# US 2009/0260973 A1 · Method and apparatus for treating a process volume with multiple electromagnetic generators > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2009/0260973 A1 - Document ID: US20090260973A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/420,770 - Filed: 2009-04-08 - Published: 2009-10-22 - Earliest claimed: 2008-09-19 - Assignees: RF Thummim Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Vassilli P. Proudkii; Kirk McNeil; Joe Michael Yarborough - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260973A1 ## CPC - B01J 19/126: {Microwaves} - B01D 17/0205: {by gas bubbles or moving solids} - B01J 19/088: {giving rise to electric discharges (for heating purposes H05B7/00; for the production of ozone C01B13/11, H01T19/00)} - B01J 19/129: {Radiofrequency} - B03C 1/0335: {using coils} - B03C 1/30: Combinations with other devices, not otherwise provided for - H05B 6/6488: {combined with induction heating} - H05B 6/806: {for laboratory use} - B01J 2219/083: cylindrical - B01J 2219/0854: employing electromagnets - B01J 2219/0862: employing multiple (electro)magnets - B01J 2219/0877: Liquid - B01J 2219/0894: Processes carried out in the presence of a plasma - B01J 2219/1227: Reactors comprising tubes with open ends - B01J 2219/1269: Microwave guides - B01J 2219/1296: Multiple sources - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - B03C: MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS (separating isotopes B01D59/00; combinations of magnetic or electrostatic separation with separation of solids by other means B03B, B07B) - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL ## Abstract A method and apparatus are described that couples a plurality of electromagnetic sources to a material for the purpose of either processing the material or promoting a chemical reaction. The apparatus couples various electromagnetic sources of various frequencies, including provision for static magnetic fields, radio frequency fields, and microwave fields, with the possibility of applying them all simultaneously or in any combination. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for exciting a process medium with electromagnetic radiation comprising: a reaction structure containing a process or reaction volume; a plurality of microwave electromagnetic generators coupled to the reaction structure around the reaction structure; and at least one radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic generator coupled to the reaction structure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one static electromagnetic generator coupled to the reaction structure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the reaction structure is single mode or multimode at the microwave frequency. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reaction structure is cylindrically symmetric about an axis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reaction structure is bounded by a spiral structure formed of a conducting material and having a plurality of coils. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the width of the turns of the spiral is one fourth of the wavelength at the resonant frequency ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the spiral is connected to one or more of said radio frequency generators. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the coils form part of a resonant circuit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the spiral has an end cap at each end, wherein the end caps comprise spiral windings to prevent eddy current losses. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein two or more of the at least one microwave electromagnetic generator produce microwaves at the same frequency, chosen to excite various modes within the reaction structure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the microwaves of the same frequency are locked in phase. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a phase detector, from which an error signal is derived and returned to at least one of said microwave electromagnetic generators of the same frequency. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein microwave electromagnetic generators produce microwaves at different frequencies, chosen to excite various modes within the reaction structure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the process medium is excited with an H field of TElmn modes. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein radio frequency generators are coupled to excite a region near the axis of the resonant structure. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an ultrasound device for ultrasonic cleaning of the resonant structure. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spiral is liquid-cooled. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spiral is air-cooled. ### Claim 19 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one static electromagnetic generator creates a DC field to confine a plasma. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the microwave electromagnetic generators are configured to excite multiple microwave modes at different longitudinal positions within the reaction structure. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the RF electromagnetic generators are configured to excite multiple TElmn modes at different longitudinal positions within the reaction structure. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one piston located at one end of the reaction structure to support more than one mode. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one piston is used to adjust tuning of various modes. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reaction structure comprises multiple resonant structures connected in series. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reaction structure comprises multiple resonant structures connected in parallel. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reaction structure comprises multiple resonant structures connected in parallel and in series. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an electromechanical coupler for large load changes. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a master oscillator that is adjustable to accommodate minor perturbations. ### Claim 29 An apparatus for treating a process volume with multiple electromagnetic generators, comprising: a resonant structure, formed of a metal spiral; and a plurality of electromagnetic generators coupled to the spiral. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising an input cap and an output cap at the respective ends of the metal spiral, wherein the process volume is introduced into the resonant structure through the input cap ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising a reaction chamber that is cylindrically symmetric. ### Claim 32 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the plurality of electromagnetic generators includes at least one microwave generator and at least one RF generator. ### Claim 33 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the electromagnetic generators produce alternating magnetic fields parallel to the axis of the coil. ### Claim 34 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the inputs from the plurality of electromagnetic generators are arranged so that the various generators are coupled to various modes of the resonant structure. ### Claim 35 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising at least one cylindrical piston for tuning the various resonant modes of H fields produced by said electromagnetic generators. ### Claim 36 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the process medium is excited with an H field of TElmn modes. ### Claim 37 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising a pipe for feeding the process volume into said resonant structure, wherein the tube is transparent to RIF and microwave energy. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The apparatus of claim 37, wherein pipe has an input section and an output section, and wherein said input section and output section of the pipe are formed of a metal. ### Claim 39 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the turns of the metal spiral have a width of one-fourth of a wavelength at the resonant frequency. ### Claim 40 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the spiral is liquid-cooled. ### Claim 41 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the spiral is air-cooled. ### Claim 42 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising an electromechanical coupler for large load changes. ### Claim 43 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29, wherein a portion of the plurality of electromagnetic generators are configured to excite multiple modes at different longitudinal positions within the reaction structure. ### Claim 44 A method of exciting a process medium using a magnetic field, comprising: providing a resonant structure that is substantially cylindrical, wherein at least one microwave generator and at least one RF generator are coupled to said resonant structure; generating electromagnetic fields that are coupled to the various modes of the resonant structure; and passing said process medium through said resonant structure in a latitudinal direction. ### Claim 45 (depends on 44) The method of claim 44, further comprising tuning said electromagnetic fields to the various modes of the resonant structure. ### Claim 46 (depends on 45) The method of claim 45, wherein the tuning is accomplished by adjusting the longitudinal position of a hollow cylindrical piston. ### Claim 47 (depends on 44) The method of claim 44, further comprising tuning said at least one microwave generator with an electromechanical coupler for large load changes. ### Claim 47 (depends on 44) The method of claim 44, further comprising using TElmn modes to excite a medium with corresponding H fields. ### Claim 48 (depends on 44) The method of claim 44, wherein said process medium is a plasma, further comprising confining said plasma with DC field to enable H fields to better interact with said plasma. ### Claim 49 (depends on 44) The method of claim 44, wherein the resonant structure is bounded by a spiral structure formed of a conducting material and forming at least one coil. ### Claim 50 (depends on 44) The method of claim 44, wherein the width of the turns of the spiral is one fourth of the wavelength at the resonant frequency.