U.S. patent application number 13/712186 was filed with the patent office on 2013-12-05 for fluid filtration system.
This patent application is currently assigned to EATON CORPORATION. The applicant listed for this patent is Craig Lee Imanse, Michael Edward Isch, Martin Jerome Nadeau, JR., Mark Anthony Quintel, Christopher Scott Rau, David Kan Yee. Invention is credited to Craig Lee Imanse, Michael Edward Isch, Martin Jerome Nadeau, JR., Mark Anthony Quintel, Christopher Scott Rau, David Kan Yee.
Application Number | 20130319925 13/712186 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49668937 |
Filed Date | 2013-12-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130319925 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yee; David Kan ; et
al. |
December 5, 2013 |
FLUID FILTRATION SYSTEM
Abstract
A fluid treatment system having in one version an irradiation
chamber with UV lamps with a swirl vane pack in the inlet for
effecting clockwise and counterclockwise swirl in fluid entering
the chamber. Other versions employ a central filter media element
with an irradiation chamber with UV lamps disposed annularly
thereabout. In other versions, mechanical wiper discs are provided
for wiping debris from the filter media and the lamp tubes. In
other versions, the UV lamps are in a central irradiation chamber
with plural filter media tubes arrayed annularly there around. In
other versions, mechanical wipers are provided for the UV tubes and
a rotating drain arm is provided for backwashing individual filter
tubes. In other versions, the central filter and annularly arrayed
UV tubes are mounted in a pressure vessel lid.
Inventors: |
Yee; David Kan; (West
Bloomfield, MI) ; Rau; Christopher Scott; (Battle
Creek, MI) ; Imanse; Craig Lee; (Schoolcraft, MI)
; Isch; Michael Edward; (Vicksburg, MI) ; Nadeau,
JR.; Martin Jerome; (Monroe, MI) ; Quintel; Mark
Anthony; (Kalamazoo, MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Yee; David Kan
Rau; Christopher Scott
Imanse; Craig Lee
Isch; Michael Edward
Nadeau, JR.; Martin Jerome
Quintel; Mark Anthony |
West Bloomfield
Battle Creek
Schoolcraft
Vicksburg
Monroe
Kalamazoo |
MI
MI
MI
MI
MI
MI |
US
US
US
US
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
EATON CORPORATION
|
Family ID: |
49668937 |
Appl. No.: |
13/712186 |
Filed: |
December 12, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61654440 |
Jun 1, 2012 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
210/251 ;
250/436; 29/592.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C02F 1/325 20130101;
Y10T 29/49002 20150115; C02F 1/004 20130101; B63J 4/002 20130101;
C02F 2201/3227 20130101; C02F 2103/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
210/251 ;
29/592.1; 250/436 |
International
Class: |
B63J 4/00 20060101
B63J004/00 |
Claims
1. A fluid filter system comprising: (a) a housing having an inlet
and an outlet; (b) a filter media element disposed within the
housing and having a flow inlet side in fluid communication with
the housing inlet and a flow outlet side and operative to filter
all inlet flow; (c) an irradiation chamber having an inlet in
communication with the flow outlet side of the filter media element
and having an outlet in fluid communication with the housing
outlet; (d) at least one ultra violet (UV) lamp disposed in the
irradiation chamber with a quartz sleeve disposed over the at least
one UV lamp; (e) wherein flow from the filter media element outlet
side flows sequentially downward to the inlet of the irradiation
chamber and then upwardly through the irradiation chamber to the
housing outlet wherein all flow to the housing outlet is
irradiated.
2. The system of claim 1 further comprising, a plurality of filter
media elements and a plurality of UV lamps in the irradiation
chamber, each with a quartz sleeve disposed thereover.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the filter media elements are
disposed about at least portions of the irradiation chamber.
4. The system of claim 2, wherein the filter media elements are
disposed annularly about the irradiation chamber.
5. The system defined in claim 1, further comprising a swirl vane
pack disposed to effect swirl to flow in the irradiation chamber
inlet, the swirl vane packs having a first annular array of vanes
effecting clockwise swirl and a second annular array of vanes
effecting counterclockwise swirl.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the filter media element has a
tubular configuration.
7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a cleaning disc
disposed closely adjacent the inlet side of the filter media
element; and, a drive mechanism operable upon selective activation
to move the cleaning disc along the inlet side of the filter media
element for removing trapped debris from the inlet side surface of
the tubular filter media element.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing inlet is disposed
vertically below the outlet and the irradiating chamber comprises a
vertically oriented tubular member with the inlet at a lower end
thereof and the outlet at an upper end thereof; and, the filter
media element includes a plurality of vertically oriented tubular
members disposed about the tubular irradiating chamber member
wherein the lower end of the media element tubular members
communicate exclusively with the housing inlet and the upper end of
the media element tubular members communicate exclusively with the
lower inlet end of the tubular irradiating chamber; and, the upper
outlet end of the tubular irradiating chamber communicates
exclusively with the housing outlet wherein flow through the
irradiating chamber is vertically upward.
9. The system defined in claim 1, wherein the irradiation chamber
inlet includes a plurality of vanes operable to cause clockwise and
counterclockwise swirl in the flow from the irradiation chamber
inlet.
10. The filter system of claim 1, wherein the filter media element
comprises a plurality of tubular filter elements disposed
vertically each with a lower end having the exterior thereof
isolated for communicating exclusively with the housing inlet and
the interior thereof at an upper end isolated for communicating
exclusively with the inlet of the irradiating chamber; and, further
comprising a backwash tube for selectively communicating with the
exterior of each filter media tube sequentially for discharging
backflow therefrom to a drain while maintaining normal flow through
the remaining tubes.
