Method and system for non-electrolytic treatment of liquid using alternating multi-pulse embedded wave

Abstract

The invention provides a novel waveform, particularly alternating multi-pulse embedded (AMPE) wave, and its use in treating liquid without causing anodic and cathodic reactions. The AMPE wave comprises an alternating main AC wave and at least two unidirectional DC pulses embedded in each half cycle of the main AC wave with a net root mean square voltage equals to zero. Also provided are method and system for treating liquid to produce beneficial treatment effects with the AMPE wave, as well as various applications of the AMPE wave treatment.

Description

[0001] Method And System for Non-Electrolytic Treatment of Liquid Using Alternating Multi-Pulse Embedded Wave

[0002] Field of the Invention

[0003] The invention relates broadly to a method and a system for treating water / liquid to produce beneficial treatment effects using alternating capacitive frequency-controlled electromagnetic field. Particularly, the treatment process is a non-electrolysis process elicited by an alternating multi-pulse embedded (AMPE) wave.

[0004] Background of the Invention

[0005] The free electron donating effect of water or aqueous liquid is one of the unique effects of water, produced when water is at its energized states especially at bond vibration excited state. This free electron donating effect and the elevated energy of the excited water has many applications including industrial and environmental emission abatement, medicine, food and beverage, fermentation, taste improvement, wellness, agriculture, algae control, corrosion control, skin care etc. However, all prior arts of producing free electron rely on the effects of DC electrolysis which inevitably involves anodic and cathodic reactions. In water DC electrolysis, water is split into H+(acidic & oxidizing) and OH- (alkaline and reducing). These acidic oxidizing anodic and alkaline reducing cathodic reactions due to the splitting of water by DC electrolysis create many undesirable reaction end-products besides the free electrons, thus limiting the wide applications and compromising many positive effects of the free electron donating function.

[0006] In general, all the prior arts as described below utilize the effect of DC electrolysis to produce free electron donating effects to different degrees. Since DC electrolysis must have anodic and cathodic reactions taking place to complete the electrolysis current loop, the undesirable anodic and cathodic by products are unavoidable.

[0007] For example, prior art PCT / IB2021 / 057255 discloses treatment of liquid beverage using a DC biased time-varying frequency pulsating electromagnetic wave. The exemplary waveform is shown in Fig. 1A. Although the time varying AC wave with imposed DC bias component could help to produce free electron in water for the electron donating effect, PCT / IB2021 / 057255 mentioned and acknowledged the production of chlorine gas and hypochlorite due to the anodic and cathodic reactions. Whereas in prior art US 2017 / 0252439 A1 which utilized the time varying AC wave without DC bias imposed, this prior art is unable to produce free electron although it has no anodic or cathodic reaction. The waveform is shown in Fig. 1 B which is a pure AC alternating time varying frequency wave, the main characteristic of the wave is one positive and one negative pulse in each half cycle, same as the conventional AC wave except that the frequency is varying and repeated with a predetermined sweeping frequency. Such alternating wave characteristic is unable to produce any hydrated electron in water and no change to the water ORP (oxidation reduction potential).

[0008] This comparison confirmed that the DC electrolysis effect was used in prior art to produce free electron in water, but it is accompanied with anodic and cathodic reactions and the breaking of water molecules due to electrolysis effects. Moreover, it can be inferred that the free electron in water is mainly contributed by the DC bias effect or DC component present in every full cycle and throughout the whole waveform in PCT / IB2021 / 057255.

[0009] US Patent No. 10,858,268 and 10,807,886 specifically use the anodic and cathodic reactions of electrolysis of the DC biased time varying frequency wave to produce their results such as corrosion protection that works on the same principle as DC cathodic protection. In these prior arts, DC bias plays the role of direction precursor to guide the traveling direction of AC time varying wave in water. These two patents are silent on the antioxidizing effect of free electrons or the detection of free electrons. Instead, their purpose of using the DC bias is to produce a directional current in the water to achieve their objectives instead of for free electron donating purpose.

[0010] Prior arts US 2012 / 0175247 A1 , US 7,452,449 B2, US 2009 / 0166218 A1 use unidirectional DC pulse electrolysis for the purpose of enhancing the anodic and cathodic reactions of DC electrolysis to improve the performance of oxygen gas (anodic reaction end-product) or hydrogen gas (cathodic reaction end-product) productions. Also, these prior arts are not for producing hydrated electron water or are silent on producing free electron donating hydrated electron, too. Some exemplary DC waveforms in these prior arts are shown in Fig. 1C-D. It is important to note that such DC pulse waves are unidirectional DC pulse waves having only one DC pulse in each half cycle. The waves are either all in positive voltage or in negative voltage direction without alternating since any reversal of DC pulse direction will degrade the anodic and cathodic reactions of producing gases. In all unidirectional DC pulse waves for DC electrolysis, regardless of time varying or fixed frequency pulse wave, they all in common possess DC root mean square (rms) voltage in each full wave cycle, hence resulting in net rms DC voltage throughout the waveform.

[0011] Irrespective of DC bias voltage, DC components of AC time varying wave or unidirectional DC pulse wave, these waves all possess DC electrolysis effect including the anodic and cathodic reactions and the reaction end-products. These anodic and cathodic reactions and end products of all above prior arts are similar as in the static DC electrolysis with a fixed DC voltage and polarity, such as shown in Fig. 1 E. However, when using pure static direct current only for DC electrolysis (Fig 1 E) without any pulsating wave, there is no free electron donating effect.

[0012] For DC electrolysis to happen, it relies on the anodic and cathodic reactions to complete the current path in the circuit. A typical DC electrolysis diagram of water is illustrated in Fig. 2. The electrons of the electrolysis current from the power source can only travel in the metallic conductor but the electrons don’t go into water. Instead, when electrons reach the electrode / water interface, it splits the water, and produces H+, OH- ions, O2 and H2gases at the immersed anode and cathode surface. Concurrently, these ions in water (not electron) act as current carrier in water to complete the current path in the circuit. In other words, anodic and cathodic electro-chemical reactions must take place for electrical current to flow through the circuit and water in DC electrolysis.

[0013] In all the prior arts, water is split and dissociated into H+and OH- ions by the DC electrolysis effects to produce the result as required in the prior art. Their emphasis is focusing on producing electrical current in the water instead of producing free electron in the water. The electric current in water was called “ionic current” in prior art, which completes the electric circuit current path in DC electrolysis or DC component electrolysis.

[0014] In contrast, for the purpose of producing free electron in water instead of dissociating water into H+and OH- ions as the localized production of H+and OH- ions can produce undesirable anodic and cathodic reactions and reaction end-products, it is of interest to promote “free electron current” instead of “ionic current” to complete the electric circuit current path.

[0015] However, in all the prior arts mentioned above, they are promoting either the anodic or cathodic effect instead of minimizing or eliminating it. Since the objective of the prior art is to produce anodic and cathodic effects and energizing the water instead of producing free electron, all the prior arts are silent in how not to produce anodic and cathodic reactions. Moreover, all of them are silent on exploring wave frequency and other wave parameters to control or eliminate the anodic or cathodic reactions.

[0016] Prior art PCT / IB2021 / 057255 suggests varying the distance between the electrode pairs for liquids having different conductivity. However, this is not practical as it requires external mechanical means to vary the spacing between electrodes in the treatment apparatus. The situation is even worse when multiple pairs of electrodes are arranged in the treatment chamber. This document in fact does not require physically changing the distance between electrodes, but only by changing the wave frequency and wave parameters.

[0017] Prior art PCT / IB2021 / 057255 further suggests using boron dopped diamond electrode with the beverages having high chloride content for suppressing the production of chlorine gas and hypochlorite. This prior art has no idea to resolve the hypochlorite issue associated with anodic and cathodic reactions.

[0018] The free electron donating effect of water or aqueous liquid has various applications. In the intended industrial, commercial, and domestic applications, the liquid to be treated can be cooling water, seawater, freshwater, alcohols, beverages, etc. thus the liquid contains not only water but also many inorganics and organic dissolved ions including H+, OH-, Cl-, SO42-, HCO3-, CO32-, dissolved minerals such as Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, organics include flavonoids, vitamins, acetates, etc. Due to the presence of these ions, the reactions taking place at the anode and cathode surface can cause serious undesirable effects for the intended applications. For examples,

[0019] • The high calcium ions content in the water will cause CaCOs mineral scale deposit at the cathode area due to the high pH value (high OH- ions concentration) at the cathode vicinity produced by the cathodic reaction.

[0020] • When treating high chloride content coconut water, the anodic reactions at the anode vicinity will produce chlorine gas and hypochlorite which makes the coconut water inedible.

[0021] • When treating seawater, anodic reaction will produce hypochlorite which is prohibited to discharge to the sea as hypochlorite can kill sea organisms such as coral, fish etc. If it is for seawater fish farm, the hypochlorite can kill the fish.

[0022] • When treating red wine, the alkaline vicinity of the cathode will change the color of red wine to blue color due to the anthocyanin pigment in red wine, which is red under acidic condition and is blue under alkaline condition.

[0023] • The acid produced at the anode can also cause unpleasant fermented taste to milk and some drinks.

[0024] In view of the above undesirable effects in the prior art water treatment methods, there is an eager need of a treatment method capable of producing free electrons in water for imparting the free electron donating effect but not splitting water, hence eliminating the anodic and cathodic reactions. Such treatment method shall enable wider applications which do not permit anodic and cathodic reaction end-products. Summary of the Invention

[0025] The present invention has been developed to fulfill the needs noted above and therefore has a principal object of the provision of a method and system for non-electrolytic treatment of liquid using alternating multi-pulse embedded wave to produce beneficial treatment effects, such as free electron donating effect.

[0026] The objective of eliminating DC electrolysis of water yet maintaining the effect of producing free electrons in water is achieved, at least in part, by way of using a frequency controlled alternating wave with multiple unidirectional pulses in each half cycle but zero net DC component in each full cycle. Said wave of the present invention is named as Alternating Multi-Pulse Embedded (AMPE) wave. The AMPE wave is capable of creating free electrons and elevated bond vibration in water / fluid without causing anodic and cathodic reactions according to the treatment method of the invention.

[0027] The treatment effect of this invention also enables water / fluid to become long lasting hydrated free electron / bond vibration energy carrier, free electron / vibration energy storage media, maximizing the positive effects of free electron donating and bond vibration.

