COMPACT SYSTEM FOR PULSE ELECTRIC FIELDS IN TREATMENT CELL

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a compact system for generating pulsed electric fields between electrodes in a treatment cell in order to subject a medium, liquid or solid, preferably aqueous, to pulsed electric fields.

[0002] The compact system has the advantage that it is possible to easily change the treatment cell, which contains the electrodes, and that during the changeover, electrical lines that conduct electrical impulses are also reliably connected to the electrodes. State of the art

[0003] DE 10 2009 034 707 B4 describes a method for treating liquid media with pulsed electric fields, consisting of two electrodes arranged at a distance from each other in an electrically non-conductive housing, one of which forms a conductor for supplying the medium between the electrodes.

[0004] Huang and Wang, Journal of Food Engineering 95 (2009) 227-239 shows a flow cell in a housing which can be subjected to electrical voltage.

[0005] WO 2018 / 138361 A1 describes a conveyor belt with two electrodes positioned laterally above the conveyor belt, which can be connected to a power supply by means of solid busbars.

[0006] US Patent 5,549,041 describes a PEF device with a container to be attached to the frame, the walls of which form electrodes that are pressed against cross-sectional openings of a chamber by spring force.

[0007] Maghadam et al., Organic Process R & D, 2001 describes a microreactor system for chemical syntheses in which a reaction chamber is embedded in a stack of plates that can be interchangeably inserted into a sealable chamber.

[0008] US patent 2008 / 0063579 A1 describes a device for keeping food fresh by applying an electric field to the food, wherein the electric field is generated by flexible electrodes.

[0009] US 2004 / 0037736 A1 describes a device and method for sterilizing medical devices in a chamber by double plasma discharge. Object of the invention

[0010] The invention aims to provide a compact system for treating media with pulsed electric fields, which allows for easy replacement of the treatment cell containing the electrodes. Preferably, the system should allow the electrical connection of the electrodes to a generator capable of producing electrical pulses without requiring an electrician to install electrical wiring. Description of the invention

[0011] The invention solves the problem with the features of the claims and in particular with a device that forms a compact system. The device has a chamber in a housing that can be closed by a flap, one wall of which has at least one first guide element, preferably two first guide elements, and at least one first fixing element, as well as two spaced-apart first contact elements that are firmly connected to electrical terminals of a generator by means of electrical conductors.

[0012] Furthermore, the device comprises at least one support, preferably at least two supports, which may, for example, be plate-shaped and is also referred to as a support plate. The support comprises at least one second guide element, preferably two second guide elements, which engage with the first guide elements when the support is positioned against the wall and align the support in a predetermined position relative to the wall. The support comprises at least one second fixing element, which, when the first and second guide elements engage, is aligned appropriately with the at least one first fixing element, so that the first and second fixing elements are aligned appropriately with each other when the first and second guide elements engage and can be fastened together.

[0013] Optionally, the first guide elements and first fixing elements can each be formed by a single component, and the second guide elements and second fixing elements can each be formed by a single, shared component. Preferably, the first guide elements and the first fixing elements are each formed by separate components that are fixed to the wall, and the second guide elements and the second fixing elements are each formed by separate components that are arranged on the support, either fixed or movable.

[0014] Preferably, the first guide elements project beyond the wall, and the second guide elements are recesses in or on the beam that are movable over the first guide elements. For example, the first guide elements can be bolts projecting beyond the wall, and the second guide elements can be recesses in the beam that are either completely closed or open towards the edge of the beam and can be lifted and / or slid over the bolts.

[0015] The first fixing elements can be internal threads attached to the wall, and the second fixing elements can be screws that are rotatably guided on the support.

[0016] In an embodiment in which the first guide elements and first fixing elements are formed by one component, such a first component can be formed by a threaded bolt that projects beyond the wall, and the second guide elements can be recesses formed in the support to match the threaded bolts, and the second fixing elements can be nuts that can be screwed over the threaded bolts.

[0017] The first guide elements and first fixing elements arranged in the wall, and the second guide elements and second fixing elements arranged to fit in or on the support, have the advantage that a support can be easily arranged and fastened to the wall in a predetermined configuration.

[0018] The support has at least two secondary contact elements arranged to correspond to the first contact elements when the guide elements are engaged and the support is positioned against the wall. The first contact elements preferably extend exclusively behind the first surface of the wall facing the chamber, or the first contact elements are preferably arranged exclusively behind the first surface of the wall facing the chamber, so that the first contact elements preferably do not project beyond the first surface of the wall facing the chamber.

