Internally activated energy distribution guides for use in clear to turbid liquids or air have been developed. An external energy source is transferred to a matrix or single fiber of a side emitting fiber or guide to internally activate a promoter or catalyst on the exterior of the fiber or guide to thereby dissociate target molecules passing by or along the fiber's or guide's surface by a Precise Energy Separation (PES) method. A number of different designs can be used, for example, in a mesh, louver system, or box. The method maximizes the interaction between the target molecules and the surface of the side emittinginternally activated distribution network. In a preferred embodiment, u-shaped fiber optics containing catalyst are positioned within tube through which the turbid liquid or air is passed, so that maximum cleavage of targeted bonds is obtained.

A disinfecting system includes a housing. An ultraviolet light (UV) source is secured to the housing and configured to emit UV light for disinfection of a target. A processor is secured to the housing in communication with the UV light source. The processor is configured to activate the UV light source for a selected amount of time suitable for disinfection of the target.

A process of dissolving into to-be-treated water a peroxodisulfate and metal ions other than ions of alkali metals is performed by pouring equipment. An ultraviolet irradiation apparatus performs a process of treating the to-be-treated water, having the peroxodisulfate and the metal ions other than ions of alkali metals dissolved therein, with ultraviolet rays. By performing UV treatment on the to-be-treated water having the peroxodisulfate and metal ions dissolved therein, the inventive method and system achieve improved TOC decomposing performance and thus can particularly decompose a urea component in an efficient manner. Further, the to-be-treated water may be treated with an ion-exchange resin at a subsequent stage in such a manner that organic acids contained in the to-be-treated water having been subjected to the UV treatment are adsorbed to the ion exchange-resin, with the advantageous result that the concentration of TOC present in the to-be-treated water can be reduced.

A disinfecting system includes a housing. An ultraviolet light (UV) source is secured to the housing and configured to emit UV light for disinfection of a target. A processor is secured to the housing in communication with the UV light source. The processor is configured to activate the UV light source for a selected amount of time suitable for disinfection of the target.

A fluid disinfecting system includes a straight fluid directing conduit and a light source disposed on a side of the fluid directing conduit. The light source is operative to emit ultraviolet light into the fluid directing conduit, such that one or more cross sections of said fluid directing conduit are saturated with ultraviolet light. Any fluid passing through the fluid directing conduit is necessarily exposed to the ultraviolet light.

A laser ablation and filtration process and apparatus wherein liquid containing hydrocarbons or other contaminates is purified. The liquid is exposed to laser energy at one or more selected wavelengths wherein the laser energy travels through the liquid and reaches the hydrocarbons or other contaminates and vaporizes, denatures, breaks down, neutralizes, renders inert and/or separates the hydrocarbons or contaminates from the liquid. A laser source is positioned in or on a vessel based on pre-set parameters to maximize exposure of the liquid to the laser energy, including sizing parameters, angle and inclination of the laser, retention time for the laser process to be applied and geometry of the containment for proper inclination. One or more collection chambers, which may include perforated membranes may be included to collect gases, separated hydrocarbons or contaminates and other by-products of the process. The vessel utilized may be submergible in water to pull or flow contaminated water therethough. The vessel may also be utilized outside a body of water wherein contaminated water from a source is introduced within the vessel.

The present disclosure is directed to smart, portable, reusable liquid containers, or container assemblies, with ultraviolet (UV) sterilization capability. An example container assembly includes a container defining a cavity to hold liquid. A cap coupled to the container prevents the liquid from spilling out of the cavity. A liquid level sensor and a processor track the amount of fluid within the container. When they detect liquid added to the container, they trigger one or more UV light sources for sterilizing the liquid. A cap sensor in or on the container assembly senses if the cap is on the container and prevents UV light source operation when the cap is off. The processor may communicate with a remote device, e.g., a smart phone or server, via an antenna. Indicators in or on the container assembly notify a user that UV sterilization is recommended, UV sterilization is in progress, etc.

A system has been developed to treat ballast water by selectively dissociating target molecules into component products compositionally distinct from the target molecule, wherein the bonds of the target molecule do not reform because the components are no longer reactive with each other. Dissociation is affected by treating the target molecule with light at a frequency and intensity, alone or in combination with a catalyst in an amount effective to selectively break bonds within the target molecule. Dissociation does not result in re-association into the target molecule by the reverse process, and does not produce component products which have a change in oxidation number or state incorporated oxygen or other additives because the process does not proceed via a typical reduction-oxidation mechanism.

A module for preventing barnacle formation in a marine air-conditioning system. The module comprises: i) a housing; ii) a source of irradiating light disposed in the housing, the irradiating light suitable for killing or stunning barnacle larvae; iii) a circuit assembly disposed in the housing and configured to receive electrical power from an external power supply and to provide electrical power to the source of irradiating light; and iv) a transparent window disposed in the housing to permit the irradiating light to pass therethrough. The housing is adapted to be coupled to a water filter supplying raw water to the marine air-conditioning system such that the irradiating light is transmitted into the raw water in the water filter.

A ventilation ring for a UV water sanitizer unit that allows for adequate ventilation of heat generated by electronic components while sequestering those electronic components from water. The ring can also be made of a transparent or translucent material to allow a user to detect whether a UV lamp within the housing is operating. An improved nut for affixing a quartz tube within such a unit and improved design for draining the unit are also disclosed.