Patent Publication Number: US-10787375-B2

Title: Ultraviolet water disinfection system

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The current application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/579,868, filed on 31 Oct. 2017, which is hereby incorporated by reference. The current application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/052,980, filed on 2 Aug. 2018, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/817,558, filed on 4 Aug. 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,040,699, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/032,730, filed on 4 Aug. 2014, and which is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/324,528, filed on 7 Jul. 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,802,840, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/843,498, filed on 8 Jul. 2013, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/874,969, filed on 6 Sep. 2013, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Aspects of the invention are related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/591,728, which was filed on 22 Aug. 2012, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/157,874, which was filed on 17 Jan. 2014, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The disclosure relates generally to disinfection, and more particularly, to a solution for disinfecting a fluid, such as water, using deep ultraviolet light. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Water treatment using ultraviolet (UV) radiation offers many advantages over other forms of water treatment, such as chemical treatment. For example, treatment with UV radiation does not introduce additional chemical or biological contaminants into the water. Furthermore, ultraviolet radiation provides one of the most efficient approaches to water decontamination since there are no microorganisms known to be resistant to ultraviolet radiation, unlike other decontamination methods, such as chlorination. UV radiation is known to be highly effective against bacteria, viruses, algae, molds and yeasts. For example, hepatitis virus has been shown to survive for considerable periods of time in the presence of chlorine, but is readily eliminated by UV radiation treatment. The removal efficiency of UV radiation for most microbiological contaminants, such as bacteria and viruses, generally exceeds 99%. To this extent, UV radiation is highly efficient at eliminating  E - coli, Salmonella , Typhoid fever, Cholera, Tuberculosis, Influenza Virus, Polio Virus, and Hepatitis A Virus. 
     Intensity, radiation wavelength, and duration of radiation are important parameters in determining the disinfection rate of UV radiation treatment. These parameters can vary based on a particular target culture. The UV radiation does not allow microorganisms to develop an immune response, unlike the case with chemical treatment. The UV radiation affects biological agents by fusing and damaging the DNA of microorganisms, and preventing their replication. Also, if a sufficient amount of a protein is damaged in a cell of a microorganism, the cell enters apoptosis or programmed death. 
     Ultraviolet radiation disinfection using mercury based lamps is a well-established technology. In general, a system for treating water using ultraviolet radiation is relatively easy to install and maintain in a plumbing or septic system. Use of UV radiation in such systems does not affect the overall system. However, it is often desirable to combine an ultraviolet purification system with another form of filtration since the UV radiation cannot neutralize chlorine, heavy metals, and other chemical contaminants that may be present in the water. Various membrane filters for sediment filtration, granular activated carbon filtering, reverse osmosis, and/or the like, can be used as a filtering device to reduce the presence of chemicals and other inorganic contaminants. 
     Mercury lamp-based ultraviolet radiation disinfection has several shortcomings when compared to deep ultraviolet (DUV) light emitting device (LED)-based technology, particularly with respect to certain disinfection applications. For example, in rural and/or off-grid locations, it is desirable for an ultraviolet purification system to have one or more of various attributes such as: a long operating lifetime, containing no hazardous components, not readily susceptible to damage, requiring minimal operational skills, not requiring special disposal procedures, capable of operating on local intermittent electrical power, and/or the like. Use of a DUV LED-based solution can provide a solution that improves one or more of these attributes as compared to a mercury vapor lamp-based approach. For example, in comparison to mercury vapor lamps, DUV LEDs: have substantially longer operating lifetimes (e.g., by a factor of ten); do not include hazardous components (e.g., mercury), which require special disposal and maintenance; are more durable in transit and handling (e.g., no filaments or glass); have a faster startup time; have a lower operational voltage; are less sensitive to power supply intermittency; are more compact and portable; can be used in moving devices; can be powered by photovoltaic (PV) technology, which can be installed in rural locations having no continuous access to electricity and having scarce resources of clean water; and/or the like. 
       FIGS. 1A-1C  and  FIGS. 2A-2B  illustrate previous applications where the UV disinfection systems are based on mercury lamps. One of the important issues associated with mercury lamps is that it is difficult to turn on and off such a device rapidly. As such, the intensity levels of mercury lamp are sub-optimal for devices that require rapid turn-on/turn-off times.  FIG. 2B  further illustrates a mixing element for creating a turbulent flow in the device. The turbulent flow promotes mixing and improves radiation exposure of the fluid. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     When treating fluid partially transparent to UV radiation, it is often desirable to: provide a mechanism for increasing transparency of the fluid; monitor transparency of the fluid; monitor the filtering system; provide a mechanism for mixing and circulating the flow, and/or the like, in order to yield sufficiently high UV radiation levels to deliver necessary UV radiation dose for the disinfection of microorganisms. Embodiments of the present invention address one or more of these issues. 
     Aspects of the invention provide a solution for treating a fluid, such as water. The solution can determine an ultraviolet transparency of a fluid before or as the fluid enters a disinfection chamber. In the disinfection chamber, the fluid can be irradiated by ultraviolet radiation to harm microorganisms that may be present in the fluid. One or more attributes of the disinfection chamber, fluid flow, and/or ultraviolet radiation can be adjusted based on the transparency to provide more efficient irradiation and/or higher disinfection rates. In addition, various attributes of the disinfection chamber, such as a position of an inlet and outlet, a shape of the disinfection chamber, and/or other attributes of the disinfection chamber, can be utilized to create a turbulent flow of the fluid within the disinfection chamber to promote mixing and improve uniform UV exposure. 
     A first aspect of the invention provides a system comprising: a disinfection chamber for disinfecting a fluid, the disinfection chamber comprising: an inner cylindrical chamber; at least one inlet located at a first end of the disinfection chamber and at least one outlet located at a second end of the disinfection chamber, wherein the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet are positioned to provide a rotational force to the fluid within the inner cylindrical chamber; and a set of ultraviolet radiation sources configured to emit ultraviolet radiation directed within the inner cylindrical chamber; a filtering system located at the at least one inlet of the disinfection chamber configured to filter the fluid; a sensing component located between the filtering system and the at least one inlet configured to evaluate a transparency of the fluid; and a control component configured to control at least one of: the set of ultraviolet radiation sources or a flow rate of the fluid at the at least one inlet, based on the transparency of the fluid. 
     A second aspect of the invention provides a system comprising: a disinfection chamber for disinfecting a fluid, the disinfection chamber comprising: an inner chamber; at least one inlet located at a first end of the disinfection chamber and at least one outlet located at a second end of the disinfection chamber, wherein the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet are both located on a top side of the disinfection chamber, such that fluid flowing through the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet has a rotational force within the inner chamber; and a set of ultraviolet radiation sources configured to emit ultraviolet radiation directed within the inner cylindrical chamber; a sensing component located adjacent to the at least one inlet configured to obtain sensing data corresponding to a transparency of the fluid; and a control component configured to determine the transparency of the fluid using the sensing data and control the set of ultraviolet radiation sources based on the transparency of the fluid. 
     A third aspect of the invention provides a system comprising: a planar disinfection chamber for disinfecting a fluid, the disinfection chamber comprising: at least one inlet and at least one outlet; a set of ultraviolet radiation sources located on a first side of the disinfection chamber; a set of scattering elements located on a second side of the disinfection chamber opposite the first side, the set of scattering elements configured to reflect ultraviolet radiation; and a plurality of wall barriers located within the disinfection chamber and extending from the first side to the second side, the plurality of wall barriers configured to provide a flow path for the fluid through the disinfection chamber; a sensing component located along the flow path for the fluid, the sensing component configured to obtain sensing data corresponding to a transparency of the fluid; and a control component configured to control the set of ultraviolet radiation sources based on the transparency of the fluid. 
     Other aspects of the invention provide methods, systems, program products, and methods of using and generating each, which include and/or implement some or all of the actions described herein. The illustrative aspects of the invention are designed to solve one or more of the problems herein described and/or one or more other problems not discussed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features of the disclosure will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of the various aspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings that depict various aspects of the invention. 
         FIGS. 1A-1C  show ultraviolet disinfection systems according to the prior art. 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  show ultraviolet disinfection systems according to the prior art. 
         FIG. 3  shows an illustrative system for treating a fluid according to an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 4A-4C  shows illustrative fluid path configurations for a filtering unit and a sensing component for determining filter saturation according to an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 5A-5C  show illustrative disinfection chambers according to embodiments. 
         FIGS. 6A-6C  show an illustrative disinfection chamber according to an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  show an illustrative disinfection chamber according to an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  show illustrative disinfection chambers including a plurality of inlets and a plurality of outlets according to an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 9A and 9B  show an illustrative disinfection chamber including a plurality of inlets with variable diameter according to an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 10A and 10B  show an illustrative disinfection chamber including moveable blades according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  shows an illustrative disinfection chamber including a gas chamber according to an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 12A and 12B  show an illustrative system for treating a fluid according to another embodiment. 
