WO2019033020A1

WO2019033020A1 - Cyclonic flow through a pulse electric field

Info

Publication number: WO2019033020A1
Application number: PCT/US2018/046300
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ezekiel Kruglick
Original assignee: Xinova, LLC
Priority date: 2017-08-11
Filing date: 2018-08-10
Publication date: 2019-02-14

Abstract

A pulsed electric field (PEF) system may include a tube, an electrode, and a flow inducer. The tube may include a cylindrical inner surface that defines an internal cavity. The internal cavity may be configured to permit a fluid to flow through the tube. At least a portion of the tube may be located proximate a treatment region. The electrode may be electrically coupled to a portion of the tube near the treatment region. The electrode may be configured to apply an electric field to the treatment region to kill pathogens in the fluid. The flow inducer may be coupled to a portion of the tube. The flow inducer may be configured to generate cyclonic flow of the fluid such that the fluid has the cyclonic flow while traversing the treatment region. Cyclonic flow of the fluid may be generated by the flow inducer subjecting the fluid to centripetal force.

Description

CYCLONIC FLOW THROUGH A PULSE ELECTRIC FIELD

BACKGROUND

Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this background section are not prior art to the claims in the present application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.

Pulsed electric field (PEF) systems may kill pathogens located in a fluid by applying an electric field to the fluid. A kill rate of the pathogens in the fluid exposed to PEF treatment may be constrained by a least effective part of the PEF system, which may be related to an unevenness of an electric field within the fluid. One problem with current designs of electrodes for PEF systems may be that electrodes may be designed for ease of cleaning and not for even application of the electric field. Thus, the kill rate of the pathogens in the fluid may be unsatisfactory in some current designs of PEF systems. SUMMARY

Techniques described herein generally relate to pulsed electric field (PEF) systems. In some examples, a PEF system may include a tube, an electrode, and a flow inducer. The tube may include a cylindrical inner surface that defines an internal cavity of the tube. The internal cavity of the tube may be configured to permit a fluid to flow through the tube. At least a first portion of the tube may be located proximate a treatment region. The electrode may be coupled to a second portion of the tube near the treatment region. The electrode may be configured to apply an electric field to the treatment region to kill pathogens in the fluid. The flow inducer may be coupled to a third portion of the tube. The flow inducer may be configured to generate cyclonic flow of the fluid such that the fluid has the cyclonic flow while passing through the treatment region. The cyclonic flow may be generated by subjecting the fluid to a centripetal force.

In some examples, a method may include receiving a fluid at an internal cavity of a tube. The tube may include a treatment region. The internal cavity of the tube may be configured to permit fluid to flow through the tube including through the treatment region. The method may include generating an electric field within the treatment region of the tube. The method may include generating cyclonic flow of the fluid at least within the treatment region of the tube. The cyclonic flow may be generated by subjecting the fluid to a centripetal force such that the fluid has the cyclonic flow while passing through the treatment region. The cyclonic flow may be generated by subjecting the fluid to a centripetal force.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The foregoing and other features of this disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only several embodiments in accordance with the disclosure and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, the disclosure will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates an example pulsed electric field (PEF) system that may be configured to generate cyclonic flow of a fluid;

Figure 2 illustrates another example PEF system that may be configured to generate cyclonic flow of a fluid;

Figures 3 A and 3B illustrate example pumps that that may be configured to generate cyclonic flow of a fluid;

Figure 4A illustrates yet another example PEF system with one or more vanes that may be configured to generate cyclonic flow of a fluid;

Figure 4B illustrates an example perspective view of the PEF system of Figure 3 A;

Figure 4C illustrates another example PEF system with multiple vanes that may be configured to generate cyclonic flow of a fluid;

Figures 5A-5D illustrate example vane configurations that may be used to generate cyclonic flow of a fluid in the PEF system of Figure 1 ;

Figure 6 illustrates an example PEF system with an offset tube that may be configured to generate cyclonic flow of a fluid;

Figure 7 illustrates an example PEF system with a pump and a vane that may be configured to generate cyclonic flow of a fluid;

