Purification apparatus with electrodeless bulb and methods of operation

A method of operating a purification system, the method comprising:

• producing, by a radio frequency (RF) signal source, a RF signal;
• conveying the RF signal to a first electrode of a lamp excitation conduit that includes the first electrode, a second electrode, an input port, an output port, and an internal chamber configured to receive an electrodeless bulb that has an outer diameter, wherein the internal chamber is defined by first and second boundaries that are separated by a distance that is less than a wavelength of the RF signal so that the internal chamber is sub-resonant and that is greater than the outer diameter of the electrodeless bulb, wherein the first electrode is physically positioned at the first boundary on a first side of the internal chamber and, when the electrodeless bulb is positioned within the internal chamber, the first electrode is outside the electrodeless bulb, wherein the second electrode is physically positioned at the second boundary on a second side of the internal chamber opposite the first side of the internal chamber and, when the electrodeless bulb is positioned within the internal chamber, the first electrode and the second electrode are outside the electrodeless bulb and the electrodeless bulb is positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode the input port is configured to enable a fluid or gas to flow into and through the internal chamber so that a first portion of the fluid or gas flows between the first electrode and the electrodeless bulb and a second portion of the fluid or gas flows between the second electrode and the electrodeless bulb and the output port is configured to enable the fluid or gas to flow out of the internal chamber and wherein the first electrode, the second electrode, and the internal chamber form a first structure that is configured to capacitively couple an electromagnetic energy into the electrodeless bulb when the electrodeless bulb is positioned within the internal chamber between the first and second electrodes and the electromagnetic energy radiated by the first electrode causes the electrodeless bulb to emit ultraviolet light to kill pathogens in the fluid or gas passing through the internal chamber, and wherein the purification system includes a support structure configured to hold the electrodeless bulb between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the support structure includes a clamp configured to couple to the electrodeless bulb and a post coupled at a first end of the post to the internal chamber and at a second end of the post to the clamp, and a receptacle in fluid communication with the internal chamber, wherein the receptacle is configured to filter the pathogens in the fluid or gas;
• converting, by the first electrode, the RF signal into the electromagnetic energy that is radiated by the first electrode into the internal chamber;
• and
• transmitting the fluid or gas through the purification system, wherein the fluid or gas enters the input port, passes through the internal chamber, and exits the output port.