초록 ▼

The present invention provides an electroionic processing system having a high frequency alternating current (AC) power source for treating potable water, process water, wastewater, biosolids, sludge, primary effluent, secondary effluent, and other biochemical processing functions, including produci

The present invention provides an electroionic processing system having a high frequency alternating current (AC) power source for treating potable water, process water, wastewater, biosolids, sludge, primary effluent, secondary effluent, and other biochemical processing functions, including producing hydrogen peroxide and other useful chemicals. An electromagnetic field is generated and coupled to an electrolytic treatment apparatus by a direct coupling apparatus and method, a capacitive coupling apparatus and method, and an inductive coupling apparatus and method. The present invention further comprises a process controller and a plurality of analyzers for monitoring various treatment process variables to adjust and optimize the process as necessary.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. An electroionic apparatus for disinfection and oxidation of an aqueous solution comprising: a high frequency AC power source coupled to a flow cell, said power source including a signal generator supplying a high frequency AC signal to a power amplifier for amplifying t

The invention claimed is: 1. An electroionic apparatus for disinfection and oxidation of an aqueous solution comprising: a high frequency AC power source coupled to a flow cell, said power source including a signal generator supplying a high frequency AC signal to a power amplifier for amplifying the signal and an impedance matching transformer coupled to said power amplifier for connecting said signal to said flow cell, said power source creating an electromagnetic field within said flow cell and creating an ionic current flow in said flow cell. 2. The electroionic apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flow cell is inductively-coupled to said aqueous solution. 3. The electroionic apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flow cell is capacitively-coupled to said aqueous solution. 4. The electroionic apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flow cell is directly-coupled to said aqueous solution. 5. The electroionic apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flow cell includes a pair of spaced-apart electrodes mounted in aligned spaced relation to define walls of a pipe or an open channel in said aqueous solution. 6. The electroionic apparatus of claim 1 further comprising monitoring means coupled to said flow cell for monitoring a plurality of parameters in said aqueous solution. 7. The electroionic apparatus of claim 6 wherein said monitoring means includes a hydrogen peroxide analyzer for monitoring the amount of hydrogen peroxide in said aqueous solution. 8. The electroionic apparatus of claim 6 wherein said monitoring means includes a conductivity analyzer for monitoring the conductivity of said aqueous solution. 9. The electroionic apparatus of claim 6 wherein said monitoring means includes a an on-line microbial analyzer to detect and quantify the microbial population density of said aqueous solution. 10. The electroionic apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a process controller coupled to and receiving inputs from said monitoring means and coupled to and generating an output to said signal generator for controlling operation of said AC power source. 11. The electroionic apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a current sense coil and a current feedback loop coupled between said impedance matching transformer and said process controller for sensing current from said impedance matching transformer and adjusting the power output of said AC power source. 12. The electroionic apparatus of claim 1 wherein said power source has an input control to adjust the power output level and minimize electric power consumption. 13. An electroionic apparatus for disinfection and oxidation of an aqueous solution comprising: a high frequency AC power source coupled to a flow cell, said power source including a signal generator supplying a high frequency AC signal to a power amplifier for amplifying the signal and an impedance matching transformer coupled to said power amplifier for connecting said signal to said flow cell, said power source creating an electromagnetic field within said flow cell and creating an ionic current flow in said flow cell; wherein said ionic current flow generates hydrogen peroxide in said aqueous solution. 14. An electroionic apparatus for disinfection and oxidation of an aqueous solution comprising: a high frequency AC power source coupled to a flow cell, said power source including a signal generator supplying a high frequency AC signal to a power amplifier for amplifying the signal and an impedance matching transformer coupled to said power amplifier for connecting said signal to said flow cell, said power source creating an electromagnetic field within said flow cell and creating an ionic current flow in said flow cell; wherein said ionic current flow generates hydroxyl radicals in said aqueous solution. 15. A method for electroionic disinfection and oxidation of an aqueous solution, the method comprising the steps of: passing said aqueous solution through a flow cell; and supplying a high frequency AC power source to said flow cell, said power source including a signal generator supplying a high frequency AC signal to a power amplifier for amplifying the signal and an impedance matching transformer coupled to said power amplifier for connecting said signal to said flow cell, said power source creating an electromagnetic field within said flow cell and creating an ionic current flow in said electrodes flow cell. 16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of generating hydrogen peroxide in said aqueous solution. 17. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of generating hydroxyl radicals in said aqueous solution. 18. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of coupling a plurality of analyzers to said flow cell for monitoring a plurality of parameters in said aqueous solution. 19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of coupling a process controller between said plurality of analyzers and said signal generator for controlling operation of said AC power source. 20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of coupling a current sense coil and a current feedback loop between said impedance matching transformer and said process controller for sensing current from said impedance matching transformer and adjusting the power output of said AC power source. 21. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of coupling a hydrogen peroxide analyzer to said flow cell for monitoring the amount of hydrogen peroxide in said aqueous solution. 22. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of coupling an on-line microbial analyzer to said flow cell to detect and quantify the microbial population density of said aqueous solution. 23. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of coupling a conductivity analyzer to said flow cell for monitoring the conductivity of said aqueous solution. 24. An electroionic apparatus for disinfection and/or oxidation of an aqueous solution comprising: a flow cell through which said aqueous solution flows therethrough; and a high frequency AC power source coupled to said flow cell, said power source including a signal generator supplying a high frequency AC signal to a power amplifier for amplifying the signal and an impedance matching transformer coupled to said power amplifier for connecting said signal to said flow cell, said power source creating an electromagnetic field within said flow cell and creating an ionic current flow in said flow cell. 25. The electroionic apparatus of claim 24 wherein said flow cell is an inductive treatment cell including at least one coil wrapped around at least one core. 26. The electroionic apparatus of claim 25 further comprising a capacitor coupled to said at least one coil of said inductive treatment cell. 27. The electroionic apparatus of claim 24 wherein said flow cell includes at least two spaced-apart electrodes. 28. The electroionic apparatus of claim 27 wherein each of said electrodes includes a first surface and a second surface, wherein said first surface of each electrode is coated with a dielectric material having a low coefficient of friction, and wherein said dielectric material is in contact with said aqueous solution forming capacitively-coupled electrodes for capacitively-coupling said flow cell to said aqueous solution. 29. The electroionic apparatus of claim 24 further comprising monitoring means coupled to said flow cell for monitoring a plurality of parameters in said aqueous solution. 30. The electroionic apparatus of claim 29 wherein said monitoring means includes a conductivity analyzer for monitoring the conductivity of said aqueous solution. 31. The electroionic apparatus of claim 29 wherein said monitoring means includes a hydrogen peroxide analyzer for monitoring the amount of hydrogen peroxide in said aqueous solution. 32. The electroionic apparatus of claim 29 wherein said monitoring means includes an on-line microbial analyzer to detect and quantify the microbial population density of said aqueous solution. 33. The electroionic apparatus of claim 24 wherein said power source includes an input control to adjust the power output level and minimize power consumption. 34. An electroionic apparatus for disinfection and/or oxidation of an aqueous solution comprising: a flow cell through which said aqueous solution flows therethrough; and a high frequency AC power source coupled to said flow cell, said power source including a signal generator supplying a high frequency AC signal to a power amplifier for amplifying the signal and an impedance matching transformer coupled to said power amplifier for connecting said signal to said flow cell, said power source creating an electromagnetic field within said flow cell and creating an ionic current flow in said flow cell; wherein hydrogen peroxide is produced in said aqueous solution. 35. An electroionic apparatus for disinfection and/or oxidation of an aqueous solution comprising: a flow cell through which said aqueous solution flows therethrough; and a high frequency AC power source coupled to said flow cell, said power source including a signal generator supplying a high frequency AC signal to a power amplifier for amplifying the signal and an impedance matching transformer coupled to said power amplifier for connecting said signal to said flow cell, said power source creating an electromagnetic field within said flow cell and creating an ionic current flow in said flow cell; wherein hydroxyl radicals are produced in said aqueous solution. 36. An electroionic apparatus for lowering organic compound concentrations in an aqueous solution comprising: an inductive treatment cell including at least one coil wrapped around at least one core, said inductive treatment cell positioned in a flow system through which said aqueous solution passes therethrough; a capacitor coupled to said at least one coil of said inductive treatment cell; and a high frequency AC power source coupled to said capacitor and said inductive treatment cell, said power source including a signal generator supplying a high frequency AC signal to a power amplifier for amplifying the signal and an impedance matching transformer coupled to said power amplifier for connecting said signal to said capacitor and said inductive treatment cell, said power source creating an electromagnetic field within said inductive treatment cell and creating an ionic current flow in said inductive treatment cell. 37. The electroionic apparatus of claim 36 wherein said inductive treatment cell is a high Q resonant LCR circuit. 