Figure 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a tube and the electric field of an example PEF system; Figure 9 illustrates a flow diagram of an example method to generate cyclonic flow of a fluid in a PEF system that may be configured to kill pathogens in a fluid;

Figure 10 illustrates a flow diagram of an example method to construct a PEF system;

Figure 11 illustrates a block diagram of an example computing device that may be arranged to monitor and adjust characteristics of a PEF system;

Figure 12 illustrates an example PEF system with a flow inducer that includes multiple vanes that may be configured to generate cyclonic flow of a fluid; and

Figure 13 illustrates another example PEF system with a flow inducer that includes multiple vanes that may be configured to generate cyclonic flow of a fluid,

all arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented herein. The aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the Figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated herein.

This disclosure is generally drawn, inter alia, to methods, apparatus, systems, devices, and computer program products related to pulsed electric field (PEF) systems. For example, a PEF system may kill pathogens in a fluid as the fluid moves through a tube.

The PEF system may include electrodes that apply an electric field to the tube and to the fluid within the tube. For some conventional PEF systems, the electrodes may be designed for ease of cleaning and to simplify construction of the PEF system. Designing the electrodes for ease of cleaning and simpler construction, however, may result in the electrodes providing a non-uniformly distributed electric field. The non-uniformly distributed electric field in these conventional PEF system, may include some relatively weaker portions of the electric field within the tube. In some PEF systems, the electric field may be stronger near the walls of the tube. A negative consequence of the non-uniformly distributed electric field may include a reduced ability to kill pathogens in the fluid. For example, a kill rate of the pathogens in the fluid in the PEF system may include a percentage of pathogens in the fluid that may be killed while moving through the electric field. The kill rate of the pathogens in the fluid may be constrained by a portion of the fluid that receives a least effective PEF treatment, which may be related to the uneven distribution of the electric field.

One way to increase the kill rate of the pathogens in the fluid receiving PEF treatment may be to increase an amount of voltage provided to the electrode which may increase a strength of the electric field. However, increasing the amount of voltage provided to the electrode may cause undesirable side effects in the fluid, may consume more energy to operate, or may not be an acceptable manner to increase the kill rate of the pathogens in the fluid for other reasons. Many fluid producers may desire a more energy efficient PEF system that does not include the undesirable side effects caused by increasing the voltage provided to the electrode.

Additionally, some tubes may include fluid dynamic characteristics such that the tube may cause the fluid to travel through the tube at a non-uniform rate. For example, surface forces on the fluid caused by an inner surface of the tube may introduce drag on the fluid. As a result, fluid traveling near the center of the tube may move through the tube at a quicker rate and may include more pathogens and larger particles as compared to fluid traveling along or near an inner surface of the tube. Because the fluid traveling near the center of the tube may travel through the tube at a quicker rate, the fluid near the center of the tube may receive lower PEF treatment since the fluid near the center of the tube may be exposed to the electric field for a shorter amount of time. This may be particularly problematic in PEF systems where the electric field may be stronger near the walls of the tube and weaker near the center of the tube. In such PEF systems, the kill rate of the of the pathogens in the fluid near the center of the tube may be reduced as compared to the kill rate of the pathogens in the fluid near the walls since the larger particles and pathogens near the center of the tube may be exposed to the relatively weaker electric field near the center of the tube as compared to the relatively stronger electric field near the walls of tube.

Aspects of the present disclosure address these and other shortcomings of existing PEF systems by providing a PEF system with an increased kill rate of the pathogens in the fluid by at least partially compensating for the uneven distribution of electric fields in PEF systems. Briefly stated, in some examples, the PEF system may be configured to induce a cyclonic flow in the fluid within the tube. The cyclonic flow may be such that it may exert a force on the pathogens within the fluid away from the center of the tube and toward the walls of the tube. The force exerted by the cyclonic flow may be such that more pathogens are distributed toward the walls of the tube and exposed to higher levels of the electric field and/or an increased exposure time to the electric field than PEF systems that do not induce cyclonic flow of the fluid.

