US20100264329A1 - Method and apparatus for liquid disinfection using light transparent conduit - Google Patents

Abstract

Some demonstrative embodiments of the invention include an illumination-based liquid disinfection device. The disinfection device may include, for example, a light transparent conduit to carry a flowing liquid to be disinfected, the conduit having an inlet to receive the liquid and an outlet to discharge the liquid, a substantially light transparent sleeve having external dimensions smaller than the internal dimensions of the conduit, the sleeve positioned within the conduit substantially perpendicular to the axis of symmetry of the conduit and a light source positioned within the sleeve.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• This Application is a National Phase of PCT Application No. PCT/IL2007/001409, International filing date Nov. 14, 2007, claiming priority of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/858,727, filed on Nov. 14, 2006.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• Ultraviolet liquid disinfection systems using UV light source located within a metallic chamber through which the liquid flow have been long known. The walls of such a metallic chamber absorb most of the incident UV light and light rays emitted from the UV light source traverse through the water once and are essentially absorbed by the metal. Accordingly, such systems do not utilize the light source in an efficient manner. There is a need for a UV disinfection system that would be more efficient than existing systems.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with objects, features and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanied drawings in which:
• FIGS. 1A and 1B are conceptual illustrations of a disinfection system according to some demonstrative embodiments of the invention;
• FIG. 2A is an illustration of an exemplary disinfection system according to some demonstrative embodiments of the invention;
• FIG. 2B is a cross sectional view of the exemplary disinfection system ofFIG. 2A;
• FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary illustration of a UV-transparent conduit according to some demonstrative embodiments of the invention;
• FIG. 4 is a side view of a conceptual illustration of an exemplary UV-transparent conduit having a reflective coating on portions of its surface according to some demonstrative embodiments of the invention;
• FIGS. 5A-5C are schematic illustrations of conduits according to some demonstrative embodiments of the invention;
• FIGS. 6A and 6B are illustrations of disinfectors having flow-forming objects according to some demonstrative embodiments of the invention;
• FIG. 7 is a cross section schematic illustration of a non-cylindrical sleeve according to some demonstrative embodiments of the invention;
• FIG. 8 is a conceptual illustration of an exemplary disinfection system having a patterned sleeve according to some demonstrative embodiments of the invention;
• FIG. 9 is a conceptual illustration of an exemplary disinfection system having a non-cylindrical light source according to some demonstrative embodiments of the invention;
• FIG. 10 is a schematic illustration of a 2-pipe disinfection system according to some demonstrative embodiments of the invention.
• FIGS. 11A-11C are exemplary illustrations demonstrating the modular nature of a disinfection system according to embodiments of the invention;
• FIGS. 12A-12C are schematic illustrations of light flux distribution within an exemplary conduit based on computer simulations according to embodiments of the invention;
• FIG. 12D is a dose distribution histogram associated with the simulation ofFIGS. 12A-12C;
• FIGS. 13A-13B are schematic illustrations of light flux distribution within a stainless steel conduit based on computer simulations according to embodiments of the invention; and
• FIG. 13C is a dose distribution histogram associated with the simulation ofFIGS. 13A-13B.
• It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the drawings have not necessarily been drawn accurately or to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity or several physical components included in one functional block or element. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the drawings to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. Moreover, some of the blocks depicted in the drawings may be combined into a single function.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
• In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components and circuits may not have been described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention.
• Some demonstrative embodiments of the invention include an ultraviolet (UV) disinfection system having a conduit to carry liquid to be disinfected and an illumination source located inside a transparent sleeve positioned substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the conduit and the direction of flow of the liquid.
• It will be appreciated that the liquid disinfection process may include inactivation or removal of any organism, bacteria, microorganism, being, creature, microbe, germ, virus, organic contaminator, non-organic contaminator, oxidizeable toxic or contaminator; any cumulative noxious species of biological or chemical origin; any oxidizing particle, fragment or element, e.g., Hydrogen peroxide or Titanium dioxide, intended to oxidize a contaminator and/or the like. Some demonstrative embodiments of the invention may refer to using ultraviolet (UV) light to disinfect the liquid and/or to oxidize particles within the liquid. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that in other embodiments of the invention, light of any other suitable spectrum may be used.