[0028] The method and system of the present invention uses free electrons in water to complete the circuit electric current path in water, i.e. “free electron current”, instead of ionic current in prior art DC electrolysis.

[0029] The method and system of the present invention also utilize the capacitive arrangement of electrodes together with wave frequency control, alternating wave, and wave parameters control method to achieve the free electron production effect in water without anodic and cathodic DC electrolysis reactions.

[0030] The method and system of the present invention further comprise a feedback control that combines one or more of conductivity, pH, and oxidation reduction potential (ORP) meters to auto identify the type of liquid to be treated and to monitor optimum treatment state of the liquid.

[0031] In an embodiment of the invention, it is provided a use of alternating multi-pulse embedded (AMPE) wave in treating aqueous or semiconductive fluid, wherein the AMPE wave comprises an alternating main AC wave and at least two unidirectional DC pulses embedded in each half cycle of the main AC wave.

[0032] In specific embodiments, the AMPE wave has a net root mean square voltage equals to zero. In further embodiments, a full cycle of the AMPE wave consists of a positive half cycle and a negative half cycle whose shapes are identical to each other but in the opposite voltage direction. In certain embodiments, the main AC wave and / or the embedded DC pulses are independently time varying or non-time varying. In preferred embodiments, the polarity alternating interval of the main AC wave is shorter than the overpotential polarization time of the anodic and / or cathodic reactions. In more preferred embodiments of the AMPE wave, the polarity alternating interval is in the range of 1 x104second to a few seconds, and / or the number of unidirectional DC pulse in each half cycle is in the range of 2 to 1x105pulses. According to the embodiments, the AMPE wave creates free electrons and / or elevates bond vibration of water without causing anodic and cathodic reactions. In certain applications, the AMPE wave is applied by at least one capacitive electrode pairs inside the fluid.

[0033] In another embodiment of the invention, it is provided a method for treating a liquid using alternating multi-pulse embedded (AMPE) wave, comprising the steps of: generating an AMPE wave; and applying the AMPE wave to the liquid in either static or flowing state, wherein the AMPE wave has the features as described above.

[0034] In specific embodiments, the method further comprises the step of identifying the type of the liquid to be treated for the determination of wave parameters of the AMPE wave to be applied. In certain embodiments, the method further comprises the step of determining wave parameters based on manual selection of the user or based on real-time online feedback measurements. In preferred embodiments, the identification of liquid type and the feedback measurements include one or more of the conductivity, pH, or ORP of the liquid.

[0035] In specific embodiments, the method further comprises the step of adjusting wave parameters based on real-time online feedback measurements during the treatment. In another embodiments, the method further comprises the step of determining operation mode of the treatment of the liquid between one pass, recirculating and batch treatment.

[0036] In further embodiments, the method further comprises the step of preserving the antioxidizing ORP and energy obtained by the treatment. In yet further embodiments, the method further comprises the step of applying non-AMPE wave for incorporating desirable anodic or cathodic reactions in the treatment.

[0037] According to the embodiments, the method of AMPE treatment provides one or more of the following effects: (1) generating antioxidizing free electron donating effect without the side anodic and cathodic reactions;

[0038] (2) supplementing antioxidizing metabolic energy;

[0039] (3) removing astringency mouthfeel and throat burning sensation of liquor;

[0040] (4) reducing sourness and bitterness taste of beverage;

[0041] (5) removing muddy smell of foods;

[0042] (6) improving water penetration and migration strength;

[0043] (7) accelerating extraction of nutrients;

[0044] (8) accelerating fermentation process;

[0045] (9) improving water cleaning effectiveness;

[0046] (10) producing disinfection effect;

[0047] (11 ) accelerating chemical reactions;

[0048] (12) providing transportable free electron donating effect;

[0049] (13) facilitating removal of ions;

[0050] (14) producing protective passivation coating on metallic structure;

[0051] (15) providing passive corrosion control of steel;

[0052] (16) increasing water capillary strength and wettability.

[0053] In an embodiment of the invention, it is provided a system for treating a liquid using alternating multi-pulse embedded (AMPE) wave, comprising: a capacitive treatment chamber comprising capacitor electrodes arranged therein and a capacitive treatment chamber housing containing the liquid to be treated, a wave parameter controller / selector for selecting the wave parameters based on manual selection of the user or based on real-time online feedback measurement, a wave producing power switching generator, a power source for supplying AC and / or DC voltages, and a feedback controller for providing the real-time online feedback measurement of conductivity, pH, ORP of the liquid, wherein the AMPE wave has the features as described above.

[0054] It is a yet further object of the invention to provide a method for quantifying the antioxidizing free electron donating entropy energy reference to distilled water which has a natural state ORP of +375 mV, named as AMPE calculation method.

[0055] In an embodiment of the invention, it is provided a method for quantifying the antioxidizing free electron donating entropy energy of a liquid relative to distilled water comprises the steps of: measuring ORP potential (EORP) of the liquid vs Ag / AgCI reference cell; and calculating the energy according to the following equation

[0056] AG = -nF(EORP- (+375 mV)) wherein n is 1 and is the Faraday constant.

[0057] The present invention achieves the objective of not splitting the water, yet being able to produce the free electrons in water hence eliminating the anodic and cathodic reactions. This enables wider applications of water treatment method, including applications which do not permitted anodic and cathodic reaction end-products such as treatment of seawater, coconut water, salt containing solution, wine, whisky, milk, cooling water, etc.

[0058] The objects, characteristics, advantages and technical effects of the invention will be further elaborated in the following description of the concepts and structures of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings illustrate the invention by way of examples without limitation to the invention in any manner.

[0059] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0060] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers represent like parts throughout the various views.

[0061] Fig. 1 A-E shows exemplary waveforms used in prior art treatment methods.

[0062] Fig. 2 shows a typical DC electrolysis diagram of water.

[0063] Fig. 3 shows well-known Lewis base species with highlights of pair electron donors from electrolyzed alkaline water.

[0064] Fig. 4 A-D shows examples of the AMPE waveform of the present invention.

[0065] Fig. 5 shows a Pourbaix diagram of chlorine species in an aqueous system.

[0066] Fig. 6 shows a schematic diagram of the overpotential effect on an electrode surface.

[0067] Fig. 7 shows variation of O-H bond vibration in FTIR spectrum of water before and after the AMPE wave treatment.

[0068] Fig. 8 shows a typical layout of the system for AMPE wave treatment of the invention.

[0069] Fig. 9 shows an exemplary layout of the wave producing power switching generator for producing the AMPE wave.

[0070] Fig. 10 A-C shows test results of using AMPE wave treated water on a human subject. Fig. 11 shows capillary strength comparison between untreated and AMPE wave treated water.

[0071] Fig. 12 shows skin hydration test using face mask immersed in AMPE treated water.

[0072] Detailed Description of Embodiments

[0073] While this invention is illustrated and described in preferred embodiments, the method and system of the invention may be carried out in many different configurations, sizes, forms and materials.

[0074] In the context of the present invention, terms “water”, “fluid”, “liquid”, “aqueous fluid” and “aqueous liquid” may be used interchangeably, and in general refers to the liquid to be treated by the method and system of the invention. It shall be understood that the term “water” refers to a liquid or solution that comprises water as one of the major components, thus “water” shall not be construed as being the pure substance (pure H2O in liquid state) unless otherwise specified.

[0075] Free electron and pair electron donating effect

[0076] Hydrated free electron in water allows water to perform antioxidizing function to neutralize strong oxidizing agents such as free radicals and many reactive oxygen species (ROS) which can only be neutralized by free electron donating antioxidant. Free electron donating water exhibits more negative reductive potential compared with non-energized natural state water. Natural water has no free electron.

[0077] Antioxidant can be free electron donor, or pair electron donors etc. However, only free electrons can neutralize the free electron snatching free radicals and most of the ROS especially in human body, but not the pair electron donors.

[0078] There are many water treatment products in the market, such as electrolyzed alkaline water which is (comprises) pair electron donor instead of free electron donor although they are collectively called as antioxidant or antioxidizing water. Alkaline pair electron donor antioxidant cannot neutralize free electron snatching free radicals.

[0079] For clarity, the following explains that not all antioxidants are free electron donating antioxidants. This is to avoid confusion of the present invention with the static DC electrolysis methods of producing alkaline water, hydrogen water, etc. Although alkaline water and hydrogen water are all claimed to be antioxidants, they are in fact pair electron donating antioxidants, not free electron donors. Static DC electrolysis cannot produce free electrons in water.

[0080] Water containing pair electron donors such as hydroxyl ions, dissolved hydrogen gas, or Lewis base water cannot donate “free electron”, although they all show reductive property as compared with untreated natural water when measured by Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP) meter with Ag / AgCI reference cell or other reference cells. This is due to the ORP meter cannot differentiate between free electron and pair electrons.

[0081] The free electron donating effect and capacity is however detectable and measurable by test methods such as TAPEC (Total Antioxidant Potential & Energy Capacity) for determining the antioxidant capacity of a liquid or beverage (US patent application No. US 18 / 090,679, the content of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by way of reference), or other methods such as ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) test method developed for solid foods and beverages by US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Centre; both methods can detect the free electron antioxidants. In tests such as TAPEC, the standard test oxidant used can only be neutralized by “free electron” but not the “pair electron”. The free electron donating performance of the test fluid to neutralize the standard test oxidant is first confirmed by the neutralization titration method in the TAPEC test. After confirming the test fluid has the free electron effect, the antioxidant capacity scalar comparative value (also called “TAPEC value”) of the test fluid is then quantified by the ratio of its titrated volume with the titrated volume of the standard vitamin C (ascorbic acid) using the same volumetric neutralization titration method. By assigning a standard scalar value for vitamin C, the comparative scalar value of the test antioxidants tied to vitamin C can then be obtained.

[0082] Although electrolyzed hydroxyl ions alkaline water and hydrogen gas dissolved electrolyzed water all show negative ORP potential shift, i.e. antioxidizing from the perspective of ORP reading, they have zero TAPEC value as shown in the following TAPEC test results according to the above-mentioned TAPEC method.

[0083] Table 1 TAPEC test results for common beverages

[0084] The results indicate that the electrolyzed alkaline water are all pair electron donors instead of free electron donors. The pair electron characteristic of hydroxyl ions, hydrogen gas and Lewis base alkaline water are well-established chemistry knowledge and described in chemistry textbooks and numerous websites, such as those listed in the Fig. 3 which include the above-mentioned Lewis base species.