         FIGS. 13A and 13B  show perspective views of an illustrative system for treating a fluid according to an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 14A and 14B  show illustrative disinfection chambers according to embodiments and  FIG. 14C  shows illustrative inner chambers according to embodiments. 
         FIG. 15A  shows an illustrative disinfection chamber,  FIG. 15B  shows an illustrative first inner chamber, and  FIG. 15C  shows an illustrative second inner chamber according to an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 16A-16D  show illustrative inner chambers according to embodiments. 
         FIG. 17  shows an illustrative inner chamber according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 18  shows an illustrative disinfection chamber according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 19  shows an illustrative disinfection chamber according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 20  shows an illustrative disinfection chamber according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 21  shows an illustrative disinfection chamber according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 22  shows an illustrative second inner chamber according to an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 23A and 23B  show an illustrative assembly of a first inner chamber and a second inner chamber according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 24  shows an illustrative disinfection chamber according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 25A  shows an illustrative disinfection chamber according to an embodiment, and  FIG. 25B  shows an illustrative ultraviolet radiation source mounted on a heat sink according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 26  shows an illustrative system for treating a fluid according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 27  shows an illustrative disinfection chamber according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 28  shows a three-dimensional view of an illustrative disinfection chamber according to an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 29A and 29B  show illustrative plots of radiation intensity and microorganism activity according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 30  shows an illustrative flow chart for operation of an illustrative system according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 31  shows an illustrative disinfection system according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     It is noted that the drawings may not be to scale. The drawings are intended to depict only typical aspects of the invention, and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements between the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As indicated above, aspects of the invention provide a solution for treating a fluid, such as water. The solution can determine an ultraviolet transparency of a fluid before or as the fluid enters a disinfection chamber. In the disinfection chamber, the fluid can be irradiated by ultraviolet radiation to harm microorganisms that may be present in the fluid. One or more attributes of the disinfection chamber, fluid flow, and/or ultraviolet radiation can be adjusted based on the transparency to provide more efficient irradiation and/or higher disinfection rates. In addition, various attributes of the disinfection chamber, such as a position of the inlet and outlet, a shape of the disinfection chamber, and/or other attributes of the disinfection chamber can be utilized to create a turbulent flow of the fluid within the disinfection chamber to promote mixing and improve uniform UV exposure. As used herein, unless otherwise noted, the term “set” means one or more (i.e., at least one) and the phrase “any solution” means any now known or later developed solution. 
     Aspects of the invention are designed to improve an efficiency with which ultraviolet radiation is absorbed by a fluid, such as water, by increasing the turbulent flow of the fluid within a disinfection chamber. The improved design can provide a higher disinfection rate while requiring less power by improving uniform UV exposure, making operation of the overall system more efficient. In a particular embodiment, the fluid is water and the system is configured to provide a reduction of microorganism (e.g., bacterial and/or viral) contamination in the water by at least a factor of two. In a more particular embodiment, the system provides approximately 99.9% decontamination of the water. 
     Turning to the drawings,  FIG. 3  shows an illustrative system  10  for treating a fluid  2 A according to an embodiment. In particular, the system  10  includes a filtering unit  12  and a disinfection chamber  30 . During operation of the system  10 , unfiltered fluid  2 A can enter the filtering unit  12  through an inlet of the filtering unit  12  and filtered fluid  2 B can exit the filtering unit  12 . As illustrated, the filtering unit  12  can be located along a fluid path  4  to the disinfection chamber  30  such that the filtered fluid  2 B enters into the disinfection chamber  30  through an outlet of the filtering unit  12 . In an embodiment, the inlet and outlet of the filtering unit  12  are permeable sides of the filtering unit  12 , as illustrated. Furthermore, disinfected fluid  2 C can exit the disinfection chamber  30  after being irradiated as described herein. 
     The fluid  2 A- 2 C can comprise any type of fluid, including a liquid or a gas. In an embodiment, the fluid  2 A- 2 C is water, which can be treated to make the water suitable for any desired human or animal interaction, e.g., potable. To this extent, as used herein, the terms “purification,” “decontamination,” “disinfection,” and their related terms mean treating the fluid  2 A- 2 C so that it includes a sufficiently low number of contaminants (e.g., chemical, sediment, and/or the like) and microorganisms (e.g., virus, bacteria, and/or the like) so that the fluid is safe for the desired interaction with a human or other animal. For example, the purification, decontamination, or disinfection of water means that the resulting water has a sufficiently low level of microorganisms and other contaminants so that a typical human or other animal can interact with (e.g., consume or otherwise use) the water without suffering adverse effects from microorganisms and/or contaminants present in the water. A target level of microorganisms and/or contaminants can be defined, for example, by a standards setting organization, such as a governmental organization. 
     The filtering unit  12  can comprise any combination of one or more of various types of filter materials and filtering solutions capable of removing one or more of various target contaminants (e.g., organic and/or inorganic compounds) that may be present in the fluid  2 A as it passes there through. For example, the filtering unit  12  can comprise a sediment filter, which can comprise a filter material having a lattice structure, or the like, which is configured to remove target contaminants of a minimum size that may be present within the fluid  2 A. Furthermore, the filtering unit  12  can comprise a filter material capable of removing one or more target contaminants by adsorption. For example, the filter material can comprise activated carbon, an ion exchange resin, or the like, and can be in the form of a ceramic, a block (e.g., carbon block), a granular fill, and/or the like. In this case, the filter material can remove various chemical contaminants, such as heavy metals, chlorine, and/or the like, which may be present in the fluid  2 A. Regardless, it is understood that the filtering unit  12  can incorporate any combination of one or more filtering solutions including, for example, reverse osmosis, membrane filtration (e.g., nanofiltration), ceramic filtration, sand filtration, ultrafiltration, microfiltration, ion-exchange resin, and/or the like. 
     In any event, prior to entering the disinfection chamber  30 , a sensing component  14  can evaluate a transparency level of the filtered fluid  2 B. In an embodiment, the system  10  is configured to adjust one or more attributes of radiation emitted in the disinfection chamber  30  based on a transparency of the filtered fluid  2 B to radiation of the target wavelength. To this extent, the sensing component  14  can be configured to acquire data corresponding to a transparency of the filtered fluid  2 B. In particular, the sensing component  14  can be configured such that at least a portion of the filtered fluid  2 B passes there through. Additionally, the sensing component  14  can include a set of radiation sources  16 , which generate radiation of one or more target wavelengths directed toward a set of radiation sensors  18 . In an embodiment, the set of radiation sources  16  includes at least one visible light emitting device and at least one ultraviolet light emitting device, while the set of radiation sensors  18  includes at least one visible light sensitive sensing device and at least one ultraviolet radiation sensitive sensing device. As illustrated, the sensing component  14  is located along the fluid path  4  for the fluid  2 B and can comprise a housing having two open ends through which the filtered fluid  2 B passes with a set of radiation sources  16  located on one side and a set of radiation sensors  18  located on the opposing side. 
     The set of radiation sensors  18  can provide transparency data corresponding to a transparency of the filtered fluid  2 B as a set of inputs for a control component  20 . Based on the set of inputs, the control component  20  can adjust one or more aspects of the operation of a set of ultraviolet sources  42 A,  42 B used to treat the filtered fluid  2 B. The control component  20  can also base operation of the set of ultraviolet sources  42 A,  42 B on the flow rate of the fluid  2 B entering the disinfection chamber  30 . For example, the control component  20  can adjust one or more attributes of the power provided to the set of ultraviolet sources  42 A,  42 B by a power component  40 . The power component  40  can be configured to independently or collectively adjust an amount of power provided to each ultraviolet source  42 A,  42 B. The power component  40  can be capable of delivering various energy levels of power to the ultraviolet sources  42 A,  42 B in a continuous and/or pulsed manner. In an embodiment, the control component  20  includes a computer system, which is configured to calculate an ultraviolet radiation absorption of the filtered fluid  2 B based on the transparency data received from the set of radiation sensors  18 . It is understood that an embodiment of the control component  20  can be configured to control the operation of one or more additional components, including the set of radiation sources  16 , the set of radiation sensors  18 , a mechanism (e.g., pump) for managing movement of the fluid  2 A- 2 C, and/or the like. Similarly, an embodiment of the control component  20  can receive input data from one or more additional sensing devices, such as a flow rate sensor, a sensor indicating that the disinfection chamber  30  is closed, sensors indicating a disinfection level of the filtered fluid  2 A and/or the disinfected fluid  2 C, and/or the like. 
