightening element is shaped as a knitted mesh.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein means (60) are provided for covering a central portion of another side of the flow straightening element than the side that is facing an area of the device where the ultraviolet source is arranged.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein the flow straightening element comprises material having ultraviolet light reflecting properties.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The device, according to claim 1, wherein the flow straightening element comprises at least one of a metal material, a ceramic material and a glassy material.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein the flow straightening element comprises carbon.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet source comprises an elongated ultraviolet lamp, wherein the flow straightening element is adapted to receive an end of the lamp and to support the lamp in the device.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The device according to claim 9, wherein the lamp is extending through the flow straightening element, and means are provided for covering an utmost end of the lamp.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of means for diverging a flow of fluid, which means are arranged in the inlet area of the device, and means for converging a flow of fluid, which means are arranged in the outlet area of the device.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein a ratio of a thickness (t) of the flow straightening element and a pore size (d) of the material of the flow straightening element is in a range of 1 to 500.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein a ratio of a thickness (t) of the flow straightening element and porosity (p) of the material of the flow straightening element is in a range of 5 mm to 500 mm.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein a ratio of a length (L) of the ultraviolet source (20) and an outer diameter (Do) of the flow straightening element is in a range of 0.5 to 10.