• Reference is now made toFIGS. 1A and 1B, which conceptually illustrate a disinfection system according to some demonstrative embodiments of the invention. Adisinfection system100 may include a tube orconduit101 to carry liquid to be disinfected, one or more substantially light-transparent sleeves102 positioned withinconduit101 substantially perpendicular to its longitudinal axis ofsymmetry109 and one ormore light sources104, each positioned within arespective sleeve102. According to embodiments of theinvention light sources104 may be UV light sources capable of emitting light at 254 nm.Conduit101 may have aninlet106 to receive from an external liquid pipe the liquid to be disinfected and anoutlet108 to discharge the liquid via an external discharge pipe.System100 may further includeadaptors110 to connectconduit101 to the external liquid pipes. The adaptors may comprise O-rings to ensure water-tight connections between the external pipes and the conduit.
• Conduit101 may be substantially made of UV-transparent glass, such as quartz. UV-transparent sleeves102 may be for example quartz or Teflon® sleeves. EachSleeve102 may have external dimensions smaller than the internal dimensions ofconduit101 such that liquid may flow withinconduit101 aroundsleeves102. Both ends ofsleeve102 may extend from the walls ofconduit101 to enable replacement oflight source104 withinsleeve102.Light sources104 may illuminate the liquid to be disinfected when flowing in the conduit. In this configuration, the liquid withinconduit101 may act as a waveguide and at least part of the light, for example, at least half of the emitted UV intensity, may be totally-internally reflected at the interface of the UV-transparent conduit101 and the air surrounding it.Conduit101 may be located inside a protective metal sleeve with an air gap between the conduit and the sleeve, as shown for example, inFIG. 2B. The total internal reflection (TIR) effect is demonstrated inFIG. 1B.
• Although the invention is not limited in this respect,light source104 may generate UV light of a suitable UV-germicidal spectrum. For example,light source104 may include one or more UV lamps, e.g., a low-pressure UV lamp, a low-pressure high output UV lamp, a medium-pressure UV lamp, a high-pressure UV lamp, and/or a microwave-excited UV lamp, as are all known in the art.
• According to embodiments of the invention, the liquid may act as a waveguide and at least part of the light, for example, at least half of the emitted UV intensity, may be totally-internally reflected at the interface of the glass conduit and air surrounding it. According to other embodiments of the invention, at least 70% of the emitted UV intensity may be totally-internally reflected at the interface of the glass conduit and air surrounding it. As shown, inFIG. 1B, the liquid to be disinfected may flow around each oflight sources104. In such a configuration, the system may include an additional light source to enable disinfection of the liquid to the required level even when one of thelight sources104 is fully or partially dysfunctional. For example, the disinfection process may continue while a non-functional light source is being replaced or fixed.
• It should be noted that embodiments of the present invention, in whichlight sources104 are located substantially perpendicular to the direction of flow of the liquid withinconduit101 may ensure that each light source is capable of illuminating substantially the entire flow of liquid when the flow traverses that particular light source.
• Reference is now made toFIG. 2A, which shows an exemplary disinfection system and toFIG. 2B, which is a cross sectional view of the exemplary disinfection system according to some embodiments of the invention. Anexemplary disinfection system200 may include a substantially UV-transparent conduit201 to carry liquid to be disinfected, substantially UV-transparent sleeves202A and202B positioned withinconduit201 substantially perpendicular to its axis ofsymmetry209 and one or more UV-light sources204, each positioned within a respective sleeve202. In this exemplary configuration,sleeves202A and202B are orthogonal to each other.
• It should, however, be understood to a person skilled in the art, that according to embodiments of the present invention, UV-transparent sleeves202 may be positioned with respect to each other, at any rotational angle around the longitudinal axis ofsymmetry209 ofconduit201. According to other embodiments of the present invention, UV-transparent sleeves202 may be positioned at any rotational angle around other axis of symmetry ofconduit201. Although a symmetrical cylinder-shaped conduit is shown, it should be understood to a man skilled in the art that the conduit may have other shapes, not necessarily symmetrical, as described in detail with respect toFIG. 5A-5C.
• Conduit201 may be located inside aprotective metal tube203 forming anair gap208 betweenconduit201 andmetal tube203. Although the scope of the present invention is not limited in this respect, external tube103 may include a see-throughwindow210 made of transparent material such as glass, plastic or any other suitable material to enable an operator to viewconduit201 and acover212 to coverwindow210 when desired. Although in the exemplary illustration ofFIG. 2A, a single see-through window is shown, it should be understood to a person skilled in the art that the invention is not limited in this respect and according to embodiments of thepresent invention tube203 may include more than one see-through window at any size and/or shape.
• Reference is now made toFIG. 3, which depicts an exemplary illustration of a conduit having four sleeves according to some demonstrative embodiments of the invention. Theexemplary conduit301 ofFIG. 3 includes four UV-transparent sleeves302A-302D positioned withinconduit301 substantially perpendicular to its longitudinal axis ofsymmetry309. In this exemplary configuration, pairs of adjacent sleeves are orthogonal to each other. Accordingly,sleeves302A and302B are orthogonal to each other;sleeves302B and302C are orthogonal to each other; andsleeves302C and302D. Further, pairs of alternating sleeves are parallel to each other. Accordingly,sleeves302A and302C are parallel to each other; and likewisesleeves302B and302D are parallel to each other. It should, however, be understood to a person skilled in the art, that according to embodiments of the present invention, UV-transparent sleeves302 may be positioned with respect to each other, at any rotational angle around the axis ofsymmetry309 ofconduit301. Sleeves may be fused toconduit301 to form a single glass structure.