     Although the fluid path  4  is shown as a linear flow path through the filtering unit  12  and the sensing component  14 , it is understood that this is only one example of the possible configurations of the filtering unit  12  and the sensing component  14 . For example,  FIGS. 4A-4C  show illustrative fluid path configurations for a filtering unit  12  and a sensing component  14  that can be used to determine a filter saturation according to an embodiment. Filter saturation indicates the efficiency of the filtering unit  12  by indicating the amount of contaminants that are contained by the filtering unit  12 . The filter saturation can be based on the transparency level of the filtered fluid  2 B. In an embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 4A , a test fluid  2 A with a known level of contaminants within a container  26  can be filtered through the filtering unit  12 . A transparency level for the filtered fluid  2 B can be measured by the sensing component  14  and the filtered fluid  2 B can be stored in a container  28 . The transparency data for the filtered fluid  2 B can be provided as an input to the control component  20  and compared to the known level of contaminants of the test fluid  2 A. If the filtering unit  12  fails to filter a predetermined percentage of the known contaminants in the test fluid  2 A, the control component  20  can indicate that a filter saturation for the filtering unit  12  is reached. The control component  20  can include an alarm  29  (e.g., visual, auditory, and/or the like), which indicates that the filtering unit  12  should be replaced. 
     In another embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 4B , when the fluid  2 A contains an unknown amount of contaminants, a first transparency level for the unfiltered fluid  2 A can be measured by a first sensing component  14 A. A second transparency level for the filtered fluid  2 B can be measured by a second sensing component  14 B. The first and second transparency levels can be provided as inputs to the control component  20  and compared with one another to determine the efficiency of the filtering unit  12 . If the filtering unit  12  fails to filter a predetermined percentage of contaminants within the unfiltered fluid  2 A, the control component  20  can include an alarm  29 , which indicates that the filtering unit  12  should be replaced. 
     In another embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 4C , when the fluid  2 A contains an unknown amount of contaminants, the sensing component  14  can include a first input for unfiltered fluid  2 A and a second input for filtered fluid  2 B. The sensing component  14  can measure a first transparency level for the unfiltered fluid  2 A and a second transparency level for the filtered fluid  2 B. This transparency data can be provided as inputs to the control component  20  to determine the efficiency of the filtering unit  12 . If the filtering unit  12  fails to filter a required percentage of contaminants within the unfiltered fluid  2 A, the control component  20  can include an alarm  29 , which indicates that the filtering unit  12  should be replaced. 
     Returning to  FIG. 3 , in an embodiment, the ultraviolet sources  42 A,  42 B include a set of ultraviolet light emitting diodes (LEDs), each of which is configured to emit radiation having a peak wavelength within the ultraviolet range of wavelengths, i.e., between 400 nanometers (nm) and 100 nm. In a more particular embodiment, the ultraviolet radiation emitted by an ultraviolet LED comprises deep ultraviolet radiation having a peak wavelength below 300 nanometers (nm). In a still more particular embodiment, the ultraviolet radiation emitted by an ultraviolet LED has a peak wavelength in a range between approximately 250 nm and approximately 290 nm. In another embodiment, the ultraviolet radiation sources  42 A,  42 B include a plurality of ultraviolet LEDs having a plurality of distinct peak wavelengths within the deep ultraviolet range of wavelengths, which can improve germicidal efficiency for targeting a plurality of types of microorganisms that may be present in the filtered fluid  2 B. The ultraviolet radiation can be introduced into the disinfection chamber  30  using any solution. For example, the ultraviolet sources  42 A,  42 B can comprise ultraviolet LEDs placed along an interior surface of a wall forming the disinfection chamber  30 . Furthermore, waveguide structures, such as optical fiber, or the like, can be utilized to introduce ultraviolet radiation generated by an ultraviolet source located external of the disinfection chamber  30 . 
     As different pathogens have various absorption wavelengths (for example, MS2 Phage has an absorption maxima at 271 nm, and  Escherichia coli  at 267 nm), an embodiment of the system  10  can include ultraviolet sources  42 A,  42 B operating at various wavelengths. For example, the disinfection chamber  30  can contain ultraviolet sources  42 A,  42 B containing phosphor and emitting at least some radiation at 250 nm wavelength, with the phosphor converting a portion (e.g., at least five percent) of the emitted UV radiation into ultraviolet radiation having a 280 nm wavelength. In addition, a peak wavelength of an ultraviolet source  42 A,  42 B can be chosen to provide a maximum absorption for a target pathogen. For instance, ultraviolet sources  42 A,  42 B with several wavelength spectra comprising wavelength maxima at 250, 260, 265, 270 and 280 nm, with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of ten nm or twenty nm can be included in the system  10 . More particular illustrative embodiments of configurations of the ultraviolet sources  42 A,  42 B include: at least two wavelength spectra having maxima at 265 nm and 250 nm with a FWHM of ten nm; at least two wavelength spectra having maxima at 250 nm and 270 nm with FWHM of ten nm; and at least two wavelength spectra having maxima at 260 nm and 280 nm and FWHM of twenty nm. During operation of the system  10 , the control component  20  can operate all of the ultraviolet sources  42 A,  42 B or selectively operate only a subset of the ultraviolet sources  42 A,  42 B based on a set of target contaminants and their corresponding absorption wavelengths. 
     In an embodiment, the control component  20  operates the ultraviolet sources  42 A,  42 B in a pulsed manner. For example, the control component  20  can cause the power component  40  to provide pulsed electrical power to the ultraviolet sources  42 A,  42 B. A frequency of pulsation and the ultraviolet radiation intensity can be configured to provide a target amount of sterilization. The pulsed operation criteria can be determined in advance, e.g., by testing the disinfection chamber  30  for various contaminants and fluid  2 B transparency levels and recording the frequency of pulsation, the intensity of pulsed ultraviolet light, and sterilization levels for each frequency/intensity value in a database stored in the control component  20 . The time dependent pulsation and intensity adjustment does not have to be periodic, but can be aperiodic, contain pulses of different wavelengths and different intensities etc. The employed pulses can be from different ultraviolet sources  42 A,  42 B, and can include, for example, a combination of DUV LED(s), DUV laser(s), and/or DUV lamp(s). 
     The system  10  can also include a first sensor  22  and a second sensor  24  located along the fluid path  4  for the fluid  2 A- 2 C at an inlet and an outlet of the disinfection chamber  30 , respectively. The first sensor  22  can be configured to detect the disinfection level of the filtered fluid  2 B, while the second sensor  24  can be configured to detect the disinfection level of the disinfected fluid  2 C. The first and second sensors  22 ,  24  can provide this disinfection data as a set of inputs for the control component  20 . Based on this disinfection data, the transparency data from the sensing component  14 , and/or the flow rate of the filtered fluid  2 B entering the disinfection chamber, the control component  20  can adjust the power to the ultraviolet sources  42 A,  42 B. 
     Sensors  22 ,  24  can comprise an ultraviolet fluorescence sensor, an ultraviolet absorbance sensor, and/or the like. The UV fluorescence sensor  22 ,  24  can acquire data corresponding to a scattering of UV radiation within the disinfection chamber  30 . The control component  20  can process the data corresponding to the scattering of UV radiation to correlate it with a level of contamination in the filtered fluid  2 B, and make any adjustments to the operation of the ultraviolet sources  42 A,  42 B accordingly. Similarly, the control component  20  can process data acquired by the sensor  22 ,  24  to maintain a target level of ultraviolet flux within the disinfection chamber  30 . 
     The disinfection chamber  30  can include one or more attributes and/or mechanisms to improve the efficiency of the ultraviolet irradiation by introducing turbulent flow to the filtered fluid  2 B to promote uniform UV exposure. To this extent, referring to  FIGS. 5A-5C , illustrative disinfection chambers  30 A,  30 B,  30 C according to embodiments are shown. A disinfection chamber can be formed by multiple cylindrical chambers inserted into one another to promote UV radiation recirculation. In an embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 5A , an outer chamber  32  can comprise UV reflective material that is at least 70% diffusive reflectance to UV light in the range of 230 nanometers (nm) to 360 nm at radiation angles normal to the surface, while the inner chamber  34  can comprise UV transparent material that is at least 40% transparent to the UV radiation in the range of 230 nm to 360 nm at radiation angles normal to the surface. The UV reflective material (e.g., mirror) of the outer chamber  32  can provide increased scattering of the ultraviolet radiation within the disinfection chamber  30  and a reduced loss of ultraviolet radiation from the disinfection chamber  30 . For example, the walls of the outer chamber  32  can comprise a reflective material, such as an aluminum-based material, such as alumina, which has a relatively high reflectivity coefficient for ultraviolet radiation. The UV reflective material can also include a membrane of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), such as GORE® diffuse reflector product (DRP) material, or the like. A UV diffusive material can also be used, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (e.g., Teflon offered by DuPont Co.), that is capable of diffusive reflectance. The inner chamber  34  can be formed of any type of material that is UV transparent, such as fused silica, sapphire, and/or the like. 
