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A process for treating an aqueous liquid. The process includes: passing the liquid by force of gravity through a treatment area, the liquid having an upper surface exposed to ambient pressure; disrupting the flow of the liquid as it passes through the treatment area, and exposing the upper surface o

A process for treating an aqueous liquid. The process includes: passing the liquid by force of gravity through a treatment area, the liquid having an upper surface exposed to ambient pressure; disrupting the flow of the liquid as it passes through the treatment area, and exposing the upper surface of the liquid as the flow is disrupted to UV light. Disrupting the flow includes directing lower portions of the liquid toward the surface of the liquid to bring such portions into contact with UV light. A process for treating an aqueous liquid in which the treatment process is monitored. This process includes passing the liquid through a treatment area to bring the liquid into contact with reflective walls submerged below an upper surface of the liquid, and exposing the upper surface of the liquid to light emitted from a UV light source such that UV light penetrates the liquid to strike the submerged reflective surfaces and to be reflected therefrom to emerge through the upper surface of the liquid. The process also involves determining the intensity of the UV light emitted from the light source, determining the intensity of UV light received by a UV light sensor trained to receive emergent light and determining whether the treatment has a predetermined effectiveness based on the intensity of the UV light emitted from the light source and the intensity of the UV light received by the sensor. Apparatuses for carrying out processes of the invention are also described.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A process for treating an aqueous liquid, the process comprising the steps of:passing the liquid by force of gravity through a treatment area, the treatment area comprising a series of walls, which walls are spaced and oriented to define an upwardly open trough therein, the trough defining a flow

1. A process for treating an aqueous liquid, the process comprising the steps of:passing the liquid by force of gravity through a treatment area, the treatment area comprising a series of walls, which walls are spaced and oriented to define an upwardly open trough therein, the trough defining a flow path and having an inlet end and an outlet end, for the liquid to flow under the force of gravity under ambient pressure such that the liquid flowing therethrough travels in alternatingly first and second directions, generally opposite to each other, between the inlet end and the outlet end of the trough, the liquid having an upper surface exposed to ambient pressure;disrupting the flow of the liquid as it passes through the treatment area by means of a floor of the trough being shaped to promote uneven flow of the liquid as it passes through the trough to direct lower portions of the liquid in contact therewith toward the surface of the liquid; andexposing the upper surface of the liquid to UV light emitted from a lamp spaced therefrom. 2. The process of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:monitoring the amount of UV light emitted from the lamp; andactivating a warning to the user when the amount of UV light emitted from the lamp is below a predetermined amount. 3. The process of claim 1, wherein the liquid has a transmittance at a wavelength of 254 nm of at least 90% and in which the UV light to which the surface is exposed is in a dosage of at least 10 milliwatt-second/cm. 4. The process of claim 1, wherein the liquid has a transmittance of at least 50% and in which the UV light to which the surface is exposed is in a dosage of at least 16 milliwatt-second/cm. 5. The process of claim 1, wherein the liquid has a transmittance of less that 50% and in which the UV light to which the surface is exposed is in a dosage of at least 25 milliwatt-second/cm. 6. The process of claim 1 including passing the liquid by force of gravity from a liquid storage area into the treatment area. 7. The process of claim 1, wherein the lamp is a low pressure mercury vapour lamp. 8. The process of claim 1, further comprising the step of removing particles suspended in the liquid. 9. The process of claim 8 wherein the liquid is water for human consumption and the removing step includes removing organic substances that impart an undesirable smell or odour to the water. 10. The process of claim 9 wherein the removing step is carried out after the exposing step. 11. The process of claim 1, wherein the step of disrupting the flow of the liquid includes obstructing the flow of the liquid in the treatment area. 12. The process of claim 11, wherein the liquid flows through a trough located in the treatment area and disrupting the flow of the liquid includes providing a physical barrier located in the trough. 13. The process of claim 12, wherein the liquid is passed along a path to have a major axial direction of flow and said barrier protrudes into the trough to create localized flow of the liquid in a direction non-parallel to the major axial direction. 14. The process of claim 13 wherein the barrier protrudes laterally into the trough. 15. The process of claim 13, wherein the barrier protrudes upwardly into the trough. 16. The process of claim 15, wherein the barrier includes a raised ridge generally transverse to the major axial direction of flow of the liquid. 17. The process of claim 16, including the step of passing the entirety of the liquid passing through the treatment over one or more of a said ridge. 