38. An electroionic apparatus for lowering organics in a aqueous solution comprising: a treatment cell including at least two spaced-apart electrodes positioned in a flow system through which said aqueous solution flows; and a high frequency AC power source coupled to said electrodes in said treatment cell, said power source including a signal generator supplying a high frequency AC signal to a power amplifier for amplifying the signal and an impedance matching transformer coupled to said power amplifier for connecting said signal to said treatment cell, said power source creating an electromagnetic field within said treatment cell and creating an ionic current flow between said electrodes; wherein each of said electrodes includes a first surface and a second surface, wherein said first surface of each electrode is coated with a dielectric material having a low coefficient of friction, and wherein said dielectric material is in contact with said aqueous solution forming capacitively-coupled electrodes for capacitively-coupling said treatment cell to said aqueous solution. 39. An electroionic apparatus for lowering organics in an aqueous solution comprising: a treatment cell including at least two spaced-apart electrodes positioned in a flow system through which said aqueous solution passes therethrough; and a high frequency AC power source coupled to said electrodes in said treatment cell, said power source including a signal generator supplying a high frequency AC signal to a power amplifier for amplifying the signal and an impedance matching transformer coupled to said power amplifier for connecting said signal to said treatment cell, said power source creating an electromagnetic field within said treatment cell and creating an ionic current flow between said electrodes. 40. An electroionic apparatus for treating wastewater and/or potable water comprising: a flow cell; and a high frequency AC power source coupled to said flow cell, said power source including a signal generator supplying a high frequency AC signal to a power amplifier for amplifying the signal and an impedance matching transformer coupled to said power amplifier for connecting said signal to said flow cell, said power source creating an electromagnetic field within said flow cell and creating an ionic current flow in said flow cell; wherein said wastewater and/or potable water flows through said flow cell for disinfecting and oxidizing said wastewater and/or potable water. 41. A flow cell assembly for disinfection of wastewater and/or potable water wherein said wastewater and/or potable water flows through a flow cell, said flow cell assembly comprising: a high frequency AC power supply coupled to an electronic circuit which is coupled to said flow cell, said power supply including a signal generator supplying a high frequency AC signal to a power amplifier for amplifying the signal and an impedance matching transformer coupled to said power amplifier for connecting said signal to said flow cell, said power supply creating an electromagnetic field within said flow cell and creating an ionic current flow in said flow cell. 42. A method for electroionically processing aqueous solutions, said method comprising the steps of: passing said aqueous solutions through a flow cell; and applying a high frequency AC power source to said flow cell, said power source including a signal generator supplying a high frequency AC signal to a power amplifier for amplifying the signal and an impedance matching transformer coupled to said power amplifier for connecting said signal to said flow cell, said power source creating an electromagnetic field within said flow cell and creating an ionic current flow in said flow cell. 43. A method for disinfecting and/or oxidizing aqueous solutions, the method comprising the steps of: providing a flow cell for aqueous solutions to flow through said flow cell; and applying a high frequency AC power source to said flow cell, said power source including a signal generator supplying a high frequency AC signal to a power amplifier for amplifying the signal and an impedance matching transformer coupled to said power amplifier for connecting said signal to said flow cell, said power source creating an electromagnetic field within said flow cell and creating an ionic current flow in said flow cell. 44. A method of generating hydrogen peroxide, said method comprising the steps of: applying a high frequency AC power source to a flow cell with an aqueous solution flowing therethrough, said power source including a signal generator supplying a high frequency AC signal to a power amplifier for amplifying the signal and an impedance matching transformer coupled to said power amplifier for connecting said signal to said flow cell, said power source creating an electromagnetic field within said flow cell and creating an ionic current flow in said flow cell for generating hydrogen peroxide. 45. An electroionic apparatus for disinfection and oxidation of an aqueous solution comprising: a high frequency AC power source coupled to a flow cell, said power source including a signal generator supplying a high frequency AC signal to a power amplifier for amplifying the signal and an impedance matching means for matching the impedance of said power source to said flow cell, said power source creating an electromagnetic field within said flow cell and creating an ionic current flow in said flow cell.