[0085] In addition to the antioxidizing effect, the concurrent elevation of bond vibration energy of the energized water gives the treated water much wider applications. For example, all the enzymatic reactions in the human body and living organisms are free energy driven. Under the body constant temperature homeostasis effect (no change in enthalpy energy), the water encapsulated enzyme performance can be greatly improved if water entropy energy is elevated. Elevated bond vibration energy increases the entropy energy hence also increases the total free energy supply to the chemical reactions yet without increasing heat (enthalpy) energy. This enables many reactions which require high energy to take place without increasing temperature.

[0086] Capacitive Frequency-Controlled Alternating Multi-Pulse Embedded Wave

[0087] The AMPE waveform of the invention comprises multiple unidirectional DC pulses in each positive or negative half cycle of the wave. After each half cycle, the direction of all the multiple unidirectional DC pulses is alternated to the opposite direction. There is rms DC voltage for each half positive or negative cycle of the wave, but zero rms DC voltage for each complete cycle consisted of one positive and one negative half cycle.

[0088] This invention uses the positive or negative half cycle unidirectional multiple DC pulses voltage to produce free electrons in water, yet the direction is alternated after each half cycle to avoid the undesirable anodic and cathodic reaction.

[0089] As compared to prior art waveform which has rms DC voltage in every full cycle and throughout the whole waveform, the DC bias by multiple DC pulses in each positive half cycle is cancelled by the negative half cycle in present invention, hence there is zero DC bias in every positive-negative full cycle to prevent or mitigate the adverse effect of the anodic and cathodic reactions.

[0090] The timing for each half cycle is programmed and timed not to exceed the full polarization time for anodic or cathodic reactions to take place, hence the anodic and cathodic reactions by products. It is important to note that some of the polarization time can be so short that it is impractical to be controlled by external reverse polarity switching especially for high current, and only using wave alternating frequency program control is possible.

[0091] The waveform of the present invention further distinguishes from prior art which used the DC bias / DC components or DC pulses to perform DC electrolysis effect and caused the anodic and cathodic reactions to produce the reaction end-products or “ionic current” in water in that frequency control is used to regulate the occurrence of anodic and cathodic reactions.

[0092] In specific embodiments, the wave can be non-time varying such as shown in Figs. 4(A)-(B), or time varying such as shown in Figs. 4(C)-(D).

[0093] In general, for producing the hydrated electrons in water / solution while minimizing or eliminating the anodic and cathodic reactions, the AMPE wave of this invention has one or more of the following characteristics:

[0094] 1 ) The AMPE wave is a pulsating wave.

[0095] 2) The wave can comprise DC pulse, AC pulse, DC biased AC pulses, or other pulsating spike waves with or without time varying.

[0096] 3) The AMPE wave comprises an alternating main AC wave and multiple embedded unidirectional DC pulses.

[0097] 4) The form of AC wave and / or DC pulses can be sine wave, triangular wave, square wave, sawtooth wave, or other mixed waveforms.

[0098] 5) The main wave is positive and negative alternated wave which can be time varying or non-time varying. In specific embodiments, the main wave can be alternated at a specific alternating frequency (fa) (i.e. fixed frequency, non-time varying), or can have a sweeping frequency (i.e. time varying) with a defined sweeping cycle and frequency range.

[0099] 6) In each half cycle of the main AC wave, there is embedded at least two unidirectional DC pulses, and the voltage of each pulse in each half cycle can be the same or different.

[0100] 7) Pulses in each half cycle can be of a uniform pulse form, irregular pulse form, time varying pulse form or other forms. Moreover, the pulses in the corresponding second half cycle shall be identical to the first half cycle but in the opposite voltage direction. 8) The embedded DC pulses can also be time varying or non-time varying, i.e. having its own fixed frequency (frn) and / or sweeping frequency (fe) and frequency range with a sweeping cycle equal to or less than the half cycle of the main wave.

[0101] 9) In this invention, the parameters fa, frn, fs are as follows for treating water and water solutions:

[0102] • fa can be in the range of 0.1 Hz to 10 kHz, which corresponds to a positive and negative alternating interval in the range of 1x104second to a few seconds.

[0103] • frn can be in the range of 1 Hz to 109Hz, which corresponds to a number of unidirectional DC pulse in each half cycle of the main wave of 2 to 1x105pulses, with the multiple unidirectional DC pulses being time varying or non-time varying.

[0104] • fs can be in the range of 10-2to 103Hz for the time varying DC pulses.

[0105] For other fluids such as hydrocarbon, alcohol, organic or inorganic liquids, the parameters fa, frn, fs can be adjusted to optimize the treatment performance.

[0106] 10) The net root mean square (rms) voltage for each full cycle of the AMPE wave is equal to zero. That is, the rms voltage of the positive first half cycle is cancelled by the rms voltage of the negative second half cycle with equal magnitude but opposite polarity.

[0107] Fig. 4 illustrates several examples of the AMPE waveform of this invention. For ease of demonstration, square waveform is adopted for both the AC wave and the DC pulses in the figures.

[0108] Figs. 4(A) and 4(B) each provides an exemplary AMPE waveform in which both the AC wave and the DC pulses are non-time varying. As shown in the figures, each half cycle of the main AC wave comprises 5 DC pulses. According to the present invention, the half cycle DC bias is defined as the average of the maximum DC magnitude and the minimum DC magnitude in a half cycle; and the positive / negative overall DC bias is half of the half cycle DC bias, in view only half of the waveform is in the positive / negative voltage region.

[0109] Fig. 4C illustrates another exemplary AMPE waveform in which the AC wave is non-time varying and the DC pulses are time varying. In each half cycle of the main AC wave, the frequency frn of the DC pulse is increasing, and the sweeping cycle is equal to the half cycle of the main wave, i.e. the sweeping frequency fs is twice of the alternating frequency fa of the main wave although the voltage direction is reversed between each sweeping cycle.

[0110] Fig. 4D illustrates yet another exemplary AM PE waveform in which both the AC wave and the DC pulses are time varying. More specifically, the frequency of the DC pulses remains constant in a full cycle of the AC wave, but varies between consecutive full AC cycles. As shown in Fig. 4D, each half cycle of the main AC wave comprises 5 DC pulses. Accordingly, when the frequency of the AC wave increases in the sweeping frequency cycle, frequency of the DC pulses also increases proportionally.

[0111] It is understood that the AMPE waveform of the invention may also be embodied as other forms, such as having different number of DC pulses between full cycles, having different duty cycle by pulse width modulation (PWM) for providing different rms voltage without changing the external voltage supply, etc. In addition, in Fig. 4 the DC pulses were embedded at 50% duty cycle, thus the rms voltage of a half cycle is equal to the half cycle DC bias mentioned above. The rms voltage can be adjusted by varying the duty cycle of the DC pulses.

[0112] The principle and concept of Capacitive Frequency Control of AMPE wave

[0113] In this invention, the free electron in water is produced in water without anodic and cathodic reactions through wave frequency / parameters control. It uses the effect of high frequency wave field to lower the loop impedance to produce electron flow between the capacitive electrode pair without anodic and cathodic reactions. This requires the semiconductive media such as water which permit the electron flows at high frequency directly between the two capacitive electrodes pair instead of relying on ions to perform the electric current conduction role in water.

[0114] In particular, the invention utilizes wave frequency and the electrodes capacitive arrangement to lower the electrode to electrolyte potential to prevent anodic and cathodic reactions. With high wave frequency and closely spaced electrode arrangement, the two electrodes are no longer behaving as a resistive pair. Instead, the electrodes become a capacitive pair thus reducing the electrode to electrolyte potential by high wave frequency.

[0115] Using wave frequency to prevent or control anodic and cathodic reactions on electrode surface and vicinity

[0116] In this Capacitive Frequency Control AMPE wave invention, in order to use frequency to control circuit impedance, the circuit must change to the concept of capacitive circuit. Accordingly, the electrodes must be placed very closely apart of one or few millimeters distance and using water or aqueous solution as dielectric semiconductive media to form into capacitor electrodes pair. When the electrode pair becomes capacitance load instead of resistive load, the whole circuit impedance is largely determined by the capacitance load of the electrode instead of resistive load.

[0117] When the electrodes are acting as capacitors, the capacitive impedance is controlled by the frequency of the wave passing through the dielectric between the capacitance plates. The capacitance and the impedance of the electrode pair is according to the following equation (1 ).

[0118] Zc= 1 / (2TTfc) (1 )

[0119] Net current flow in the circuit (exclude other resistance such as cable resistance in the circuit) is according to the following equation (2)

[0120] I = V / Zc(2) wherein Zcis impedance, c is capacitance, and f is wave frequency.

[0121] Based on the above equations (1 ) and (2), by increasing the wave frequency f, the capacitive impedance Zcin equation (1 ) will be reduced, hence increasing the circuit current I in equation (2) with the same applied voltage, or decreasing the voltage yet being able to maintain the same current.

[0122] Clearly, when the capacitive electrode pair impedance is reduced, the capacitive electrode half-cell voltage or “electrode to electrolyte” impedance will be reduced greatly without altering the external supply voltage. This enables more efficient production of free electrons in water since all energy supplied are channeled to free electron production instead of producing the anodic and cathodic reactions.

[0123] The most important outcome of the reduced half-cell voltage using frequency control method is preventing or minimizing the electrode anodic and cathodic reactions. As the current is conducted through the water media without the precondition of breaking down water molecules to generate H+and OH- ions as in the case of DC, DC pulse, or DC biased time varying wave electrolysis, it enables electrons to flow through the dielectric media between the electrode capacitance plates and produces hydrated electrons in water with no undesirable anodic and cathodic reactions.

[0124] Essentially, the wave frequency control of this invention is to achieve electron flow in water without electrolysis.

[0125] Anodic / cathodic reaction and electrode half-cell potential control Fig. 5 is a Pourbaix diagram of an aqueous system with a total chlorine species concentration of 0.5 M, which shows the electrode half-cell potential required to produce the anodic reactions and its reaction end-products at different pH. By regulating the frequency of the wave of this invention, the net electrode half-cell potential at a specific pH can be reduced to be lower than the stipulated potential required to produce certain end reaction product as shown in Fig. 5, so as to avoid the anodic reactions.

