Abstract
The invention is a water purification system without use of chemical substances. The essential parts of the system are: a chamber with inlet and outlet for flowing incoming and outgoing air into and out of the chamber; UV radiation bulb(s)/lamp(s); pair(s) of magnetic rings; and a skeleton configured for occupying center volume of the chamber from top to bottom around central longitudinal axis of the chamber. The skeleton has inner space for accommodating the UV radiation bulb(s)/lamp(s) and at least one pair of holding elements for holding the pair(s) of magnetic rings around the UV radiation bulb(s)/lamp(s). The purification system comprises concentric configuration to minimally perturb profile and distribution of the incoming and outgoing air, the pair(s) of magnetic rings are positioned in parallel relative each other and configured to induce maximal concentric magnetic flux field on molecules of the flowing incoming and outgoing air.
Claims
1. A water purification system comprising: a chamber comprising inlet and outlet for flowing incoming and outgoing air into said chamber and out of said chamber and into a water-containing tank/vessel; at least one UV radiation bulb/lamp; at least one pair of magnetic rings; and a skeleton configured for occupying center volume of said chamber from top to bottom around central longitudinal axis of said chamber, said skeleton comprising inner space for accommodating said at least one UV radiation bulb/lamp and at least one pair of holding elements for holding said at least one pair of magnetic rings around said at least one UV radiation bulb/lamp, wherein outer diameter of said skeleton is smaller than inner diameter of said chamber and wherein distance between every neighbor pairs of magnetic rings generates local magnetic fields upon placing said pairs of magnetic rings on said holding elements of said skeleton, wherein said purification system comprises concentric configuration to minimally perturb profile and distribution of said incoming and outgoing air, said at least one pair of magnetic rings are positioned in parallel relative each other and configured to induce maximal concentric magnetic flux field on molecules of said flowing incoming and outgoing air.
2.-3. (canceled)
4. The water purification system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one UV radiation bulb/lamp comprises two lamps with two wavelength ranges of 180-195 [nm] and 240-280 [nm].
5. (canceled)
6. The water purification system according to claim 1, wherein said chamber is made of a conductive material coated with chemically inert material.
7. The water purification system according to claim 1, wherein said chamber comprises a cylindrical housing tube, said cylindrical housing tube is embedded within said chamber.
8. The water purification system according to claim 1, wherein said chamber further comprises external sleeve and top and bottom covers mechanically attached to top and bottom sides of said external sleeve and close top and bottom ends of said chamber.
9.-10. (canceled)
11. The water purification system according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of gas flow meters, said gas flow meters are mounted inside or outside a box encapsulating said chamber.
12.-13. (canceled)
14. The water purification system according to claim 1, further comprising remote control unit for controlling operational values versus specified values of said system, said unit is configured to switch between on and off operating states of said system, mechanically or electronically, and monitor voltage, electrical current, power supply and related devices of said system.
15. The water purification system according to claim 14, wherein said devices are selected from said at least one UV bulb/lamp, a fan for expelling heat generated in said chamber out of said system and electronic air flow meter for monitoring incoming and outgoing air into and out of said chamber within said system.
16. The water purification system according to claim 1, further comprising a venturi pipe attached to said outlet of said chamber for transporting radicalized/excited and ambient air into treated water reservoir.
17. The water purification system according to claim 1, further comprising a water container or water reservoir in fluid communication with said chamber.
18. The water purification system according to claim 1, wherein said chamber has a cylindrical geometrical shape with housing sleeve and housing frame with a corresponding cylindrical geometrical shape.
19. The water purification system according to claim 1, comprising three pairs of magnetic rings arranged in identical polarity configuration at top and bottom ends, center of and around main central longitudinal axis of said chamber, wherein each one of said pairs of magnetic rings comprises one ring with negative polarity and second ring with positive polarity, said polarity configuration is anti-symmetric configuration, said rings are mechanically held by said holding elements.
20. The water purification system according to claim 19, wherein said magnetic rings generate magnetic field strength in the range of 10.sup.3 to 10.sup.6 gauss, said range is sufficient to induce high magnetic flux in said chamber and excite/radicalize incoming ambient air.