• According to other embodiments of the present invention, sleeve202 may be attached toconduit301 using housing, adaptors, connectors or any suitable means known in the art. For example, each ofareas316A-316D may be a metal housing for one ofsleeves302A-302D. The metal housing may be coated on its interior surface with a reflective coating to increase the efficiency of the disinfection process. According to embodiments of the invention, the reflective coating may be coated with a UV-transparent, UV resistive and bio-compatible coating, for example a Teflon® coating.
• Although, the sleeves are illustrated as being cylindrical, it should, be understood to a person skilled in the art that embodiments of the invention are not limited in this respect and the sleeve may have other suitable shapes, such as hydrodynamic shapes, as detailed below with respect toFIG. 7.
• Reference is now made toFIG. 4, which conceptually illustrates a side view of an exemplary conduit having a reflective coating on portions of its surface according to some embodiments of the invention. Asleeve402 may be positioned withinconduit401 such thatsleeve402 is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis ofsymmetry409 ofconduit401. UV-light source404 may be positioned withinsleeve402. As bothsleeve402 andconduit401 are substantially transparent to UV light, the liquid may act as a waveguide and at least part of the light, for example, rays410 and411 may be totally-internally reflected at the interface ofconduit401 and the air surrounding it408.
• Still, rays such asray413 having an angle with the surface of the conduit above a critical angle cannot undergo total internal reflection (TIR). Such a ray is transmitted outside the liquid after traversing the liquid only once.Conduit401 may include one or more minors or UVreflective coating areas407 to reflect non-guided rays, for example,ray412 back into the liquid.
• According to some embodiments of the present invention, at least portions of the exterior surface ofconduit401 may be coated with UVreflective coating407 to produce rear surface mirror effect, e.g., to allow a larger portion of the light fromlight source404 to illuminate the liquid flowing inconduit401. Coating407 may reflect back into the liquid additional light rays reaching the surface in relative proximity tosleeve402.Reflective coating407 may comprise aluminum deposition, gold deposition or multi-layer dielectric material. Any other suitable reflective coating may be used. According to other embodiments of the invention, the entire surface of the conduit may be coated with reflective coating to enhance the back-mirror effect.
• Although the scope of the present invention is not limited in this respect, at least a portion ofconduit401, e.g.,area414 surroundinglight source404 may be from a material having UV-reflection properties, for example, aluminum or any other metal. Reflectingarea414 may reflect back into the liquid non-guided light rays that cannot undergo TIR, such asray413. Reflectingarea414 may include a UV-reflecting coating on its inner surface or may be covered by a thin sheet made of material having UV-reflecting properties. The UV-reflecting coating or sheet may be protected against water damage by coating it with a UV-resistive, UV-transparent coating such as Teflon®.
• Reference is now made toFIGS. 5A,5B and5C, which depict schematic illustrations of conduits having varying diameters along their lengths according to some demonstrative embodiments of the invention. The shape of the conduit may be pre-determined to increase the efficiency of the disinfection process. According to embodiments of the present invention, the internal diameter ofconduit501 may vary along its length, as depicted in the demonstrative illustration ofFIGS. 5A,5B and5C. The specific shape of the conduit may affect the liquid flow pattern and the shape may be pre-determined in order to increase the overall efficiency of the disinfection system. It should be understood thatconduit501 may have any other symmetrical or non-symmetrical shape.
• Reference is now made toFIGS. 6A and 6B, which depict schematic illustrations of a portion of disinfection systems having flow-forming objects according to some embodiments of the present invention. Each ofdisinfection systems600A and600B may include aconduit601 to carry liquid to be disinfected, a substantially UV-transparent sleeves602 positioned withinconduit601 substantially perpendicular to its longitudinal axis of symmetry and a UV-light sources604 positioned withinsleeve602.Conduit601 may include one ormore objects614 affixed to the conduit. As illustrated inFIG. 6A, objects614 may be attached to a protrusion to be located in relative distance from the surface of the conduit. As illustrated inFIG. 6B, objects614 may be attached to the surface of the conduit or located in relative proximity to the surface.Objects614 may be pre-designed and may be located in specific positions inconduit601 to affect the liquid flow pattern. Additionally or alternatively, UV-transparent objects and/or UV-scattering objects and/or UV-reflective objects may be affixed, attached or added toconduit601. The flow-forming objects may affect the liquid flux and the distribution of liquid tracks and the objects shape and location may be pre-determined in order to increase the overall efficiency of the disinfection process. The light scattering objects and/or light reflective objects may influence the spatial distribution of UV light intensity and the objects shape and location may be pre-determined in order to increase the overall efficiency of the disinfection process.