18. The process of claim 11, wherein the liquid flows through a trough located in the treatment area and disrupting the flow of the liquid includes providing a depression in the trough. 19. The process of claim 1, wherein the liquid is provided in the form of a film while passing it through the treatment area. 20. The process of claim 19 wherein the average thickness of the film in the treatment area is up to about 5 cm. 21. The process of claim 20 wherein the average thickness of the film in the treatment area is up to about 1 cm. 22. The process of claim 21 wherein the average thickness of the film in the treatment area is up to about 0.5 cm. 23. The process of claim 22 wherein the average thickness of the film in the treatment area is up to about 0.2 cm. 24. The process of claim 1 wherein the trough includes spaced apart protrusions extending into the trough, the protrusions being located along the length of the trough to mix the liquid in contact therewith. 25. The process of claim 19 wherein the liquid flows through a trough at an average flow rate of up to about 500 ml per minute per cm average width of the liquid in the trough. 26. An apparatus for treating an aqueous liquid such as water with ultraviolet radiation, the apparatus comprising:a treatment chamber comprising a series of walls, which walls are spaced and oriented to define an upwardly open trough therein, the trough defining a flow path and having an inlet end and an outlet end, for the liquid to flow under the force of gravity under ambient pressure such that the liquid flowing therethrough travels in alternatingly first and second directions, generally opposite to each other, between the inlet end and the outlet end of the trough; andan ultraviolet lamp spaced from the flow path to preclude contact of the lamp with the liquid and located to permit exposure of a top surface of liquid in the trough to radiation emitted from the lamp; and whereinthe trough has a floor which is shaped to promote uneven flow of the liquid as it passes through the trough to direct lower portions of the liquid in contact therewith toward the surface of the liquid. 27. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising protrusions located in the flow path of the trough, which protrusions disrupt laminar flow and promote mixing of liquid flowing through the trough. 28. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising at least one ridge located in the flow path of the trough, the ridge being shaped such that contact therewith by the flowing liquid forces lower portions of the liquid toward the surface of the liquid. 29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein there are at least four said ridges. 30. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the apparatus is a portable counter top appliance, further comprising:a liquid storage chamber located in an elevated location with respect to the treatment chamber, having one or more apertures in a wall thereof, the apertures being in communication with the treatment chamber to permit, under the force of gravity, controlled flow of a said liquid from the storage chamber to a said trough of the treatment chamber. 31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the one or more apertures are dimensioned to permit entry of up to about 3 liters per minute. 32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the trough is shaped and angled with the horizontal such that the average thickness of the liquid is no greater than about 3 cm. 33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the one or more apertures are dimensioned to permit entry of up to about 1.5 liters per minute. 34. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein:the trough has an upper entry end and a lower exit end; and the trough is shaped and angled with the horizontal, such that when a said liquid is fed to the entry end at a rate of up to about 2 liters per minute, the average thickness of the liquid flowing in the trough is no greater than about 0.3 cm. 35. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the distance between the entry end and the exit end of the trough is sufficient to provide an average liquid residence time of at least about 3 seconds. 36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the distance between the entry end and the exit end of the trough is sufficient to provide an average liquid residence time of at least about 10 seconds. 37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the distance between the entry end and the exit end of the trough is sufficient to provide an average liquid residence tim e of at least about 15 seconds. 38. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein a lower end of the trough is located above an upwardly open end of a receiving chamber. 39. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the receiving chamber is a hand-held jug. 40. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the trough is angled between about 5 and about 15° with the horizontal. 41. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the lamp is a low pressure mercury lamp. 42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the lamp is in an elevated location with respect to the trough and there is a UV-reflective surface located in an elevated location with respect to the trough. 43. The apparatus of claim 26 further comprising a reservoir at an elevated location with respect to the treatment chamber and in communication with the treatment chamber to permit flow of liquid from the reservoir to the inlet end of the trough of the treatment chamber. 44. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the reservoir comprises a housing for the liquid and the housing has an aperture to permit said flow of liquid from the housing to the inlet end of the trough, the housing being located above the treatment chamber and said aperture being located in a floor of the housing. 45. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein the apparatus is a portable counter top apparatus and the housing of the reservoir is dimensioned to hold up to about 3 liters of water and there is a plurality of said apertures which are together dimensioned, to provide a flow rate of up to about 2 liters per minute from the housing to the inlet end of the trough. 46. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein there is at least one protrusion extending upwardly from the floor of the trough to promote said uneven flow of the liquid as it passes through the trough. 47. An apparatus for treating an aqueous liquid such as water with UV light, the apparatus comprising:a treatment chamber for the liquid;a UV lamp;an upwardly open trough for receipt of the liquid in the treatment chamber, wherein:the trough has one or more surfaces oriented to define a flow path for the liquid to flow therethrough;the UV lamp is spaced from the flow path and located to permit exposure of a top surface of a said liquid in the trough to UV light emitted from the lamp, to permit entry of the UV light into the liquid;the trough includes reflective surface located to be submerged by liquid flowing through the trough and oriented to reflect light upwardly into the liquid;a first sensor located and trained to receive UV light emitted from the lamp;a second sensor located and trained to receive UV light reflected from a said submerged surface and emergent from the liquid; andmeans for determining the intensity of UV light received by the first sensor relative to the intensity of UV light received by the second sensor so as to determine the effectiveness of the treatment. 48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the apparatus is a portable table top appliance. 49. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the first sensor is trained to receive UV light rays emitted directly from the lamp. 50. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the second sensor is trained to receive light rays that form an angle of between about 45° and about 120° with light rays emitted from the lamp. 51. The apparatus of claim 47, further comprising:an indicator operably connected to the first sensor to provide an indication of when the UV light received by the first indicator is below a predetermined level. 52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the indicator operably connected to the first sensor to provide an indication of when the UV light received by the first indicator is below a predetermined level is a light emitting diode. 53. A process for treating an aqueous liquid, the process comprising the steps of:passing the liquid through a treatment area to bring the liquid into contact with reflective walls submerged below an upper surface of the liquid;exposing the upper surface of the liquid to light emitted from a first UV light source such that UV light penetrates the liquid to strike the submerged reflective surfaces and to be reflected therefrom to emerge through the upper surface of the liquid;determining the intensity of the UV light emitted from the light source;determining the intensity of UV light received by a UV light sensor trained to receive emergent said light;determining whether the treatment has a predetermined effectiveness based on the intensity of the UV light emitted from the light source and the intensity of the UV light received by the sensor. 54. The process of claim 53, comprising the further step of:providing an indication of the presence of an unsafe operating condition when the intensity of UV light received by the sensor relative to the UV light emitted from the light source is below a predetermined level. 55. The process of claim 54 wherein the treatment has said predetermined effectiveness based on the intensity of the UV light emitted from the light source and the intensity of the UV light received by the sensor when the UV light received by the sensor is below above 70% the intensity of the UV light emitted from the light source. 56. The process of claim 53, comprising the further step of:determining whether the intensity of the UV light emitted from the light source is sufficient for the treatment to have the predetermined effectiveness. 57. The process of claim 56, comprising the further step of:providing an indication of the presence of an unsafe operating condition when the intensity of the UV light emitted from the light source is below a predetermined level. 58. The process of claim 53 wherein the step of determining the intensity of the UV light emitted from the light source includes determining the intensity of UV light received by a second UV light sensor trained to receive UV light emitted from the light source, and the step of determining whether the treatment has a predetermined effectiveness is based on the intensity of the UV light received by the first sensor and the intensity of the UV light received by the second sensor. 59. The process of claim 58, comprising the further step of:determining the intensity of UV light received by the first UV light sensor when the treatment area is empty in order to determine whether the surfaces are sufficiently reflective for the treatment to have the predetermined effectiveness. 60. The process of claim 58, comprising the further step of:determining whether the intensity of the UV light received by the second UV light sensor is sufficient for the treatment to have the predetermined effectiveness. 61. The process of claim 58, comprising the further step of:providing an indication of the presence of an unsafe operating condition when the intensity of light received by the first UV light sensor when the treatment area is empty is below a predetermined level. 