In some embodiments, the PEF system may include a tube, an electrode, and a flow inducer. The tube may include a cylindrical inner surface that defines an internal cavity of the tube. The internal cavity of the tube may be configured to permit a fluid to flow through the tube. At least a portion of the tube may include a treatment region. The electrode may be coupled to a portion of the tube near the treatment region. The electrode may be configured to apply an electric field to the treatment region to kill pathogens in the fluid. The flow inducer may be coupled to a portion of the tube. The flow inducer may be configured to generate cyclonic flow of the fluid while the fluid passes through the treatment region. Cyclonic flow of the fluid may cause pathogens or particles to move away from a central axis of the tube towards the cylindrical inner surface of the tube.

In one embodiment, the PEF system configured as described may increase the kill rate of the pathogens in the fluid. For example, by including the cyclonic flow in the PEF system, the distribution of pathogens in the fluid near the cylindrical inner surface of the tube may be increased, which may be where the electric field may be relatively stronger as compared to near a central axis of the tube that may run at the center of and parallel to the walls of the tube. Additionally or alternatively, the cyclonic flow of the fluid may increase exposure of the pathogens to hydrodynamic forces that may weaken the pathogens and make the pathogens more susceptible to the electric field.

Figure 1 illustrates an example PEF system 100 that may be configured to generate cyclonic flow. The PEF system 100 may include a tube 102, a flow inducer 124, one or more electrodes 1 lOa-d, and a control system 126. The tube 102 may be coupled to a portion of the one or more electrodes HOa-d near a treatment region 101. The tube 102 may be coupled to a portion of the flow inducer 124. The tube 102 may be configured to have a fluid flow through it. In some instances, the fluid may include pathogens 104. The control system 126 may be electrically coupled to a portion of the flow inducer 124.

The PEF system 100 may generate cyclonic flow of the fluid at least within the treatment region 101. The one or more electrodes 1 lOa-d may be configured to generate an electric field 1 12. The treatment region 101 may be located proximate a portion of the tube 102 where cyclonic flow of the fluid and the electric field 1 12 may be simultaneously present. Exposing the pathogens 104 to the electric field 112 in the treatment region 101 may cause a percentage of the pathogens 104 to be killed, such as through a process called electroporation or other phenomena. Exposing the pathogens 104 to the electric field 1 12 may cause pores of a structure of the pathogens 104 to open. Opening the pores of the structure of the pathogens 104 may cause the pathogens 104 to be more susceptible to extended exposure to the electric field 1 12 and other forces that may kill the pathogens 104. Pathogens 104 that may be killed by the PEF system 100 may include E. coli (including non-pathogenic E. coli), yeast, lactic acid bacteria, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, mold, and any other bacteria.

In at least some embodiments, the electric field 112 may be stronger near a cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 102 as compared to near a central axis 114 of the tube 102 (e.g., 1.5 times, 2 times, 10 times, or more). For example, the electric field 1 12 may be stronger near the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 102 due to the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 102 being closer in proximity to the one or more electrodes 1 lOa-d as compared to the central axis 1 14 of the tube 102. Likewise, the electric field 1 12 may be weaker along the central axis 114 of the tube 102 due to an increased distance from the one or more electrodes 1 lOa-d. In some embodiments, the one or more electrodes 1 10a- d may apply the electric field 1 12 in the treatment region 101 in a pulsed manner (e.g. , as a PEF) by receiving intermittent voltage pulses from one or more voltage sources (e.g. , the electric field 112 may be generated based on intermittent voltage pulses). In some embodiments, a pulse frequency of the intermittent voltage pulses may be between four thousand and six thousand hertz (Hz). In these and other embodiments, an active pulse width of the intermittent voltage pulses may be between three and five microseconds (μββο). Additionally, in some embodiments, a number of pulses of the electric field 1 12 the fluid may be exposed to in the treatment region 101 may be between two and five pulses.

In at least one embodiment, the electric field 112 may be axi symmetrically distributed around the central axis 114 of the tube 102. In at least some embodiments, "axisymmetrical" may refer to the electric field 1 12 exhibiting symmetry around an axis (e.g. , the central axis 1 14 of the tube 102). An example of the electric field 112 is described in further detail below in conjunction with Figure 8.