11. The filter system of claim 1, further comprising a swirl vane
pack having a plurality of stacks of oppositely directed swirl
vanes operative for reducing flow velocity gradients in the
irradiating chamber.
12. The system of claim 10, further comprising a drive mechanism
operable for effecting rotation of the backwash tube with respect
to the filter media tubes.
13. The system defined in claim 1, further comprising a cleaning
disc disposed in the irradiating chamber and operable upon movement
therein for removing debris therealong from the quartz sleeve; and,
drive means operable upon selective activation to effect the
movement of the cleaning disc along the quartz sleeve.
14. A method of treating fluid comprising: (a) providing a pressure
vessel having an inlet and an outlet disposed above the inlet; (b)
forming an irradiating chamber within the pressure vessel, the
chamber having a flow outlet communicating with the vessel outlet
and a flow inlet disposed at a level below the flow outlet; (c)
disposing filter media in the pressure vessel about the irradiating
chamber and communicating a flow inlet side of the filter medium
exclusively with the pressure vessel inlet and communicating a flow
outlet side of the filter media exclusively with the flow inlet of
the irradiating chamber; and, (d) disposing an ultraviolet (UV)
lamp in the irradiating chamber and irradiating fluid flow
therethrough.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein forming an irradiating chamber
comprises disposing a tube in the vessel oriented vertically such
that flow from the filter media enters the tube at a lower end
thereof and exits at an upper end thereof.
16. The method defined in claim 14, further comprising disposing a
swirl vane pack in the flow inlet of the irradiating chamber and
effecting swirl in clockwise and counterclockwise directions.
17. The method defined in claim 14, further comprising disposing a
plurality of vanes in the inlet and causing clockwise and
counterclockwise swirl in the flow.
18. The method of claim 14, wherein forming an irradiating chamber
comprises disposing a tube in the vessel oriented horizontally.
19. A fluid treatment system comprising: (a) a vessel defining an
irradiation chamber having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet located
at a level above the inlet; (b) an ultraviolet lamp disposed in the
chamber and operative upon selective activation for irradiating
fluid flowing in the chamber from the inlet to the outlet; and, (c)
a vane pack disposed in the inlet, the vane pack including a first
annular array of vanes operable to effect clockwise swirl and a
second annular array of vanes operable to effect counterclockwise
swirl of fluid entering the chamber from the inlet.
20. The system of claim 19, wherein the vane pack includes a first
and second annular array of vanes operable to effect swirl in one
of clockwise and counterclockwise directions and a third annular
array disposed intermediate the first and second array and
operative to effect swirl in a direction opposite the one
direction.
21. A fluid treatment system comprising: (a) a fluid pressure
vessel having a filtration chamber with an open end and a fluid
inlet; (b) a plurality of tubular filter media elements disposed
therein with one flow side of each tubular media element
communicating exclusively with the inlet and the flow side of each
media element opposite the one flow side communicating exclusively
with the open end; (c) a lid disposed over the open end and
defining an irradiation chamber having a fluid outlet; and, (d) at
least one ultraviolet (UV) lamp in the irradiating chamber and
operative upon selective activation to irradiate fluid flowing from
the tubular filter media to the outlet.
22. The system of claim 21, further comprising a plurality of UV
lamps disposed in an annular array.
23. A water treatment system comprising: (a) a fluid pressure
vessel having a pressure chamber with an inlet and an outlet
disposed at a level above the inlet; (b) a tubular filter media
element disposed in the pressure chamber and having one flow side
thereof communicating exclusively with the chamber inlet and the
flow side thereof opposite the one side communicating exclusively
with the chamber; and, (c) a plurality of ultraviolet (UV) lamps
disposed in an array about the tubular media element, wherein fluid
flowing from the inlet through the tubular media element is
irradiated in the chamber before flowing through the outlet.
24. The system of claim 23, further comprising: (a) cleaning disc
disposed within the tubular media element in closely spaced
arrangement with the one flow side wherein the disc is operable
upon movement with respect to the media element to remove trapped
solids accumulated thereon; and, (b) a drive mechanism operable
upon selective activation to effect the movement of the disc.
25. The system of claim 23, wherein the drive mechanism includes a
motor and axial lead screw.
26. A water treatment system comprising: (a) a fluid pressure
vessel having a first chamber communicating with an inlet and a
second separate chamber communicating with an outlet and an open
end communicating with said first and second chambers; (b) closure
structure removably received over the open end including a filter
media element having a flow inlet side communicating through the
open end exclusively with said first chamber and a flow discharge
side communicating through the open end exclusively with said
second chamber; and, (c) at least one ultraviolet (UV) lamp
disposed for upon selective activation to irradiate therein
filtered flow discharging from the filter media element.
27. The system of claim 26, wherein the at least one UV lamp is
disposed about the filter media element.
28. The system defined in claim 26, wherein the at least one UV
lamp is disposed in the second chamber.
29. The system of claim 26, wherein the at least one UV lamp
includes a plurality of UV lamps disposed in an annular array.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/654,440, filed Jun. 1, 2012 by David K. Yee et
al. and entitled "Unified Filtration System" and is incorporation
by reference herein in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a fluid treatment system
and particularly systems for the treatment of water and more
particularly, to the treatment of sea water employed for ballast in
an ocean going vessel. Such systems are employed to purify the sea
water entering the ballast tanks to prevent contamination of the
tanks. Such ballast water treatment systems have heretofore
employed filtering media elements and irradiation such as by
ultraviolet lamps. Examples of such systems are those described in
U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,838,845, 5,843,309 and 6,447,720 and U.S. Patent
Publication Nos. 2010/0282661 A1 and 2011/0100885 A1. These devices
have the disadvantages that the irradiation by the UV lamps is
insufficient due to localized flow velocity gradients, low flow
rates at acceptable levels of purification, their size and expense
of installation. Generally, the amount of UV radiation that is used
to treat the water is determined by the length of the radiation
path, the output power of the UV tubes and the rate of fluid flow
past the lamps.
