# US 9,750,836 B2 · Systems and methods for performing the bacterial disinfection of a fluid using point radiation source > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,750,836 B2 - Document ID: US9750836B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/163,055 - Filed: 2011-06-17 - Published: 2012-12-20 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-06-17 - Assignees: AquiSense Technologies LLC; The University of North Carolina at Charlotte - Applicants: Edward Brittain Stokes; Jennifer Godwin Pagan; Thomas Andrew Schmedake - Inventors: Edward Brittain Stokes; Jennifer Godwin Pagan; Thomas Andrew Schmedake - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9750836B2 ## CPC - A61L 9/205: {using a photocatalyst or photosensitiser} - C02F 1/325: {Irradiation devices or lamp constructions} - G01N 21/33: using ultraviolet light (G01N21/39 takes precedence) - A61L 2209/11: Apparatus for controlling air treatment - C02F 2201/328: Having flow diverters (baffles) - C02F 2201/3222: Units using UV-light emitting diodes [LED] - C02F 2201/3225: Lamps immersed in an open channel, containing the liquid to be treated - C02F 2201/3227: Units with two or more lamps - C02F 2303/04: Disinfection - C02F 2305/10: Photocatalysts - G01N 2201/065: Integrating spheres - 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) - 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) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A system for disinfecting a fluid, including: a flow cell including one or more inlet ports and one or more outlet ports, wherein the flow cell is configured to communicate a fluid containing a biological contaminant from the one or more inlet ports to the one or more outlet portions through an interior portion thereof; and one or more point radiation sources disposed about the flow cell, wherein the one or more point radiation sources are operable for delivering radiation to the biological contaminant; wherein an interior surface of the flow cell is operable for reflecting the radiation delivered to the biological contaminant by the one or more point radiation sources; and wherein the interior surface of the flow cell is operable for reflecting the radiation delivered to the biological contaminant by the one or more point radiation sources such that a radiation intensity is uniform throughout the interior portion of the flow cell. In one exemplary embodiment, the flow cell is an integrating sphere. Optionally, the system also includes a photocatalyzing material disposed on at least a portion of the interior surface of the flow cell. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for disinfecting a fluid, comprising: a flow cell comprising one or more inlet ports and one or more outlet ports, wherein the flow cell is configured to communicate a fluid from the one or more inlet ports to the one or more outlet ports through an interior portion thereof; and one or more point radiation sources disposed about the flow cell, wherein the one or more point radiation sources are operable for delivering radiation to the fluid; wherein an interior surface of the flow cell is operable for reflecting the radiation delivered to the fluid by the one or more point radiation sources; wherein the flow cell is an integrating spherical cavity comprising curved and concaved opposed interior surfaces without internal corners and with all interior points visible from all other interior points; wherein the one or more point radiation sources are disposed about a periphery of the integrating cavity; wherein the interior surface is a Lambertian reflectance material having a reflectance of 90% or more and is operable for reflecting the radiation delivered to the fluid by the one or more point radiation sources and creating a diffuse source from the radiation such that a radiation intensity is uniform and independent of direction throughout the entire interior portion of the flow cell when the flow cell is filled with a substantially or partially transparent medium and the one or more point radiation sources are small in area as compared to the interior surface area of the flow cell, and a radiation energy level is equal to or less than that of the one or more point radiation sources; and wherein the interior surface and interior portion define a single flow cell corresponding to the entire integrating cavity. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more point radiation sources comprise one or more of one or more semiconductor optical sources, one or more light-emitting diode optical sources, one or more ultraviolet optical sources, and one or more deep-ultraviolet optical sources. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more mechanical baffles or stirring mechanisms disposed within the interior portion of the flow cell for selectively modifying a flow of the fluid therethrough. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, further comprising a photocatalyzing material disposed on at least a portion of a surface of the one or more mechanical baffles or stirring mechanisms. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a photocatalyzing material disposed on at least a portion of the interior surface of the flow cell. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a controller operable for selectively activating/deactivating the one or more point radiation sources. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a controller operable for selectively controlling the residence time of the fluid in the interior portion of the flow cell. ### Claim 8 A method for disinfecting a fluid, comprising: providing a flow cell comprising one or more inlet ports and one or more outlet ports, wherein the flow cell is configured to communicate a fluid from the one or more inlet ports to the one or more outlet ports through an interior portion thereof; and providing one or more point radiation sources disposed about the flow cell, wherein the one or more point radiation sources are operable for delivering radiation to the fluid; wherein an interior surface of the flow cell is operable for reflecting the radiation delivered to the fluid by the one or more point radiation sources; wherein the flow cell is an integrating spherical cavity comprising curved and concaved opposed interior surfaces without internal corners and with all interior points visible from all other interior points; wherein the one or more point radiation sources are disposed about a periphery of the integrating cavity; wherein the interior surface is a Lambertian reflectance material having a reflectance of 90% or more and is operable for reflecting the radiation delivered to the fluid by the one or more point radiation sources and creating a diffuse source from the radiation such that a radiation intensity is uniform and independent of direction throughout the entire interior portion of the flow cell when the flow cell is filled with a substantially or partially transparent medium and the one or more point radiation sources are small in area as compared to the interior surface area of the flow cell, and a radiation energy level is equal to or less than that of the one or more point radiation sources; and wherein the interior surface and interior portion define a single flow cell corresponding to the entire integrating cavity. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more point radiation sources comprise one or more of one or more semiconductor optical sources, one or more light-emitting diode optical sources, one or more ultraviolet optical sources, and one or more deep-ultraviolet optical sources. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising providing one or more mechanical baffles or stirring mechanisms disposed within the interior portion of the flow cell for selectively modifying a flow of the fluid therethrough. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising providing a photocatalyzing material disposed on at least a portion of a surface of the one or more mechanical baffles or stirring mechanisms. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising providing a photocatalyzing material disposed on at least a portion of the interior surface of the flow cell. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising providing a controller operable for selectively activating/deactivating the one or more point radiation sources. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising providing a controller operable for selectively controlling the residence time of the fluid in the interior portion of the flow cell. ### Claim 15 A system for disinfecting a fluid, comprising: a flow cell comprising one or more inlet ports and one or more outlet ports, wherein the flow cell is configured to communicate a fluid comprising a biological contaminant from the one or more inlet ports to the one or more outlet ports through an interior portion thereof; and one or more point radiation sources disposed about the flow cell, wherein the one or more point radiation sources are operable for delivering radiation to the biological contaminant; wherein an interior surface of the flow cell is operable for reflecting the radiation delivered to the biological contaminant by the one or more point radiation sources; wherein the interior surface of the flow cell is operable for reflecting the radiation delivered to the biological contaminant by the one or more point radiation sources such that a radiation intensity is uniform and independent of direction throughout the interior portion of the flow cell when the flow cell is filled with a substantially or partially transparent medium and the one or more point radiation sources are small in area as compared to the interior surface area of the flow cell; wherein the flow cell is an integrating spherical cavity comprising curved and concaved opposed interior surfaces without internal corners and with all interior points visible from all other interior points; wherein the one or more point radiation sources are disposed about a periphery of the integrating cavity; wherein the interior surface is a Lambertian reflectance material having a reflectance of 95% or more and is operable for reflecting the radiation delivered to the fluid by the one or more point radiation sources and creating a diffuse source from the radiation such that a radiation energy level is equal to or less than that of the one or more point radiation sources; and wherein the interior surface and interior portion define a single flow cell corresponding to the entire integrating cavity. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the one or more point radiation sources comprise one or more of one or more semiconductor optical sources, one or more light-emitting diode optical sources, one or more ultraviolet optical sources, and one or more deep-ultraviolet optical sources. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, further comprising a photocatalyzing material disposed on at least a portion of the interior surface of the flow cell.