21. The water purification system according to claim 1, wherein said skeleton comprises inner longitudinal bars extending from top to bottom of said skeleton around inner space for accommodating said at least one UV radiation bulb/lamp, outer longitudinal bars surrounding said inner bars and extending from top to bottom of said skeleton and holding elements extending inwardly from said outer bars and comprising recesses for holding said at least one pair of magnetic rings around said at least one UV radiation bulb/lamp, said inner bars, outer bars and holding elements forming a single solid unit of said skeleton.
22.-25. (canceled)
26. The water purification system according to claim 1, further comprising pre-filtering apparatus for cleaning ambient incoming air from impurities and contaminations before injecting it into said chamber.
27. The water purification system according to claim 1, further comprising diffuser connected to outlet of said chamber for diffusing radicalized/excited air into a water reservoir.
28. The water purification system according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic rings are made of ferromagnetic materials made from rare earth magnets.
29. The water purification system according to claim 28, wherein said materials are selected from Nd.sub.2Fe.sub.14B, SmCo.sub.5 Sm.sub.2Co.sub.17, composite magnetic materials, BaFe.sub.12O.sub.19, MnBi, Ce(CuCo)5, strong permanent magnets made from aluminium, nickel, cobalt and iron and comprising small amounts of Cu, Ti and Nb, and ferrite materials of ferrimanetic materials such as Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, and Fe.sub.3O.sub.4.
30. The water purification system according to claim 28 or 29, wherein one ring of said at least one pair of magnetic rings is made from one of said magnetic materials and second ring of said at least one pair of magnetic rings is made from a metallic material that can be magnetized under induced external magnetic field.
31. The water purification system according to claim 30, wherein said metallic material is iron or steel.
32.-35. (canceled)
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0068] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a box diagram of the water purification and treatment system.
[0069] FIG. 2 shows the internal design of the water purification system.
[0070] FIG. 3 shows a front view image of the water purification and treatment system.
[0071] FIGS. 4A-B show schematic design of the air ionization chamber assembly, where (A) shows a top perspective view of the external housing assembly, and (B) shows a side perspective view of both internal and external structures and assembly.
[0072] FIGS. 5A-D show the design of assembly parts of air ionization chamber. (A) shows exploded top perspective view of the external housing assembly parts; (B) is an exploded side perspective view of internal and external assembly parts; (C) and (D) show zoom-in views of (B) and (A) with and without the ferromagnetic rings, respectively, at the holding seating of the ferromagnetic rings.
[0073] FIGS. 6A-E show experimented configurations with and without magnetic rings, which are attached to the inner sekeleton inside the ionization chamber.
[0074] FIGS. 7A-B(A) show top view images of colour intensity of a DPD (N, N Diethyl-1,4 Phenylenediamine Sulphate) gauge device filled with water from the water container, which is attached to ionization chamber with a certain amount of oxygen radicals. (B) shows the corresponding DPD intensity value colour table.
[0075] FIGS. 8A-B show experimental graph results of radical's concentration (A) and steady state time stabilization (B) in different air compression flows.
[0076] FIG. 9 shows a graph of the radical concentration measurements in a steady state for different compression flow values.
[0077] FIG. 10 shows graphs of radical concentration experimental results versus different air compression flows multiplied by the corresponding stabilization steady state time.