[0003] Therefore, it has been desired to provide a way or means of
improving the uniformity of the fluid flowing in the UV irradiation
section by reducing the velocity gradients and providing for more
uniform exposure of the fluid to the UV irradiation as it flows
through the length of the UV section or chamber.
SUMMARY
[0004] The present disclosure describes a fluid filtration system
having several versions for the treatment of water and particularly
sea water employed as a ballast. In certain versions, the packaging
employs the UV lamp tubes inside the filter elements and in other
versions, the UV lamp tubes are disposed outside about the filter
elements enabling the packaging of the fluid system to be more
compact than when separate filtering UV units are employed.
[0005] In certain versions of the system, the velocity profile of
the fluid flowing over the UV tube section provides improved UV
dosage by the use of swirl vane units stacked together as a vane
pack for imparting swirl to the water entering the UV section from
the filter elements. In particular, the swirl vane pack may be
located at the base of the UV tubes to provide for upward flow
through the UV section and a more uniform flow velocity over each
of the tubes and to improve the level of UV dosage under various
operating conditions.
[0006] In other versions of the filter system of the present
disclosure, the fluid path is optimized to maximize the rate of
flow by introducing the fluid at the base of the filter elements
and the flow is then vertically upward through the filter exiting
at the top of the filter tubes and then flowing downwardly through
an annular chamber surrounding the UV irradiation section and
entering the UV irradiation section at the base or lower end
thereof for flowing vertically upward through the UV irradiation
section and discharging through a port at the upper end of the
system.
[0007] In other versions of the system of the present disclosure, a
mechanical cleaning mechanism is provided for wiping the inlet side
of the filter media. A wiping disc is moved by a jack screw which
may be operated by a servo-motor to scrape debris off the inlet
side of the filter media. In another version, the wiper disc is
provided for each of the quartz tubes surrounding the UV lamps to
remove debris collected on the outside tube. The debris may then be
removed using a "backwash" mode where the flow of the fluid is
reversed by opening the separate drain outlet to allow for the
removal of the debris independent of the fluid intake or outlet
connections. In other versions, the backwash is accomplished by a
rotating brain tube which may be operated by a servo-motor and
which is progressively positioned over each of the filter tubes for
enabling backwashing of the individual tube without affecting flow
through the remaining tubes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a top view of a filtering system employing UV
lamps for irradiating fluid flow therethrough;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a section view taken along section indicating
lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the lower end of
the UV filtration system of FIG. 2 illustrating the swirl vane pack
employed at the inlet;
[0011] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the swirl vane pack of FIG.
3;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a cross-section of another version of the
filtration system of the present disclosure employing a central
filter media element surrounded by a plurality of UV lamps and
employing axially movable wiper discs on the filter media element
movable by a servo-driven axial screw and employing vertically
upward flow through the UV lamp section with a separate drain
outlet for enabling backwashing;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate arrangement
of the UV lamp section of the version of FIG. 5;
[0014] FIG. 7 is another version of the system of FIG. 5 employing
a double row of UV lamps disposed about a centrally located filter
media element;
[0015] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another version of the
filtering system of the present disclosure employing axially
movable wiper disks for the centrally located filter media element
and for the circumferentially disposed UV tubes about the filter
media element;
[0016] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the system of FIG.
8;
[0017] FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the lower portion of FIG.
9;
[0018] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an alternate version of the
system of FIG. 8;
[0019] FIG. 12 is a section view of the system of FIG. 11;
[0020] FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of the lower portion of FIG.
12;
[0021] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an alternate arrangement of
the system of FIG. 8;
[0022] FIG. 15 is a section view of the system of FIG. 14;
[0023] FIG. 16 is a perspective view in quarter section
illustrating another version of the filtering system of the present
disclosure employing a servo-driven rotating arm for enabling
backwashing of individual filter media elements progressively with
the remaining elements continuing to filter low therethrough;
[0024] FIG. 17 is another view in section illustrating the
operation of flow through the version of FIG. 16;
[0025] FIG. 18 is an enlarged detailed view of the filtering tube
cartridge of the system of FIG. 16;
[0026] FIG. 19 is an enlarged view illustrating the flow in the
cartridge of FIG. 18;
[0027] FIG. 20 is an enlarged view of the lower portion of FIG. 16
illustrating the operation of the rotating drain tube;
[0028] FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of another version of the
filtering system of the present disclosure employing a pressure
vessel with the UV tube section located in the lid for sequential
axial flow from the filter elements through the UV section;
[0029] FIG. 22 is a detailed view of the UV section of the version
of FIG. 21;
[0030] FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate
arrangement of the system of FIG. 21 employing horizontally
oriented UV lamps;
[0031] FIG. 24 is a perspective view with portions broken away of
another version of the filtering system of the present disclosure
employing the filtering media and the UV tubes in the lid of the
pressure vessel;
[0032] FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view taken through the inlet
and outlet of FIG. 24; and
[0033] FIG. 26 is a histogram of the CFD analysis of the flow
employing the swirl vane pack as compared to flow without the swirl
vane pack for the UV section.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0034] Referring to FIGS. 1-4, one version of the fluid treatment
system of the present disclosure is indicated generally at 10 and
employs a pressure vessel 12 having a general hollow cylindrical
configuration with an inlet 14 disposed at the lower end of the
vessel 12 and an outlet 16 located at the upper end of the vessel.