62. The process of claim 58, comprising the further step of:providing an indication of the presence of an unsafe operating condition when the intensity of the UV light received by the second UV sensor is below a predetermined level. 63. The process of claim 58, comprising the further step of:providing an indication of the presence of an unsafe operating condition when the intensity of UV light received by the first sensor relative to the intensity of the UV light received by the second sensor is below a predetermined level. 64. The process of claim 63 wherein the treatment has said predetermined effectiveness based on the intensity of the UV light received by the second sensor and the intensity of the UV light received by the first sensor when the UV light received by the first sensor is below about 70% the intensity of the UV light received by the second sensor. 65. The process of claim 64, wherein the step of disrupting the flow of the liquid includes obstructing the flow of the liquid in the treatment area. 66. The process of claim 65, wherein the liquid flows through a trough located in the treatm ent area and disrupting the flow of the liquid includes providing a physical barrier located in the trough. 67. The process of claim 66, wherein the liquid is passed along a path to have a major axial direction of flow and said barrier protrudes into the trough to create localized flow of the liquid in a direction non-parallel to the major axial direction. 68. The process of claim 67, wherein the barrier protrudes laterally into the trough. 69. The process of claim 65, wherein the liquid flows through a trough located in the treatment area and disrupting the flow of the liquid includes providing a depression in the trough. 70. The process of claim 53 including locating the lamp above the surface of the liquid. 71. The process of claim 53 wherein the liquid is maintained at a temperature of between about 0 and 40° C. while passing through the treatment area. 72. The process of claim 53, the process further comprising the steps of:(a) passing the liquid by force of gravity through the treatment area; and(b) disrupting laminar flow of the liquid as it passes through the treatment area. 73. The process of claim 53, the process further comprising the steps of:passing the liquid through the treatment area such that the liquid has an upper surface directly exposed to the atmosphere; anddisrupting laminar flow of the liquid as it passes through the treatment area. 74. The process of claim 53, wherein the steps of the process are carried out in a portable counter top apparatus. 75. The process of claim 53, wherein the liquid is passed through a trough having protrusions extending into the trough and the UV light is emitted from at least one low pressure lamp, wherein there are at least three protrusions per lamp in the treatment area. 76. The process of claim 53, the process comprising the steps of:passing the liquid by force of gravity through the treatment area with the upper surface of the liquid exposed to ambient pressure; anddisrupting the flow of the liquid as it passes through the treatment area to direct lower portions of the liquid toward the surface of the liquid. 77. The process of claim 76, including locating the lamp such that an air space between the lamp and liquid precludes contact therebetween. 78. The process of claim 77, wherein there is no quartz layer between the lamp and surface of the liquid. 79. The process of claim 76, including the step of reflecting light emitted from the lamp onto the surface of the liquid. 80. The process of claim 76 including providing the liquid in the form of a film while passing it through the treatment area. 81. The process of claim 80 wherein the average thickness of the film in the treatment area is up to about 5 cm. 82. The process of claim 81 wherein the average thickness of the film in the treatment area is up to about 1 cm. 83. The process of claim 82 wherein the average thickness of the film in the treatment area is up to about 0.2 cm. 84. The process of claim 80 wherein the liquid flows through a trough at an average flow rate of up to about 500 ml per minute per cm average width of the liquid in the trough. 85. The process of claim 76 wherein the liquid has a transmittance at a wavelength of 254 nm of at least 90% and in which the UV light to which the surface is exposed is in a dosage of at least 10 milliwatt-second/cm. 86. The process of claim 53, comprising the further step of:determining the intensity of UV light received by the UV light sensor when the treatment area is empty in order to determine whether the surfaces are sufficiently reflective for the treatment to have the predetermined effectiveness. 87. The process of claim 86, comprising the further step of:providing an indication of the presence of an unsafe operating condition when the intensity of light received by the UV light sensor when the treatment area is empty is below a predetermined level. 88. The apparatus of claim 47, further comprising an indicator operably connected to the first sensor to provid e an indication of when the UV light received by the first indicator is above a predetermined level. 89. The apparatus of claim 88, wherein the indicator operably connected to the first sensor to provide an indication of when the UV light received by the first indicator is above a predetermined level is a light emitting diode. 90. The apparatus of claim 47, further comprising an indicator operably connected to the first sensor and to the second sensor to provide an indication of when the UV light received by the second sensor relative to the UV light received by first sensor is below a predetermined level. 