[0126] For example, to avoid anodic reactions to produce O2 at pH 7, the electrode half-cell potential can be lowered to below approximately 0.8 volt by increasing the wave frequency, yet still allowing electron to conduct through water to produce hydrated electron. In view no oxygen will be generated, it can resolve many oxidative disadvantages when treating the liquid or beverages. Similarly, the undesirable HOCI, OCI-, Ch production can be avoided if the electrode half-cell potential at different pH is reduced by increasing the wave frequency.

[0127] Using Alternating pulsed wave to take advantage of overpotential polarization time

[0128] In addition to the frequency control of wave to produce hydrated electron while minimizing anodic and cathodic reactions, the waveform of this invention is alternating. That is, the positive and negative pulses are alternating at a specific interval. In conventional alternating waveforms, each half cycle of the wave consists of only one pulse, and the pulse direction is alternated to the opposite voltage direction in the next half cycle. However, such conventional alternating pulsed wave cannot produce free electron donating water, such as mentioned in the prior art US 2017 / 0252439 A1 .

[0129] This invention utilizes the time lag period required to produce the overpotential polarization and alternates the polarities before reaching the full polarized overpotential. With the multiple unidirectional pulses in each half cycle within the polarization time lag, the AMPE waveform is possible to produce hydrated electrons in water. The undesirable anodic and cathodic reaction effects is therefore avoided without compromising the free electron donating water production.

[0130] The potential / pH graph as shown in the Pourbaix diagram of Fig. 5 for the anodic and cathodic reaction voltage is based on the calculation of theoretical equilibrium reaction values. In actual practice, the electrode surface reactions need time to build up or fully polarize the electrode surface to overcome the overpotential before the anodic and cathodic reaction can take place. This overpotential effect is shown in Fig. 6, which is due to the existence of electric double layer and gas bubbles at the electrode surface. Therefore, this invention takes advantage of this overpotential polarization time delay by reversing the polarity before the overpotential can be fully build up, hence avoiding the occurrences of anodic and cathodic reactions.

[0131] Taking advantage of this overpotential building up period together with the frequency control, hydrated electron is produced in water without producing the chemical anodic and cathodic reactions at the electrode surface.

[0132] This invention utilizes this short period of overpotential building up time. The AMPE waveform maintains at the same polarity with multiple pulses during this short overpotential build up time and alternates the polarity just before the overpotential is fully polarized. Once the polarity is reversed, the electrodes will be depolarized, and it takes time again to repolarize the electrode. The polarity alternating time can be in the order of milli second to less than a second, which is not achievable by external relay switching especially when high current is involved.

[0133] Using multiple unidirectional pulses per half cycle to produce free electrons

[0134] In this invention, this alternating polarity is done by programming the waveform such that multiple unidirectional DC pulses are in each half cycle instead of a single pulse. Within a full cycle, DC pulsed wave or DC embedded alternating time varying wave will have multiple positive pulses in one half cycle and equal number of negative pulses in the other half cycle, with the positive net rms voltage equals to the negative net rms voltage. However, the duration of each half cycle must not exceed the time before the overpotential is fully built up.

[0135] In prior art electrolysis with constant DC voltage, DC pulses and DC biased AC wave, the DC current, DC pulses or DC components are in either positive or negative voltage direction without alternating the polarity for causing the breaking up of water molecules and for improving the oxygen and hydrogen gas production. If the voltage polarity is reversed before full polarization to overcome the overpotential, there will be no gas production. Oxygen and hydrogen gas can only be generated when the electrode to electrolyte half potential is higher than the overpotential. If the polarity is reversed, the electrode will be depolarized and it will take an even longer time for the electrode to repolarize. The effect of one DC pulse will be cancelled by the subsequent pulse in the reversed polarity, as the rms voltage of each cycle is zeroed. If there is only one positive and one negative pulse in each full cycle, no hydrated electron will be produced in water. ORP of the treated water cannot show any negative shift and no TAPEC antioxidant value can be measured, such as such in the prior art US 2017 / 0252439 A1. Accordingly, reversing / alternating the polarity is counterproductive for prior art DC electrolysis practice. In this AMPE wave invention, more than one DC pulse or DC component is embedded in each half cycle instead of just one DC pulse in each half cycle regardless of with or without time varying frequency. The beneficial effect of DC pulses to produce free electron can therefore be retained by embedding multiple DC pulses in the half cycle of the wave. With multiple pulse in each half cycle which duration is controlled by the alternating frequency, the time is sufficient to produce the hydrated electron effect yet able to avoid anodic and cathodic reactions. With such wave alternating frequency plus the main wave frequency control as mentioned above, hydrated electrons can be produced in water. The alternating frequency is determined by monitoring the electrode to electrolyte half potential and set in the program such that it will not produce the undesirable anodic or cathodic reactions and no scaling is produced on the electrode plate.

[0136] AMPE wave treatment can simultaneously produce hydrated free electrons, elevated antioxidizinq and bond vibration entropy energy

[0137] The AMPE wave of this invention is effective in elevating the entropy energy of treated water, which is represented by the more efficient negative ORP shift and the larger peak variation of FTIR spectrograph O-H stretching and O-H scissoring. This is due to less energy is wasted in producing the anodic and cathodic reactions.

[0138] The total Gibbs free energy (G) of water has two constituent energy components - the thermal Enthalpy energy (H), and the non-thermal Entropy energy (£) which is closely related to the vibration state of the molecular bonds. The defining equation of Gibbs free energy can be written as the following equation (3):

[0139] AG° = AH0- TAS0(3) wherein T is absolute temperature.

[0140] When polar molecules, polar bonds, hydrogen bonds and other charged ions of water or other fluids are exposed to the alternating AMPE wave treatment of the invention, O-H bonds stretching vibration and scissoring vibration are energized and agitated greatly, thus the O-H bonds vibrate vigorously. Similarly, many other bonds and ions in the water are energized in the same way. All these increase in vibration activities is represented in the larger peak fluctuation magnitude of the O-H stretching and O-H scissoring vibration absorption peaks in the FTIR spectrum as shown in Fig. 7. Such elevation of vibration increases the water entropy energy, hence increases the Gibbs free energy. Elevated entropy energy of water can perform many useful functions without increasing water temperature. This proved that the AMPE wave is able to energize and increase water bond vibration and entropy energy of water, solutions, or fluids containing polar molecules, polar bonds, hydrogen bonds and other charged ions.

[0141] AMPE wave treatment uses the capacitive frequency and alternating wave polarity to eliminate undesirable scaling issues

[0142] The most common scaling issues in water system is calcium carbonate precipitation. It is a persistence issue for any high hardness water especially when involving electrolytic process, heat or high alkaline water. For example, scaling at the cathode in DC electrolysis and the scaling at the heating surface are common scaling issues.

[0143] This AMPE waveform and its control parameters can resolve the scaling issues.

[0144] Scaling in water system is due to many factors and the scaling tendency of water can be predicted by the LSI (Langelier saturation Index) which is determined by the pH, calcium hardness, total dissolved solid, alkalinity, and temperature. In LSI calculation, temperature is used as the input parameter of thermal energy. However, to be technically more precise, the LSI should base on total free energy which drives the whole reaction instead of just the thermic temperature enthalpy energy only. That is, by increasing the entropy energy of water bond vibration, it can also achieve the same result as using high temperature since both enthalpy and entropy energy are the components of the total free energy.

[0145] Although the invention does not directly manipulate the calcium hardness and dissolved solid content level, pH and free energy can be controlled and changed by the AMPE wave, thus the invention controls scaling via pH and free energy (entropy energy) control.

[0146] With the invention treatment, it can control scaling due to high pH by minimizing or eliminate the alkaline cathode reaction. This is by way of increasing the frequency of the alternating pulsed wave to lower the electrode to electrolyte half-cell potential hence preventing cathode reaction taking place. This is achieved without breaking up the H2O but also creates free electrons in water.

[0147] Without breaking up H2O, no localized accumulation of alkaline hydroxyl OH- ions takes place at the cathode, which in turn eliminates the high alkaline pH caused by OH- ions at the cathode. The increase of the LSI index at cathode that causes calcium carbonate precipitation is thus minimized. Therefore, the invention resolves the scaling issue at the cathode surface. This invention can also control or prevent scaling at high temperature surface. For example, the LSI at high temperature heating surface of hardness water system may reach 4. Under such high LSI condition, calcium carbonate scale will form on heated surface. However, with this invention treatment, it increases the entire bulk water free energy (entropy energy). This entropy energy replaces the heat enthalpy energy in LSI computation. As such the entire bulk water LSI index is elevated instead of only at the heated surface. And that boosted calcium and carbonate ions in water to form calcium carbonate in bulk water as fine crystals instead of at the localized heating surface. Once the calcium is precipitated out as calcium carbonates in bulk water, it will not form and stick at heating surface, hence controlling scaling at the heated surface.

[0148] Quantifying free electron donating antioxidizing energy

[0149] When water is treated by AMPE wave of the invention, it produces hydrated free electrons in water and shifts the oxidation reduction potential (ORP) of treated water to more negative level. The elevated antioxidizing potential energy relative to an oxidant (electron acceptor) can be calculated from the following bio-electrochemistry equation (4) derived from Nernst’s equation. This is also the utilizable potential energy of the treated water / solutions by the electron acceptor.

[0150] AG = -nFEcell=~rfF(EoRPe eclrort donor—EoRPe\eclrort acceptor) (4)

[0151] Wherein n is the total number of electrons loss or gained in the REDOX cell reaction; F is the Faraday constant; AG is the Gibbs free energy changed; Eceii is the cell potential; EoRPeiectron donor and EoRppiectron acceptor are the respective ORP of the donor or acceptor measured with respect to a same reference, e.g. Ag / AgCI reference cell.

[0152] In present invention, the free electron donating antioxidizing energy AG is calculated with respect to water in a completely neutralized state. The completely neutralized state of water means that any antioxidant and oxidant in water are mutually neutralized with each other, that is to say, the water has no free electron donating effect. The ORP potential of neutralized water is + 375 mV vs Ag / AgCI reference cell. Accordingly, the value of + 375 mV vs Ag / AgCI reference cell is used as EoRppiectron acceptor in equation (4) for calculating the AMPE energy AG of any given liquid.