The vessel 12 has an enlarged diameter section 18 at the lower end
thereof having the inlet 14 formed thereon; and, the section 18 has
therein a swirl vane pack indicated generally at 20 disposed
therein which has the outer periphery thereof or inlet side
communicating exclusively with inlet 14 and the inner periphery or
discharge side thereof communicating exclusively with the interior
chamber 22 of the pressure vessel 12.
[0035] The upper end of the pressure vessel 12 is closed by a cover
plate 24 which has connected thereto the upper end of a plurality
of UV lamp tubes 26 disposed in spaced arrangement with the upper
end thereof extending through apertures provided in the plate 24
for electrical connection thereto. With reference to FIG. 3, the
lower end of the UV tubes 26 is received in apertures provided in
the lower end plate 28 of the pressure vessel which apertures are
denoted by reference numeral 30 in FIG. 3.
[0036] It will be understood that each of the UV lamps 26 is
disposed in a quartz tube for protection; however, only a single
outline for each tube location is shown in FIGS. 1-4 for clarity of
illustration.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 4, the swirl vane pack 20 is shown in an
exploded view as having a lower annular ring 30 having a plurality
of circumferentially spaced vanes 32 disposed on the upper face
thereof which vanes are angled or skewed with respect to a tangent
to the ring to cause fluid flow entering from the outer periphery
to swirl as it flows to the interior in a counterclockwise
direction. A second annular member or ring 34 is positioned on top
of the vanes 32 to create an annular channel between the members 30
and 34 into which fluid flow swirls counterclockwise. The upper
face of annular member 34 has disposed thereon a plurality of
upstanding vanes 36 which are angled with respect to a tangent to
the member 34 to cause fluid entering from the outer periphery to
swirl inwardly in a clockwise direction. A third annular member or
ring 38 has the undersurface thereof contacting the vanes 36 so as
to form a channel between the rings 38, 34 for effecting clockwise
swirl in the flow therebetween. The third ring 38 has disposed on
the upper face thereof a plurality of vanes 40 in spaced
circumferential arrangement and skewed or angled with respect to
the tangent thereto to effect counterclockwise flow on the outer
periphery to the inner periphery. A fourth or cover ring 42 is
disposed on top of the vanes 40 to create a channel between members
42 and 38 for effecting counterclockwise swirl therebetween.
[0038] The fluid treatment system of FIGS. 1-4 thus provides flow
entering inlet 14 at the lower end thereof to be directed in both
clockwise and counterclockwise swirl as it enters the UV chamber 32
thus improving the uniformity by reducing velocity gradients
between the various UV tubes disposed in the chamber, thus enabling
more effective radiation and purification of the fluid flowing to
the outlet 16.
[0039] Referring to FIG. 26, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD)
analysis was performed on the version of FIGS. 1-4 for flow
therethrough with and without the swirl vane pack 20 assuming the
use of medium pressure UV tubes having a surface illumination
intensity of 100 kW/cm.sup.2. The results of the CFD analysis are
plotted as a histogram in FIG. 26 with the calculated UV dosage in
watts-seconds/M.sup.2 for various levels of dosage in increments of
500. The vertical axis indicates values of the percent of the
particles dosed; and, the graph shows a significantly greater
dosage for the substantially greater portion of the range of
dosages where the swirl vane pack is employed. For the CFD analysis
performed, the data of FIG. 26 indicate a median dosage of 2130
watts-seconds/M.sup.2 without the flow vane pack and a median
dosage of 3392 watts-second/M.sup.2 where the swirl vane pack is
employed.
[0040] Referring to FIG. 5, another version of the fluid treatment
system of the present disclosure is indicated generally at 50 and
includes a pressure vessel with a cylindrical wall 52 having an
inlet 54 located on one side thereof adjacent the upper end. The
vessel wall 52 has an upper end plate 58 and a lower end plate 60
with an inner tubular member 56 and an annular chamber 62 formed
between the tubular member 56 and the pressure vessel wall 52. The
inlet 54 communicates exclusively with the interior of the tubular
member 56. An annular flange 64 which forms the upper end of a
tubular filter media element 66; and, the outer periphery of the
flange 64 is sealed against the inner periphery of the tubular
member 56 such that all flow from inlet 54 passes to the interior
of the tubular filter media element 66. Outward flow through the
filter media element 66 as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 5 flows
into an annular space 68 formed between the interior of the tubular
member 56 and the outer periphery or discharge side of the filter
media element 66. The tubular member 56 has an outlet 70 formed in
the lower end thereof such that all flow passing through filter
element 66 enters chamber 68 and flows through outlet 70 to the
annular region which comprises an irradiation chamber 62. The
irradiation chamber 62 has disposed therein a plurality of
circumferentially spaced UV lamps, each of which is encased in a
quartz tube 72 such that an array of circumferentially spaced tubes
72 is formed about the tubular member 56. The UV lamps in each of
the tubes 72 has a fitting 74 extending through the lower end plate
60 which fittings are adapted for electrical connection thereto to
provide power to the UV lamps within the quartz tubes 72. The
irradiation chamber 62 communicates exclusively with an outlet 76
disposed adjacent the upper end of the vessel wall 52 and
circumferentially spaced from the inlet 54. Thus, flow entering the
filter media element 66 flows radially outwardly therethrough
through the outlet 70 and upwardly through the radiation chamber 62
and is discharged through outlet 76.