The tube 102 may be formed as a cylinder with an internal cavity 108 or passageway. A diameter of the internal cavity 108 of the tube 102 may be defined by the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 102. The tube 102 may include an outer diameter that may be related to a thickness of the tube 102 and the internal diameter of the internal cavity 108 of the tube 102. For example, the outer diameter may be the internal diameter plus two times the thickness of the tube 102. The tube 102 may include a tube inlet 116 and a tube outlet 118.

The tube 102 may permit the fluid to generally move through the tube inlet 116 into the internal cavity 108 of the tube 102 in the direction of traverse 120 which may be generally parallel to the central axis 114 of the tube 102. The tube 102 may be configured to facilitate lateral movement of the fluid through the internal cavity 108 of the tube 102 in the direction of traverse 120 toward the tube outlet 1 18. In some embodiments, a temperature of the fluid before being exposed to the electric field 112 may be between five and fifteen degrees Celsius (°C). In these and other embodiments, the temperature of the fluid after being exposed to the electric field 1 12 may be between eighteen and forty °C.

The flow inducer 124 may generate cyclonic flow of the fluid. The fluid may have the cyclonic flow while the fluid passes through the treatment region 101. The cyclonic flow may be generated by the flow inducer 124 subjecting the fluid to a centripetal force. The centripetal force may cause the fluid to move through the tube 102 along a curvilinear path 122 about the central axis 1 14 of the tube 102. For example, the centripetal force may cause the fluid to flow through the tube 102 along the curvilinear path 122 while flowing through the tube 102 in the direction of traverse 120. The curvilinear path 122 may include a circular shape, a helical shape, or a spiral shape, etc. For example, the flow inducer 124 may cause the fluid to move through the internal cavity 108 of the tube 102 along the curvilinear path 122 at an angle of rotation about the central axis 114 of the tube 102 that may be different than parallel to the central axis 114 of the tube 102. For example, the angle of rotation may be different than an angle that may be perpendicular to or parallel to the central axis 1 14 of the tube 102 such that the curvilinear path 122 has a component in the direction of traverse 120 but is not entirely in the direction of traverse 120, which may result in the curvilinear path 122 having a circular shape, a helical shape, or a spiral shape, etc. The flow inducer 124 may cause the fluid to flow through the tube 102 at an angle of rotation that is greater than zero degrees from the central axis 114 of the tube 102 and that may be less than ninety degrees from the central axis 1 14 of the tube 102. In the present disclosure, reference made to the fluid having, moving at, or moving along an angle of rotation may refer to the angle of rotation of the curvilinear path 122 referred to above.

In some embodiments, cyclonic flow of the fluid may cause the fluid to rotate within the treatment region 101 at greater than zero rotations per minute (RPM). In some embodiments, the RPM of the fluid may be based on the internal diameter of the tube 102. The RPM of the fluid may be smaller for tubes with larger diameters and larger for tubes with smaller diameters. For example, in some embodiments, cyclonic flow of the fluid may cause the fluid to rotate within the treatment region 101 between 1,000 - 100,000 RPM. In some embodiments, tubes with diameters that are more than one centimeter may cause the fluid to have RPM' s in a lower end of the range (e.g., lower end of 1,000 - 10,000 RPMs) and tubes with diameters that are substantially smaller than a centimeter may cause the fluid to have RPM' s in an upper end of the range.

The flow inducer 124 may be coupled to a portion of the tube 102. For example, in the illustrated example of Figure 1, the flow inducer 124 may be coupled to the tube inlet 116. In some embodiments, the flow inducer 124 may include a pump (not illustrated in Figure 1) coupled to a portion of the tube inlet 1 16. Example configurations in which the flow inducer 124 includes a pump are further described below in conjunction with Figures 2 and 5A-5B.

In another example, the flow inducer 124 may include an offset tube (not illustrated in Figure 1) coupled to a portion (e.g., the tube inlet 116) of the tube 102. An example configuration in which the flow inducer 124 includes an offset tube is further described below in conjunction with Figure 6.

Additionally or alternatively, the flow inducer 124 may be located or positioned within the internal cavity 108 of the tube 102. For example, the flow inducer 124 may include one or more vanes located within the internal cavity 108 of the tube 102. Example configurations in which the flow inducer 124 includes one or more vanes are further described below in conjunction with Figures 3A-3C, 7A-7D, 8, 12, and 13.