[0078] FIG. 11 shows a graph of the calculated average oxygen radical flux density for different compression flow values.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0079] FIGS. 1 and 2 show schematic box diagram and design for water purification and treatment system (100), where a real image of one optional embodiment of the system is shown at FIG. 3. The water purification system main part comprises: an optional fan cooling system (1), which is required to thermally stabilize and regulate the temperature water purification and treatment system as a result of possible unwanted internal or external heating sources. Pending on thermal cooling requirements, the cooling system can employ an air fan, a water cooling or other cooling system; a cylindrical air flow ionization chamber (2) made of aluminium, PVC or other chemically inert material, coated with TiO.sub.20n its internal side; an electrical ballast (3) for a UV light bulb/lamp, with specifications of power (Watts, Amps, Volts), connected to the local power supply; an electrical breaker circuit (4), added to avoid overloading of the electrical current inside the system; a plurality of gas flow meter devices (5) that can be based on electrical or a mechanical flow rate measurement principles, where flow meters can be configured inside or outside the purification system box (100) and located anywhere inside or outside the purification and treatment site pending on system requirements. The gas flow meters monitor and regulate the current air gas flow volumetric rate inside the system (measured in values of Litter Per Minute, LPM). A plurality of power meter devices (6) are located in any location at the water purification and treatment site and further monitor and regulate the operational values, the system electrical power, voltage and electrical currents. In another embodiment this system is remotely controlled. A plurality of electrical outlets (7) enables power supply connections inside and outside the purification and treatment system. The system further comprises compressor air gas (8). A regular clean air enters into the compressor or the air is pre-filtered from impurities and contaminations before it enters the ionization chamber with a specific filtering system and is further compressed into the cylindrical tube ionization chamber (2) with the air compressor device (8) (filtering system not shown in the figure). The compressor pressure values range between 0.1 and 10 [bar] with a flow rate of 2-25 LPM. FIG. 3 shows one optional setup, in which the air compressor pump (8) is connected to gas flow meter devices (5) and through it to the ionization chamber with air pipes (8a, 8b), respectively. The ionization camber is connected to the external water reservoir inlet (not shown in the related figures) through air gas pipe (2a). To improve air intake into the ionization tube chamber, the compressor can be connected to an air diffuser and/or venturi air pipe line. In another embodiment, to improve air flow from the ionization chamber to the water reservoir, the air pipe (2a) is replaced with a venturi pipe line that guides it efficiently to contaminated water housing container. In another embodiment of the present invention, the radicalized air flow rate is enhanced by a secondary air compressor or vacuum pump, located at the output pipe (2a) at different positions. In such configuration, the secondary air compressor or vacuum pump, push or suck, respectively, the radicalized air toward the diffuser, which is located inside the treated water container or water reservoir. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the air compressor device is connected to the output pipe (2a) in proximity to its connection to the ionization chamber outlet. The connection is made with a T-shape air junction element. In this setup, the connection can optionally utilize a non-return air valve connected to the air compressor output and avoid any leak of radicalized air flow or leak into the compressor. The air that flows out of the compressor collides with the radicalized air and accelerates it toward the diffuser which is connected in proximity to its connection to the diffuser device. The connection is done through output pipe (2a) outlet, via a T-shape air junction element. A non-return air valve can be connected to avoid leak of radicalized air into the pump. The radicalized air is accelerated by the air pump toward output pipe outlet into the diffuser.
[0080] Furthermore, the system comprises a remote control and monitoring unit (9) that monitors and controls the system operational values versus their specified ones and can be mechanically or electronically switched between ON and OFF operating states. The monitoring unit monitors the voltage and power supply to the system and particularly voltage and power values of the UV lamp, fan, electronic flow meter and other units in the system.
[0081] FIGS. 4A-B and 5A-D show schematic design of the air ionization chamber in its assembled and unassembled state, respectively. FIG. 4A shows a top perspective view of the external housing of the air ionization chamber, where its assembled parts are shown in FIG. 5A. FIG. 4B shows a side perspective view of the chamber internal and external structural design, where the assembled parts are shown in FIG. 5B. As shown in these figures, the air ionization chamber shown in FIGS. 4A and 5A, comprises: A cylindrical housing tube/cylindrical sleeve (16). The tube/sleeve may be made of aluminium and PVC (Polyvinyl chloride which is chemically inert) coated on its internal side with TiO.sub.2 layer to avoid oxidation and damage by the flowing ambient and radicalized air; A frame/skeleton structure (13), with a cylindrical geometrical shape and symmetry. The skeleton may be made of aluminium stainless steel or any hard metal. The skeleton (13) is embedded inside the tube/sleeve housing structure (16). The frame/skeleton structure is designed with two holding elements (13a,13b) for holding the magnetic rings and an internal space for the UV light bulb/lamp (14). The skeleton may further comprise holding elements (10a,10b,10c) from top to bottom at selected distances from each other for holding ferromagnetic rings in a specific configuration (15a,15b,15c). The holding elements or seatings may be made of stainless steel and coated with titanium. The holding elements (10a, 10b, 10c) may form a single solid unit with the skeleton. The inner space in the skeleton for the UV lamp is essentially a cage formed by bars along the z-axis and around the centre of the skeleton. The space has openings in proximity to the skeleton bottom and top sides.