     The outer chamber  32  and inner chamber  34  can be separated by a low index of refraction material. The low index of refraction layer of material between the outer chamber  32  and the inner chamber  34  can be formed of any type of material having a lower index of refraction than the filtered fluid  2 B, including: aerogel; a composite material comprising, for example, a layer of air and a thin layer of fused silica; and/or the like. Inclusion of the low refraction layer will cause the ultraviolet radiation to be totally internally reflected (TIR) at an interface between the filtered fluid  2 B and the low refraction layer for rays of ultraviolet radiation propagating at angles to the interface normal that are greater than TIR angles. The additional layer between the outer chamber  32  and the inner chamber  34  can be partially transparent and partially reflective and contain voids (e.g., micropores, or achieved via patterning) to control the refractive index of the middle layer. Although it is not shown, the outer chamber  32  and/or the inner chamber  34  can include a patterned roughness and/or grooves to promote light scattering and reflection of the UV radiation using any solution. The patterned roughness and/or grooves may be formed by means of hot embossing, pattern imprinting, lithography, and/or the like. In  FIG. 5B , the disinfection chamber  30 B can include various UV sources. For example, the chamber  30 B is shown including UV LEDs  36  and UV lamps  38 . 
     In any of the disinfection chambers, a metallic material of the chamber walls can include a coating, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), fluorinated ethylene-propylene (FEP), perfluoroalkoxy (PFA), various Teflons, and/or the like, to prevent corrosion. The coating can be applied by, for example, spray deposition or plasma deposition. The coating should be partially transparent and/or partially reflective and can have relatively low UV light absorbing characteristics. For example, the coating on the chamber walls should not absorb more than approximately 60% of the light radiated in the normal surface direction at wavelengths between 230 nanometers (nm) and 360 nm. 
     In another embodiment, the fluid can flow through partially transparent liners, such as liners  39  shown in the disinfection chamber  30 C in  FIG. 5C . The fluid flows through the liners  39  and does not interact with walls of the disinfection chamber  30 C or with the UV sources  42 A,  42 B ( FIG. 3 ), which prevents corrosion from occurring. The partially transparent coating can also act as an anti-fouling coating, to prevent biofilm growth within the chamber. The transparency of the liner  39  can be at least 30% to the normal incident of UV light. The liners  39  can comprise a high performance polymer such as Teflon, PTFE, FEP, and/or the like. In an embodiment, the liners  39  can include a composite multilayer material with layers including high performance polymers. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6A-6C , an illustrative disinfection chamber  30 D according to an embodiment is shown. As best seen in  FIG. 6C , the inner chamber  52  is a cylindrical pipe, while the outer chamber  54  is a rectangular shape. However, it is understood that the outer chamber  54  can comprise any shape around the inner chamber  52 . The outer chamber  54  can contain electronic and/or mechanical components for the system  10  ( FIG. 3 ), such as the control component  20 , the power component  40 , ultraviolet sources  42 A,  42 B, and/or the like. The inner chamber  52  can comprise a UV reflective material (e.g., mirror). Further, it is understood that the inner chamber  52  can comprise any cylinder. That is, as used herein, the term “cylinder” means a volume shape having an axial direction enclosed by a surface and by two planes perpendicular to the axial direction, which are located at each end of the volume shape. The length of the cylinder is defined as a distance between these two perpendicular planes. The two planes perpendicular to such axial direction are identified as a first and second end  46 ,  50 . 
     Although it is not shown, it is understood that a filtering unit  12 , sensors  22 ,  24 , a sensing component  14 , and/or the like, can be present within the outer chamber  54  of the disinfection chamber  30 D. The inlet  44  is located at a first end  46  of the disinfection chamber  30 D and the outlet  48  is located at a second end  50  of the disinfection chamber  30 D. It is understood that the inlet  44  and outlet  48  do not have to be located directly on the surface of the perpendicular planes of the first end  46  and second end  50 , respectively. In an embodiment, the inlet  44  is located proximate to the first end  46  of the inner cylindrical chamber  52 , while the outlet  48  is located proximate to the second end  50  of the inner cylindrical chamber  52 . In a more specific embodiment, the inlet  44  and the outlet  48  are located on the surface of the cylinder  52  within at least ten percent of the entire chamber length to the first and second ends  46 ,  50 , respectively. Furthermore, a distance between the inlet  44  and the outlet  48  should not exceed approximately one half of the length of the inner cylindrical chamber  52 . In an embodiment, the inlet  44  and the outlet  48  are positioned to provide a rotational force to the fluid within the disinfection chamber  30 D. Referring now to  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the rotational motion of the fluid  2  within the inner chamber  52  is shown. The rotational motion promotes mixing of the fluid and increases UV exposure. Returning to  FIGS. 6A-6C , the inner chamber  52  can include cylindrical coordinates r, z, θ, where r is the radial coordinate of the cylindrical pipe, z is the distance along the pipe axis, and θ is the angular position along the arc. The UV sources  42  can be positioned around the inner chamber  52  at angle θ being 0 degrees, 90 degree, 180 degrees, and 270 degrees, all along the z axis. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 8A and 8B , illustrative disinfection chambers  30 E,  30 F including a plurality of inlets and a plurality of outlets according to an embodiment are shown. An increase in the number of inlets to a disinfection chamber can increase the turbulence level of the fluid within the disinfection chamber  30 E,  30 F and promote mixing of the fluid to increase UV exposure. The disinfection chamber  30 E in  FIG. 8A  includes a first inlet  44 A and a second inlet  44 B. The first and second inlets  44 A,  44 B are positioned opposite one another and directed towards one another, so that the force of the fluid flowing in from the first inlet  44 A against the force of the fluid flowing in from the second inlet  44 B creates vorticity and mixing of the fluid within the chamber  30 E. In an embodiment, the largest component of the flow velocity of the first or second inlets  44 A,  44 B is directed towards the other of the first or second inlets  44 A,  44 B. The first and second inlets  44 A,  44 B can be generally directed towards the same area, so that the flows from the inlets  44 A,  44 B collide and interact with one another during operation of the disinfection chamber  30 E. In a more specific embodiment, the first inlet  44 A is directly opposite of a second inlet  44 B. However, it is understood that it is not necessary for the first inlet  44 A to be directly opposite from the second inlet  44 B and any relative arrangement can be utilized to cause interaction between the fluid flows. 
     In another embodiment, shown in  FIG. 8B , the disinfection chamber  30 F can include a plurality of inlets  44 A- 44 D at any position along the disinfection chamber  30 F. It is understood that a disinfection chamber can include any number of inlets. Further, any number of the inlets may be inactivated by the control component  20  ( FIG. 3 ) and/or the flow of the fluid from the inlet can be controlled by the control component  20  (via, e.g., a valve). The control component  20  can control the number of activated inlets and/or the flow of the fluid from each of the inlets based upon the type of fluid that is being disinfected within the disinfection chamber. For example, highly transparent fluids may require a few large cross sectional inlets to provide a low level of turbulence, while highly opaque fluids may require multiple small cross-sectional inlets to provide high levels of turbulence. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9A , an illustrative disinfection chamber  30 G including a plurality of inlets  44  according to an embodiment is shown. The plurality of inlets  44  can be located on an inflow assembly  54 . The plurality of inlets  44  on the inflow assembly  54  can deliver the fluid into the disinfection chamber  30 F in multiple streams. Turning to  FIG. 9B , in another embodiment, the inflow assembly  54  can include multiple levels of inlets. For example, the inflow assembly  54  can include a first level of inlets  56 A- 56 C and a second level of inlets  58 A- 58 C. Although only two levels are shown, it is understood that the inflow assembly  54  can include more levels of inlets. The levels of inlets in inflow assembly  54  can rotate, so that the fluid flows through the areas of overlap  60  between the first level of inlets  56 A- 56 C and the second level of inlets  58 A- 58 C. The control component  20  can rotate the levels of inlets to control the size of the areas of overlap  60  and can change the flow of the fluid. Therefore, changing the size of the area of overlap  60  can modify the level of turbulence provided to the fluid in the disinfection chamber  30 F. 