As discussed above, cyclonic flow of the fluid may cause the pathogens 104 in the fluid to move away from the central axis 114 of the tube 102 towards the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 102, depending on their buoyancy. The pathogens 104 may move towards the cylindrical inner surface 106 of tube 102 due to a centrifugal force being applied to the pathogens 104 by the cyclonic flow of the fluid. The centrifugal force may cause the pathogens 104 to experience inertial forces towards the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 102, which may cause the pathogens 104 to move away from a center of a path of rotation (e.g., the central axis 114 of the tube 102). As the fluid and pathogens 104 generally follow the curvilinear path 122, the centrifugal force may increase as a rate of rotation of the fluid increases. The increased centrifugal force may cause the pathogens 104 to move along the curvilinear path 122 and further away from the central axis 114 of the tube 102 and towards the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 102. The pathogens 104 moving towards the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 102 may reduce a number of the pathogens 104 along or near the central axis 114 of the tube 102. When the centrifugal force exceeds a level greater than forces in the fluid that may constrain the pathogens 104, the pathogens 104 may tend to move through the fluid towards the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 102 and may move through the tube 102, such as in a helical pattern as illustrated in Figure 1. Some embodiments of the PEF system 100 may cause more than 90% of the pathogens 104 in the fluid to move towards the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 102 within the treatment region 101. In some embodiments, the amount of time the fluid may be exposed to the electric field 112 may be between twenty and forty five βεϋ. In these and other embodiments, the fluid may include a conductivity between one and four millisiemens per centimeter (mS/cm).

In another embodiment, cyclonic flow may be generated in the fluid by the flow inducer 124 within the portion of the tube 102 that the electric field 112 spans (e.g., the treatment region 101). For example, the electric field 1 12 may be present at or near the tube inlet 1 16 in the example configuration in which the flow inducer 124 includes the pump. Cyclonic flow of the fluid may be present throughout the tube 102 or in a segment of the tube 102, such as between the tube inlet 1 16 and the tube outlet 118. In another example, in the example configuration in which the flow inducer 124 includes the vane, the vane may start a first distance downstream of the tube inlet 116 and the electric field 112 may be present between the first distance downstream of the tube inlet 1 16 and the tube outlet 118, as further described below.

As discussed above, the electric field 112 may be relatively stronger along the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 102 near the one or more electrodes HOa-d as compared to near or along the central axis 114 of the tube 102. The pathogens 104 moving towards the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 102 or away from the central axis 1 14 of the tube 102 may create a non-homogenous distribution of the pathogens 104 in the fluid within the tube 102 in which an increased amount of the pathogens 104 may be positioned near the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 102 (where the electric field 112 may be relatively stronger) and a reduced amount of the pathogens 104 may be positioned near the central axis 114 of the tube 102 (where the electric field 112 may be relatively weaker). Cyclonic flow of the fluid causing the pathogens 104 to move towards the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 102 may increase a kill rate of the pathogens 104 in the fluid (e.g., a percentage of the pathogens 104 in the fluid that may be killed) in the treatment region In some embodiments, the increase in the kill rate of the pathogens 104 in the fluid may be caused by an increased amount of pathogens 104 that may be exposed to a stronger magnitude of the electric field 112. Additionally or alternatively, the increase in the kill rate of the pathogens 104 in the fluid may be caused by extra hydrodynamic forces that may be exerted on the pathogens 104 by the cyclonic flow.