[0082] The magnetic field configuration comprises three sets of concentric cylindrical ferromagnetic rings (15a, 15b, 15c) arranged at selected polarity, occupying an effective small portion of the total volume of the tube chamber. The rings are positioned along the z-axis of the skeleton, particularly at top and bottoms sides and center of the tube chamber main axis, where each set comprises magnetic negative and positive poles rings (15e, 150. In one particular embodiment, the rings are arranged with the same polarity. Generally, the tube and housing are made from chemically and mechanically durable or resistant materials. The UV bulb/lamp (14) can comprise two internal lamps that radiate at two wavelength ranges of 180-195 [nm] and 240-280 [nm], and can be designed and produced in two different types and configuration of either mercury filament or LED light. Further, the lamps electrical connector configurations can include 2 or 4 pins and be located at different locations at their sides depending on the light bulb/lamp type. As shown in FIGS. 5C and 5D, each of the ferromagnetic ring seating comprises two cylindrical slots (10e,10f) configured to mechanically hold two corresponding ferromagnetic rings (15e,15f). This design yields a closely packed configuration for the ferromagnetic rings and the UV bulb/lamps (14) located along the central longitudinal axis of the air ionization chamber. The ferromagnetic rings are configured to be located close to the UV bulb/lamp radiation source surrounding it at three main locations along the central axis of the air ionization chamber, thus creating three main coupling ionization impact points between the UV radiation and the flowing ambient air. Interaction specifically impacts the paramagnetic oxygen component along the ambient air trajectory in the air ionization chamber. The external sleeve structure (16) is mechanically attached to top (11) and bottom (12) covers, disks shaped, made of aluminium or stainless steel materials and further coated by TiO.sub.2 layer. The top and bottom covers/caps are configured with one or two holes respectively. The central holes in the top (11a) and bottom (12a) covers are used as the inlet and outlet for the air flowing through ionization camber, respectively. The bottom housing cover may further be designed with a special second input hole (12b) to enable insertion of electrical wiring into and out of the air ionization chamber. In another embodiment, the internal chamber area, including the housing frame (13), holding elements and chamber cover internal side are coated with TiO.sub.2 to avoid oxidation and damage by the flowing gas inside the chamber.
[0083] To enable electrical and vacuum functionalities the inlet and outlet holes are made out of SS (Stainless Steel) resistant material. The covers are mechanically attached to aluminium/SS housing frame (13) at its top and bottom bases (17a, 17b) and external tube structure (16). The external connections of the ionization chamber are sealed with Teflon to ensure the required vacuum condition for air that flows inside the chamber. The attachment to the top and bottom bases (17a, 17b) are done with special screws, inserted into holes (17c) at the frame top and bottom sides. A plurality of adapter and fastening elements are added to the air and electrical inlets and outlets to enable insertion of electrical input and output lines without affecting internal atmospheric pressure. These elements are also used to enable removal of air from the ionization chamber through specially designed air outlets.
Example
[0084] In what follows, we have explored the ionization chamber performances and experimental properties and demonstrate its cleaning properties. To this end, we have employed two particular designs and embodiments of the present invention comprising two ionization chambers with two different volumes and lengths of 892 and 430 mm, with similar internal and external diameters of 63.4 mm and 73.15 mm.
[0085] The ferromagnetic rings made out of NdFeB (Grade N42) material coated by NiCuNi (Nickel) with a width of 3.1 mm with external diameter of 31.75 mm, internal diameter of 19.05 mm and thickness of 6.35 mm.
[0086] The UV bulbs/lamps had corresponding lengths corresponding to the ionization chamber lengths with nominal powers of 21 and 39 watts, respectively.
[0087] To demonstrate the ionization chamber cleaning properties, it was connected to a water reservoir with volume of 1000 litters. For experimental purposes, the ionization chamber with the smaller/higher volume was connected to a small container with volume of 4 litters. The UV radiation lamp was identical in all experiments and demonstrations. The internal and external pipe diameters at the input and the output of the ionization chamber were 10 mm.
