PULSED ELECTRIC FIELD CHAMBER

Abstract

The present invention describes a PEF (pulsed electric field) chamber 1 intended for treating a flow with electric field pulses, said PEF chamber comprising a PEF treatment tube 2 and opposite electrode units 3, 4, wherein said opposite electrode units 3, 4 each has one flow receiving end 5a, 5b and one flow exit end 6a, 6b, wherein the PEF treatment tube 2 comprises exit flow portions 7a, 7b arranged subsequent to the flow exit ends 6a, 6b of the electrode units 3, 4 in the intended flow direction, and thus functioning as an extension of the opposite electrode units 3, 4 in the intended flow direction, wherein the exit flow portions 7a, 7b of the PEF treatment tube 2 are arranged to provide a geometrical narrowing 20 subsequent to the flow exit ends 6a, 6b.

Claims

1. PEF (pulsed electric field) chamber intended for treating a flow with electric field pulses, said PEF chamber comprising a PEF treatment tube and opposite electrode units characterized in that said opposite electrode units each has one flow receiving end and one flow exit end, wherein the PEF treatment tube comprises exit flow portions arranged subsequent to the flow exit ends of the electrode units in the intended flow direction, and thus functioning as an extension of the opposite electrode units in the intended flow direction, wherein the exit flow portions of the PEF treatment tube are arranged to provide a geometrical narrowing subsequent to the flow exit ends.

2. PEF chamber according to claim 1, wherein the flow receiving ends are rounded in an intended flow direction into the PEF treatment tube.

3. PEF chamber according to claim 1, wherein the exit flow portions are rounded in an intended flow direction.

4. PEF chamber according to claim 1, wherein each electrode unit is insertable into matching grooves of the PEF treatment tube of the PEF chamber.

5. PEF chamber according to claim 1, wherein the electrode units are arranged in the PEF treatment tube to provide a first geometrical narrowing at the flow receiving ends.

6. PEF chamber according to claim 5, wherein the exit flow portions of the PEF treatment tube are arranged to provide a second geometrical narrowing subsequent to the flow exit ends.

7. PEF chamber according to claim 1, wherein the opposite electrode units are longitudinal.

8. PEF chamber according to claim 1, wherein a relationship of a gap distance (GE) between the opposite electrode units in the PEF chamber to a length (LE) of each electrode unit has a LE/GE ratio of at least 3, preferably at least 6, more preferably at least 8, most preferably at least 10.

9. PEF chamber according to claim 1, wherein a length (LE) of each electrode unit is at least 30 mm, preferably in a range of 30-600 mm, more preferably in a range of 30-300 mm, more preferably in a range of 30-200 mm, and wherein a gap distance (GE) between the opposite electrode units in the PEF chamber is at least 3 mm, preferably in a range of 3-45 mm.

10. PEF chamber according to claim 1, wherein a width (WE) of each electrode unit is at least 3 mm, preferably in the range of 3-45 mm.

11. PEF chamber according to claim 1, wherein a relationship of a gap distance (GE) between the opposite electrode units in the PEF chamber, a length (LE) of each electrode unit and a width (WE) of each electrode unit in the form of GE:WE:LE is in a ratio of from 3:3:20 mm to 45:40:200 mm.

12. PEF chamber according to claim 5, wherein the first geometrical narrowing is arranged as a gap distance (GE) between the opposite electrode units, which (GE) is in the range of 40-80%, preferably in the range of 45-64%, of a first tube distance arranged before the opposite electrode units in the intended flow direction.

13. PEF chamber according to claim 6, wherein the second geometrical narrowing is arranged with a second tube distance which is in the range of 65-95%, preferably in the range of 70-80%, of a gap distance (GE) between the opposite electrode units.

14. PEF chamber according to claim 1, wherein the flow receiving ends are rounded with a radius to form an angle between a material arranged before the opposite electrode units and the actual opposite electrode units in a range of 70-110 degrees.

15. PEF chamber according to claim 1, wherein the exit flow portions are rounded with a radius to form an angle between the flow exit ends of the electrode units and the actual exit flow portions in a range of 70-110 degrees.

16. PEF chamber according to claim 1, wherein the PEF treatment tube comprises a turbulence unit, preferably a helix unit, arranged before the flow receiving ends of the electrode units.

17. PEF chamber according to claim 1, wherein there is one or more wings arranged on one or both chamber walls beside the opposite electrode units.

18. PEF chamber according to claim 1, wherein a splitter is arranged at the end of a treatment volume of the PEF treatment tube.

19. A method for treating a continuous flow, said method involving using a PEF chamber according to claim 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] In FIG. 1 there is shown a PEF chamber 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The PEF chamber 1 comprises a PEF treatment tube 2 and opposite electrode units 3, 4 which are insertable into the PEF chamber 1. In this case it may be noted that the electrode units 3, 4 are attachable and detachable by arranged screws.

[0039] Furthermore, the opposite electrode units 3, 4 each has one flow receiving end 5a, 5b and one flow exit end 6a, 6b. As notable, in this case it is intended that the flow to be treated is pumped into the bottom and up through the PEF chamber 1 and PEF treatment tube 2. Moreover, as may be seen the flow receiving ends 5a, 5b are rounded or bent in an intended flow direction into the PEF treatment tube 2. Furthermore, also the width of the electrode units (WE) is depicted in this embodiment.

[0040] In FIG. 2 there is shown a similar embodiment as shown in FIG. 1. In this case it is also shown that the PEF treatment tube 2 comprises exit flow portions 7a, 7b arranged subsequent to the flow exit ends 6a, 6b of the electrode units 3, 4 in the intended flow direction. These exit flow portions 7a, 7b are part of the isolating material arranged subsequent to the electrode units 3, 4, thus functioning as extensions of the opposite electrode units 3, 4 in the intended flow direction. Moreover, also these exit flow portions 7a, 7b are rounded or bent in an intended flow direction.

[0041] Furthermore, as seen in this embodiment, the electrode units 3, 4 are arranged in the PEF treatment tube 2 to provide a first geometrical narrowing 10 at the flow receiving ends 5a, 5b. Moreover, the exit flow portions 7a, 7b of the PEF treatment tube 2 are also arranged to provide a second geometrical narrowing 20 subsequent to the flow exit ends 6a, 6b. This implies that two geometrical narrowings are provided along the flow path from, in this case, lower inflow side to the upper outflow side.

[0042] In FIG. 3 there is shown the embodiment as shown in FIG. 2, however here both electrode units 3, 4 are put in in place into the PEF chamber.

[0043] In FIG. 4 there is also shown an embodiment in line with the ones shown in FIGS. 1-3. In this case, a gap distance GE between the opposite electrode units 3, 4 in the PEF chamber and the length LE of the electrodes are also depicted. Moreover, also a first tube distance 11 arranged before the opposite electrode units 3, 4 in the intended flow direction is also depicted. Furthermore, and in line with this, a second tube distance 21, which is the tube diameter subsequent to the electrodes, is also shown in FIG. 4.