[0153] The treatment of the invention can increase the free electron donating antioxidizing energy AG of water and beverages. It is understood that for a liquid or beverage which has intrinsic antioxidant capacity, such as tea or coffee, its free electron donating antioxidizing energy AG is not zero before the treatment of the invention and can also be calculated according to the equation (4). Moreover, the increase in the free electron donating antioxidizing energy AG can be simply calculated by measuring the increase of EORP of the liquid before and after the AM PE wave treatment.

[0154] Apparatus of the invention

[0155] Fig. 8 illustrates a typical layout of the apparatus and system to produce the AM PE wave of the invention for the treatment of liquid to produce the desirable effects.

[0156] The treatment system of the invention comprises a capacitive treatment chamber, a wave parameter controller / selector, a wave producing power switching generator, a power source, and a feedback controller.

[0157] In the embodiment of the invention, the capacitive treatment chamber comprises capacitor electrodes and a capacitive treatment chamber housing, as well as inlet, outlet and recirculating fluid channels.

[0158] The capacitor electrodes can be in the form of concentric cylinders, parallel plates or other different geometrical shapes which are equally spaced between electrode pairs with alternate polarity between adjacent electrodes. The space between adjacent electrodes is arranged to be closely apart such that they function as a capacitor. For example, the distance between electrode pairs can be less than 10 mm, preferably less than 6 mm. The cylinders or plates can be made of solid metal sheets, mesh, grids, or other configurations.

[0159] The material of the capacitor electrodes can be any conductive material, preferably a conductive material with good wet corrosion resistance property such as magnetite, 316L stainless steel, graphite, titanium, gold, etc. The material can also be inert conductive material coated metal substrates such as platinized titanium / niobium, conductive metal oxide coated titanium, etc.

[0160] The capacitive treatment chamber housing can be made of wet corrosion resistance metal such as stainless steel, or other non-conductive materials such as UPVC, PPR, PE, HDPE etc. Alternatively, the metal housing can be lined with non-conductive materials, such as Teflon lined mild steel. The overall shape of the chamber housing accommodates the shape of the capacitor electrodes. For example, the chamber housing can be a cylinder when the electrodes are concentric cylinders, whereas the chamber housing can be cuboid when the electrodes are parallel plates.

[0161] In present invention, the liquid to be treated flows between the capacitor electrodes, thus functions as the dielectric media of the capacitor. Typically, there is no restriction on the liquid to be treated. For example, the dielectric media include fluids of low conductivity, such as distilled water having conductivity of few pS / cm, and also fluids of high conductivity, such as seawater, salty soup, wine or some juices with conductivity as high as 100 mS / cm.

[0162] In the capacitive treatment chamber, flow direction of the liquid to be treated is generally in parallel flowing through the annular space or parallel space between the electrode pairs. Perpendicular flow can be accommodated if the electrodes are perforated or in mesh / grids form whereby the liquid can flow through the electrode pairs, preferably multiple passes. Furthermore, the operation mode can be one pass, recirculating or batch treatment, depending upon how the inlet, outlet, and the recirculation channel are connected.

[0163] In the embodiment of the invention, there are two major components built in the treatment system to produce different AMPE waveforms for different applications. These two components are “wave parameter controller / selector” and the “wave producing power switching generator”. The wave parameter controller / selector is programmed to control and select the correct wave parameters for producing the wave by the wave producing power switching generator.

[0164] The wave parameter controller / selector can select the wave parameters based on manual selection of the user or based on real-time online feedback measurement to choose the most appropriate wave parameters. The feedback can be measured conductivity, pH, or ORP of the liquid, and also the measured electrode potential / voltage. The wave parameters include those discussed above for the AMPE wave, such as the rms voltage for each positive and negative half cycles, wave form (square wave, sine wave, etc.), time varying behavior and frequencies fa, frn, fs of the wave. With different wave parameters input, the AMPE wave can be alternating wave with multiple DC pulses in a half cycle, alternating AC pulses or DC biased pulses wave. The key parameters of the waveform can also be varied according to application requirement and the various online feedback from the treatment loop.

[0165] Depending on the application requirements, different AMPE waves of different wave parameters programs can be pre-stored in the wave parameter controller / selector. The controller / selector can choose a specific program either by manual selection or based on the real-time feedback input to choose the best suited program for the wave power switching generator to produce the correct required wave.

[0166] In the embodiment of the invention, the treatment system comprises a power source which uses AC power source to rectify to DC power or uses a direct DC supply such as dry battery or wet battery of either the rechargeable or non-rechargeable type. The DC power supply will power both the “wave parameters controller selector” and “AMPE wave producing power switching generator”.

[0167] The wave producing power switching generator is demonstrated in an exemplary layout as shown in Fig. 9. As illustrated, the wave producing power switching generator comprises two major components namely the microcontroller unit (MCU) and the MOSFET. With the selected wave parameter input, the MCU will generate the waveform and send to the MOSFET to do the switching and amplifying to full wave output to send to the electrode / load.

[0168] The feedback controller of the treatment system of the invention provides the real-time online feedback input for the wave parameter controller / selector. The feedback controller measures conductivity, pH, ORP of the liquid and the electrode voltages. Any conventional conductivity, pH, ORP meter / probe can be incorporated into the system to measure the liquid inside the treatment chamber. For the ORP measurement, different reference cells can be used to suit the type of fluids to be treated and ease of use, such as Ag / AgCI, Cu / CuSO4, SCE, or other suitable reference cells.

[0169] Furthermore, in certain embodiments for non-food & beverage application, the feedback controller may further include corrosion rate measurement, ion concentration measurement, gas content analyzer, heat transfer measurement, bacteria count test, etc. The relevant parameters will also be input into the wave parameter controller / selector for the wave parameters determination procedures.

[0170] In further embodiment of the invention, the treatment system may comprise a cooling means for cooling down the liquid, and / or a stirrer for homogenization of the liquid, each of which can be mounted in the treatment chamber.

[0171] It is understandable that the apparatus and system using AMPE wave for the treatment of liquid is not restricted to the above embodiments. Prior art water treatment systems comprising the capacitive electrodes can also be adapted to carry out the method of the present invention with properly incorporated AMPE waves.

[0172] Method of the invention

[0173] The invention provides a method using the AMPE wave for the treatment of liquid to produce beneficial treatment effects, such as free electron donating effect. The method can be operated with the system of the invention according to the following procedures. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of generating an AMPE wave, and applying the AMPE wave to a liquid in either static or flowing state. The AMPE wave can have the characteristics as defined hereinabove.

[0174] In some embodiment, the method comprises the step of identifying the types of liquid or beverage to be treated so as to determine the wave parameters of the AMPE wave to be applied.

[0175] In food & beverage (F&B) applications, to treat different types of drinks, the types of drink can be firstly identified by combining the measured electrical conductivity, ORP and pH. Different groups of drink have their characterized electrical conductivity, ORP, pH. By the combination of conductivity, pH and ORP, the types of drink can be easily identified. Some exemplary conductivity, ORP and pH values are listed in Table 2 below (a + / - allowance can be given to each beverage for measurement error and accuracy).

[0176] Table 2. Exemplary conductivity, ORP (vs Ag / AgCI ref cell) and pH values of beverages

[0177] In another embodiment, the method further comprises the step of determining wave parameters based on manual selection of the user or based on real-time online feedback measurements. For example, the feedback measurements include one or more of the conductivity, pH, or ORP of the liquid, electrode voltage, temperature, corrosion rate, ion concentration, gas content, bacteria count, etc.

[0178] In yet another embodiment, the method further comprises the step of adjusting wave parameters based on real-time online feedback measurements during the treatment.

[0179] For different application of the treatment method of the invention, different wave parameters of the AMPE waves are required to be determined and applied to the liquid. The wave parameters can either be pre-determined based on the subject liquid, or be determined in real-time based on the feedback measurements.

[0180] In the approach of pre-determining the optimum wave parameters for different drinks, the aspects such taste, antioxidant content and exclusion of undesirable side effect shall be taken into consideration.

[0181] For example, drinks such as whisky, wine or coffee can be treated by different sets of wave parameters and tasted and evaluated separately by drinks sommelier. Moreover, antioxidizing free electron donating capacity shall be determined by the TAPEC test to confirm the drinks have the required free electrons antioxidant content after treatment. For some drinks which end products from anodic or cathodic reactions are unacceptable and must be avoided, the wave parameters such as the frequency must be chosen accordingly to not produce such undesirable effect. The test procedure can be series of orthogonal tests or series of iterative tests for determine the various wave parameters, including the types of waves, main wave frequency, number of pulses per half cycle, alternating frequency, sweeping frequency etc. and total duration for treating different beverages.

[0182] With the confirmation of the desirable taste by the sommelier and the satisfactory TAPEC value and no undesirable side effect, the set of wave parameters used for treatments during this testing session can be programmed or pre-stored into the wave parameter controller / selector of the treatment system as the best wave parameter for different types of specific drinks. In actual application, the optimum wave parameters can be retrieved from the selector based on the type of liquid or beverage as identified in the previous step of the method according to the combined ORP, conductivity and the pH readings, or based on manual input of the user.

[0183] For example, to treat red wine (Cabernet sauvignon), the objective is to inactive acetobacter bacteria, to produce antioxidizing TAPEC value and to enhance taste of the wine. With the chosen parameters, the following desirable treatment effects shall be achieved.

[0184] 1 ) pH of the wine change is negligible indicating the anodic and cathodic reactions are controlled.

[0185] 2) No bubbles or blue coloration at capacitor plates indicating no undesirable alkaline cathodic reaction has taken place.

[0186] 3) The ORP shifted from +130 mV to -250 mV indicating antioxidizing effect and confirmed antioxidizing effect is produced by the treatment.

[0187] 4) FTIR curve showed a larger O-H stretching and scissoring vibration peak variation. Confirming the entropy energy has increased. Based on the Nernst equation calculation taking the healthy human body blood ORP of +120mV according to above equation (4), the potential antioxidizing metabolic energy in kcal can be calculated.

[0188] 5) Astringency is almost instantly removed in 20 second, which is similar to astringency reduction by 5 to 10 years of ageing effect. This proved the polymerization of tannin monomers has taken place, similar to the ageing effect in oak drum.

[0189] 6) The wine after treatment stored in refrigerator will last for at least 2 months indicating the acetobacter bacteria are inactivated.

[0190] On the other hand, the treatment method is not confined to only F&B applications. For other types of applications, the wave parameters are determined according to different application objectives.