[0088] FIGS. 6A-E show perspective side view images of different configurations of the magnetic rings inside the ionization chamber. The magnetic rings are carried by holding elements (10) of the skeleton inside the ionization chamber. As shown in FIG. 4B, the magnetic rings are symmetrically aligned relative to the main longitudinal central axis of the holding element (10) around the UV bulb (14) and the main central axis of the ionization cylindrical chamber. FIG. 6A shows a perspective side view image of the anti-symmetric magnetic field configuration comprising two magnetic sites located at two sides of the carrier holding device (10) inside the ionization chamber. In this configuration, each of the magnetic site comprises two magnetic rings (15e, 150. The ring polarity is marked as (SN, S=South, N=North), where each ring is positioned in opposite magnetic polarization with its norths pole at its proximal side and South Pole at its distal side, i.e. (SN) (NS). This configuration is marked as the reference configuration in one preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6B shows a perspective side view image of the magnetic field configuration comprising ionization chamber with no magnetic fields. FIG. 6C shows the symmetric configuration of the magnetic field in another embodiment of the present invention. The related configuration comprises two magnetic sites, which are located at two sites of the holding element (10) inside the ionization chamber. Each magnetic site comprises two magnetic rings (15e, 150. The magnetic rings in each site in this configuration are positioned in the same magnetic polarization direction, which is directed from ionization chamber inlet to its outlet from north to south poles, respectively, i.e. (NS) (NS). FIG. 6D shows another optional anti-symmetric magnetic field configuration comprising magnetic rings in another embodiment of the present invention. This configuration comprises two magnetic sites located at the two sides of the holding element (10) and ionization chamber. Each site comprises two magnetic rings (15e, 150, which are positioned in opposite magnetic polarization with their south magnetic pole at their proximal sides and north magnetic pole at their distal sides, (NS) (SN). FIG. 6E shows the anti-symmetric magnetic field configuration comprising magnetic rings in another preferred embodiment of the present invention. The configuration comprises three magnetic sites located along the central axis and at two sides of the holding element (10), as shown in FIG. 4E. In this configuration, each magnetic site comprises two magnetic rings (15e, 150, which are positioned in an opposite magnetic polarization with their norths magnetic pole at their proximal side and south magnetic poles at their distal sides, i.e., (SN) (NS) three magnetic sites.
[0089] In this measurement, the dissolved DPD at certain density of radicles results in a certain colour and related colour intensity. Experiments performed for ionization chamber with magnetic rings in anti-symmetric reference configuration, shown in FIG. 6A, and on ionization chamber without magnetic field shown in FIG. 6A. Experiments conducted by a chemical DPD gauge showed inside small water which has been attached to ionization chamber.
[0090] FIG. 7A shows top view images of a DPD gauge crucible filled with coloured water which indicates presence of some oxygen radical concentration. The DPD gauge is filled with water and dissolved DPD material and a certain amount of oxygen radicles, which results in a certain colour intensity. The experimental results for the ionization chamber setup, presented in FIGS. 1-5, reflect experiments done with a small partially closed small size water container with veturi pump and a diffuser at its outlet. The container internal volume was 4 litters which and filled to almost full capacity with a 3.7 litters of water. The experiments were conducted for different air compression flow values of F=4-14 litter/min. Furthermore, the experimental results shown in the related table were performed for ionization chamber with magnetic rings in the anti-symmetric reference configuration, (SN) (NS), with two magnetic sites, shown in FIG. 6A, and ionization chamber without magnetic field, as shown in FIG. 6B. The experimental results were arranged in a table according to oxygen gas radical flow value and specific configuration inside the ionization chamber. The ionization chamber (2) was turned to ON state to generate the oxygenated gas radicals, which flew into the water container trough venturi pump (2a) and a diffuser. The water container reaches a steady state after time, T0. After the water container reaches a steady state, a chemical DPD measurement is performed. The DPD chemical measurements are performed by inserting the DPD gauge into the water container in a connected vessel configuration. A DPD pill is then inserted into the DPD gauge, quickly dissolved inside the DPD gauge water and performs a chemical reaction with the radicals that enter the gauge top side from the water container. The chemical interaction modifies the colour of the water in the attached test water container. At the end of the chemical reaction between the oxygen radicles and DPD in the water container, the color of the radicalized water is modified from a transparent water regular color to a dark pink color, depending on the radicals concentration inside the gauge device.
