Patent · US Active

Method and apparatus for applying plasma particles to a liquid and use for disinfecting water

US9023214B2 · kind B2 · utility

5Cited by
1References
5Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 4, 2011
Grant dateMay 5, 2015
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 7, 2034

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02W10/37
  • WIPO fieldEnvironmental technology
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

The invention provides a method and apparatus for creating plasma particles and applying the plasma particles to a liquid. Liquid feedstock (e.g., water and/or hydrocarbons mixed with biomass) is pumped through a pipeline; the single-phase stream is then transformed into a biphasic liquid-and-gas stream inside a chamber. The transformation is achieved by transitioning the stream from a high pressure zone to a lower-pressure zone. The pressure drop may occur when the stream further passes through a device for atomizing liquid. Inside the chamber, an electric field is generated with an intensity level that exceeds the threshold of breakdown voltage of the biphasic medium leading to a generation of a plasma state. Furthermore, the invention provides an energy-efficient highly adaptable and versatile method and apparatus for sanitizing water using plasma particles to inactivate biological agents contaminating water.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.