• Reference is now made toFIG. 7, which depict schematic cross section illustration of non-cylindrical sleeve according to some demonstrative embodiments of the invention. According to embodiments of the present invention,sleeve702 may have a hydrodynamic shape to prevent the formation of liquid stagnation zone where liquid may flow at a low velocity in proximity tosleeve702 at the area facing the outlet of the conduit. The specific shape ofsleeve702 may be designed to improve light distribution and liquid flow pattern in order to increase the overall efficiency of the disinfection system. It should be understood to a person skilled in the art thatsleeve702 having a non-cylindrical shape may be positioned within a substantially UV-transparent conduit substantially perpendicular to the direction of liquid flow. Alternatively, the non-cylindrical sleeve may be positioned within non-transparent containers such as stainless steel conduits or reactors.
• Reference is now made toFIG. 8, which is a conceptual illustration of an exemplary disinfection system having a patterned sleeve according to some demonstrative embodiments of the invention. Asleeve802 may be positioned withinconduit801 such thatsleeve802 is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of symmetry ofconduit801. UV-light source804 may be positioned withinsleeve802. As bothsleeve802 andconduit801 are substantially transparent to UV light, the liquid may act as a waveguide and at least part of the light may be totally-internally reflected at the interface ofconduit801 and its surroundings. For another portion of the light that cannot undergo TIR,conduit801 may include one or more mirrors or UVreflective coating areas807 to reflect rays back into the liquid. Still, certain rays may evade both TIR and the UV reflective areas.
• According to embodiments of the invention,sleeve802 may include one ormore objects805 located in specific positions and shaped in order to influence the light distribution insideconduit801.Object805 may be UV-scattering or UV-reflecting objects made of any suitable material. For example,ray820 is directed towardarea821, which is not coated with reflective coating. Accordingly, in a non-patterned sleeve such a ray would traverse the liquid for a short distance before exiting the conduit viaarea821. Instead by usingsleeve802,ray820 may hitobject805, change its direction (arrow822) and reachreflective area807 to be reflected back into the liquid.
• Although, the patterned sleeve is described as being positioned within a substantially UV-transparent conduit substantially perpendicular to the direction of liquid flow, it should, be understood to a person skilled in the art that embodiments of the invention are not limited in this respect and embodiments of the invention are likewise applicable to using such a patterned sleeve at any position relative to the liquid flow within any container or conduit including non-transparent containers such as stainless steel conduits or reactors.
• Reference is now made toFIG. 9, which is a conceptual illustration of an exemplary disinfection system having a non-cylindrical light source according to some demonstrative embodiments of the invention. Asleeve902 may be positioned withinconduit901 such thatsleeve902 is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of symmetry ofconduit901. UV-light source904 may be positioned withinsleeve902. As bothsleeve902 andconduit901 are substantially transparent to UV light, the liquid may act as a waveguide and at least part of the light may be totally-internally reflected at the interface ofconduit901 and its surroundings. For another portion of the light that cannot undergo TIR,conduit901 may include one or more mirrors or UVreflective coating areas907 to reflect rays back into the liquid.Light source904 may have a non-cylindrical geometry; for example, its cross section may be an ellipse or any other desired shape to generated controlled light distribution. For example, the shape of the lamp may be directed to generate a non-circular light distribution such that more light rays would be directed to the direction of the liquid flow than to the surface ofconduit901. The specific shape oflight source904 may be designed according to the specific characteristics of the system's geometry and the disinfection process in order to increase the overall efficiency of the disinfection system.
• Although, the non-cylindrical light source is described as being positioned within a substantially UV-transparent conduit substantially perpendicular to the direction of liquid flow, it should, be understood to a person skilled in the art that embodiments of the invention are not limited in this respect and embodiments of the invention are likewise applicable to using such a light source at any position relative to the liquid flow within any container or conduit including non-transparent containers such as stainless steel conduits or reactors.
• Reference is now made toFIG. 10, which depicts an exemplary illustration of a 2-pipe disinfection system according to embodiments of the invention. Adisinfection system140 may include aconduit141 to carry liquid to be disinfected.Conduit141 may include more than one branch, for example two branches,143A and143B to increase the liquid flow. Having more than one branch may enable better control of the internal pressure inconduit141.Conduit141 may have aninlet146 to receive from an external liquid pipe the liquid to be disinfected and anoutlet148 to discharge the liquid via an external discharge pipe.
