Pulsed electric field system for treatment of a fluid medium
AssigneeSTERIS Inc.
InventorSergey A. Korenev
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for treatment of a fluid medium to inactivate biocontamination using a pulsed electric field (PEF). A fluid medium is pumped through a treatment assembly to treat the fluid medium. A pulse generating system produces input pulses of high voltage that are supplied to the treatment assembly. A pulsed high intensity electric field associated with the input pulses is produced in a treatment assembly. As the fluid medium flows through the treatment assembly, it is exposed to the high intensity electric field, thereby treating the fluid medium. The pulse generating system includes a pulse compressor to reduce the rise time of the high voltage pulses supplied to the treatment assembly, and forming a pulsed electric field in space, without use of an electrode system.
Claims33
An apparatus for exposing a fluid medium to a pulsed electric field, comprising:
- an energy storage circuit chargeable by a high voltage source;
- switch means connected with the energy storage circuit, said switch means operable to form high voltage pulses;
- a pulse compressing means for receiving the high voltage pulses and reducing a rise time for each of said high voltage pulses to produce a series of compressed high voltage pulses having a decreased rise front;
- and
- a treatment assembly for receiving the fluid medium, said assembly comprising:
- a dielectric flow tube providing a passageway for the fluid medium to travel through the treatment assembly, and
- inductance means for receiving the series of compressed high voltage pulses, said inductance means producing a changing magnetic field in response to a change in voltage, which in turn induces an electric field, said electric field being pulsed in response to the compressed high voltage pulses, wherein said fluid medium passes through said pulsed electric field.
A method for exposing a fluid medium to a pulsed electric field, comprising:
- switching an energy storage element to form high voltage pulses;
- compressing the high voltage pulses to reduce a rise time of each pulse, thereby producing compressed high voltage pulses;
- exciting inductance means with the compressed high voltage pulses, wherein said compressed high voltage pulses produce a changing magnetic field, which in turn induces an electric field;
- producing a series of electric field pulses in response to the high voltage pulses;
- and
- exposing the fluid medium to the pulsed electric field.
An apparatus for producing compressed pulses, comprising:
- an outer conductor connected to ground;
- an inner conductor connected with a switchable voltage source to receive one or more pulses of voltage having a first rise time;
- and
- a magnetic material located between the inner and outer conductors.
An apparatus for exposing a fluid medium to a pulsed electric field, comprising:
- a source of high voltage pulses;
- and
- a treatment assembly including:
- inductance means for receiving the high voltage pulses and inducing a pulsed electric field in response to the high voltage pulses, and
- a passageway physically isolated from the inductance means, to pass the fluid medium through the pulsed electric field.
A method for exposing a fluid medium to a pulsed electric field, comprising:
- generating a series of high voltage pulses;
- and
- exciting inductance means with the series of high voltage pulses, wherein a pulsed electric field is induced in response to the high voltage pulses;
- exposing the fluid medium to the pulsed electric field, wherein the fluid medium is physically isolated from the inductance means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.