Method for Energy Coupling Especially Useful for Disinfecting, and Various Systems Using It

Abstract

Method and system are disclosed for coupling energy from at least on energy source, e.g. UV light source, ultrasonic transducer, or combination thereof, to a target site, e.g. hazardous bacteria, through a streaming liquid, e.g. water. The bacteria toward which energy is to be coupled could be present in the water stream itself and / or on a surface toward which the water stream is to be launched at the end of its flow. Accordingly, in-line aseptic filling is provided, which can fill and simultaneously disinfect a container. According to another embodiment where the water is used for washing, in-line aseptic washing device is provided. A variety of other embodiments is disclosed as well.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to the field of acoustic energy coupling. It is further relates to the field of light radiation coupling. More specifically it relates to coupling said energies via liquid medium.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Acoustic energy is used in the various fields of medicine (e.g. ultrasound imaging devices, kidney stone disintegration devices), industry (e.g. plastic soldering, paint peeling), lifestyle and health (e.g. swimming pool algae prevention, air humidifying) and furthermore.[0003]A first aim of the present invention is to expand the range of industrial applications where a sonic energy may be effectively utilized, to fields that currently do not utilize this type of energy. This will be accomplished hereinafter either by disclosing a pioneering innovative medium for sonic energy administration, further, by disclosing an extraordinary synergism effect between the acoustic energy thus administrated and between other energy...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0022]The reason why sonic wave remains locked within non-piped liquid jet is that differently than light energy that only passes through the medium (with the energy accumulated in its futons), sonic energy in liquid is a kinetic energy of the liquid molecules themselves (that move and vibrate in waves). Due to the extremely high density of liquid comparing to the density of air, there will be a negligible loss of kinetic energy from a non-piped liquid jet to the surrounding air. Therefore, in spite of the negatively directed refractive index between liquid and air, a sonic wave guided through non-piped liquid stream would reach a remote destination with a negligible energy lose.

[0056]However, because ultrasonic energy at its actual past and today's generating abilities may be used (at reasonable basic costs and at economical maintenance expenses) only for treating small liquid volumes, there was no massive industrial demand nor mass production use of said phenomenal synergistic effect, up to date. The pioneering concept according to the present invention according which these two energy types are integrated into one system, while relatively small volume of liquid is treated per time unit, and while said volume is being laid along a directional path, opens new horizons in the field of disinfecting in particular, and in the field of beverage and food industry in general. Since the streaming liquid is laid along a directional path, and since all particles or microorganisms subject to the treatment moves on along said path in a substantially known advancing velocity resulting from the predetermined liquid flow rate, their exposure time to the energies is a direct function of the path length. Hence, having a given energies, and having a production line demanding a pre specified liquid flow rate, the path length for obtaining a guaranteed disinfecting (or other required process) may be easily calculated.

Problems solved by technology

This is another example of coupling between an ultrasonic energy source and a surface to be treated, wherein the coupling is made through air, resulting in a vast lose of sonic energy to the surrounding.

Unfortunately, strict limitation hindering geometrical utilization have prevented engineers, scientists, and manufacturers, from further developing multidisciplinary technology platform involving UV and ultrasonic energies simultaneously.

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