• System140 may include one or more substantially UV-transparent sleeves142A positioned withinbranch143A substantially perpendicular to its longitudinal axis ofsymmetry149A and one or more UV-light sources144A, each positioned within arespective sleeve142A.System140 may further include one or more substantially UV-transparent sleeves142B positioned withinbranch143B substantially perpendicular to its longitudinal axis ofsymmetry149B and one or more UV-light sources144B, each positioned within arespective sleeve142B.
• It should be understood to a person skilled in the art that although a 2-branch conduit is described, embodiments of the invention are not limited in this respect and a disinfection system according to other embodiments of the present invention may include more than 2 branches for liquid flow.
• FIGS. 11A-11C demonstrate the modular nature of an exemplary disinfection system according to embodiments of the invention. According to some embodiments of the present invention, the liquid flow section of the disinfection system may be constructed from two types of modular building blocks,conduit elements151 andsleeve elements152.Sleeve elements152 may include aring153 having a UV-transparent sleeve154 positioned within. The internal diameter orring153 is larger than the external diameter ofsleeve154.Element152 may further include a UV-light source positioned withinsleeve154. Both ends ofelement152 may include adaptors, connectors or a screw mechanism to be connected to one or more ofconduits151.Conduit elements151 may be substantially made of UV-transparent material, such as quartz as described in detail above. The external diameter ofconduit151 may be substantially similar to the external diameter ofring153. Both ends ofconduits151 may include adaptors, connectors or a screw mechanism to be connected to one or more ofelements152. The connections betweenconduits151 andsleeve parameters152 may be water-tight connections.
• Although the scope of the present invention is not limited in this respect, at least onesleeve element152 and twoconduit elements151 may create a conduit set to carry liquid to be disinfected as described above. A conduit set may comprise a number ofn sleeve elements152 and a number of n+1conduit elements151. For example, as shown inFIG.11B conduit150 may comprise onesleeve element152 and twoconduit elements151. Another example, shown inFIG. 11C,conduit160 may comprise twosleeve elements152 and threeconduit elements151.
• Although in the exemplary illustration ofFIGS. 11A-11C,conduits150 and160 are shown, it should be understood to a person skilled in the art that the invention is not limited in this respect and according to embodiments of the present invention any combination of n+1conduit elements151 andn sleeve elements152 may be connected to create a conduit set.
• Although, embodiments of the present invention are not limited in this respect, it is understood and simulated that a pre-designed structure according to embodiments of the present invention improves the efficiency of UV disinfection and increase kill probability, namely the probability to inactivate the entities being in the liquid flowing inconduit101.
• Computer Simulations
• Following, are examples relating to illumination flux distributions in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments of the invention. It should be noted that the illumination-flux distributions used in these examples are not intended to limit the scope of the invention to any particular configuration and/or illumination flux distribution.
• FIGS. 12A-12C illustrate computer simulations of light flux distribution within an exemplary conduit during a liquid disinfection process. The simulated system is an exemplary system according to embodiments of the invention. The system includes one UV light source within a quartz sleeve positioned in the center of a quartz conduit such that the sleeve is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the conduit defining the Z direction. The longitudinal axis of the sleeve defined the X direction. The calculations were performed for a flow of liquid of 50 m³/h. The length of the conduit was taken to be 800 mm, the internal diameter of the conduit as 75 mm, the external diameter of the sleeve protecting the UV light source as 44 mm and the pressure drop as ΔP(at 50 m³/h)=0.27 [bar]. The liquid used for the computer simulations was clear water with UVT (ultraviolet transmission) of 98%.
• FIG. 12A is a cross section in the Y-Z plane of a portion of the conduit illustrating the light flux distribution between the light source and the outlet end of the conduit.FIG. 12B is a cross section in the X-Z plane of the same portion of the conduit illustrating the light flux distribution between the light source and the outlet end of the conduit.FIG. 12C is a cross section in the Y-Z plane of the entire conduit illustrating the light flux distribution between the inlet end and the outlet end of the conduit. As can be seen, the light reaches trough the entire length of the tube at a substantial intensity.FIG. 12D shows a graph illustrating the calculated normalized UV dose distribution within the quartz conduit. The normalized dose distribution function is closed to being a Gaussian function.
• As comparative data,FIGS. 13A and 13B illustrate computer simulations of light flux distribution within a conventional stainless steel container having 20% reflection during a liquid disinfection process. All the other parameters used in the comparative simulation were similar to the simulations ofFIGS. 12A-12C. As can be seen, the intensity of light is practically zero after 50 mm is the Z direction.FIG. 13C shows a graph illustrating the UV dose distribution within the conventional stainless steel conduit. As expected, the average dose within the stainless steel conduit having a value of {48 [mJ/cm²]} is much smaller than the average dose of the quartz conduit with a value of {228 [mJ/cm²]}. The dose distribution of the conventional stainless steel conduit is wider than dose distribution of the quartz conduit.
• While certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents may occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.