     In an embodiment, a disinfection chamber can include one or more mechanisms within the disinfection chamber to alter the flow path of the fluid to increase the turbulence of the fluid. For example, in  FIGS. 10A and 10B , an illustrative disinfection chamber  30 H including a plurality of moveable blades  62  according to an embodiment is shown. In  FIG. 10A , the plurality of moveable blades  62  are positioned to be linear with the fluid flow path  2 . In  FIG. 10B , the plurality of moveable blades  62  are positioned to be orthogonal to the fluid flow path  2 , which disrupts the fluid flow path  2  and increases the turbulence of the fluid. The increase in fluid turbulence promotes fluid mixing and increases UV exposure. The plurality of moveable blades  62  can be controlled by the control component  20  ( FIG. 3 ). The control component  20  can adjust each moveable blade  62  independently and can adjust each of the plurality of moveable blades  62  to produce a desired turbulence in the fluid flow  2  based on the flow rate of the fluid, the type of fluid, the disinfection level of the fluid, the transparency of the fluid, and/or the like. 
     Further improvement of increasing UV exposure for fluids, such as semi-opaque fluids with an absorption coefficient in the range of approximately 0.0001-10 cm −1 , can be achieved by including a gas phase in the fluid in the disinfection chamber. For example, the control component  20  can introduce a gas phase into the fluid, which introduces a transparent phase in the fluid and promotes the propagation of UV radiation throughout the semi-opaque fluid. The interface of the fluid and the gas also can increase light scattering. In an embodiment, a disinfection chamber  30 I as shown in  FIG. 11  can include a gas chamber  64  for providing a gas phase (e.g., bubbles  66 ) to the fluid  2 . The gas chamber  64  can include an air feeder, pump, and/or the like, for introducing a gas phase to the fluid  2 . Although the gas chamber  64  is shown located on one side of the disinfection chamber  30 I, it is understood that the gas chamber  64  can be located on any side of the disinfection chamber  30 I. The gas chamber  64 , in general, can be positioned along the disinfection chamber  30 I to promote propagation of the bubbles  66  by the use of gravity. In another embodiment, the gas chamber  64  can be placed in a location including lower UV radiation. The control component  20  ( FIG. 3 ) can control the amount of bubbles  66  introduced to the fluid via the gas chamber  64  based upon the transparency of the fluid (by using sensing component  14  in  FIG. 3 ). The disinfection chamber  30 I can include a vent  67  for collecting and venting out the bubbles  66  from the chamber  30 I. 
     In an embodiment, the fluid can have a low ultraviolet transparency and be highly absorbent of UV radiation. As a result, a distribution of ultraviolet light throughout the fluid can be utilized to provide a more efficient disinfection.  FIGS. 12A and 12B  shows an illustrative planar disinfection chamber  30 J including a plurality of wall barriers  68  used to create a complex flow path for the fluid according to an embodiment. Certain aspects of the system  10  ( FIG. 3 ), such as the filtering unit  12 , the sensors  22 ,  24 , and/or the like, are not shown in  FIGS. 12A and 12B  for clarity. The plurality of wall barriers  68  are configured to cause filtered fluid  2 B ( FIG. 3 ) to flow in a serpentine path  70  through the disinfection chamber  30 J. A plurality of ultraviolet sources  42  are located along the serpentine path  70 , which emit ultraviolet radiation into the filtered fluid  2 B in various locations as the filtered fluid  2 B flows along the path  70 . UV detectors  74  are located along the path  70  to evaluate a transparency level of the fluid  2 B, which can be processed to determine the efficiency of the disinfection system as the fluid  2 B flows through the disinfection chamber  30 J. In order to determine whether the fluid is properly mixed, a conductivity tracer injector  72  can be located at each inlet  44  and a conductivity sensor  73  can be located at each outlet  48 . The conductivity tracer injector  72  injects a timed pulse of a conductivity tracer, such as a salt solution, and/or the like, into the fluid. The conductivity sensor  73  can measure a conductivity of the fluid as a function of time to determine the concentration of salt in the fluid. The concentration of salt can be used to determine how well the fluid is mixed throughout the corresponding chamber  30 J. 
     In an embodiment, the planar disinfection chamber  30 J can include a plurality of scattering elements to promote uniform distribution of the UV radiation. Referring now to  FIG. 12B , a side view of the planar disinfection chamber  30 J is shown. The UV sources  42  are located on a first side of the disinfection chamber  30 J and a plurality of scattering elements  76  are located on a second side of the disinfection chamber  30 J, opposite of the UV sources  42 . The UV sources  42  can radiate UV radiation to the fluid within the disinfection chamber  30 J through windows (not shown) comprising a transparent material, such as sapphire, quartz, and/or the like.  FIGS. 13A and 13B  show perspective top and bottom views, respectively, of the disinfection chamber  30 J for treating a fluid according to an embodiment. 
     In an embodiment, a disinfection chamber can include an at least partially UV transparent inner chamber that contains the fluid to be disinfected and is located within an at least partially UV reflective outer chamber. Referring now to  FIG. 14A , an illustrative disinfection chamber  30 K according to an embodiment is shown. The disinfection chamber  30 K can include an at least partially UV transparent inner chamber  80 A configured to contain a volume of fluid to be disinfected. The at least partially UV transparent inner chamber  80 A is located within an outer chamber  82 , which is at least partially UV reflective. In an embodiment, the at least partially transparent inner chamber  80 A is transparent to at least 50% of the UV radiation. It is understood that the remaining portion of the UV radiation is either reflected or absorbed. In an embodiment, a thickness of the walls of the at least partially transparent inner chamber  80 A is chosen to achieve the transmittance (e.g., transparency) desired. The at least partially transparent inner chamber  80 A can be formed of a material that is transparent to UV radiation, such as, for example, a fluoropolymer, such as a terpolymer of ethylene, tetrafluoroethylene, and hexafluoropropylene (e.g., EFEP offered by Daikin America, Inc.), Teflon, ethylene-perfluoroether (EPFE), silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ), sapphire, anodic aluminum oxide (AAO), and/or the like. The at least partially reflective outer chamber  82  can be reflective to at least 30% of the UV radiation. In an embodiment, the at least partially reflective outer chamber  82  is reflective to at least 50% of the UV radiation. It is understood that the remaining portion of the UV radiation can be absorbed. The partially reflective outer chamber  82  can be formed of a material that is reflective to UV radiation, such as, for example, polished aluminum, PTFE, GORE®, and/or the like. Although they are not shown, the outer chamber  82  can also contain the set of ultraviolet radiation sources and any other electronic components. That is, the set of ultraviolet radiation sources can be located between the inner chamber  80 A and the outer chamber  82  and are configured to direct UV radiation through the transparent inner chamber  80 A and towards the fluid contained within the inner chamber  80 A. 
     Although the at least partially reflective outer chamber  82  is shown in  FIGS. 14A and 14B  as a cylindrical shape, it is understood that the at least partially reflective outer chamber  82  can have any shape. It is also understood that the at least partially transparent inner chamber  80 A can have any shape. In an embodiment, the at least partially transparent inner chamber  80 A can have a twisted shape. The twisted shape can be configured to help improve the efficiency of the UV radiation directed towards the inner chamber  80 A, e.g., by introducing a turbulent flow to the fluid within the at least partially transparent inner chamber  80 A, which promotes uniform exposure to the UV radiation. In  FIG. 14A , the transparent inner chamber  80 A is a cuboid (e.g., box) with a twisted shape. In  FIG. 14B , the twisted shape of the transparent inner chamber  80 B resembles a threaded portion of a screw.  FIG. 14C  shows various other twisted shapes that are possible for a transparent inner chamber. A transparent inner chamber  80 C can be a hexagonal prism. The amount of twist (e.g., pitch) on any of the shapes can be higher or lower. For example, the pitch on the transparent inner chamber  80 E is higher than the pitch on the transparent inner chamber  80 C. Similarly, the pitch on the transparent inner chamber  80 G is lower than the pitch on the transparent inner chamber  80 H. The pitch on the transparent inner chamber  80 F is lower than the pitch on the transparent inner chamber  80 A. The pitch can also change along the length of the transparent inner chamber, so that there is a funnel-type shape to the transparent inner chamber, which can also introduce a turbulent flow to the fluid. A transparent inner chamber  80 D can also morph from one shape to another, e.g., a cylinder shape to a cuboid shape. 