[0091] The values of the corresponding intensity are evaluated by using the DPD color intensity table shown in FIG. 7B. The specific DPD color-intensity scale is calibrated for ionized chlorine. However, preliminary experiments establish that it is interacts with oxygen radicals and hydrogen peroxide. To use this table experimentally without performing an accurate modelling of the chemical reaction between the radicals and the DPD, we have performed preliminary experiments. In these experiments, we have tested the ionization chamber without magnetic field with and without a UV bulb at different compression flows. In the experiments without an active UV bulb, we found that water color in the container was transparent as the regular water color. In further experiments, we turned the UV bulb on, and set the compression flow to a value of F=4 litter/min. At steady state, we noticed color change that suggested a certain concentration of radicals, see FIG. 7A table, second column at top side. By increasing the magnitude values of the compression flow in the range of 4-14 litter/min the color intensity is linearly increased, suggesting higher concentration of free radicals and H.sub.2O.sub.2 in the water, see FIG. 7A, second column and FIG. 8A. This clearly indicates linear correlation trend between the compression flow magnitude and variation in the intensity of the measured color of the water, shown in FIG. 8A, for ionization chamber in a configuration without magnetic field. This proves a linear correlation to the radicals concentration which is theoretically expected to be proportional to the compression flow magnitude assuming first order reaction of the radicals with DPD in the water. Asa result, we have shown that we can use DPD color intensity table to evaluate the relative level of the radicals concentration at different compression flow values and with different configurations. This is, however without exact quantification of these concentration values. Hence, we have modified the units of the intensity scale from [mg/min] to arbitrary unit ones marked as [AU].
[0092] Without limiting the invention to the following theoretical discussion, these experiments show that radicalized/excited oxygen gas exits through the ionization chamber outlet assisted by venturi pipe (2a) and diffuser (not shown) into the water container. This results in several reactant/product phases comprising: i. A main component of free radicals encapsulated inside air bubbles containing various oxygenated allotropic oxygen radicals; ii. H.sub.2O.sub.2, Hydrogen Peroxide, produced upon chemical reaction between the oxygenated radicalized gas and the water in the container. iii. Short life-time free radicals that do not chemically react with water. There might be other types chemical reactants/products which flow out of the ionization chamber into the water container.
[0093] Experiments were performed with ionization chamber connected to a small water container, using the DPD experimental gauge setup shown in FIG. 6, for ionization chamber with magnetic rings in anti-symmetric reference configuration, shown in FIG. 6A, and for ionization chamber without magnetic field shown in FIG. 6B.
[0094] Without limiting the invention to the following experimental discussion, it has been noticed and hence it is assumed that the main reactants that participate in the cleaning processing of the contaminated water and further chemically interact with DPD are components i and ii. Furthermore, we found reacting/product component i (free radicals which are encapsulated inside air bubbles) to be the most reactive. The main phase of the radicals are bubbles that diffuse into water in the container, flow up into the air-water interface due to buoyancy forces, thereby creating arrays of bubbles along that interface. In the practical cleaning mode with the ionization chamber, the bubbles that flow through the water reservoir serve as agents that deliver the radicals to direct interaction with the various contaminations which flow inside the treated water. The bubbles, which do not interact with contaminations, flow up and float at the air-water interface as a result of buoyancy forces. Due to various physical reasons, the partial percentage of the floating bubbles that do not react with contaminations have an average finite life time which results in their explosion into the surrounding air and/or into the treated water. Another component of bubbles that dissolves in the water releases the encapsulated free radicals into the treated water. These mechanisms produce secondary reduction mechanism with liquid hydrogen peroxide.
[0095] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the water reservoir is fully or at least partially closed. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the water reservoir is subjected to a high intrinsic internal pressure along the air-water interface as a result of the ejected gas phase of the radicalized/excited gas. This is also in accordance with Henry's Law regarding equilibrium between liquid and gas phase concentrations of any particular species. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the atmospheric pressure is enhanced by an external pressure applied to the water reservoir. In both previous embodiments, there is enhanced interaction of the oxygen gas radicals that flow above the water with water in the reservoir, which results in another generation mechanism of H.sub.2O.sub.2 liquid which further cleans the contaminated water. All said reactants comprising free radicals inside the bubbles and H.sub.2O.sub.2 react with the dissolved DPD, thereby modifying the water color in the water container.
