# US 11,299,405 B2 · Purification apparatus with electrodeless bulb and methods of operation

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- Number: US 11,299,405 B2
- Document ID: US11299405B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/719,485
- Filed: 2017-09-28
- Published: 2019-03-28
- Granted: 2022-04-12
- Earliest claimed: 2017-09-28
- Assignees: NXP USA, Inc.
- Applicants: NXP USA, Inc.
- Inventors: Gavin James Smith; Lionel Mongin; Pierre Marie Jean Piel
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299405B2

## CPC

- C02F 1/325: {Irradiation devices or lamp constructions}
- A61L 9/20: Ultraviolet radiation
- C02F 1/487: {using high frequency electromagnetic fields, e.g. pulsed electromagnetic fields}
- G01J 1/429: {applied to measurement of ultraviolet light (using counting tubes G01T)}
- H01J 65/046: {the field being produced by using capacitive means around the vessel}
- C02F 1/001: {Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance (C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00)}
- C02F 2201/3223: Single elongated lamp located on the central axis of a turbular reactor
- C02F 2201/3225: Lamps immersed in an open channel, containing the liquid to be treated
- C02F 2201/326: Lamp control systems
- C02F 2201/46175: Electrical pulses
- C02F 2201/48: Devices for applying magnetic or electric fields
- C02F 2303/04: Disinfection
- 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)
- 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)
- G01J: MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY (light sources F21, H01J, H01K, H05B; investigating properties of materials by optical means G01N)
- H01J: ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS (spark-gaps H01T; electric arc lamps H05B31/00; particle accelerators H05H)

## Abstract

A purification apparatus includes a radio frequency (RF) signal source that generates an RF signal, first and second electrodes, and a conduit. The first electrode receives the RF signal and converts it into electromagnetic energy that is radiated by the first electrode. The conduit includes input and output ports and a chamber. The input and output ports are in fluid communication with the chamber, and the chamber is configured to receive an electrodeless bulb. The chamber is defined by first and second boundaries that are separated by a distance that is less than the wavelength of the RF signal so that the chamber is sub-resonant. The first electrode is physically positioned at the first boundary, and the second electrode is physically positioned at the second boundary. The first and second electrodes and the chamber form a structure that capacitively couples the electromagnetic energy into an electrodeless bulb within the chamber.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A purification apparatus comprising:
a radio frequency (RF) signal source configured to generate a RF signal;
a first electrode electrically coupled to the RF signal source, wherein the first electrode is configured to receive the RF signal and to convert the RF signal into electromagnetic energy that is radiated by the first electrode;
a second electrode;
a conduit that includes an input port, an output port, and a chamber, wherein the input port and the output port are in fluid communication with the chamber, and the chamber is configured to receive an electrodeless bulb that has an outer diameter, and wherein the 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 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 chamber and, when the electrodeless bulb is positioned within the 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 chamber opposite the first side of the chamber and, when the electrodeless bulb is positioned within the 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 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 chamber and wherein the first electrode, the second electrode, and the chamber form a first structure that is configured to capacitively couple the electromagnetic energy into the electrodeless bulb when the electrodeless bulb is positioned within the 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 chamber;
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 chamber and at a second end of the post to the clamp; and
a receptacle in fluid communication with the chamber, wherein the receptacle is configured to filter the pathogens in the fluid or gas.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The purification apparatus of claim 1, wherein the distance is less than half the wavelength of the RF signal.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The purification apparatus of claim 2, wherein the distance is less than one 50th the wavelength of the RF signal.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The purification apparatus of claim 3, wherein the distance is less than one 100th the wavelength of the RF signal.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The purification apparatus of claim 1, wherein the distance is in a range between 10 centimeters and 3.0 meters.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The purification apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
the first and second electrodes each have a planar conductive structure.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The purification apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a variable resonant circuit electrically coupled between an output of the RF signal source and the first electrode; and
a system controller configured to establish and modify a resonant frequency of the variable resonant circuit through control signals that the system controller sends to the variable resonant circuit.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The purification apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:
an electric field sensor configured to sense an electromagnetic field intensity within the chamber, and to send a sensor signal to the system controller indicating the electromagnetic field intensity,
wherein the system controller is configured to modify the resonant frequency of the variable resonant circuit based on the electromagnetic field intensity indicated in the sensor signal.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The purification apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:
a radiation intensity sensor configured to sense a radiation intensity within the chamber, and to send a sensor signal to the system controller indicating the radiation intensity,
wherein the system controller is configured to modify the resonant frequency of the variable resonant circuit based on the radiation intensity indicated in the sensor signal.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The purification apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:
a luminous intensity sensor configured to sense a luminous intensity within the chamber, and to send a sensor signal to the system controller indicating the luminous intensity,
wherein the system controller is configured to modify the resonant frequency of the variable resonant circuit based on the luminous intensity indicated in the sensor signal.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The purification apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:
a contamination sensor configured to sense a contamination level within the chamber, and to send a sensor signal to the system controller indicating the contamination level,
wherein the system controller is configured to modify the resonant frequency of the variable resonant circuit based on the contamination level indicated in the sensor signal.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The purification apparatus of claim 7, wherein the variable resonant circuit includes one or more variable passive devices selected from inductors, capacitors, and resistors.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The purification apparatus of claim 1, wherein the RF signal has a frequency in a range from 10 megahertz (MHz) to 3.0 gigahertz (GHz).

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The purification apparatus of claim 1, wherein the RF signal source is configured to generate the RF signal to produce a voltage across the first and second electrodes in a range of 90 volts to 3000 volts.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The purification apparatus of claim 1, wherein the purification apparatus is selected from a water purification unit, a wastewater treatment system, an appliance that dispenses, filters or utilizes water, a pool filtration system, a pumping system, a water heater, a reverse osmosis system, a refrigerator, a freezer, a vacuum cleaner, an air conditioning unit, and an air purification system.

### Claim 16

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.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, further comprising:
sensing one or more of an electromagnetic field intensity within the internal chamber, a luminous intensity within the internal chamber, a radiation intensity within the internal chamber, and a contamination level in the fluid or gas;
producing a sensor signal that indicates the electromagnetic field intensity, the luminous intensity, the radiation intensity or the contamination level; and
modifying a resonant frequency of a variable resonant circuit that is electrically coupled between the RF signal source and the first electrode based on the sensor signal.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein modifying the resonant frequency is performed to increase the electromagnetic field intensity, increase the luminous intensity, increase the radiation intensity, or decrease the contamination level.