     As mentioned herein, the twisting of an at least partially transparent inner chamber  80 A- 80 H (collectively referred to as the transparent inner chamber  80 ) can improve the efficiency of the disinfection by introducing a turbulent flow to the fluid to be disinfected and promote uniform distribution of the UV radiation.  FIG. 15A  shows an illustrative disinfection chamber  30 M according to an embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the disinfection chamber  30 M can include a first transparent inner chamber  80  and a second transparent inner chamber  84 . The first transparent inner chamber  80  and the second transparent inner chamber  84  can be formed of the same or similar UV transparent material. In an embodiment, the first transparent inner chamber  80  and the second transparent inner chamber  84  can both include a twisted shape. The twisted shape of the first transparent inner chamber  80  and the twisted shape of the second transparent inner chamber  84  can have different or the same shape. In  FIG. 15B , a cross section of the first transparent inner chamber  80  shows a twisted cuboid shape, while in  FIG. 15C , a cross section of the second transparent inner chamber  84  shows a twisted triangular shape. In another embodiment, the first transparent inner chamber  80  and the second transparent inner chamber  84  can have the same twisted shape. In another embodiment, only one of the transparent inner chambers  80 ,  84  can include a twisted shape, while the other of the transparent inner chamber does not include a twisted shape. For example, one of the transparent inner chambers can include a solid, smooth cylinder shape. In an embodiment, regardless of whether the first and second transparent inner chambers  80 ,  84  include twisted cross-sectional shapes, one or both of the transparent inner chambers  80 ,  84  can include a roughness component, such as bumps, inner fins, wall curvature elements, and/or the like for promoting mixing and turbulence in the fluid. 
     In an embodiment, the second transparent inner chamber  84  can be rotated along an axis relative to the first transparent inner chamber  80 , so that the rotation controls the flow of the fluid within the first transparent inner chamber  80 . The various cross-sectional shapes (e.g., shown in  FIGS. 15B and 15C ) for the first transparent inner chamber  80  and the second transparent inner chamber  84  also help to control the flow and turbulence level of the fluid within the first transparent inner chamber  80  during the rotation. 
     In another embodiment, the placement of the inlet and outlet channels can allow for turbulence in order to efficiently mix the fluid. Turning now to  FIG. 16A , an illustrative disinfection chamber  30 N according to an embodiment is shown. The disinfection chamber  30 N is similar to the disinfection chamber  30 M shown in  FIG. 15A , which includes a first transparent inner chamber  80  and a second transparent inner chamber  84 . In an embodiment, the second transparent inner chamber  84  can comprise a hollow channel for carrying fluid. In an alternative embodiment, the second inner chamber  84  can be a solid chamber which can include UV transparent and UV reflective surfaces, and can incorporate UV sources embedded in within the chamber. For example, the second inner chamber  84  can comprise an aluminum core being UV reflective encased with UV transparent polymer. In this embodiment, the fluid can flow between the first transparent inner chamber  80  and the second chamber  84 . As shown in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 16B , the fluid can enter the first transparent inner chamber  80  through an inlet  86  and can flow along the length of the disinfection chamber  30 N. The placement of the inlet  86  and an outlet  87 , as shown in  FIG. 16D , can be configured to induce the fluid into a rotational flow around the second transparent inner chamber  84 . This rotational flow is shown in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 16C . In an embodiment, the disinfection chamber  30 N can also include a rotational unit  88  for rotating the first transparent inner chamber  80  relative to the second transparent inner chamber  84 . The second transparent inner chamber  84  can include a UV transparent cylindrical element with a metallic core. In another embodiment, the second transparent inner chamber  84  can include a set of fins  90  and/or a set of holes  92  to further induce turbulence and mixing within the fluid. It is understood that a disinfection chamber can include any number of inlets and/or outlets. For example, in an embodiment, the disinfection chamber can include a plurality of inlets. Turning now to  FIG. 17 , an illustrative disinfection chamber  30 O according to an embodiment is shown. In this embodiment, the inlet  86  can include a set of smaller inlets  94 A,  94 B. The set of smaller inlets  94 A,  94 B can add an additional rotation to the fluid. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 18 , an illustrative disinfection chamber  30 P according to an embodiment is shown. In this embodiment, the disinfection chamber  30 P includes a first transparent inner chamber  80  and a second transparent inner chamber  84 , similar to the disinfection chambers  30 M,  30 N,  30 O shown in  FIGS. 15A, 16A, 17 . However, in this embodiment, the fluid can flow through both the first transparent inner chamber  80  and the second transparent inner chamber  84 . That is, the fluid can flow through the inlet  86  and into the first transparent inner chamber  80 . Once the fluid flows through the entire length of the first transparent inner chamber  80 , the fluid can flow into the second transparent inner chamber  84  in generally the opposite direction and eventually flow out of the outlet  87 . In this embodiment, the inlet  86  and the outlet  87  are generally located at the same side of the disinfection chamber  30 P. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 19 , an illustrative disinfection chamber  30 Q according to an embodiment is shown. In this embodiment, the fluid  97  enters the disinfection chamber  30 Q via the inlet  86  and flows into the first transparent inner chamber  80 . From the first transparent inner chamber  80 , the fluid  97  can flow through a passageway  96  into the second transparent inner chamber  84 . The passageway  96  can be positioned between the first transparent inner chamber  80  and the second transparent inner chamber  84  to create a vortex flow for the fluid  97 . The interface walls between the first transparent inner chamber  80  and the second transparent inner chamber  84  can contain roughness, protrusions or comprise a wavy profile (as shown in the  FIG. 19  by corresponding boundary). The profile of this interface is chosen to promote the turbulent mixing. It is understood that the first and second transparent inner chambers  80 ,  84  can be located within an outer chamber  82 , as described herein. The set of ultraviolet radiation sources  42  for disinfecting the fluid  97  can be mounted on the interior surface of the outer chamber  82  (e.g., between the outer chamber  82  and the first transparent inner chamber  80 . That way, the fluid  97  is separated from the set of ultraviolet radiation sources  42 . Although there are only two inner chambers  80 ,  84  shown, it is understood that there can be several inner chambers, each connected by a passageway similar to the passageway  96 . Furthermore, it is understood that the first transparent inner chamber  80  and the second transparent inner chamber  84  can include more than one passageways  96 . Turning now to  FIG. 20 , an illustrative disinfection chamber  30 R according to an embodiment is shown. In this embodiment, there are multiple passageways  96  for the fluid  97  to flow between the first transparent inner chamber  80  and the second transparent inner chamber  84 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 21 , an illustrative disinfection chamber  30 S according to an embodiment is shown. In this embodiment, the disinfection chamber  30 S includes the first transparent inner chamber  80  and the second transparent inner chamber  84 . As shown in the figure, the first and second transparent inner chambers  80 ,  84  can include a variable cross section, which is schematically illustrated from cross-sectional area  81  of the first inner chamber  80  and cross-sectional area  85  of the second inner chamber  84 . In an embodiment, the second transparent inner chamber  84  can be shaped like a funnel towards the outlet  87 . Furthermore, the cross-sectional area of the first and/or second transparent inner chambers  80 ,  84  can change shape along the length of the chambers, as described herein. For example, the chambers  80 ,  84  can morph from one cross-sectional shape to another cross-sectional shape. In another embodiment, the cross sectional shapes of the first and second transparent inner chambers  80 ,  84  can be the same but the pitch on each of the chambers can be different. The inlet  86  can be positioned to provide a rotational flow to the fluid  97  within the first transparent inner chamber  80 , so that the fluid  97  flows around the second transparent inner chamber  84 . Then, the fluid  97  will flow via the passageway  96  into the second transparent inner chamber  84  and out of the disinfection chamber  30 S via the outlet  87 . The inner chambers  80 ,  84  can be placed within an outer chamber (not shown) that has a set of ultraviolet radiation sources (not shown), as described herein. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 22 , an illustrative second transparent inner chamber  84 A according to an embodiment is shown. In this embodiment, the second transparent inner chamber  84 A includes a set of circular guides  98  around an exterior of the chamber  84 A. The set of circular guides  98  allow for the fluid to mix and to increase the vorticity of the fluid when the fluid is propagating through the disinfection chamber. Turning now to  FIGS. 23A and 23B , an illustrative disinfection chamber  30 T according to an embodiment is shown. In this embodiment, the disinfection chamber  30 T includes the second transparent inner chamber  84 A described with respect to  FIG. 22 .  FIG. 24  shows the set of ultraviolet radiation sources  42  located outside of the first and second transparent inner chambers  80 ,  84 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 25A , an illustrative disinfection chamber  30 U according to an embodiment is shown. In this embodiment, similar to the disinfection chamber  30 Q shown in  FIG. 19 , along with other embodiments of the disinfection chamber discussed herein, the disinfection chamber  30 U includes a first transparent inner chamber  80  and a second transparent inner chamber  84 . Fluid can enter the disinfection chamber  30 U through an inlet  86  and into the first transparent inner chamber  80 . The fluid can flow from the first transparent inner chamber  80  through a first passageway  96 A and into the second transparent inner chamber  84  in generally the opposite direction. The fluid exits the second transparent inner chamber  84  through a second passageway  96 B into outlet pipes  100 A,  100 B, which lead to the outlet  87 . The outlet pipes  100 A,  100 B are configured to cool the set of ultraviolet radiation sources  42 . The outlet pipes  100 A,  100 B can be formed of any material with a high thermal conductivity. For example, the outlet pipes  100 A,  100 B can be copper pipes. In an embodiment, the outlet pipes  100 A,  100 B can form multiple channels along the length of the disinfection chamber  30 U. The outlet pipes  100 A,  100 B can be directly connected to a heat sink plate/board that the set of ultraviolet radiation sources  42  are mounted onto. For example, the outlet pipes  100 A,  100 B can be embedded into the heat sink. In another example, the outlet pipes  100 A,  100 B can be attached to the heat sink using thermal grease. 