For example, in some instances, the number of rotations the pathogens 104 make while traversing the tube 102 may affect an amount of hydrodynamic forces that may act on particles or pathogens 104 in the fluid. As such, in some embodiments, a kill rate of the pathogens 104 in the fluid may be increased by increasing the number of rotations the pathogens 104 make, and in particular by increasing the number of rotations the pathogens 104 make in the treatment region 101 in some instances. The number of rotations the pathogens 104 make may be increased by modifying the rate of rotation of the fluid. For example, the angle the pathogens 104 may be flowing along the curvilinear path 122 (e.g., the angle of rotation) may be increased to a higher angle above the angle parallel to the central axis 114 of the tube 102. For example, in some instances, the angle of rotation may be between thirty and fifty nine degrees above the angle parallel to the central axis 1 14 of the tube 102. Increasing the angle of rotation from thirty and fifty nine degrees to be between sixty and below ninety degrees above the angle parallel to the central axis 1 14 of the tube 102 may increase the number of rotations the pathogens 104 make within the treatment region 101. The amount that the angle of rotation of the fluid may be increased toward being perpendicular to the central axis 1 14 of the tube 102 may be based on the internal diameter of the tube 102 in some instances. For example, the larger the diameter of the tube 102, the closer the angle of rotation may approach ninety degrees above the angle parallel to the central axis 1 14 of the tube 102. The angle of rotation of the fluid in the tube 102 may be adjusted using various pumps, pump inlets, pump outlets, one or more vanes, or a combination thereof, as described herein.

In some embodiments, the kill rate of the pathogens 104 in the fluid may be increased by reducing a rate at which the pathogens 104 traverse the tube 102 in the direction of traverse 120. The rate at which the pathogens 104 traverse the tube 102 may be reduced, for example, by reducing a flow rate of the fluid (e.g., a fluid flow rate). In some embodiments, the centripetal force associated with the cyclonic flow may be at least partially based on the flow rate and the angle of rotation of the fluid in which a lower flow rate may correspond to a lower amount of centripetal force and in which an increase in the angle of rotation (e.g., a change in the angle of rotation such that the angle of rotation may be closer to being perpendicular to the central axis 1 14 of the tube 102) may correspond to a higher amount of centripetal force. As such, in some instances, the angle of rotation of the fluid may be increased in response to reducing the flow rate to maintain a target amount of centripetal force with respect to the cyclonic flow. In some embodiments, a flow rate set point of the fluid may be between 0.1 and two liters per minute (1/min).

In the example configuration in which the flow inducer 124 includes a pump, the angle of rotation may be modified by adjusting the angle that the pump outputs the fluid. In another example configuration, an angle that the pump receives the fluid may be modified to adjust the angle of rotation. Different configurations of the pump and how the pump may modify the angle of rotation are described in further detail below in conjunction with Figures 5A and 5B.

In the example configuration in which the flow inducer 124 includes one or more vanes, the angle of rotation may be modified by adjusting a vane angle of rotation. The vane angle of rotation and the one or more vanes are described in further detail below in conjunction with Figures 3A-3C.

In another example, the angle of rotation may be adjusted by modifying an angle in which an offset tube (not illustrated in Figure 1) introduces additional fluid into the tube 102. The offset tube is described in further detail below in conjunction with Figure 6.

Additionally, cyclonic flow of the fluid may increase the amount of pathogens 104 that collide with the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 102 and/or collide with other pathogens 104. The pathogens 104 that collide with the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 102 may be exposed to a shear force. Additionally or alternatively, the pathogens 104 may be exposed to a shear force caused by acceleration due to cyclonic motion that may direct the pathogens 104 along a curvilinear path near the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 102. The direction of the shear force may be in a different direction than the direction of traverse 120, the curvilinear path 122, or both the direction of traverse 120 and the curvilinear path 122. Exposure of the pathogens 104 to the shear force may further weaken the structure (e.g., cell wall) of the pathogens 104. When the structure of the pathogens 104 may be in a weakened state, the pathogens 104 may be more susceptible to exposure to the electric field 112, additional shear force, or to a collision with another pathogen 104. As such, increased exposure to shear forces that may be caused by the cyclonic flow may increase the kill rate of the pathogens 104 in the fluid within the treatment region 101. In an example embodiment, the tube 102 may include an internal diameter between 0.1 and 20 centimeters (cm). The fluid may move through the tube 102 at a rate of traverse between 300 and 1000 cm per second (CPS) and move at a rate of rotation between 10 and 300 rotations per second (RPS). In another example, the internal diameter of the tube 102 may be approximately 10 cm, the fluid may include a rate of traverse of approximately 655 CPS and a rate of rotation of approximately 33 RPS. In this configuration, the fluid may travel approximately 19 cm along the direction of traverse 120 per rotation of the fluid. In another example, the internal diameter of the tube 102 may be approximately 0.18 cm, the rate of rotation may be approximately 248 RPS and the rate of traverse may be approximately 2.63 cm per rotation. In another example embodiment, cyclonic flow of the fluid may be generated between 0 and 100 cm prior to the fluid entering the electric field 112. Additionally, some example embodiments may generate cyclonic flow of the fluid 10 cm or more prior to the fluid entering the electric field 1 12, which may cause the pathogens 104 to move towards the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 102 prior to entering the electric field 1 12. In this configuration, the angle of rotation may be one or more degrees above parallel to the central axis 1 14 of the tube 102.