[0019] The second contact elements are fixed to the support in positions that are aligned with the first contact elements and engage with them when the support is positioned against the wall with the first and second guide elements engaging. The second contact elements project beyond the second surface of the support, which faces the wall when the support is positioned against it.

[0020] A treatment cell for the medium is attached to the first surface of the carrier. This cell has at least two electrodes, either insulated or electrically conductive, each forming part of the treatment cell. These electrodes transmit electrical impulses to the medium or generate pulsed electric fields within the medium. The electrodes are connected to the second contact elements by conductors. Preferably, the carrier consists of insulating material, e.g., non-conductive plastic, at least in the area where the conductors are arranged between the second contact elements and the electrodes, and in the area where the electrodes of the treatment cell are arranged. More preferably, the carrier consists entirely of insulating material.

[0021] Preferably, the wall, or more preferably all walls, that delimit the chamber are made of insulating material. Preferably, the flap is made of transparent insulating material, e.g., glass or plastic, e.g., polycarbonate or polyacrylate. The flap can be hinged or slidably guided on the housing and can be of one piece or multiple pieces.

[0022] When the first and second guide elements are arranged together, electrical connections are established from the generator terminals to the electrodes by aligning the second contact elements with and engaging them. Since the electrical connections from the electrodes to the second contact elements and from the first contact elements to the generator terminals are fixed, the device is designed to electrically connect the electrodes of the treatment cell to the generator solely through the connection or engagement of the first and second contact elements. No manipulation of the connections themselves is required.Therefore, the first contact elements and the second contact elements form the only separable connection in the electrical leads between the electrodes and the generator, while electrical leads permanently connect the electrodes and the second contact elements, and electrical leads permanently connect the first contact elements to the generator terminals. These permanent connections can be made by permanently attaching the leads to the electrodes and the second contact elements, for example, by means of shear bolts or by welding or soldering, with one end connected to the electrodes and the other end to the second contact elements. Optionally, the leads between the first contact elements and the generator are also permanently connected at one end to the first contact elements and at the other end to the generator terminals. The generator is preferably a high-voltage pulse generator.The connected lines can, for example, be hardwired.

[0023] The arrangement of the first contact elements according to the invention behind the first surface of the wall facing the chamber prevents unintentional contact of the first contact elements.

[0024] Optionally, two or more electrodes of the same polarity can be attached to or inside the treatment cell, and the electrodes of the same polarity can be connected to the same second contact element by means of a common conductor or several individual conductors.

[0025] Preferably, the device is combined with at least one additional support, or the device has at least two supports whose second fixing elements, second guide elements, and second contact elements have the same arrangement. The at least two supports can be alternately arranged on the wall by means of the guide elements and fixing elements, the guide elements aligning the second contact elements with the first contact elements. Similarly, the device is preferably combined with at least two supports whose second fixing elements, second guide elements, and second contact elements have the same arrangement, so that they are aligned with the first fixing elements, first guide elements, and first contact elements.

[0026] In a carrier, preferably in at least two carriers, each carrier can, for example, have a self-contained treatment cell for the batch electrical application of a medium contained in the treatment cell, or a treatment cell with an inlet and an outlet for medium for the electrical application of the medium while the treatment cell is being flushed with medium.

[0027] Optionally, the flap has recesses through which at least one first line for supplying medium to the treatment cell, and preferably at least one second line for removing medium from the treatment cell, can be arranged.

[0028] Preferably, a safety switch is installed between the flap and the housing, which is configured to connect the generator to a power supply only when the flap above the chamber is closed, and / or to disconnect the generator from a power supply when the flap is open.

[0029] A generator can be arranged in a separate generator housing, which is connected to the main housing, for example, at adjacent outer housing walls. Preferably, the generator is arranged within the same housing as the chamber. This embodiment has the advantage that the generator and the electrical leads connecting the generator terminals to the electrodes run entirely within a common housing. Preferably, the housing includes a control unit for the generator, for example, for adjusting parameters of the electrical pulses.

[0030] The electrical lines from the generator terminals to the first contact elements and / or the electrical lines from the second contact elements to the treatment cell electrodes can be single-core or solid conductors, each optionally with external shielding.

[0031] The treatment cell preferably includes sensors that can be connected to it directly or optionally via lines for the medium. Preferably, the sensors comprise at least one temperature sensor, at least one pressure sensor, and / or at least one conductivity sensor, each in contact with the interior of the treatment cell. The housing includes measuring electronics configured to receive and evaluate sensor signals. The measuring electronics are contained within the housing and preferably include a display accessible from the housing. The display can be in the form of a transmitter configured to send sensor signals from the housing, e.g., in the form of radio signals. Such sensor signals, e.g., transmitted in the form of radio signals, can be received, for example, by a dedicated receiver, which may be located away from the housing.

