# US 10,245,334 B2 · Refraction technology system

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- Number: US 10,245,334 B2
- Document ID: US10245334B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/225,949
- Filed: 2016-08-02
- Published: 2017-02-09
- Granted: 2019-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 2015-08-05
- Assignees: Richard J. Barrett; Michael Carstensen
- Applicants: Richard J. Barrett; Michael Carstensen
- Inventors: Richard J. Barrett; Michael Carstensen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245334B2

## CPC

- A61L 2/035: Electrolysis
- C02F 1/4602: {for prevention or elimination of deposits}
- A61L 2202/11: Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps
- A61L 2202/17: Combination with washing or cleaning means
- C02F 1/325: {Irradiation devices or lamp constructions}
- C02F 2201/46115: Electrolytic cell with membranes or diaphragms
- C02F 2201/46125: Electrical variables
- C02F 2209/04: Oxidation reduction potential [ORP]
- C02F 2301/08: Multistage treatments, e.g. repetition of the same process step under different conditions
- C02F 2303/04: Disinfection
- C02F 2303/14: Maintenance of water treatment installations
- C02F 2303/20: Prevention of biofouling
- C02F 2305/023: Reactive oxygen species, singlet oxygen, OH radical
- A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K)
- C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes)

## Abstract

A system and method for modifying monoatomic oxygen levels in an initial fluid, for applications. The system and method produces both positive and negative oxygen modified fluid that retains oxygen levels for long durations as measured by oxygen reduction potential (ORP). An incoming fluid is split between a positive chamber defined by a cathode and a porous divider and a negative chamber defined by the porous divider and an anode. The relative charge over the porous divider produces fluid with elevated ORP from the positive chamber and fluid with lowered ORP from the negative chamber. A method of killing bacteria includes contacting the bacteria with negative ORP fluid produced in the system and method to the bacteria.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for modifying the monoatomic oxygen level in a fluid, comprising:
(a) providing a first electrode defining a first conductive surface spaced from a second electrode defining a second conductive surface;
(b) providing a porous divider positioned intermediate the first electrode and second electrode and defining a first fluid treatment chamber with the first conductive surface and a second fluid treatment chamber with the second conductive surface;
(c) providing a positive charge to the first electrode and a negative charge to the second electrode;
(d) flowing an initial fluid having an initial oxidation reduction potential (ORP) value from an inlet to the first chamber and the second chamber via an end cap defining a first fluid inlet to the first chamber and a second fluid inlet to the second chamber, wherein the first fluid inlet is configured to allow a greater volume of fluid per unit time to the first chamber than the second fluid inlet allows to the second chamber, thereby modifying the monoatomic oxygen level of the initial fluid in both chambers; and
(e) collecting positive oxygen fluid having a positive ORP value greater than the initial ORP value from the first chamber and negative oxygen fluid having a negative ORP value lower than the initial ORP value from the second chamber.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are substantially flat sheets positioned substantially parallel to one another other.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein fluid flows at a first rate F1 through the first chamber and fluid flows through the second chamber at a second rate F2 that is slower than the first rate.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, comprising allowing the incoming fluid to remain in the first chamber until the positive ORP value is increased to at least twice the initial ORP value.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, comprising allowing the incoming fluid to remain in the first chamber until the positive ORP value is increased to at least 600 mV.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, comprising allowing the incoming fluid to remain in the second chamber until the negative ORP value is reduced to a negative ORP value.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, comprising allowing the incoming fluid to remain in the second chamber until the negative ORP value is reduced to at least −300 mV.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, comprising providing a charge between the anode and the cathode within a range of approximately 50 volts to approximately 150 volts.

### Claim 9

A method of killing a pathogen, comprising the steps of:
(a) providing an initial fluid having an initial oxidation reduction potential (ORP) value;
(b) increasing the ORP of a portion of the initial fluid without introducing a chemical to yield a natural positive ORP fluid; and
(c) contacting a pathogen with at least a portion of the natural positive ORP fluid, wherein step (b) comprises the substeps of:
(i) splitting the initial fluid into a first portion and a second portion;
(ii) flowing the first portion through a first chamber defined by a first electrode spaced from a porous divider to yield the positive ORP fluid;
(iii) flowing the second portion through a second chamber defined by a second electrode spaced from the porous divider, the second electrode in electrical communication with the first electrode to yield a negative ORP fluid with a ORP value below the initial ORP value; and
(iv) collecting the positive ORP fluid, wherein
in step (i), the initial fluid is split via an end cap defining a first fluid inlet to the first chamber and a second fluid inlet to the second chamber, wherein the first fluid inlet is configured to allow a greater volume of fluid per unit time to the first chamber than the second fluid inlet allows to the second chamber, and
an electrical charge is provided between the first electrode and second electrode during substeps (ii) and (iii).

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the ORP value of the positive ORP fluid deviates from the initial ORP more than the value of the positive ORP fluid deviates from the initial ORP.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, comprising the steps of:
(d) allowing the ORP value of excess natural positive ORP fluid to reduce toward the initial ORP to yield a reduced positive ORP fluid, and
(e) recovering the reduced positive ORP fluid.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the natural positive ORP fluid has an ORP value of at least +400.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the natural positive ORP fluid is between approximately +500 and approximately +1300.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the pathogen is present on a substrate, comprising the step of dipping the substrate and pathogen into a volume of natural positive ORP fluid.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the substrate is a filter used in a sewage treatment system.

### Claim 16

An oxygen modification system, comprising:
a first electrode defining a first flow surface;
a second electrode spaced from the first electrode and defining a second flow surface;
a porous divider positioned intermediate and spaced from each of the first and second electrodes, thereby defining a first flow chamber with the first electrode and a second flow chamber with the second electrode, the first flow chamber having a first chamber inlet and first chamber outlet and the second flow chamber having a second chamber inlet and a second chamber outlet; and
an end cap defining a first fluid inlet to the first chamber and a second fluid inlet to the second chamber, wherein the first fluid inlet is configured to allow a greater volume of fluid per unit time to the first chamber than the second fluid inlet allows to the second chamber, wherein
a positive electrical charge is applied to the first electrode and a negative electrical charge is applied to the second electrode and a fluid having an initial oxygen reduction potential (ORP) value flows through the first chamber and through the second chamber, yielding a positive oxygen modified fluid from the first chamber outlet having a first ORP value above the initial ORP value and a negative oxygen modified fluid from the second chamber outlet having a second ORP value below the initial ORP value.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The oxygen modification system of claim 16, wherein the first and second electrodes are flat sheets of metal and the porous divider is a flat sheet of an alumina material.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The oxygen modification system of claim 17, wherein the first and second electrodes and porous divider each defines a plane and the planes are positioned substantially parallel to one another.