[0096] It is clear from the experimental results that in all experiments the water color is modified to a darker intensity color, suggesting radicals concentration in a certain percentage in the water container. Furthermore, in the reference anti-symmetric magnetic configuration, the color is darker for each compressed gas flow level. This is particularly relevant relative to the configuration without magnetic field. The experimental results show that the darkest color is achieved for the anti-symmetric magnetic configuration, shown in FIG. 6A, for compression flow of F=4 litter/min. The less darker color is achieved at such compression flow with the configuration of the ionization chamber without magnetic field, shown in FIG. 6B. This clearly indicates that the highest contrast and hence ionization chamber performance are achieved at compression flow of F=4 litter/min A quantification of the experimental results was done by converting the modified color intensities into values of arbitrary units using the intensity table shown in FIG. 7B, where the experimental values are presented in FIG. 8A.
[0097] FIGS. 8A-B show the full DPD experimental results demonstrated in FIG. 7. The experimental results performed for different air compression flows in the ionization chamber presented in FIGS. 1-5, with the anti-symmetric magnetic configuration, are shown in FIG. 6A, and ionization chamber without magnetic field, shown in FIG. 6B. In both configurations, the ionization chamber is attached to a small water container. FIG. 8A shows the radical concentration, n, at different compression flow values. FIG. 8B shows the steady state time stabilization, T0, of the system. Experiments were performed inside a small water container, using the DPD experimental gauge device, shown in FIG. 7A. Experiments were performed for ionization chamber with magnetic rings in anti-symmetric reference configuration, shown in FIG. 6A, and for the ionization chamber without magnetic field shown in FIG. 6B. For the configuration of ionization without magnetic field, the concentration grows linearly with the measured increase of compression flow values, as demonstrated by the liner fit grow trend in FIG. 8A. The steady state time sharply decreases with the measured increased compression flow, as shown in FIG. 8B. These results were expected for the cylindrical ionization chamber which was geometrically designed to effectively operate at high compression flows such as the ones tested in the corresponding experiments. For the ionization chamber with the anti-symmetric magnetic field configuration, the maximum results were achieved for compression flow values of F=4 litter/min, and degraded linearly with compression flow as predicted by the linear fit drop trend, shown in FIG. 8B. From both FIGS. 8A-B graphs, it is clear that a highest dynamic response with the lowest stabilization time, T0, with maximum concentration of radicals, n, were achieved for ionization with the anti-symmetric magnetic field at compression flow of F=4 litter/min. Particularly, in that configuration and compression flow, the stabilization time, T0.sub.m, is almost a of the corresponding stabilization time without magnetic field, T0.sub.0, where the radicals concentration is between 8-9 time greater, i.e. T0.sub.mT0.sub.0/3 where n.sub.mn.sub.0/9. The radicals concentration trend versus the air gas compression flow is shown in FIG. 9.
[0098] In further experiments, we compared the dynamic performances of the ionization chamber for different configurations of magnetic rings, as presented in FIGS. 6 A, C-E. These configurations represent some exemplary optional embodiments of the ionization chamber system. Experiments were performed at compression rate, F, of 4-14 litter/min. The magnetic field configurations in FIGS. 6 A, C-D, comprise two magnetic sites located around the cylindrical ionization chamber main longitudinal axis, close to its bottom and top ends and adjacent to its air inlet and outlet, respectively. The magnetic field configuration in FIG. 6E comprises three magnetic sites, with one site additional to the two previous magnetic sites, which is located at the center of the cylindrical ionization chamber. We measured the stabilization time, T0, for each configuration which correlates with the ionization chamber dynamic response. The experimental results for the anti-symmetric configurations, presented in FIG. 6A and FIGS. 6D-E, show improvement pronounced in a lower stabilization time over all the measured compression rate of 4-14 litter/min, with respect to the symmetric configuration in FIG. 6C. We attribute this improvement to the higher magnetic fluxes generally generated by anti-symmetric magnetic field configurations, in which each pair of magnetic rings, in all magnetic sites, is positioned in opposite magnetic polarities, with an identical magnetic orientation inside a certain magnetic configuration.