[0032] Optionally, the measuring electronics are connected to the control system for the generator, and the control system is configured to regulate the generator depending on signals from the measuring electronics.

[0033] Preferably, each carrier has an optical identifier, e.g., a barcode, on its first or second surface, and an optical detector is arranged on or in the chamber, e.g., on or in the wall against which the carrier is positioned, in a position such that the optical identifier is aligned with the guide elements of the carrier and wall when engaged, or optionally when the first and second fixing elements are fixed to one another. The optical detector is preferably configured to transmit signals, received by the detector based on the optical identifier, to the generator. In this embodiment, it is preferred that the optical identifier is specific to the electrodes and / or to the type of treatment cell, e.g., a closed treatment cell or one with a supply line and / or discharge line for medium from the treatment cell, so that the signal received by the detector serves to identify the treatment cell.Optionally, the device is set up to transmit the signal to the generator for identification of the carrier, and the device is set up to control the generator depending on the signal, e.g. specifying maximum values ​​for parameters of the electrical impulses.

[0034] It has been shown that an optical identifier on the carrier and an optical detector, e.g., on or in the wall of the chamber, offer the advantage that the carrier can be identified without interference from electric fields and is therefore operationally reliable. An optical detector can be an array of photosensors or an optical camera.

[0035] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the figures shown in Fig. 1 an overall view of one embodiment of the device, Fig. 2 Sectionally, an embodiment of the device in top view, Fig. 3 the embodiment of Fig. 1in lateral sectional view, Fig. 4 Sectionally, another embodiment of the device is shown in overhead view. Fig. 5 the embodiment of Fig. 3 in lateral section view and in Fig. 6 an embodiment of the first and second contact elements show.

[0036] In the figures, identical reference numbers denote functionally equivalent elements.

[0037] The Fig. 1Figure 1 shows a housing 1 according to the preferred embodiment, in which both a generator for generating electrical pulses and a chamber 2 are integrated. The chamber 2 can be closed by a flap 3 pivotally mounted on the housing 1. A safety switch 5 is mounted on the housing 1 in the area of ​​the frame 4 on which the flap 3 rests in the closed position. This safety switch 5 is activated by its counterpart 6 on the flap 3. When the flap 3 is closed, the safety switch 5 generates a signal that allows the generator to be connected to its power supply. When the flap 3 is open, the safety switch 5 disconnects the generator from its power supply. In the embodiment shown here, the housing 1 has a display 7, which shows, for example, parameters of the electrical pulses generated by the generator and optionally parameters recorded by sensors, as well as actuating switches 8 for the generator.The rear wall 10 of chamber 2 is prepared to receive a support 20 and has two first guide elements 12 in the form of bolts that project beyond the wall 10. Separately from the first guide elements, first fixing elements 13 in the form of threaded bores are provided in the wall 10. Furthermore, two first contact elements 14 are arranged in the wall 10, which are recessed into the wall and extend into the housing 1 only behind the first surface 9 of the wall 10 facing chamber 2.

[0038] The Fig. 2Figure 1 shows a support 20 mounted on wall 10 in a top view. The first surface 21 of the support 20 faces the wall 10. Second guide elements 22, in the form of recesses, are arranged on the support 20. These guide elements are slidable along the first guide element 12 and are positioned on it. When the first and second guide elements 12 and 22 engage, the second fixing elements 23 on the support 20 are aligned with the first fixing elements 13. Two second contact elements 24 are arranged on the support 20. These project beyond the second surface 25 of the support 20, which faces the wall 10, and when the first and second guide elements 12 and 22 engage, they are aligned with and engage the first contact elements 14. A treatment cell 30, comprising at least two electrodes 31 and 32, is attached to the first surface 21 of the support 20.The electrodes 31, 32 are each connected to one of the second contact elements 24 by separate electrical leads 33, 34.

[0039] Fig. 3 shows the section of Fig. 2 The section is rotated by 90°. According to one embodiment, an optical identifier 35 for the carrier or for the treatment cell 30 mounted on it is provided on the second surface 11 of the wall 10, opposite its first surface 9, and an optical detector 36 is located above the optical identifier 35 when the carrier 20 is positioned against the wall 10. The detector 36 is configured to transmit a signal for the optical identifier 35 to the generator 37 in order to control the generator 37 depending on this signal.