Claims (18)

1. An apparatus for liquid disinfection by light, the apparatus comprising:

a substantially light transparent conduit to carry flowing liquid to be disinfected;

a substantially light transparent sleeve having external dimensions smaller than the internal dimensions of the conduit, the sleeve positioned within the conduit substantially perpendicular to the axis of symmetry of the conduit; and

a light source positioned within the sleeve.

2. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the transparent sleeve comprises quartz.

3. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the conduit comprises quartz.

4. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the transparent sleeve is being fused to said conduit.

5. The apparatus ofclaim 1 comprising additional sleeves positioned within the conduit substantially perpendicular to the axis of symmetry of the conduit.

6. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the transparent sleeve has a hydro-dynamic shape.

7. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the transparent sleeve has a patterned surface directed to affect light distribution inside the conduit.

8. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein one or more objects are positioned within the conduit to affect the water flow pattern.

9. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein one or more objects are positioned within the conduit to affect the light distribution within the conduit.

10. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the conduit has a substantially cylindrical shape with varying diameter size at least at one portion of the conduit.

11. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein a portion of an external surface of the conduit is coated with a UV reflective coating.

12. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the conduit comprises an inlet to receive the liquid, one or more branches to carry the liquid and an outlet to discharge the liquid.

13. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the conduit is positioned within a metal container having a see-through window.

14. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the light source is an ultraviolet light source.

15. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the light source has a non-cylindrical elongated shape.

16. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the conduit comprises two light transparent sections separated by a metal housing containing the sleeve.

17. The apparatus ofclaim 16, wherein the internal surface of the metal housing is coated by an ultraviolet reflecting coating.

18. The apparatus ofclaim 17, wherein the ultraviolet reflecting coating is coated with a UV transparent, UV resistant coating.

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