DEVICE SUITABLE FOR TREATING LIQUIDS, IN PARTICULAR CONTAMINATED WATER

Abstract: A device suitable for treating liquids, in particular contaminated water, which device comprises a treatment chamber and a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet connected to said treatment chamber, wherein a plurality of substantially parallel ultraviolet lamps are disposed in said treatment chamber, wherein said ultraviolet lamps are movable with respect to each other.

Description: Device suitable for treating liquids, in particular contaminated water. The invention relates to a device suitable for treating liquids, in particular contaminated water, which device comprises a treatment chamber and a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet connected to said treatment chamber, wherein a plurality of substantially parallel ultraviolet lamps are disposed in said treatment chamber, which ultraviolet lamps are arranged in substantially parallel tiers and which are movable with respect to each other. In a similar device known from German utility model no. 93.20.594.5 a plurality of ultraviolet (UV) lamps are disposed in the treatment chamber, wherein a fluid flowing through the treatment chamber, such as contaminated water, for example, is cleaned by means of the UV radiation emitted by said UV lamps. In this prior art device the tiers are pivotally connected near a first longitudinal side to a construction that can float on the water, whilst the second longitudinal side remote from said first longitudinal side rests on a bottom of the treatment chamber. When the water level in the treatment chamber rises, the construction will be moved in upward direction, with the tiers taking up a different angle with respect to the bottom. The spacing between the tiers slightly changes thereby. The degree of contamination is determined by the dosage of ultraviolet radiation to which the liquid particles are exposed. The radiation emitted by an ultraviolet lamp depends on the age of the lamp, however. Moreover, the question whether water flowing past a UV lamp at some distance therefrom is irradiated with UV light furthermore depends on the spacing between the lamps and the transmission value of the liquid. One drawback of the prior art device is the fact that in the case of a different transmission value of the liquid to be treated or of a reduced emission of UV light resulting from ageing of a lamp, only a limited change of the spacing between the tiers can be effected, as a result of which not all liquid particles will be irradiated to a sufficient degree and an optimum cleaning effect is not obtained. The object of the invention is to provide a device by means of which the drawbacks of the prior art are avoided. This objective is accomplished with the device according to the invention in that said tiers are movable with respect to each other in a direction transversely to the tiers. Since the lamps are movable with respect to each other in a direction transversely to the tiers it is possible to adjust practically any desired distance between the lamps in dependence on the dosage of UV radiation that is minimally required. In this manner the desired liquid cleaning effect can be guaranteed. Parallel tiers can be moved relatively easily with respect to each other by mechanical, hydraulic and/or pneumatic means. Preferably, springs are disposed between the respective tiers, whereby movement of the outer tiers with respect to each other also causes the tiers disposed therebetween to be moved, with all tiers being spaced the same distance apart. One embodiment of the device according to the invention is characterized in that the lamps of a first tier are staggered with respect to the lamps of the second tier disposed opposite said first tier. As a result of the staggered arrangement of the lamps, an in particular if the lamps of one tier are disposed centrally between respective lamps of another tier, an adequate distribution of the radiation will be obtained irrespective of the spacing between the tiers. Yet another embodiment of a device according to the invention is characterized in that the tiers extend substantially horizontally in use, wherein a tier disposed near the upper side is connected to an element that floats on the liquid to be treated. As a result, the spacing between the tiers is determined by the level of the liquid present in the treatment chamber. When the liquid level is relatively low, the force of gravity will cause the floating element to move in downward direction, as a result of which the tiers will be positioned more closely together. When the liquid level in the chamber rises, the floating element will automatically move upwards and the tiers will be moved further apart. In this manner it is possible to reduce the amount of liquid being supplied to the treatment chamber when treating a liquid having a relatively low transmission value, as a result of which the tiers will automatically be moved towards each other and the spacing between the lamps will be reduced, so that in spite of the low transmission value a sufficiently high dosage of UV radiation will still be supplied to all liquid particles. The invention will be explained in more detail hereafter with reference to the drawing, wherein Figure 1 shows a device according to the invention. Figure 1 shows a device 1 according to the invention, comprising a plurality of horizontally extending strips 2, horizontally extending lamps 3 disposed within quartz tubes, and vertically extending guide rods 4. Strips 2 and lamps 3, which extend substantially transversely to each other, are interconnected near their ends. Strips 2 and lamps 3 are arranged in several tiers 5 - 9, wherein the lamps 3 in first tiers 5, 7, 9 are disposed centrally between lamps 3 of second tiers 6, 8 positioned therebetween. Only five tiers are shown in Figure 1. It will be understood that the number of tiers, the number of guide rods and the number of lamps disposed between two guide rods can be adapted in dependence of, among other things, the dimension of the treatment chamber (not