[0040] The in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3The exemplary treatment cell 30 shown is arranged in a clamping frame 38, with which the electrodes 31, 32 can be clamped towards each other, so that the electrodes 31, 32 can be arranged at different distances depending on the treatment cell 30. This treatment cell 30 can be used for batch treatment of a medium without a connected medium line.

[0041] The Fig. 4 shows another embodiment in a top view of the wall 10 of a chamber 2, and the Fig. 5 This embodiment is shown in section, rotated by 90°. Wall 10 is the same as the one in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 The wall 10 shown, with the first guide elements 12 and first fixing elements 13 arranged on it, as well as first contact elements 14. The support 20 shown here has the same positions as the support 20 of Fig. 2 and Fig. 3the second guide elements 22, the second fixing elements 23 and the second contact elements 24. Therefore, the carriers 20 can be arranged alternately with their second guide elements 22 along the first guide elements 12 on the wall 10, fixed there by means of their second fixing elements 23, wherein the second contact elements 24 of the carriers 20 each engage in the same first contact elements 14 of the wall 10 and electrically connect the electrodes 31, 32 to the generator 37.

[0042] In the embodiment of Fig. 4 The treatment cell is suitable for generating pulsed electric fields while a medium flows along the electrodes. For this purpose, the treatment cell has a first conduit 16 for supplying medium to the treatment cell 30 and preferably at least a second conduit 17 for removing medium from the treatment cell.

[0043] The Fig. 6Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a first contact element 14 in engagement with a second contact element 24 in cross-section. The first contact element 14 extends only into and / or behind the wall 10 of its second surface 11, which is opposite its first surface 9 and the support 20 arranged thereon. The second contact element 14 has a recess 15 that is electrically conductive, e.g., a bore in metal. The second contact element 24 projects beyond the support 20 and into the recess 14 of the first contact element 14. Each first contact element 14 is rigidly connected to a terminal of the generator 37 by means of an electrical conductor 39. Reference symbol:

[0044] 1 Housing 2 Chamber 3 Flap 4 Frame 5 Safety switch 6 Safety switch counterpart 7 Display 8 Actuator switch 9 First wall surface 10 Wall 11 Second wall surface 12 First guide element 13 First fixing element 14 First contact element 15 Recess 16 First medium line 17 Second medium line 20 Support 21 First support surface 22 Second guide elements on the support 23 Second fixing elements on the support 24 Second contact element 25 Second support surface 15 Recess of the first contact element 30 Treatment cell 31, 32 Electrode 33, 34 Electrical line 35 Optical identifier 36 Optical detector 37 Generator 38 Clamping frame 39 Electrical line

Claims

1. Device for treatment of a medium with pulsed electric fields, having a treatment cell (30) which has at least two electrodes (31, 32) which are connected by means of electrical leads (33, 34, 39) to terminals of a generator (37) for electric pulses, the treatment cell (30) being arranged in a chamber (2) in a housing (1), which can be closed by a flap (3), characterised in that the treatment cell (30) is mounted on a carrier (20) and the chamber (2) has a wall (10) on which at least one first guide element (12) is arranged, which can be brought into engagement with at least one second guide element (22) arranged on the carrier (20), at least one first fixing element (13) is arranged on the wall (10), to which at least one second fixing element (23) arranged on the carrier (20) can be fastened upon engagement of the first and second guide elements (13, 23), and in that at least two first contact elements (14) are arranged on the wall (10), into which at least one second contact element (24) arranged on the carrier (20) can engage upon engagement of the first and second guide elements (13, 23), and the electrodes (31, 32) are firmly connected to the second contact elements (24) by means of electrical leads (33, 34) and the first contact elements (14) are firmly connected to the terminals of the generator (37) by means of electrical leads (39).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the first contact elements (14) extend into the housing (1) only within the wall (10) and / or from the second surface (11) of the wall (10) opposite the carrier (20), and the second contact elements (24) project beyond the second surface (25) of the carrier (20) facing the wall (10).

3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by at least one additional carrier (20), the second fixing elements (23), second guide elements (22) and second contact elements (24) of each carrier (20) having the same arrangement.

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the electrodes (31, 32) are connected to the second contact elements (24) by non-detachable electrical leads (33, 34).

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one first guide element (12) projects beyond the wall (10) and the at least one second guide element (22) is formed by a recess in the carrier (20).

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the carrier (20) and the wall (10) each consist of insulating material.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a first guide element (12) and a first fixing element (13) are each formed by a common component.

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the generator (37) and the chamber (2) are arranged in a common housing (1).

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that between the flap (3) and the housing (1) a safety switch (5) is fitted, which is set up to generate a signal that the generator (37) is to be connected to a power connection only when the flap (3) is closed over the chamber (2).