[0041] The tubular filter media element 66 has a shaft 78 disposed
centrally therethrough from the upper end thereof through the lower
end thereof and shaft 78 is secured at its lower end in a bearing
82 in a closure or dome 80 to permit rotation. The closure 80 forms
a drain chamber 84 which communicates exclusively with the interior
of the filter media element 66 at its lower end; and, the chamber
84 has a drain outlet 85 which may be selectively opened and closed
by a suitable drain valve (not shown). The shaft 78 includes an
axial lead screw which has disposed thereon at axially spaced
intervals a plurality of wiper discs 86, 88, 90, 92, each of which
has its outer periphery disposed in closely spaced proximity to the
inner surface of the filter media element 66 such that, upon
rotation of the lead screw 78, the wiper elements are moved axially
along the inner surface of the filter media element 66 for wiping
debris collected thereon. The debris may then be removed by
"backwashing" upon opening of the drain outlet 85, allowing the
debris to fall through holes provided in the wiper discs as denoted
by reference numeral 94 to the lower end of the filter into chamber
84. The upper end of the axial lead screw 78 extends into a
motorized drive 96 provided on the upper end of the tubular member
56 for, upon selective activation, effecting rotation of the lead
screw 78. The version of FIG. 5 thus provides for mechanical wiping
of the inlet pressure side of the tubular filter media element to
remove debris deposited thereon and to permit backwashing of the
removed debris out through a drain. The version of FIG. 5 thus
provides compactness by virtue of the concentric disposition of the
UV lamps about the filter media element thereby minimizing the size
of the pressure vessel required to house the filtering and
irradiation sections or chambers.
[0042] Referring to FIG. 6, an alternate arrangement of the version
of FIG. 5 is illustrated in transverse cross-section and denoted
generally at 100 with the axial lead screw and wiper discs removed
for clarity of illustration. The arrangement 100 has the pressure
vessel wall 102 formed with an outlet 104 which is located adjacent
the upper end of the tubular wall 102. The arrangement 100 has a
central tubular filter media element 106 which discharges radially
outwardly into the interior of the pressure vessel 102. In the
arrangement 100, the UV tubes 108 are disposed in circumferentially
spaced arrangement between two arcuately shaped quartz sleeves 110,
112 disposed in concentric radially spaced arrangement with the
arcuate ends thereof closed so as to completely surround the UV
tubes 108. The flow exiting the filter media element 106 flows
about the annular space 114 between the tubular filter media
element 106 and the inner quartz sleeve 112 and outwardly through
the space between the arcuate ends of the quartz sleeves and into
an annular space 116 formed between the outer quartz sleeve 110 and
the pressure vessel wall 102 which annular space 116 communicates
exclusively with the outlet 104 by virtue of a partition 118 formed
at one end of the outer arcuate sleeve 110. Thus, in the
arrangement 100, the flow exiting the chamber 114 is forced to flow
counterclockwise in annular chamber 116 and then through the outlet
104.
[0043] Referring to FIG. 7, another arrangement of the version of
FIGS. 1-4 is illustrated in transverse section indicated generally
at 120. For simplicity of illustration, the axial lead screw and
wiper elements within the filter element 132 have been omitted for
clarity in FIG. 7. The arrangement 120 has a tubular pressure
vessel wall 122 with an outlet 124 located adjacent the upper end
of the vessel wall. A tubular inner member having a wall 126 is
disposed centrally within wall 122 with a longitudinal axial slot
opening 128 formed therein with one arcuate end of the wall 126
forming the slot connected by partition 130 such that flow exiting
the slot 128 is required to flow counterclockwise around the
tubular member 126 before exiting through outlet 124. The
arrangement 120 has a tubular filter media element 132 disposed
centrally therein spaced radially inwardly of the inner periphery
of the tubular member 126 so as to form an annular space 134
thereabout which is opened through slot 128.
[0044] The arrangement 126 of FIG. 7 has two circumferentially
disposed arrays of UV tubes comprising an inner array 134 and an
outer array 136 disposed about the tubular member 126 in
circumferentially spaced arrangement. In the present practice, the
UV lamps are each enclosed in an individual quartz tube. In the
arrangement 120 of FIG. 7, fluid flow entering the interior of the
fluid filter element 132 flows radially outwardly therethrough into
the annular space 134 and radially outwardly through the slot 128
and counterclockwise about the UV tubes until reaching the
partition 130 and then the flow exits through the outlet 124. The
arrangement of FIG. 7 thus tends to reduce or minimize velocity
gradients of the flow about the UV tubes to improve irradiation and
purification.
[0045] Referring to FIGS. 8-10, another version of the fluid
treatment system of the present disclosure is indicated generally
at 140 and employs a tubular pressure vessel wall 142 having an
inner tubular member 144 disposed centrally therein and extending
upwardly partially therefrom, with the tubular member 144 having an
inlet 146. An outlet 148 is formed in the pressure vessel wall 142
adjacent the upper end thereof. The inner tubular member 144 has
disposed therein a tubular filter media element 150 which has an
annular flange 152 on the upper end thereof which has the outer
periphery thereof sealed against the inner periphery of the inner
tubular member 150. In like manner, the lower end of the tubular
filter element 150 has an annular flange 154 attached thereto
sealed thereon about its inner periphery and having its outer
periphery sealed against the inner periphery of the tubular member
144. The pressure vessel wall 142 has an upper annular end plate
156 which seals the annular space 158 formed between the pressure
vessel wall 142 and a tubular member 150 at its upper end which
annular space 158 comprises an irradiation chamber. A lower annular
end plate 160 seals the chamber 158 at its lower end between the
pressure vessel wall 142 and the inner periphery of pressure vessel
wall 144 at the lower end of vessel wall 142.
[0046] An upper and lower wiper disc 162 are disposed within the
filter media tube 150 and have an actuator rod 164 attached thereto
which extends upwardly through the upper end plate 166 disposed
over the inner tube 150. The wiper discs 162 are configured to
closely inter fit the inner periphery of the filter media tube 150
such that movement therein effects wiping of debris from the inner
or entrance side of the filter tube upon movement of the rod 164.
