Electron Cloud Dimension Control via Gas Medium for Container Sterilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container sterilization methods using accelerated charge carriers face challenges in adapting the size of the electron cloud to suit different container geometries without altering the acceleration voltage, leading to potential material damage or insufficient sterilization, and result in unnecessary radiation exposure.
Innovation Solution
A device with a treatment device having a media line and a protruding projection opposite the charge carrier exit window, allowing a medium to be introduced to adjust the dimension of the charge carrier cloud, which can be decelerated or redirected to absorb interference radiation, enabling the cloud's geometry to be controlled independently of the emitter power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the acceleration voltage is increased to improve sterilization effectiveness, then the sterilization effect is enhanced, but the charge carriers penetrate too deeply into the container material causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
A gas medium (such as nitrogen or air) is introduced as an intermediary between the electron beam source and the container inner wall. This gas medium absorbs excess electron energy through ionization and excitation processes, preventing direct deep penetration into the container material while maintaining effective sterilization at the target surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and composition parameters of the treatment environment by introducing controlled gas flows. This modifies the electron transport properties, reducing the mean free path of electrons and controlling their penetration depth to match the container wall thickness for optimal sterilization without damage.
2Manufacturing precision
If the electron cloud dimension is reduced to suit smaller containers, then the sterilization precision is improved, but the emitter power must be changed which reduces productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The gas medium serves as a controllable intermediary that allows dynamic adjustment of electron cloud dimensions through flow rate control, rather than requiring physical changes to the emitter system. This maintains constant emitter power while achieving precise adaptation to different container sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces dynamic control through variable gas flow rates that can be quickly adjusted between different container types. This dynamic parameter control enables rapid reconfiguration of the electron cloud dimensions without mechanical adjustments or emitter changes, maintaining high productivity.
3Reliability
If the treatment device is positioned close to the container opening for effective treatment, then the sterilization effectiveness is improved, but interference radiation exposes the environment unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potentially harmful interference radiation into a beneficial tool by using it to ionize the gas medium. This ionized gas then acts as a confined electron cloud that can be precisely directed into the container, transforming stray radiation into controlled sterilization while reducing environmental exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas medium acts as an intermediary that absorbs and confines the radiation within the container space. By introducing this medium, the radiation energy is utilized productively inside the container while preventing uncontrolled dispersion into the environment, thus protecting surrounding areas.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution allows for the adaptation of the charge carrier cloud's size to match various container types without changing the acceleration settings, ensuring effective sterilization and reducing radiation exposure by absorbing interference radiation, thus enhancing safety and efficiency in container sterilization processes.
Implementation Method 1
an acceleration device by which charge carriers can be accelerated in the direction of a charge carrier exit window
Implementation Method 2
by ionizing the gas, as an auxiliary agent for sterilization
Implementation Method 3
use ionizing radiation to achieve a germ reduction
Data Source
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AI summary
The device has an acceleration unit, by which charge carriers are accelerated in the direction of a charge carrier outlet window (4) arranged on a treatment unit (1). The treatment unit has a projection (5) projecting in the introduction direction against the charge carrier outlet window. A medium is supplied through a media line (7), and is dispensed by a media outlet opening (12) in the area of the charge carrier escaping from the charge carrier outlet window. The medium changes the dimension of a charge carrier cloud (6) formed by the escaped charge carrier. Independent claims are included for the following: (1) a system for treatment of containers; and (2) a method for sterilization of containers, particularly inner wall of containers by accelerated charge carrier.