Installation and method for the purification of an aqueous effluent by means of oxidation and membrane filtration

Abstract

A system and method is provided for utilizing ultraviolet light to disinfect water. The system includes a plurality of ultraviolet lights with each ultraviolet light including a sheath that is transparent to ultraviolet radiation. Mounted adjacent the ultraviolet lights is a drive that moves back and forth with respect to the ultraviolet lights. Operatively interconnected with the drive is a support structure that includes a plurality of bearing rings. Inserted and held within each bearing ring is a scraping ring that in turn surrounds a respective sheath of an ultraviolet light. Actuation of the drive results in the support structure moving back and forth with respect to the ultraviolet lights and results in the scraping ring scraping and cleaning the respective sheaths.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
   
   
       13 . An ultraviolet water disinfection system comprising:
 a. a plurality of ultraviolet lights with each ultraviolet light having a sheath that is transparent to ultraviolet radiation;   b. a scraping ring surrounding each sheath for moving back and forth along the sheath and cleaning the sheath;   c. a support structure for supporting a plurality of the scraping rings;   d. a drive for driving the support structure and each of the scraping rings along the sheath such that the scraping rings clean the sheath;   e. the support structure including a series of bearing rings; and   f. wherein each scraping ring is mounted within a respective bearing ring.   
   
   
       14 . The ultraviolet water disinfection system of  claim 13  wherein the scraping rings include a slot that allow the geometry of the scraping rings to be varied. 
   
   
       15 . The ultraviolet water disinfection system of  claim 13  wherein the scraping rings include an outer peripheral groove that receives the bearing rings of the support structure. 
   
   
       16 . The ultraviolet water disinfection system of  claim 13  wherein each scraping ring cooperates with an elastomember which tends to clamp the ring onto the sheath. 
   
   
       17 . The ultraviolet water disinfection system of  claim 16  wherein the elastomember includes an annular spring. 
   
   
       18 . The ultraviolet water disinfection system of  claim 16  wherein the elastomember is at least partially housed in the peripheral groove of the scraping ring. 
   
   
       19 . The ultraviolet water disinfection system of  claim 16  wherein the elastomember forms a part of the scraping ring. 
   
   
       20 . The ultraviolet water disinfection system of  claim 16  wherein the peripheral groove and/or the bearing ring are dimensioned such that there is a clearance between the bearing ring and the peripheral groove of the scraping ring. 
   
   
       21 . The ultraviolet water disinfection system of  claim 16  wherein the peripheral groove includes a depth and is dimensioned such that there is an annular clearance underneath the bearing ring when the bearing ring is inserted into the groove. 
   
   
       22 . The ultraviolet water disinfection system of  claim 13  wherein the support structure includes a pair of arms between which extend a plurality of the bearing rings. 
   
   
       23 . An ultraviolet water disinfection system comprising:
 a. at least one ultraviolet light having a sheath that is transparent to ultraviolet radiation;   b. a scraping ring surrounding the sheath and adapted to move back and forth along the sheath to clean the sheath;   c. a drive for moving the scraping ring back and forth along the sheath of the ultraviolet light;   d. a one piece support structure for supporting the scraping ring and interconnecting with the drive; and   e. wherein the one piece support structure includes at least one bearing ring surrounding and holding the scraping ring and an arm interconnecting the bearing ring with the drive.   
   
   
       24 . The ultraviolet water disinfection system of  claim 23  wherein the scraping ring includes a slot that permits the geometry of the scraping ring to be varied. 
   
   
       25 . The ultraviolet water disinfection system of  claim 23  wherein the one piece support structure includes a plurality of bearing rings and a pair of arms that connect the bearing rings with the drive. 
   
   
       26 . The ultraviolet water disinfection system of  claim 23  wherein the scraping ring includes an external groove for receiving the bearing ring of the support structure. 
   
   
       27 . The ultraviolet water disinfection system of  claim 23  wherein there is provided an elastomember which tends to clamp the scraping ring onto the sheath. 
   
   
       28 . The ultraviolet water disinfection system of  claim 27  wherein the elastomember forms a part of the scraping ring. 
   
   
       29 . The ultraviolet water disinfection system of  claim 27  wherein the elastomember comprises an annular spring. 
   
   
       30 . A method of supporting and driving one or more scraping rings around one or more sheaths of ultraviolet lights that form a part of an ultraviolet water disinfection system, comprising:
 a. supporting one or more scraping rings in a support structure having one or more bearing rings that form a part thereof;   b. securing each supporting ring within a respective bearing ring of the support structure; and   c. interconnecting the support structure with a drive such that the actuation of the drive causes the support structure to move back and forth and causes the scraping rings supported therein to move back and forth and scrape clean the one or more sheaths.   
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30  including providing a slot in the scraping ring and varying the geometry of the scraping ring. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 30  including inserting the bearing ring into a peripheral groove formed in the scraping ring. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 30  including incorporating an elastomember into the scraping ring.