[0191] For example, in non-F&B applications such as for steel passivation application by producing magnetite passivation layer on steel surfaces, the TAPEC test may not be necessary. Instead, magnetite forming visual observations, steel to electrolyte potential measurement, ferrous ions (Fe2+) concentration and instantaneous corrosion rate measured by corrosion meter shall be included to confirm whether the wave parameters so chosen are producing the desirable treatment outcome. Furthermore, in cooling water treatment applications, scaling, corrosion rate, bacteria counts are the important factors to be considered. It is therefore necessary to add in scale thickness assessment, heat transfer measurement, energy consumption rate, corrosion rate measurement, bacteria count test into wave parameters determination procedures.

[0192] Once the treatment outcome is desirable and the required effects are confirmed, the corresponding wave parameters can be input into the selector as baseline database for selection in further treatment process.

[0193] In still another embodiment, the method also comprises the step of determining operation mode of the treatment of the liquid between one pass, recirculating and batch treatment.

[0194] In present invention, the AMPE wave treatment can be performed for one pass treatment, recirculating treatment, or batch treatment. The basic treatment principle is the same except that treatment power capacity are sized differently to suit different treatments.

[0195] To make AMPE wave useful in most non-F&B applications, it is important that the energy of the AMPE wave treatment effect is controllable such that it can be charged, stored, and released. One of the uniqueness of the AMPE wave treated vibrational entropy energy is storable in the media such as water. The elevated vibration and electron donating state can be maintained and stored in the media if they are properly isolated by energy isolating materials to prevent or minimize the energy drain such as using insulating materials with perfect sealing to prevent exchange of energy / chemicals with the surrounding including atmospheric gases. This can preserve the energy and antioxidizing effect over a long period of time such as days or months.

[0196] However, when the situation requires the stored energy to be released at the point of use or application, such energy insulation can just be removed allowing it to interact with the other substances which require such energy, free electrons, or pair electrons.

[0197] For example, it is very beneficial when this AMPE wave treatment is installed inline at the household incoming water pipeline for one pass applications. After the AMPE wave treatment, the whole household will be able to use the antioxidizing free electron donating water for shower, drinking etc. supplying the antioxidants needed by our body to fight free radicals, anti-inflammation effect etc. This makes the water not only safe but also healthier. It should be understood that the term “one pass” shall be construed as the treated water is not recycled after use, and is not limited to the situation that the liquid flows only once between the capacitive electrodes. Alternatively, the water treatment can be repeated in certain applications for recharging the entropy energy. In some industrial applications such as the recirculating cooling water system, it requires recharging the AMPE wave energy after the treated media released its energy. This can be achieved by installing AMPE wave treatment system in the media recirculating path / pipe / cooling tower basin, which is most preferable for the applications in which the recirculating media is recycled in normal operation. It recharges the water, allowing it to dissipate the energy after charging and recharge again when the media is recirculated back to the AMPE wave treatment location.

[0198] Furthermore, the treatment can be a batch treatment in which the liquid stays in the treatment chamber for a treatment duration and then discharged from the treatment chamber for direct use or for storage purposes. The treatment duration can be adjusted according to the actual application together with other wave parameters.

[0199] In certain embodiment, the method comprises the step of preserving the antioxidizing ORP and energy obtained by the treatment.

[0200] To preserve the free electron donating effect of the treated beverage over its shelf life, the most obvious approach is by perfect sealing of the bottle to prevent contact with the external oxidizing agent or gases. Airtight bottle sealing cap can prevent the ingression of external air / oxygen into the bottle hence preserving the shelf life of the treated beverages.

[0201] Bottle material is important in preserving ORP. Only glass, non-porous plastic or other non-porous material may effectively block air infiltrate into the bottle. For example, although PET is a non-metallic material, PET bottle cannot preserve ORP as it is not dense enough to prevent the infiltration of air.

[0202] ORP of AMPE wave treated beverage if frozen will last as long as the beverage remains in solid icy state.

[0203] For cold pressed juices without any preservative and wine, the AMPE wave treatment process can be regarded as a cold pasteurization process will disinfect bacteria such as acetobacter. The treatment could prevent the wine or fruit juices becoming acidic or fermenting spontaneously.

[0204] In an alternative embodiment, the method comprises the step of applying non-AMPE wave for incorporating desirable anodic or cathodic reactions in the treatment.

[0205] In some applications, the anodic or cathodic reactions can be desirable. With the wave frequency / parameters control of the invention, in situation when anodic or cathodic reaction is required or preferred, either throughout the whole process or during part of the process, the desirable anodic or cathodic reaction can also be produced by adjusting the wave frequency and / or other wave parameters. For example, the wave frequency and alternating frequency can be lowered to promote the anodic or cathodic reactions at suitable time slots or throughout the entire treatment time.

[0206] For example, if the treatment is used for producing butter milk from milk, the frequency of the wave can be lowered to promote the anodic acidic reactions to oxidize and acidify the milk to butter milk. Butter milk command a premium price in many developing countries. This AMPE wave method with anodic reaction promotion can replace the conventional acid addition process. The process is faster, and the butter milk thus produced has better fragrance and taste.

[0207] Moreover, the wave frequency control, alternating wave frequency and capacitive electrode arrangement of the invention can also be applied on different type of waveforms including DC pulses, DC biased AC pulses, other spiked pulses, with or without time varying, in order to generate free electron and / or anodic / cathodic reaction during treatment.

[0208] Application and beneficial effect of the invention

[0209] With the above AMPE wave properties, especially the avoidance of the undesirable anodic and cathodic reactions end-products, and the storage / transport / release / recharge arrangement, it can be applied in many industrial, medical, healthcare, agricultural, domestic, environmental, cosmetics applications, etc.

[0210] The following examples are some illustrative applications of the AMPE wave treatment method and system of the invention and the beneficial effect obtainable by the treatment. The applications cited are non-exhaustive and can be extended to many other applications based on the same or similar application principle.

[0211] Example 1 . AMPE wave treatment provides antioxidizing free electron donating effect without the side anodic and cathodic undesirable end-product

[0212] Without the side anodic and cathodic undesirable end-product, and together with the antioxidizing free electron donating effect, the AMPE wave treatment can be applied to convert water, beverages, juices, even alcoholic drinks from oxidizing to antioxidizing or use as antioxidants after treatment. Antioxidants has many benefits including anti-inflammation application, antioxidizing skin care topical applications, antioxidizing swimming pool and spas. Health or medical care products require antioxidants’ free radicals neutralizing beneficial effects yet must be free of the oxidants or oxidizing effect produced from the anodic reactions.

[0213] Free electron donating effect of the treated water has many health care benefits same as antioxidizing functioning principle as Vitamin C, E or glutathione which are all functioning by donating free electron to neutralize the free radicals in our body. The antioxidant effects include anti-inflammation, mitigate oxidation of LDL cholesterol, slow ageing etc.

[0214] Example 2. AMPE wave treatment supplements antioxidizing metabolic energy

[0215] The increase in total free energy of AMPE wave treated water or beverage can supplement metabolic energy for human body. The treated water or beverage with free electron donating effect has a more negative ORP potential than blood or metabolic water produced by the cell end metabolic reaction. Hence after consumed and absorbed into the blood stream from intestine wall, by the potential difference, AMPE wave treated water or beverage will donate electron to blood stream, supplementing the cell metabolism (metabolic energy supplementing). The increase in antioxidizing metabolic energy can be quantified by the above equation (4) for quantifying free electron donating antioxidizing energy.

[0216] In all the cell metabolism processes, essentially foods are broken down into simplest biomolecules of amino acids, fatty acids, and glucose. Glucose and Fatty acids can be converted into energy in the cell through the Krebs cycle / beta-oxidation and subsequently in the mitochondria membrane electron transport chain. In the Krebs cycle, acetyl CoA undergoes many processes to donate electrons to convert the electron carrier NAD from NAD+form into NADH. NADH which is then transported to the mitochondria to release electron to mitochondria wall membrane for electron transport chain (ETC) to produce energy by converting ADP to ATP. NADH is then reversing itself back to NAD+after donated the electron and goes back to Krebs cycle to pick up electron to form NADH again for further electron conversion cycle. At the mitochondria wall electron transport chain, the donated electron from NADH converts the oxygen and H+into water and releases energy. In the whole metabolism process, the main activity is about producing electrons from food and allowing it to go through series of reactions to produce energy. When hydrated free electron rich water is consumed and entered blood stream to reach the cells, due to the hydrated free electron water has much more negative ORP (electron donating) than blood ORP and also more negative than the water product at the end of electron transport chain at mitochondria membrane, the free electron from the treated water can therefore donate and supplement the electron supply to the NAD+to NADH converting process, helping the ETC and entire metabolism to become more efficient, and boosting the metabolism process.

[0217] The supplementary potential metabolic energy from the treated drink of this invention to our human body cell can be quantified by the following equation, which is derived from above equation (5) in which the electron donor is the beverage and the electron acceptor is the cell metabolic water having OPR of +375 mV vs Ag / AgCI reference.

[0218] AG = ~nF(EoRPoeverage ~ EoRPceW metabolic water (5)

[0219] Accordingly, the supplementary metabolic energy of the treated drinks can be tested and computed based on their ORP readings and TAPEC readings. Some exemplary energy value of different beverages before and after the AM PE wave treatment are listed in Table 3.

[0220] Table 3. Antioxidizing metabolic energy of different drinks before and after the AMPE wave treatment

[0221] The synergy effect of AMPE energy and antioxidizing effect of the treated drink has a strong effect in fighting inflammation and improving rejuvenation of skin due to high body metabolic energy supplementing the anabolic skin repair process. Fig. 10 A-B show test results of a human subject kept consuming AMPE wave treated water and using AMPE wave treated water for washing his face and hand for three weeks. As can be seen from the pictures before and after the tests, the skin condition clearly improved and the rough skin peel became smooth; the subject also reported amelioration of finger joint arthritis. Fig. 10 C shows the results of using AMPE wave treated pure water as eye drops for itchy and irritated eyes. The eye condition was fully recovered after 22 minutes after using AMPE wave treated water. Example 3. AMPE wave treatment removes undesirable astringency mouthfeel of red wine without changing the wine coloration.

[0222] AMPE wave can also be used to mitigate the undesirable taste and mouth feel of alcohol beverages without causing BO— color change in wine. During and after treatment, the alcohol content in wine does not change.