The end of the rod extends through the upper end plate 166 and is
attached to a pair of yoke bars 168, 170 in the central region
thereof which bars extend transversely beyond the diameters of the
tube 144 and outer wall 142. The bars 168, 170 are skewed with
respect to each other. The bar 170 is attached at its ends to a
pair of piston rods 172, 174 which extend from oppositely disposed
fluid pressure cylinders 176, 178, respectively. The cylinders are
supported or mounted on a mounting bar 179 which is supported by
external structure (not shown). The central actuating rod 164
passes freely through a clearance aperture 180 provided in the
support bar 178. Similarly, the piston rods 172, 174 pass through
clearance apertures 182, 184, respectively, in the support bar
178.
[0047] The upper yoke bar 168 has attached at its opposite ends,
respectively, actuator rods 186, 188 which extend downwardly
through clearance apertures, one of which is illustrated in FIG. 8
and denoted by reference numeral 190 into the UV irradiation
chamber 158 and are attached to spaced annular wiper discs 192, 194
disposed in the chamber 158 for wiping the exterior surface of the
quartz UV lamp tubes 196 surrounding the plurality of
circumferentially spaced UV tubes as denoted by reference numeral
196.
[0048] The end plates 156, 160 for the outer vessel wall 142 are
held in place by the plurality of circumferentially spaced flange
bolts 198 disposed thereabout.
[0049] In operation, upon selective fluid pressurization, either
above atmospheric or sub-atmospheric, or a combination thereof, in
the fluid pressure cylinders 176, 178, the yokes 168, 170 are
operative to move the central wiper discs 162 in the filter media
tube and the annular wiper discs 192, 194 in the UV chamber for
removing debris accumulated on the respective surfaces thereof. It
will be understood that the fluid pressure cylinders 176, 178 are
respectively connected to selectively actuated pressure sources
(not shown).
[0050] In the version shown in FIGS. 8-10, fluid entering the inlet
146 flows outwardly through the wall of the tubular filter media
150 into the annular space between the filter media 150 and the
tube wall 144 and exits through outlet opening 200 provided in the
lower end of the tube 144 and into the irradiation chamber 158 and
upwardly therein to the discharge outlet 148. The arrangement of
the version in FIGS. 8-10 thus results in an upward flow through
the irradiation chamber.
[0051] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, a drain closure or dome is
disposed about the lower end of the inner tube 144 with the wall
thereof as denoted by reference numeral 202 and forms a drain
chamber 204 connected to a drain outlet 206 through the wall 202.
The drain 206 may be selectively opened and closed by a suitable
remotely operated valve (not shown). Upon opening of the drain 206,
the annular space between the tubular filter media element 150 and
the inner tubular wall 144, which is in operation at an outlet
pressure P.sub.0, and the drain chamber 204 is reduced causing
washing or flushing of debris through drain chamber 204 and drain
206.
[0052] Referring to FIGS. 11-13, another version of the fluid
filtering system of the present disclosure is indicated generally
at 220 and is identical to the version of FIGS. 8-10 with the
exception that the opening in the inner tube surrounding the filter
media element is replaced by a plurality of openings denoted by
reference numeral 222 in FIGS. 12 and 13.
[0053] Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, another version of the fluid
filtering system of the present disclosure is indicated generally
at 240 and is identical to the version 220 of FIGS. 11-13 with the
exception that the outlet holes from the annular chamber
surrounding the tubular filter media are extended along the entire
length of the inner tube surrounding the filter media element as
denoted by reference numerals 242.
[0054] Referring to FIGS. 16-20, another version of the fluid
filtering system of the present disclosure is indicated generally
at 250 and employs a central irradiation chamber containing a
plurality of UV lamps surrounded by an annular chamber having a
plurality of circumferentially spaced filter media element tubes
disposed therein. The version 250 employs a backwashing
arrangement, which, upon selective activation, is capable of
backwashing progressively individual filter tubes while maintaining
normal filtering flow of the remaining tubes.
[0055] Referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, a tubular pressure vessel
having an outer wall 254 has the lower end thereof closed by a
closure or dome 256, which may be formed integrally therewith and
which dome 256 has a fluid pressure inlet 258 provided therein for
providing a flow of fluid such as sea water to be filtered and
purified and which may be formed integrally with vessel wall 254.
The upper end of the pressure vessel 254 is open and has an annular
outwardly extending flange 260 provided thereon which has a
disposed thereover a corresponding flange 262 provided on a lid or
closure dome 264. The flange 262 is secured to the pressure vessel
flange 260 by a plurality of circumferentially space bolts 266. The
lid or closure dome 264 has received through a central opening
therein and attached thereto an inner tubular wall member 268 which
extends downwardly within the pressure vessel 254 to a position
spaced adjacent a lower sealing disc hereinafter described in
greater detail. The upper end of the tubular member 268 extends
upwardly exteriorly of the lid 264 and is closed by a cover plate
272 which may be fastened by suitable fasteners for ease of
removal.
[0056] The interior of the tubular member 268 forms an irradiation
chamber 274 which has the plurality of UV lamps, typically in
quartz tubes 278 extending downwardly in the chamber 274. The upper
ends of the tubes 278 are attached to the cover plate 272 and
extend outwardly through suitable pressure type fittings 276
provided therein for external electrical connection thereto. The UV
lamps denoted by reference numeral 278 in FIG. 17 are disposed in
spaced arrangement and have a wiper disc received thereover in
closely fitting engagement. Disc 280 has a central actuating rod
290 attached thereto which extends outwardly through an aperture
with a sliding seal provided in the upper plate 272 and is adapted
for connection to an external actuator (not shown) for providing
axial movement of the wiper disc 280 for wiping debris from the
outer surface of the tubes 278.