91. The apparatus of claim 90, wherein the indicator operably connected to the first sensor and to the second sensor to provide an indication of when the UV light received by the second indicator relative to the UV light received by first indicator is below a predetermined level is a light emitting diode. 92. The apparatus of claim 47, further comprising an indicator operably connected to the first sensor and to the second sensor to provide an indication of when the UV light received by the second sensor relative the UV light received by the first sensor is above a predetermined level. 93. The apparatus of claim 92, wherein indicator operably connected to the first sensor and to the second sensor to provide an indication of when the UV light received by the second sensor relative the UV light received by the first sensor is above a predetermined level is a light emitting diode. 94. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein said reflective surfaces reflect at least 40% of UV light emitted from the lamp in the absence of liquid. 95. The apparatus of claim 94, wherein said reflective surfaces reflect at least 90% of UV light emitted from the lamp in the absence of liquid. 96. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the apparatus is a portable counter top appliance, the apparatus further comprising a liquid storage chamber located in an elevated location with respect to the treatment chamber, having one or more apertures in a wall thereof, the apertures being in communication with the treatment chamber to permit, under the force of gravity, controlled flow of a said liquid from the storage chamber to a said trough of the treatment chamber. 97. The apparatus of claim 96, wherein the one or more apertures are dimensioned to permit entry of up to about 2 liters per minute and the trough is shaped and angled with the horizontal such that the average thickness of the liquid is no greater than about 1 cm. 98. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the trough defines a flow path for the liquid to flow under the force of gravity under ambient pressure and includes a floor which is shaped to promote uneven flow of the liquid as it passes through the trough to direct lower portions of the liquid in contact therewith toward the surface of the liquid. 99. The apparatus of claim 98, further comprising protrusions located in the flow path of the trough, which protrusions disrupt laminar flow and promote mixing of liquid flowing through the trough. 100. The apparatus of claim 98, further comprising at least one ridge located in the flow path of the trough, the ridge being shaped such that contact therewith by the flowing liquid forces lower portions of the liquid toward the surface of the liquid. 101. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein a lower end of the trough is located above an upwardly open end of a receiving chamber, and the receiving chamber includes a hand-held jug. 102. The apparatus of claim 101, wherein said hand-held jug includes an activated carbon filter for filtering water entering the receiving chamber. 103. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the trough is angled between about 5 and about 15° with the horizontal. 104. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the trough defines a flow path having an inlet end and an outlet end for the liquid to flow under the force of gravity under ambient pressure from the inlet end to the outlet end, and furthe r comprising:a reservoir at an elevated location with respect to the treatment chamber and in communication with the treatment chamber to permit flow of liquid from the reservoir to the inlet end of the trough of the treatment chamber, and wherein,the trough has a floor which is shaped to promote uneven flow of the liquid as it passes through the trough to direct lower portions of the liquid in contact therewith toward the surface of the liquid. 105. The apparatus of claim 104, wherein the apparatus is a portable counter top apparatus and the reservoir comprises a housing dimensioned to hold up to about 3 liters of water. 106. The apparatus of claim 105, wherein the floor of the trough is inclined downwardly between the inlet end and outlet end to promote the flow of liquid from the inlet end toward the outlet end under the force of gravity. 107. The apparatus of claim 104, wherein there is at least one protrusion extending upwardly from the floor of the trough to promote said uneven flow of the liquid as it passes through the trough. 108. The apparatus of claim 104, wherein the UV lamp is a low pressure mercury lamp and there is a reflector located to direct light emitted from the lamp in a direction away from the trough toward the trough to strike the surface of liquid in the trough. 109. The apparatus of claim 104, wherein the UV lamp is a medium pressure lamp and there is a reflector located to direct light emitted from the lamp in a direction away from the trough toward the trough to strike the surface of liquid in the trough and the apparatus further comprises means for ventilating the space between the lamp and the trough to maintain heat flow from the lamp to the liquid below a fixed amount. 110. The apparatus of claim 47, further comprising a series of walls in the treatment chamber, which walls are spaced and oriented to define said flow path such that the liquid flowing therethrough travels in alternatingly first and second directions, generally opposite to each other, between an inlet end and an outlet end of the trough. 111. The apparatus of claim 110, wherein the walls are up to about 3 cm in height. 112. The process of claim 1, including locating the lamp such that an air space between the lamp and liquid precludes contact therebetween.