In yet another example, the internal diameter of the tube 102 may be approximately 1.8 cm, the flow rate may be between 0.5 Liters per minute and 1 Liter per minute, the flow speed in the direction of traverse 120 may be between 0.03 meters/second and 0.06 meters/second, and the rate of rotation of the fluid may be approximately 11,000 RPM. In at least one embodiment, the fluid may rotate once every five milliseconds. In another example configuration, the internal diameter of the tube 102 may be approximately 1.8 cm, the flow speed in the direction of traverse 120 may be 0.03 m/s, and the angle of rotation may be 0.07 degrees above or below the angle parallel to the central axis 1 14 of the tube 102. In this configuration, the fluid may travel 0.15 millimeters per rotation.

The control system 126 may monitor and/or control operation of the PEF system 100. The control system 126 may monitor system characteristics of the fluid, such as the rate of traverse, the rate of rotation, the speed of the fluid at various points within the flow, the acceleration or shear within the fluid, the distribution of particles and pathogens 104, the time spent in various electric field regions by the flow or other system characteristics such as the kill rate of the pathogens 104 in the fluid within the treatment region 101. Monitoring the rate of traverse may indicate how quickly the fluid travels or moves in the direction of traverse 120. Monitoring the rate of rotation and/or angle of rotation may include identifying an angle at which the fluid flows or moves along the curvilinear path 122.

In some embodiments, the control system 126 may be electrically coupled to a portion of the flow inducer 124. The control system 126 may monitor the system characteristics of the fluid output by the flow inducer 124. In another embodiment, the control system 126 may include or be coupled to sensors located within the internal cavity 108 of the tube 102. For example, the control system 126 may be electrically coupled to a hot-wire anemometer (not illustrated) at or near the tube inlet 1 16 and/or tube outlet 118. A thermal load of a wire in the hot-wire anemometer may change as the rate of traverse, rate of rotation, and/or angle of rotation changes. In another example, the control system 126 may be electrically coupled to a turbidity sensor (not illustrated) that may be located at a port in the tube 102. The turbidity sensor may monitor an amount of light that passes through the fluid as the fluid passes by the port at which the turbidity sensor is located. The sensors may be configured to measure the system characteristics of the fluid within the internal cavity 108 of the tube 102. In yet another embodiment, the control system 126 may monitor the fluid output by the tube outlet 118.

The control system 126 may display a status of the system characteristics and other information on a display such as a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI may include a dashboard configured to display the system characteristics of the fluid. The dashboard may be configured to display any changes that the system characteristics of the fluid experience in real-time. The dashboard may present one or more of the system characteristics of the fluid in a single window of the dashboard. Alternatively or additionally, the dashboard may be configured to display the system characteristics of the fluid in sub fields or multiple windows within the dashboard. A processor may be configured to receive the input from the user through the GUI. The processor may be configured to transmit the input received from the user to the control system 126. Alternatively or additionally, the processor may cause a transmitter to transmit the input received from the user to the control system 126. The control system 126 may adjust or modify one or more of the system characteristics of the fluid based on the user input received by the GUI.