[0057] The annular space between the inner tubular member 268 and
the outer vessel wall 254, which space is denoted by reference
numeral 282, has a filter assembly or cartridge indicated generally
at 284 disposed therein for filtering fluid such as sea water prior
to entry into the irradiation chamber 274.
[0058] Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19, the filter cartridge is
illustrated in greater detail and has an annular upper sealing disc
286 and a lower sealing disc 288 disposed in spaced relationship
with a plurality of circumferentially spaced tubular members 292
with the ends thereof sealed in an annular shoulder 294 provided in
the under surface of the disc 286; and, each of the tubes 292
sealed therein by a seal ring such as O-ring 296. The lower end of
each of the tubes 292 can be sealed in the disc 288 in a similar
manner. The discs are secured over the opposite ends of the tubes
292 by suitable tension bolts 298 disposed circumferentially about
the discs.
[0059] Referring to FIGS. 16 and 20, the lower end plate 270 has a
plurality of apertures 302 formed therein in circumferentially
spaced arrangement corresponding to the location of the lower end
of each of the tubes 292 such that fluid in the inlet chamber 304
enters through apertures 302 to the interior of each of the tubes
292 and the chamber 300.
[0060] Referring to FIG. 19, shoulder 294 for each of tubes 292
communicates with the open inner periphery 306 of the upper disc
286; and, a mounting disc or plate 308 is received over the opening
306 and sealed thereover by a suitable seal ring 310 and plate 308
secured there against by retaining lugs 312 fastened to the disc
286 by suitable fasteners such as cap screws 314. Each of the
plates 308 has at least one and in the illustrated version a
plurality of filter media tubes 316 having an end thereof attached
through apertures formed in the plate 308 such that the exterior of
the filter media tube 316 is sealed on the plate 308 and in a
similar unshown plate at its lower end. The interior of each filter
media tube 316 is open to the region above the upper surface of the
disc 286. In this arrangement, fluid flowing in chamber 304
upwardly through the apertures 302 and the lower end plate 270
flows into the chamber 300 and through the filter media tubes 316
from the exterior thereof to the interior thereof and upwardly to
the region above the disc 286.
[0061] Referring to FIG. 17, fluid exiting the upper end of the
tubes 316 flows over the top of the disc 286 and downwardly through
the annular space 282 between the tubes 292 and the inner tubular
member 268 and radially inwardly through the space between the
bottom of the tubular member 268 and the end plate 270 and into the
irradiation chamber 274. This fluid then flows upwards in chamber
274 to an outlet 318 provided in the upper end of the inner tubular
member 268. Optionally, if desired, a swirl vane pack such as the
pack 20 employed in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 may be employed
in the inlet of radiation chamber 274.
[0062] The version 250 of the fluid filtration system employs a
rotating tubular drain arm 320 which is selectively rotatable in
the chamber 304 by a shaft 322 extending upwardly through a rotary
coupling 324 and into a retaining bearing assembly 326 provided on
the lower end plate 270. The shaft 322 is attached to the hollow
drain arm 320 and operative upon activation of a motorized
servo-unit 328 to effect rotation of the drain arm 320
progressively from one filter tube 292 to the next adjacent. Upon
opening of the drain by activation of a remotely controlled drain
valve indicated generally at 330, the drain tube is opened to
atmospheric pressure which drops the pressure in the interior of
the selected tube 292 below that of the outlet pressure thereby
causing a backwash of the filter tubes 316 and removal of the
debris trapped upon the exterior of the tubes 316 which debris is
then discharged through the drain tube 320 and the drain line 332.
Thus, when one set of the filter media tubes 316 is being
backwashed within one of the tubes 292, the remaining filter media
tubes 316 within the remaining tubes 292 may continue in normal
filtering flow.
[0063] Referring to FIG. 21, another version of the fluid filtering
system of the present disclosure is indicated generally at 340 and
has a tubular pressure vessel wall 342 having an end plate 344 at
the lower end thereof sealed thereabout and an upper end plate 346
attached thereto. An upper end closure or lid dome 348 has an
annular flange 352 provided thereabout which is sealed therebetween
by a gasket or annular seal 350 and secured onto the end plate 346
by any suitable expedient such as fasteners (not shown) received
through flanges or lugs 352, 354. The lid dome 348 has an outlet
356 through which the filtered and purified fluid such as sea water
is discharged from the assembly 340. The upper end plate 346 has a
plurality of tubes 358 attached thereto at the upper ends thereof
with each of the tubes 358 open to the interior of the dome 348.
The lower end of each of the tubes 358 is open through the end
plate 344 to the interior of an inlet chamber 360 formed in a lower
end dome 362 which has a fluid inlet 364 provided thereon.
[0064] Each of the tubes 358 has a plurality of filter media tubes
366 disposed therein such that fluid entering the interior of tubes
358 through the inlet chamber 360 at the lower ends thereof is
filtered by flowing through the exterior of the filter tubes 366 to
the interior thereof and outwardly through the upper end thereof
into the interior of the lid 348 which comprises an irradiation
chamber 368. Chamber 368 has extending vertically downwardly
therein a plurality of spaced UV lamps each of which may be encased
in a quartz tube 370 and which extends upwardly through the dome
348 through sealed fittings for electrical connection thereto. The
wiper disc 374 is provided for closely inter-fitting the exterior
of each of the quartz tubes 370. The wiper disc attached to a
collar 372 which threadedly engages a lead screw 376 which may be
selectively rotated by a suitable mechanism (not shown) for causing
movement of the wiper disc 374 along the lead screw 376 for wiping
debris from the tubes 370.
[0065] It will be understood that the tubes 358 and filter media
tubes 366 may be mounted in a cartridge assembly similar to the
cartridge 286 of the versions of FIGS. 16-20.