[0223] In prior art treatments, anodic and cathodic reactions caused by DC has detrimental effect to wine astringency treatment. Although DC pulse and DC bias pulse treatment can reduce the astringency feeling, the anodic oxidation will accelerate the wine pH to become more acidic. The alkaline cathodic reaction also causes blue coloration to red wine. The reason is that the coloration pigment (anthocyanin) in red wine is red in acidic pH, but at the cathode vicinity, where pH is alkaline, anthocyanin will change to blue color. The blue coloration and changes in pH is unacceptable to red wine drinker.

[0224] AMPE wave treatment will not produce the alkaline or acidic effect to the wine, thus the change in pH and blue coloration issue will not happen and making it perfect for red wine drinkers.

[0225] Astringency mouth feels of wine, tea, fruit juices etc. are due to the reaction of tannin monomers and saliva protein forming a coating on mouth lining that gives the rough and coarse mouth astringency feels. AMPE waves accelerate polymerization of tannin monomers, also its reaction with proteins in the beverage. Once tannins are polymerized, no further reaction with the saliva protein will occur hence no more astringency feels. The polymerization by AMPE wave treatment can take place in seconds instead of years when aged in oak cask.

[0226] Example 4. AMPE wave treatment removes throat burning sensation of liquor

[0227] Throat burning sensation of young high alcohol content beverage is related to the VR-1 hot temperature receptor at throat lining which sends a hot temperature signal to the brain when in contact with the alcohol molecules. This neural response gives the burning sensation. Conventionally, with decades of ageing in oak cask, alcohol monomers will be polymerized into larger alcohol clusters, higher order alcohols or polymerized into large cluster with water and flavonoid. Once polymerized into large clusters, VR-1 cannot sense the small alcohol monomers hence no burning throat sensation. AMPE wave can polymerize the alcohol monomers in minutes instead of decades in oat cask, which upgrades the alcohol beverage almost instantaneously. Furthermore, since there is no side acidic or alkaline reaction in the AMPE wave treatment, it will not produce sour smell or taste and compromise the quality of the whisky or liquor.

[0228] Particularly, AMPE wave can smoothen the throat burning sensation of the bottled whisky or further age the bottled whisky. Although it is well recognized by the distillers, google search information and whisky drinkers that the burning sensation or smoothness of the whisky cannot be further improved once bottled, this AMPE wave treatment proves the conventional practices wrong.

[0229] Based on a test in which experienced whisky drinkers tasted the same bottle of whisky before and after the AMPE wave treatment, none participant can tell the before (throat burning) and after (smooth) whisky are from the same bottle.

[0230] Example 5. AMPE wave treatment of liquid with high chloride content

[0231] The AMPE wave can be used to shift the ORP of high chloride content solution such as coconut water to more antioxidizing without producing the chlorine gas.

[0232] The DC pulse or DC biased AC time varying wave cannot be used for treating coconut water or salt containing soup or beverages. This is due to the harmful hypochlorite will be generated by the anodic reactions of the DC component.

[0233] Alternating AMPE wave treatment can overcome this issue by avoiding the anodic reaction without producing the hypochlorite. In high chloride content solution, DC electrolysis effect due to the DC bias or DC component produces the chlorine gas at the anode and the subsequent hypochlorite end-product making it unsuitable for consumption after treatment. However, for chlorine to form at the anode surface, there is a time lag to build up the overpotential for the chlorine gas to form at the anode surface. In AMPE wave treatment, the wave parameters such as the pulses in each half cycle and polarity reversal frequency can be adjusted to high frequency, such that the momentary anodic time effect on the electrode surface is so short that before chloride ions can form into chlorine gas at the anode surface, the DC pulses of the AMPE wave already switched over into the opposite polarity in the subsequent half cycle. This prevents the formation of the chlorine gas / hypochlorite, yet the other advantages of DC pulse wave effects in producing the hydrated electrons can be maintained.

[0234] This is particularly useful for treating coconut water to antioxidizing without chlorine gas generation. Also, for other high chloride content beverages, salty soup, or broth production process without producing chlorine gas or hypochlorite due to the salt content.

[0235] Example 6. AMPE wave treatment minimizes undesirable taste in beverages for reducing sugar addition

[0236] Sugars especially corn syrups are the main cause to many chronic diseases such as diabetes, fatty liver etc.

[0237] Many countries already tightened the rules to control the amount of sugar addition to drinks and foods, and some countries impose sugar tax to control sugar addition.

[0238] One of the major reasons of excessive addition of sugar is to suppress the undesirable taste in the drinks such as sourness, bitterness, or astringency. Some of the sourness may be produced by the anodic reactions due to the DC components in prior art treatments.

[0239] With AMPE wave treatment of the invention, there is no increase in sourness, yet the astringency and bitterness can be minimized by the treatment. In addition, the vigorous vibration of the beverage molecular bonds increases the taste bud sensitivity and taste signal transmission. The overall AMPE wave treatment result is that less sugar is required to suppress the astringency and bitterness. For example, in AMPE wave treated black teas, even when the sugar content is reduced by 50% as compared to non-treated tea, the taste and sweetness of the black tea remains the same. This makes the tea healthier and solving the F&B sugar tax issues.

[0240] In particular, fructose which is the major high content in corn syrups and almost all packaged fruit juices, is one of the main causes to Non-alcoholic fatty liver and high uric acid / gout issues. Fructose cannot be metabolized by normal cells to produce energy, instead liver takes fructose similar as alcohol to detox it. In the detox process, fructose is converted to glyceraldehyde in liver and further to lipogenesis process through enzyme SREBP-1c lipogenesis action to produce fat. Too much fat accumulation causes the fatty liver issue. In this whole liver detox process, large amount of metabolic energy is required. The ATP (Adenosine tri phosphate) energy carrier instead of converting to ADP (di phosphate) is converted to AMP (mono phosphate) to release more energy to produce the required metabolic energy, but the AMP will further degrade to produce the uric acid. Too much uric acid in blood will then cause the gout issue. Medical research found that using the electron donating effect of antioxidant (electron donor) can suppress the SREBP-1c enzyme lipogenesis, hence the electron donating antioxidizing effect of the AMPE treated water / beverages or juices could help to minimize the lipogenesis fatty liver issue. Moreover, the high antioxidizing metabolic energy of the AMPE treatment can also supplement the metabolic energy to liver to perform the detox process by helping to convert ATP to ADP instead of to AMP to minimize the uric acid and the subsequence potential gout issues.

[0241] Example 7. AMPE wave treatment removes earthy / muddy smells in foods

[0242] Many high nutrition plant-based foods have undesirable muddy smell / taste originated from the plants such as beet root, making the foods unpleasant to eat although nutritious. This muddy smell is contributed by the compound geosmin.

[0243] This defect can be overcome by immersing the muddy smell foods in the AMPE wave treatment water bath. The AMPE wave treatment can polymerize the geosmin monomers into large polymers which cannot be picked up by taste buds or smell sensor, so as to mitigate or eradicate the muddy smell.

[0244] Geosmin is also present in many fish, foods & beverages including some wines, and water sources. However, any oxidizing by-products from the anodic reactions in prior art treatment can degrade the freshness of the fish, fruits, or foods. In AMPE wave treatment without anodic reaction, the freshness of food will not be compromised.

[0245] Example 8. AMPE wave treatment improves water penetration / migration strength for cosmetic applications

[0246] Water penetration / migration strength can be improved in AMPE wave treated water. Facial treatment applications will find good use of the highly active penetration property of the AMPE wave treated water. Good water penetration improves skin hydration or moisture greatly. Good skin moisture content act as barrier to protect the skin and it is one of the major factors in ensuring skin in good condition.

[0247] The increase in capillary strength of AMPE wave treated water as compared to control is demonstrated in Fig. 11 . Fine gap for capillary test is formed by using two thin glass sheets clamped by magnet and then immersed in treated and untreated water for comparison. It can be seen that water climbing speed is much faster in AMPE wave treated water as compared to untreated water.

[0248] The improvement in water penetration strength is further demonstrated in the skin hydration test shown in Fig. 12. In the test, dehydrated face mask after immersion in AMPE treated water is applied on a subject for 15 mins. The skin condition before and after the face mask application is measured by a skin meter, which provides results of whiteness, hydration, oiliness and elasticity of the skin. The test is performed on three different subjects. As can be seen in the results, the skin hydration and elasticity property increased significantly after using AMPE treated face mask for 15 minutes.

[0249] Example 9. AMPE wave treatment accelerates extraction of nutrients

[0250] When substances such as meats, plants, fruits etc. are immersed in the AMPE treated water, especially when the immersed substances are subjected directly to high strength AMPE pulsating field, animal or plant cell membrane can be permeated through or broken up resulting in better extraction of nutrients from the substances. This is useful in F&B process in producing juices, cold brew tea / coffer, broth / stock also for taste / flavor enhancement. Even without other direct treatment, the high penetration effect of the treated water also has strong penetration effect in extracting nutrient out from meat, or plant base food.

[0251] Without the anodic and cathodic reaction, AMPE wave is also able to treat salty broth or soup without the concern of chlorine evolution or hypochlorite formation. Yet the advantage is the extraction can take place within seconds or minutes depending on soup conductivity and giving a tastier and healthier soup. Comparing with pressure cooker or other thermal process, the nutrient can be better preserved as no prolong heating or high temperature to destroy the nutrient. With better extraction of nutrient, soup tastier and better soup will do away the MSG addition of enhancing food flavor which is an important improvement to healthier food.

[0252] Example 10. AMPE wave treatment accelerates fermentation process

[0253] In fermentation process such as converting glucose to alcohol and further to acid, the dehydrogenase enzyme of the yeast utilizes the chemical energy from glucose’s glycolysis process to perform the fermentation conversion process. AMPE wave treatment can accelerate the entire conversion from starch to alcohol further to acetic acid by providing free electron to promote the NAD+to NADH reactions and improve the enzyme function through higher vibration energy of water molecules.

[0254] Example 1 1. AMPE wave treatment improves cleaning effectiveness and water saving in laundry applications AMPE treated water can better penetrate the fine gaps in cloth linen fiber due to its high vibration energy. When using AMPE treated water for laundry washing, it is easier to remove the dirt from the fibers. In the rinsing process, the treated rinsing water is also more effective in removing the residual detergents from the clothing. Rinsing water contributes to the major water usage in laundry process and AMPE treated water saves large quantity of water especially in the rinsing process.