[0099] FIG. 9 shows a graph of the normalized radicals concentration measurement results performed at steady state in different compression flow values. Measurements were performed for ionization chamber with magnetic rings in anti-symmetric reference configuration, shown in FIG. 6A, and were normalized to ionization chamber with no magnetic field, shown in FIG. 6B. From the graph results, which is also shown the previous graph, it is clear that the optimum of the normalized concentration trend reaches a maximum of n.sub.m8-9n.sub.0 times the corresponding concentration of the chamber without magnetic field, n.sub.0, at compression flow of F=4 litter/min and drop sharply to a factor of n.sub.m2n.sub.0. This result suggests that in the current magnetic anti-symmetric configuration, the magnetic field is highly effective around air compression value of F=4 litter/min and drops its efficiency with the increase compression magnitude values. To characterize well the dynamic response of the tested ionization chamber in the current preferred embodiment of the present invention, we have plotted the normalized measured DPD concentration values versus parameter, x, in FIG. 10, which is equal to the compression air flow by the stabilization time T0, i.e., x=F*T0. The unit of this parameter is [Litter] and measures the amount of air which is required to be compressed in order to reach a steady state with a certain concentration. This parameter is characteristic of the ionization chamber dynamic efficiency. We note that measurements performed for ionization chamber with magnetic rings in anti-symmetric reference configuration, shown in FIG. 6A, and were normalized to ionization chamber with no magnetic field, shown in FIG. 6B.
[0100] FIG. 10 shows graphs of the radicals concentration experimental results versus compression air flow multiplied by the stabilization time T0 for different compression flow, F. Measurements were performed for ionization chamber with magnetic rings in anti-symmetric reference configuration, shown in FIG. 6A and ionization chamber configuration without magnetic field, shown in FIG. 6B. From these results it appears that for ionization chamber with magnetic rings in an anti-symmetric reference configuration, the ionization chamber dynamic efficiency for x.sub.m=60 litter at F=4 litter/min, is 3 times higher with respect to same parameter ionization chamber configuration without magnetic field with corresponding value of x.sub.0=170 litter. The concentration of the reference anti-symmetric configuration is n.sub.m8-9 times higher than that of the chamber without magnetic field. We found that this ionization camber has a superior dynamic efficiency, x, at compression flow values between F=4-10 litter/min, and a superior concentration of radicals, n, between F=4-14 litter/min. The graphs of the concentration of radicals n.sub.0, and of stabilization time, T0, versus the compression flow versus the dynamic efficiency parameter, x=F*TO shown in FIGS. 8A-B and FIG. 10, are considered as most important characteristics of the ionization chamber. We use these results as benchmark trends for ionization chamber optimization without the magnetic field combined with high or low compression flows as required by the ionization chamber.
[0101] The previous experiments were performed for a small container with a size of 4 litter. Hence we aim at achieving a parameter value that does not depend on the container volume and diameter and generates an accurate characteristic of the ionization chamber. Accordingly, we have modelled an approximated equation for the average radicals flux density, .
(.sub.m/.sub.0)(n.sub.m/n.sub.0)*(T0.sub.0/T0.sub.m),1.1
where the radicals flux with and without a magnetic field is linearly modelled as a multiplication of the radical density fluxes, .sub.m, .sub.0,
with the corresponding stabilization times, Tm.sub.0, T0.sub.0, as follows:
n.sub.m.sub.m*Tm.sub.0/V, and n.sub.0.sub.0*T0.sub.0/V,1.2
where V is the container volume, N.sub.m, n.sub.m and N.sub.0, n.sub.0 are the total number of radicals and their related concentrations, with and without magnetic fields, which are also related as follows: n.sub.m=N.sub.m/V, n.sub.0=N.sub.0/V. FIG. 11 shows a graph of the normalized calculated average radicals flux density for different compression flow values. Measurements were performed for ionization chamber with magnetic rings in anti-symmetric reference configuration, shown in FIG. 6A, and normalized to ionization chamber with no magnetic field, shown in FIG. 6B. The results were normalized to calculated average radicals flux density and reached a maximum flux density of, .sub.m25.sub.0, times the corresponding concentration of the chamber without magnetic field, .sub.0, at compression flow of F=4 litter/min. Flux density drops sharply to a factor of .sub.m2.sub.0. The value predicted by this model is significantly higher than the measured one as shown for radicals concentration presented in the graph in FIG. 8A. Despite the fact that the linear approximation is not accurate, it gives some approximation for the actual contribution and impact of the magnetic field on enhancement of the ionization process, calculated for the anti-symmetric configuration in FIG. 6A, and with respect to the configuration with no magnetic field shown in FIG. 6B.