[0066] The inlet chamber 360 has a rotary drain arm 378 disposed
therein which has a rotary coupling 380; and, the arm 378
communicates through the rotary coupling to an exterior drain
outlet 390 which is isolated from the inlet chamber 360. A shaft
392 extends through the rotary coupling 380 and the upper end
thereof is anchored in a bearing 394 and the lower end of shaft 392
anchored in a bearing 396 at its lower end in the outlet 390. The
shaft extends through the bearing 396 and is operatively connected
to be rotated selectively upon activation of a motorized servo
mechanism 398. Thus, upon energization of the servo 398, the drain
arm 378 is successively rotated for positioning under individually
selected tubes 358 for upon opening of the drain 390, selectively
backwashing the filter tubes 366 in the selected tube 358. In
normal filtering operations, fluid to be filtering purified, such
as sea water, enters the inlet 360, flows upwardly through the
tubes 358 and inwardly of the tubes 366 and outwardly of the upper
ends thereof into the chamber 368 for ultra violet radiation and
purification before existing through outlet 356.
[0067] Referring to FIG. 23, an alternate arrangement of the
version of FIG. 22 is illustrated pictorially in cross-section and
denoted generally at 400 and has a pressure vessel 402 which may be
identical to that of the pressure vessel arrangement of the
embodiment of FIG. 22. However, the lid or dome 404 of the version
400 has the individual ultraviolet lamps in their quartz tubes 406
oriented horizontally with respect to the vertically disposed
filter tubes 408 in a pressure vessel 402. The operation of the
version 400 of FIG. 23 is otherwise identical to that of the
version 340 of FIG. 21.
[0068] Referring to FIGS. 24 and 25, another version of the fluid
filtering system of the present disclosure is indicated generally
at 420 and has a fluid pressure vessel wall 422 defining an inlet
chamber 424 which communicates with a fluid inlet 426 for
connection to a source of fluid such as sea water to be filtered
and purified. The pressure vessel wall 422 has an inclined interior
ring or open bulk head 428 which separates the inlet chamber 424
from an outer annular outlet chamber 430 formed by an inner tubular
member 432 connected to the upper surface of the ring 428 and
extending upwardly to the open end of the pressure vessel. The
annular chamber 430 communicates with a fluid outlet 434; and, the
annular chamber 430 is isolated from the inlet chamber 424 by the
tubular member 432.
[0069] The upper end of the pressure vessel is open and has an
annular flange or ring 436 provided thereon against which is
registered a corresponding annular ring or flange 438 which is
attached to a generally inverted cup shaped lid 440 for releasable
attachment thereto as, for example, by swing bolts 442 provided
peripherally spaced thereabout and engaging suitable mounting lugs
such as lugs 444, 446.
[0070] The lid 440 has disposed therein an annular filter media
element 448 which has the central region thereof communicating with
the inlet chamber 424 for receiving therein filtered liquid flowing
upwardly through the open end of the pressure vessel and into the
interior of the lid 440. The outer periphery annular filter media
element 448 defines, exteriorly thereof a portion of the inner wall
of an annular chamber 450, between the exterior surface of the
filter media element 448 and the interior wall of the lid 440.
Annular chamber 450 communicates with the annular chamber 430 in
the pressure vessel through apertures 453 in a support plate 449
removably attached to a support ring 451 attached to lid 440 such
as by bolt 443 such that flow exiting through the exterior surface
of the annular filter media element 448 flows downwardly through
chamber 450 into annular chamber 430 and outwardly through the
outlet 434.
[0071] A plurality of UV lamps encased in quartz tubes 452 are
disposed about the filter media element 448 in the chamber 450 with
the UV lamps having a vertical orientation and electrically
connectable through suitable connectors provided (not shown) which
may be provided in the dome 440. Thus, all flow exiting outwardly
through the filter media element 448 enters chamber 450 and is
irradiated by the UV lamps prior to downward flow into the chamber
430.
[0072] In an alternative arrangement of the version of FIGS. 24 and
25, additional apertures may be provided in plate 449 intermediate
both 443 and the UV lamp tubes extended downwardly into chamber 430
and terminate adjacent ring 428.
[0073] Rotating backwash arms 454 are provided within the interior
of the filter media element 448; and, the backwash arms are
attached to a tubular shaft 456 which extends upwardly through the
upper surface of the lid 440 and is connected to a motorized
servo-mechanism 458 for rotation. The lower end of the shaft 456 is
journalled for rotation in a filter support plate 449 disposed at
the open lower end of the lid. A rotary coupling 457 is provided in
plate 449 which coupling is attached to a drain tube 460 which
extends into the inlet chamber in the central region of the inner
tubular member 432 and outwardly through the wall of the member 432
and the pressure vessel wall. Drain tube 460 is connected to a
remotely operated drain valve 462. Upon opening of the drain valve
to atmospheric pressure, the outlet pressure in chamber 450 causes
backflow through the region of the filter media 448 adjacent the
open end of the backwash arms 454 such that localized backwashing
occurs through the drain tube 460. Upon selective activation of the
servo 458, the backwash arms 454 are rotated progressively to
adjacent regions of the filter media element 448 permitting
progressive backwashing of incremental portions of the filter media
element 448 during which backwashing normal filtering flow is
maintained in the remaining portions of the filter media element
448.
[0074] The version 420 of FIG. 24 and FIG. 25 thus combines the
backwashing arm mechanism, filter media element and UV lamps all
assembled in a removable lid and, thus, facilitates maintenance and
replacement of the filter media element and the UV lamps.
[0075] Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to
others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed
description. It is intended that the exemplary versions described
be construed as including all such modifications and alterations
insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the
equivalents thereof.
* * * * *