Claims
- 1. Apparatus for measuring the UV fluence in a space comprising a spherical containment vessel of any given size appropriate for the space in which UV fluence is to be measured having a UV transmissively passive spherical wall containing an actinometric fluid of iodine and iodate at a pH of about 9.25 that is optically opaque at a known wave length said spherical vessel serving as an omni-directional irradiation vessel and as an omnidirectional colorimitry measurement vessel.
- 2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said actinometric fluid is an aqueous mixture of iodine and iodate that is optically opaque at 254 nm but insensitive to radiation above 330 nm.
- 3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said spherical containment vessel is made from quartz.
- 4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said spherical containment vessel has a volume of less than about 1 cubic centimeter.
- 5. An as defined in claim 1, wherein said actinometric fluid comprises a aqueous solution having a molar concentration of iodide and iodate of about 3:%.
- 6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 comprising a calorimeter operatively configured to measure absorbance of light passing through said spherical containment vessel and actinometric fluid therein for determination of UV fluence independently of the containment vessel dimension.
- 7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, further comprising a plurality said spherical containment vessels containing said actinometric fluid dispersed within a volume of said space for irradiation and subsequent measurement of absorbance therein with said calorimeter to determine fluence in said volume.
- 8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said spherical containment vessel and said actinometric fluid therein have a net neutral buoyancy relative to water for dispersion of said plurality of spherical of containment vessels in a volume of water for irradiation within said volume of water and subsequent measuring of fluence throughout the volume.
- 9. A method of determining UV fluence in a space comprising the steps of preparing a plurality of spherical actinometers of indeterminate dimension containing and actinometric solution therein of iodine and iodate at a pH of about 9.25 that is optically opaque at a wave length of 254 nm; dispersing said actinometers throughout said volume for a known time; measuring the change in transmissiveness of the actinometer after said period of time; and calculating the fluence using the relation: fluence (mJper cm2)=ΔAbs (470 nm)×K×0.6 ml/cm2 where K is a constant for the wavelength.
Parent Case Info
This Application Claims Priority from Provisonal Patent Application 60/228,619 Filed Aug. 28, 2000
US Referenced Citations (7)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
| Number |
Date |
Country |
| WO 02068917 |
Jun 2002 |
WO |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
| Entry |
| Rahn, Ronald, Potassium Iodide as a Chemical Actinometer for 254 nm Radiation: Use of Iodate as an Electron Scavenger, (1997) Photochemistry and Photobiology, 66(4), pp. 450-455. |
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60/228619 |
Aug 2000 |
US |