     In an embodiment, the outlet pipes  100 A,  100 B can be formed by a highly thermally conductive bracket. Turning now to  FIG. 25B , an ultraviolet radiation source  42  mounted on a heat sink  102  according to an embodiment is shown. In this embodiment, the outlet pipe  100  is formed by attaching a highly thermally conductive bracket  104  to the heat sink  102 . The bracket  104  can be formed of a highly thermally conductive and noncorrosive material, such as copper. In this embodiment, a set of screws  106 A,  106 B attach the bracket  104  to the heat sink  102 . A set of rubber pads  108 A,  108 B can be used to ensure that the fluid flowing through the outlet pipe  100  does not leak out. In an embodiment, a set of fins  100  can be formed within the outlet pipe  100  to improve the heat transfer from the heat sink  102  to the fluid inside of the outlet pipe  100 . It is understood that, in this embodiment, the temperature of the fluid flowing through the outlet pipe  100  will increase due to the heat management (e.g., removing heat from the ultraviolet radiation source  42 ). 
     When the fluid is within the disinfection chamber, the system can operate the chamber in a pulsed mode that circulates the fluid within the chamber. For example,  FIG. 26  shows an illustrative system  200  for treating a fluid according to an embodiment. The system  200  is similar to the system  100  shown in  FIG. 3 ; however, the system  200  includes a disinfection chamber  230  with an inlet valve  202 A and an outlet valve  202 B. The inlet valve  202 A and the outlet valve  202 B can be opened or closed to allow the fluid to flow there through or prevent the fluid from flowing there through. Therefore, when the inlet valve  202 A is open and the outlet valve  202 B is closed, the fluid can flow into and remain within the disinfection chamber  230 . Once all the fluid is within the disinfection chamber  230 , the inlet valve  202 A can close, so that all the fluid remains within the disinfection chamber  230 . 
     The disinfection chamber  230  can include a circulation unit  250  that is used to mix the fluid within the disinfection chamber  230  to ensure that all of the fluid is uniformly irradiated and receives an appropriate dose of radiation. The circulation unit  250  includes a fluid pathway  252  with a first end  254  and a second end  256  that are both located within the interior of the disinfection chamber  230 . The circulation unit  250  also includes a pump  258  that is used to control the flow of the fluid within the fluid pathway  252 . 
     In an embodiment, during the disinfection process when the set of ultraviolet radiation sources  42 A,  42 B are turned on, the pump  258  forces the fluid to flow from within the disinfection chamber  230  into the first end  254  of the fluid pathway  252  and back into the disinfection chamber  230  through the second end  256 . In an embodiment, the first end  254  is located in close proximity to the set of ultraviolet radiation sources  42 A,  42 B, while the second end  256  is located farther away from the set of ultraviolet radiation sources  42 A,  42 B. By moving fluid from one end of the disinfection chamber  230  to another, the fluid can be adequately mixed to ensure uniform radiation from the set of ultraviolet radiation sources  42 A,  42 B. The circulation unit  250  can also include a sensor  260  that can determine the biological levels within the fluid flowing through the fluid pathway  252 . In an embodiment, the sensor  260  can determine the biological levels through fluorescence measurements. 
     In an embodiment, the disinfection chamber  230  can also include a test chamber  262  that can be used to collect and test a portion of the fluid within the disinfection chamber  230  for biological activity, and in response, add chemical compounds to the fluid within the disinfection chamber  230 . In an embodiment, the portion of the fluid that is collected can be discarded. The main purpose of the test chamber  262  is to determine the biological levels within the fluid, and also in part to monitor the presence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within the fluid. In an embodiment, the test chamber  262  can comprise 2,7-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA, Sigma Aldrich) that can be used to bind to ROS and result in 2,7-dichlorofluorescein that can be observed through fluorescent measurements. Such a technique can allow for monitoring ROS levels within the fluid. 
     Visible-UV radiation, e.g., radiation in the range of 380-420 nanometers, can also provide sterilizing effects when the radiation interacts with biological organisms (e.g., bacteria) and/or water to generate ROS. Such visible-UV radiation generated ROS can be helpful with destroying microorganisms because ROS is very reactive and can be used to damage microorganisms. In an embodiment, a system can include sources that operate in the visible-UV range and sources that operate in the UV-C range. For example, in  FIG. 27 , an illustrative disinfection chamber  330  according to an embodiment is shown. The disinfection chamber  330  is similar to the disinfection chamber  230  shown in  FIG. 26 ; however, the disinfection chamber  330  includes a visible-UV radiation source  344  in addition to the set of ultraviolet radiation sources  42 A,  42 B. In an embodiment, the typical dose of visible-UV radiation can be in the range of a few J/cm 2  to a few tens of J/cm 2 , while the wavelength range for visible-UV radiation is approximately 380 nanometers to approximately 420 nanometers. In an embodiment, the set of ultraviolet radiation sources  42 A,  42 B operate in the UV-C and/or UV-A range in order to disinfect the fluid. 
     In an embodiment, the set of ultraviolet radiation sources  42 A,  42 B and the visible-UV radiation source  344  are physically separated from the fluid within the disinfection chamber  330 . In a more specific embodiment, the visible-UV radiation source  344  is separated from the fluid within the disinfection chamber  330  by a visible-UV transparent material, such as a fluoropolymer (e.g., fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP)), polylactide (PLA), silicone, sapphire, quartz, polycarbonate, soda-lime glass, fused silica, and/or the like, and the set of ultraviolet radiation sources  42 A,  42 B are separated from the fluid within the disinfection chamber  330  by a UV transparent material (e.g., UV-C and/or UV-A transparent material), such as a fluoropolymer (e.g., FEP), PLA, quartz, sapphire, silicone, borosilicate glass, fused silica, and/or the like. In an embodiment, when operating in the UV-A, range, the set of ultraviolet radiation sources  42 A,  42 B can be in the wavelength range of approximately 340 nanometers to approximately 380 nanometers and in the range of approximately 270 nanometers to approximately 290 nanometers when operating in the UV-C range. 
     The disinfection chamber  330  can also include a set of photo-catalytic surfaces  360 . In an embodiment, the set of photo-catalytic surfaces  360  can be easily replaceable modules that are inserted into the disinfection chamber  330 . For example, in  FIG. 28 , a three-dimensional view of the disinfection chamber  330  according to an embodiment is shown. In an embodiment, a photo-catalytic surface  360  can comprise a mesh of a photo-catalytic material, such as titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ), copper, silver, copper/silver particles, platinum/palladium particles, and/or the like. The photo-catalytic surface  360  can be easily replaced in the disinfection chamber  330  by sliding in or out of the disinfection chamber  330 . 
     Returning to  FIG. 27 , the disinfection chamber  330  can include the circulation unit  250  described in  FIG. 26 . The disinfection chamber  330  can also include a radiation source  370  capable of eliciting a fluorescent light response from any biological activity in the fluid, and a fluorescent detector  372  that is capable of determining the amplitude of the fluorescent response. The system (e.g., the system  10  in  FIG. 3  or the system  200  in  FIG. 26 ) including the disinfection chamber  330  can operate the set of ultraviolet radiation sources  42 A,  42 B and/or the visible-UV source  344  based on the fluorescent response (e.g., the level of biological activity) and/or a target level of biological activity for the fluid. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 29A and 29B , illustrative plots of radiation intensity and microorganism activity within the disinfection chamber  330  in  FIG. 27  according an embodiment are shown. In  FIG. 29A , a curve  380  shows that the system may operate the visible-UV radiation source  344  for a prolonged period of time, while monitoring the microorganism activity in  FIG. 29B . When the microorganism activity reaches a threshold  390 , a curve  382  shows that the system can turn on the set of ultraviolet radiation sources  42 A,  42 B ( FIG. 27 ) to operate in a wavelength range to destroy the microorganisms. In an embodiment, the set of ultraviolet radiation sources  42 A,  42 B can operate in the UV-C range, as this range can rapidly suppress microbial activity to appropriate limits. Subsequently, the system can resume the operation of the visible-UV radiation source  344  in order to maintain the microbial activity within these limits. 