[0255] Example 12. AMPE wave treatment produces disinfection effect

[0256] AMPE wave treatment can produce disinfection effect by producing ions or electron current stream in water using the pulse voltage. The ionic / electron current stream of the hydrated electron and Lewis base water, together with the instantaneous pulse voltage act as a physical mean to penetrate animal cell membranes, plant cell cellular wall, thin to thick permeable or semi permeable film / membrane. This is very useful in producing the disinfection effect without increasing temperature.

[0257] Accordingly, the AMPE wave treatment can be applied for algae and bacteria control of water, which has huge applications in marine ballast water treatment, drinking water reservoir microalgae treatment, drinking water treatment process in water plant, cooling water treatment, swimming pool and spa water treatment, wastewater treatment, F&B disinfection (cold pasteurization), fish farming, medical applications, oil field injection water bacteria control and many other disinfection applications.

[0258] Example 13. AMPE wave treatment accelerates chemical reactions

[0259] The AMPE wave treatment process imparts entropy energy to all chemical species in the treated water or solution, thus can increase the chances and collisions rates between ions and molecules, accelerate formation of the desirable compound or products in water. For example, the AMPE wave can force precipitate CaCOs in bulk water without increasing temperature or ions concentration, just by using the elevated entropy energy of the treated bulk water and the chances of collision between calcium and carbonates / bicarbonates ions. This force precipitation method can also be used for precipitating CaSC (gypsum) in bulk water to reduce the CaSC scale formation on pipe wall.

[0260] Example 14. AMPE wave treatment effect is transportable The long-lasting free electron donating and elevated entropy energy level effects of the hydrated “free electron” of AMPE treated water is transportable, making it suitable for cooling water treatment application, particularly for scale, corrosion and bio-organism control. Cooling water commonly has long travel path and the AMPE treated water can continue to dissipate its entropy energy and electron donating effect throughout the whole cooling path. After the depletion of AMPE energy, it can be recharged again in the AMPE treatment system at the selected location such as cooling tower water basin for treatment and further recirculation.

[0261] Example 15. AMPE wave treatment facilitates removal of ions

[0262] AMPE wave can activate or excite the chloride or other ions activities. The excited chloride ions can be removed from water through spraying process or through heating / evaporation. This is particularly useful in boiler water treatment where high concentration of chloride ions is undesirable for corrosion control in boiler water.

[0263] Example 16. Lower level of AMPE wave promotes bacteria growth

[0264] AMPE wave can be adjusted to a lower energy level to promote bacteria growth in wastewater treatment plant. In wastewater treatment, bacteria are used to bio-degrade the organic wastes. Instead of using higher energy AMPE treatment for the disinfection effects, lower energy level AMPE is used as stimulating energy, as well as supplementing the enzyme function by mildly increasing the wastewater vibration energy. This stimulates the bacteria growth and reducing COD, BOD etc. of the wastewater.

[0265] Example 17. AMPE wave with prolonged pulses increases oxidation by-products as precursor for desirable reactions

[0266] Although the AMPE waveform is designed to have high alternating frequency and short alternating period to take advantage of the overpotential polarization time so as to avoid the undesirable anodic and cathodic reaction, the anodic or cathodic reaction by-products are desirable in certain applications.

[0267] With suitable wave duty cycle and polarity alternating frequency, instead of preventing chlorine / hypochlorite formation, the AMPE wave can force produce hypochlorite in high chloride content water to increase oxidation and accelerate the dissociation of Fe2+ion from steel surface. In this situation, the AMPE wave is adjusted to purposely prolong the unidirectional pulse number in each half cycle and to decrease the polarity reversing frequency. Accordingly, the adjusted AMPE wave can purposely promote anodic reactions and the production of dissolve Fe2+. The Fe2+is very useful as a precursor to produce the protective magnetite film on steel surface with the elevated entropy energy level of the AMPE wave treated water. This active way of promoting the magnetite layer has immense applications in controlling Sulphate Reducing Bacteria corrosion control for steel structures and pipelines.

[0268] Example 18. AMPE wave treatment for passive corrosion control of steel

[0269] In typical AMPE waves, the polarity reversal frequency can be adjusted not to promote the formation of hypochlorite. Such AMPE wave treatment can be applied as passive magnetite formation method for steel in low chloride content water only when there is oxygen corrosion taking place.

[0270] It should be noted that such passive formation of magnetite is different from the active magnetite formation described in the following Examples 19 and 20.

[0271] Example 19. AMPE wave treatment produces protective passivation film / coating on metallic structure

[0272] The AMPE wave treatment in a high chloride content bath or tank can be used to fast passivate the steel surface by forming a stable layer of magnetite coating. This protective magnetite coating on steel plates, pipes or other structure functions as a protective coating replacing the costly zinc primer or other primer coatings / paints.

[0273] Example 20. AMPE wave treatment replaces steel anodic protection in acidic environment

[0274] For the corrosion protection of steel tank for sulfuric acid storage, the steel tank plate is connected as anode to produce the magnetite coating in conventional anodic protection method. However, any imperfect or uneven protection will cause serious corrosion pits. With AMPE wave treatment method, it is sufficient to produce large quantity of Fe2+precursor in the bulk sulfuric acid. Such fast formation of Fe2+promotes fast and uniform formation of magnetite over the entire steel tank surface, so as to passivate the whole steel tank from further corrosion. Example 21 . AMPE wave treatment improves water capillary strength

[0275] AMPE wave treatment can increase the capillary strength of water. Good capillary strength is very important in transporting nutrients from soil mass to plant root through the root hair / soil interface and further uptaking into plant xylem to stems and leaves. Good transport and uptake of nutrient and water will greatly improve the agriculture yield or production. Accordingly, the AMPE wave treatment is also useful in agricultural applications, for example, the AMPE wave treated water can be used for agricultural irrigation.

[0276] Example 22. AMPE wave treatment increases water wettability

[0277] AMPE wave treatment can increase water wettability by increasing the fluctuation in water surface tension and capillary action strength. The increase of water wettability has great applications in water injection oil well application to increase the oil extraction from underground soil / oil reservoir. The AMPE wave treated injection water can better penetrate the fine gaps between the soil / sand particles to push out the oil trapped in the soil / sand crevices, thus increases the oil field recovery from well.

[0278] Preferences and options for a given aspect, feature or parameter of the invention should, unless the context indicates otherwise, be regarded as having been disclosed in combination with any and all preferences and options of all other aspects, features and parameters of the invention.

[0279] While the embodiments described herein are intended as an exemplary system and method, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments illustrated. Those skilled in the art will envision many other possible variations and modifications by means of the skilled person's common knowledge without departing from the scope of the invention, however, such variations and modifications should fall into the scope of this invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. Use of alternating multi-pulse embedded (AMPE) wave in treating aqueous or semiconductive fluid, wherein the AMPE wave comprises an alternating main AC wave and at least two unidirectional DC pulses embedded in each half cycle of the main AC wave.

2. The use according to claim 1 , wherein the AMPE wave has a net root mean square voltage equals to zero in each full cycle.

3. The use according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a full cycle of the AMPE wave consists of a positive half cycle and a negative half cycle whose shapes are identical to each other but in the opposite voltage direction.

4. The use according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the main AC wave and / or the embedded DC pulses are independently time varying or non-time varying.

5. The use according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the polarity alternating interval of the main AC wave is shorter than the overpotential polarization time of the anodic and / or cathodic reactions.

6. The use according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the polarity alternating interval is in the range of 1 x104second to a few seconds.

7. The use according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the number of unidirectional DC pulse in each half cycle is in the range of 2 to 1 x105pulses.

8. The use according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the AMPE wave creates free electrons and / or elevates bond vibration of water without causing anodic and cathodic reactions.

9. The use according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the AMPE wave is applied by at least one capacitive electrode pairs inside the fluid.

10. Method for treating a liquid using alternating multi-pulse embedded (AMPE) wave, comprising the steps of: generating an AMPE wave; and applying the AMPE wave to the liquid in either static or flowing state, wherein the AMPE wave has the features according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of identifying the type of the liquid to be treated for the determination of wave parameters of the AMPEwave to be applied.

12. The method according to claim 10 or 11 , further comprising the step of determining wave parameters based on manual selection of the user or based on real-time online feedback measurements.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the identification of liquid type and the feedback measurements include one or more of the conductivity, pH, or ORP of the liquid.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, further comprising the step of adjusting wave parameters based on real-time online feedback measurements during the treatment.

15. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 14, further comprising the step of determining operation mode of the treatment of the liquid between one pass, recirculating and batch treatment.

16. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 15, further comprising the step of preserving the antioxidizing ORP and energy obtained by the treatment.

17. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 16, further comprising the step of applying non-AMPE wave for incorporating desirable anodic or cathodic reactions in the treatment.

18. The method according to any one of claim 10 to 17, wherein the AMPE treatment provides one or more of the following effects:(1) generating antioxidizing free electron donating effect without the side anodic and cathodic reactions;(2) supplementing antioxidizing metabolic energy;(3) removing astringency mouthfeel and throat burning sensation of liquor;(4) reducing sourness and bitterness taste of beverage;(5) removing muddy smell of foods;(6) improving water penetration and migration strength;(7) accelerating extraction of nutrients;(8) accelerating fermentation process;(9) improving water cleaning effectiveness;(10) producing disinfection effect;(11 ) accelerating chemical reactions;(12) providing transportable free electron donating effect;(13) facilitating removal of ions;(14) producing protective passivation coating on metallic structure;(15) providing passive corrosion control of steel;(16) increasing water capillary strength and wettability.

19. System for treating a liquid using alternating multi-pulse embedded (AMPE) wave, comprising: a capacitive treatment chamber comprising capacitor electrodes arranged therein and a capacitive treatment chamber housing containing the liquid to be treated, a wave parameter controller / selector for selecting the wave parameters based on manual selection of the user or based on real-time online feedback measurement, a wave producing power switching generator, a power source for supplying AC and / or DC voltages, and a feedback controller for providing the real-time online feedback measurement of conductivity, pH, ORP of the liquid, wherein the AMPE wave has the features according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

20. Method for quantifying the antioxidizing free electron donating entropy energy of a liquid, relative to distilled water, comprising the steps of: measuring ORP potential (EORP) of the liquid vs Ag / AgCI reference cell; and calculating the energy according to the following equationAG — -nF(EoRP- 375 mV) wherein n is 1 and is the Faraday constant.

Images