shown), the liquid to be treated, etc. All guide rods 4 are surrounded by springs 10, which are each connected to a strip 2 of a first tier 5, 7, 9 with a first end and to a strip 2 of a second tier 6, 8 with a second end. Springs 10 keep the various tiers 5 - 9 a predetermined distance apart. Lamps 3 are disposed in quartz tubes, which are further filled with air, for example. As a result, lamps 3 will experience an upward force in water. Owing to the weight of the strips 2 connected to the lamps 3, said lamps 3 will experience a downward force. A suitable selection of the type of strips and the weight thereof makes it possible to have the tiers float in the water, as it were, so that the distance between the tiers is determined exclusively by the springs. The operation of the device 1 will now be briefly explained. Water to be cleaned is introduced, via a water inlet (not shown), into a treatment chamber, in which device 1 is present. Water flows past the UV light emitting lamps 3 and exits the treatment chamber in the direction indicated by arrow PI via a water outlet. In order to obtain a desired cleaning effect of the water, a specific dosage of UV radiation must be delivered to the water. The question whether all liquid particles actually receive the desired dosage depends, among other things, on the transmission value of the contaminated water and the age of the UV lamps 3. When it is desired to increase the received dosage of UV radiation, in particular near the centre M between the lamps, the uppermost tier is pressed in downward direction by mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic means that are known per se or by means of an element floating on the liquid as described above, whereby the springs 10 present between the respective tiers will move all tiers with respect to each other in order to achieve a desired spacing between the tiers. It is also possible to move the lowermost tier in upward direction, of course. In the situation that is shown in Figure 1 tier 8 has not been moved, as it were, whilst the surrounding tiers 7, 9 have been moved towards tier 8, forming tiers 7' and 9' including UV lamps 3'. Lamps 3' are now spaced a distance L' apart from all lamps 3 of the adjacent tiers. When the water has a relatively high transmission value and/or the lamps are relatively new and/or a relatively low UV dosage is desired, the tiers 5 - 9 can be moved further apart, wherein tiers 7 and 9 move to the position indicated at 7'' and 9" with respect to tier 8 and the lamps 3'' of tiers 7'' and 9'' take up the position illustrated in Figure 1, wherein lamps 3'' are spaced a distance L" apart from the lamps 3 of the surrounding tiers. It will be understood that Figure 1 only shows the movement of one lamp 3 of tier 7 and of tier 9 with respect to a stationary tier 8 in Figure 1. In practice it will be preferred for the lowermost tier rigidly to be rigidly connected to the treatment chamber and the other tiers arranged thereabove to be movable with respect to the lowermost tier. It is also possible, of course, to have the tiers moved with respect to each other by means of screwed spindles, piston-cylinder combinations or other mechanical, pneumatic of hydraulic means. It is also possible, of course, for the lamps of a tier to be movable with respect to each other. The arrangement of lamps in tiers and springs disposed between said tiers makes it possible in a simple manner to space all tiers a new distance apart. It is also possible, of course, to provide each lamp with a separate driving mechanism, by means of which the lamps can be moved to substantially any position in the treatment chamber. It is also possible to interconnect the strips 2 of a tier by means of connecting strips extending transversely to said strips 2. It is also possible to have the water flow parallel to said lamps. It is also possible to provide the strips with a particular flow profile, so that the water will undergo a turbulent flow.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A device suitable for treating liquids, in particular contaminated water, which device comprises a treatment chamber and a 1 iquid inlet and a liquid outlet connected to said treatment chamber, wherein a plurality of substantially parallel ultraviolet lamps are disposed in said treatment chamber, which ultraviolet lamps are arranged in parallel tiers and which are movable with respect to each other, characterized in that said tiers are movable with respect to each other in a direction transversely to said tiers. 2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the lamps of a first tier are staggered with respect to the lamps of the second tier disposed opposite said first tier. 3. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that the lamp of said first tier is positioned substantially centrally between two adjacent lamps of said second tier. 4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims 1 - 3, characterized in that springs are disposed between said tiers. 5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims 1 - 4, characterized in that each tier comprises strips extending transversely to the lamps, by means of which strips the lamps are detachably interconnected, whilst the device furthermore includes guide rods extending transversely to said strips and said lamps, with respect to which the strips and the lamps connected thereto are jointly movable. 6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims 1 - 5, characterized in that the tiers can be moved with respect to each other by mechanical, pneumatic and/or hydraulic driving means. 7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims 1 - 6, characterized in that said tiers extend substantially horizontally in use, wherein a tier disposed near the upper side is connected to an element that floats on the liquid to be treated.

Inventors: BERSON JOHANNES JACOBUS, BERSON, JOHANNES, JACOBUS
Applicants: BERSON JOHANNES JACOBUS, ORBEN ADVISORS S A, BERSON, JOHANNES, JACOBUS, ORBEN ADVISORS S.A.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: C02F1
IPC codes: C02F1