     It is understood that the features of the disinfection chambers  230 ,  330  shown in  FIGS. 26 and 27  can be applied to any of the disinfection chambers described herein. For example, the features of disinfection chambers  230 ,  330  can be applied to the disinfection chamber  30 J shown in  FIGS. 12A-13B . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 30 , an illustrative flow chart for operation of an illustrative system according to an embodiment is shown. In an embodiment, controlling disinfection through radiation  400  can be achieved using one or more methods  410 A- 410 C. In a first method  410 A, the set of ultraviolet radiation sources  42 A,  42 B ( FIGS. 3, 26, 27 ) can operate in the UV-C range (e.g., typically between approximately 260 nanometers to approximately 285 nanometers) in order to suppress microorganisms through direct damage of DNA. In a second method  410 B, a visible-UV radiation source  344  ( FIG. 27 ) can be used in the wavelength range of approximately 380 nanometers to approximately 420 nanometers to synthesize ROS through irradiation of cell organisms. In a third method  410 C, with or without the visible-UV radiation described in the second method, the set of ultraviolet radiation sources  42 A,  42 B can operate in the UV-A range with a peak wavelength at approximately 360 nanometers to generate ROS, such as hydroxyl groups in the presence of photo-catalysts, such as TiO 2 . 
     In an embodiment, the system can comprise three disinfection units capable of executing either one or all of the disinfection methods  410 A- 410 C. A feedback component  420  (e.g., sensors  22 ,  24  in  FIG. 3 , sensor  260  in  FIG. 26 , fluorescent detector  372  in  FIG. 27 ) can evaluate the biological activity within the fluid to determine the effectiveness of the method  410 A- 410 C used. The system can then choose the appropriate subsequent method  410 A- 410 C based on the effectiveness of such method  410 A- 410 C. In an embodiment, one or more of the methods  410 A- 410 C can be combined to yield optimal results. 
     As described herein, a control component  20  can operate one or more components of a disinfection system  10 ,  200  to disinfect a fluid.  FIG. 31  shows an illustrative disinfection system  1410  according to an embodiment. In this case, the system  1410  includes a monitoring and/or control component  1420 , which is implemented as a computer system  1421  including an analysis program  1430 , which makes the computer system  1421  operable to manage a set of disinfection components  1442  (e.g., a power component, ultraviolet (UV) source(s), sensor(s), valves, movable blades, etc.) by performing a process described herein. In particular, the analysis program  1430  can enable the computer system  1421  to operate the disinfection components  1442  and process data corresponding to one or more conditions of the chamber and/or a fluid present in the chamber. 
     In an embodiment, during an initial period of operation, the computer system  1421  can acquire data regarding one or more attributes of the fluid and generate analysis data  1436  for further processing. The analysis data  1436  can include information on the presence of one or more contaminants in the fluid, a transparency of the fluid, and/or the like. The computer system  1421  can use the analysis data  1436  to generate calibration data  1434  for controlling one or more aspects of the operation of the disinfection components  1442  by the computer system  1421  as discussed herein. 
     The computer system  1421  is shown including a processing component  1422  (e.g., one or more processors), a storage component  1424  (e.g., a storage hierarchy), an input/output (I/O) component  1426  (e.g., one or more I/O interfaces and/or devices), and a communications pathway  1428 . In general, the processing component  1422  executes program code, such as the analysis program  1430 , which is at least partially fixed in the storage component  1424 . While executing program code, the processing component  1422  can process data, which can result in reading and/or writing transformed data from/to the storage component  1424  and/or the I/O component  1426  for further processing. The pathway  1428  provides a communications link between each of the components in the computer system  1421 . The I/O component  1426  and/or the interface component  1427  can comprise one or more human I/O devices, which enable a human user  1  to interact with the computer system  1421  and/or one or more communications devices to enable a system user  1  to communicate with the computer system  1421  using any type of communications link. To this extent, during execution by the computer system  1421 , the analysis program  1430  can manage a set of interfaces (e.g., graphical user interface(s), application program interface, and/or the like) that enable human and/or system users  1  to interact with the analysis program  1430 . Furthermore, the analysis program  1430  can manage (e.g., store, retrieve, create, manipulate, organize, present, etc.) the data, such as calibration data  1434  and analysis data  1436 , using any solution. 
     In any event, the computer system  1421  can comprise one or more general purpose computing articles of manufacture (e.g., computing devices) capable of executing program code, such as the analysis program  1430 , installed thereon. As used herein, it is understood that “program code” means any collection of instructions, in any language, code or notation, that cause a computing device having an information processing capability to perform a particular function either directly or after any combination of the following: (a) conversion to another language, code or notation; (b) reproduction in a different material form; and/or (c) decompression. To this extent, the analysis program  1430  can be embodied as any combination of system software and/or application software. 
     Furthermore, the analysis program  1430  can be implemented using a set of modules  1432 . In this case, a module  1432  can enable the computer system  1421  to perform a set of tasks used by the analysis program  1430 , and can be separately developed and/or implemented apart from other portions of the analysis program  1430 . When the computer system  1421  comprises multiple computing devices, each computing device can have only a portion of the analysis program  30  fixed thereon (e.g., one or more modules  1432 ). However, it is understood that the computer system  1421  and the analysis program  1430  are only representative of various possible equivalent monitoring and/or control systems  1420  that may perform a process described herein. To this extent, in other embodiments, the functionality provided by the computer system  1421  and the analysis program  1430  can be at least partially implemented by one or more computing devices that include any combination of general and/or specific purpose hardware with or without program code. In each embodiment, the hardware and program code, if included, can be created using standard engineering and programming techniques, respectively. In another embodiment, the monitoring and/or control system  1420  can be implemented without any computing device, e.g., using a closed loop circuit implementing a feedback control loop in which the outputs of one or more disinfection components  1442  (e.g., sensing devices) are used as inputs to control the operation of one or more other disinfection components  1442  (e.g., UV LEDs). 
     Regardless, when the computer system  1421  includes multiple computing devices, the computing devices can communicate over any type of communications link. Furthermore, while performing a process described herein, the computer system  1421  can communicate with one or more other computer systems, such as the user  1 , using any type of communications link. In either case, the communications link can comprise any combination of various types of wired and/or wireless links; comprise any combination of one or more types of networks; and/or utilize any combination of various types of transmission techniques and protocols. 
     While shown and described herein as a method and system for treating (e.g., disinfecting) a fluid, it is understood that aspects of the invention further provide various alternative embodiments. For example, in one embodiment, the invention provides a computer program fixed in at least one computer-readable medium, which when executed, enables a computer system to treat a fluid as described herein. To this extent, the computer-readable medium includes program code, such as the analysis program  1430 , which enables a computer system to implement some or all of a process described herein. It is understood that the term “computer-readable medium” comprises one or more of any type of tangible medium of expression, now known or later developed, from which a copy of the program code can be perceived, reproduced, or otherwise communicated by a computing device. For example, the computer-readable medium can comprise: one or more portable storage articles of manufacture; one or more memory/storage components of a computing device; paper; and/or the like. 
     In another embodiment, the invention provides a method of providing a copy of program code, such as the analysis program  1430 , which enables a computer system to implement some or all of a process described herein. In this case, a computer system can process a copy of the program code to generate and transmit, for reception at a second, distinct location, a set of data signals that has one or more of its characteristics set and/or changed in such a manner as to encode a copy of the program code in the set of data signals. Similarly, an embodiment of the invention provides a method of acquiring a copy of the program code, which includes a computer system receiving the set of data signals described herein, and translating the set of data signals into a copy of the computer program fixed in at least one computer-readable medium. In either case, the set of data signals can be transmitted/received using any type of communications link. 
     In still another embodiment, the invention provides a method of generating a system for treating a fluid. In this case, the generating can include configuring a control component  1420 , such as the computer system  1421 , to implement the method of treating a fluid as described herein. The configuring can include obtaining (e.g., creating, maintaining, purchasing, modifying, using, making available, etc.) one or more hardware components, with or without one or more software modules, and setting up the components and/or modules to implement a process described herein. To this extent, the configuring can include deploying one or more components to the computer system, which can comprise one or more of: (1) installing program code on a computing device; (2) adding one or more computing and/or I/O devices to the computer system; (3) incorporating and/or modifying the computer system to enable it to perform a process described herein; and/or the like. 
     The foregoing description of various aspects of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and obviously, many modifications and variations are possible. Such modifications and variations that may be apparent to an individual in the art are included within the scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.