In some embodiments, the control system 126 may adjust one or more of the system characteristics of the fluid based on the monitoring. For example, in response to one of the system characteristics of the fluid exceeding a first threshold value or dropping below a second threshold value, the control system 126 may adjust one or more of the system characteristics of the fluid in an attempt to have the system characteristic of the fluid be within the first threshold value and the second threshold value. For example, if the kill rate of the pathogens 104 in the fluid drops below the second threshold value, the control system 126 may decrease the flow rate of the fluid and may increase the rate of rotation as discussed above. Decreasing the flow rate of the fluid and increasing the rate of rotation may adjust the cyclonic flow in the treatment region 101. For example, in the example configuration in which the flow inducer 124 includes a pump with an adjustable inlet or outlet, the control system 126 may cause the adjustable inlet or outlet to reconfigure or move. Moving the adjustable inlet or outlet may change an angle the pump outputs the fluid and may modify the angle of rotation that the fluid moves along the curvilinear path 122. In another example, in the example configuration in which the flow inducer 124 includes the pump, the control system 126 may decrease the flow rate by reducing an amount of pressure that the pump applies to the fluid.

Additionally or alternatively, in the embodiment in which the flow inducer 124 includes the pump, the control system 126 may adjust the cyclonic flow by increasing or decreasing the angle of rotation of the fluid above the angle parallel to the central axis 1 14 of the tube 102 and by increasing or decreasing the flow rate of the fluid. In an example, the control system 126 may decrease a speed of an impeller of the pump to decrease the flow rate of the fluid.

Modifications, additions, combinations, or omissions may be made to the PEF system 100 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The present disclosure may apply to a PEF system that may include one or more flow inducers 124, one or more tubes 102, one or more control systems 126, one or more other components, or any combination thereof.

Moreover, the separation of various components in the embodiments described in the present disclosure is not meant to indicate that the separation occurs in all embodiments. It may be understood with the benefit of this disclosure that the described components may be integrated together in a single component or separated into multiple components.

Figure 2 illustrates another example PEF system 200 that may be configured to generate cyclonic flow. The PEF system 200 may include the tube 102 and the one or more electrodes 1 lOa-d of Figure 1 and a flow inducer. The one or more electrodes 1 lOa-d may be configured to apply the electric field 1 12 as discussed above in relation to Figure 1.

In the configuration of Figure 2, the flow inducer may include a pump 228. The pump 228 may be coupled to a portion of the tube inlet 116. Additionally, the pump 228 may be configured to regulate the flow rate as discussed above. The pump 228 may be configured to generate cyclonic flow of the fluid by causing the fluid to flow through the tube 102 along the curvilinear path 122. The pump 228 may generate cyclonic flow of the fluid through an inlet with a center that is offset from the central axis 1 14 of the tube 102. The offset inlet of the pump 228 is described in further detail below in conjunction with Figure 3A. Additionally or alternatively, the pump 228 may be configured to generate cyclonic flow of the fluid through an outlet with a center that is offset from the central axis 1 14 of the tube 102. The offset outlet of the pump 228 is described in further detail below in conjunction with Figure 3B. The pump 228 may be configured to generate cyclonic flow of the fluid prior to the fluid entering the electric field 112. In the configuration of Figure 2, the pump 228 may be configured to generate cyclonic flow of the fluid at or near the tube inlet 1 16 and the electric field 112 may be located a particular distance downstream of the pump 228.

Figures 3A and 3B illustrate example pumps 328a-b that may be configured to generate cyclonic flow. The pumps 328a-b may be implemented in the PEF system 200 of Figure 2 and/or in other PEF systems. The pumps 328a-b may share a center axis with the central axis 114 of the tube 102 of Figure 1.

With reference to Figure 3 A, a pump outlet 342a may be coupled to a portion of the tube inlet 116 of Figure 1. In at least one embodiment, the pump outlet 342a may be concentrically aligned with the central axis 114 of the tube 102. A pump inlet 340a may be configured to receive the fluid from a fluid source. In at least one embodiment, a central axis of the pump inlet 340a may be offset from the central axis 114 of the tube 102. The offset of the central axis of the pump inlet 340a may be configured to generate cyclonic flow of the fluid. The central axis of the pump inlet 340a being offset from the central axis 114 of the tube 102 may create a force that causes the fluid in the tube 102 to flow along the curvilinear path 122. For example, the pump inlet 340a may be positioned on the pump 328a at an angle that may not be perpendicular to the central axis 114 of the tube 102 and may not be parallel to the central axis 114 of the tube 102. The offset of the pump inlet 340a may generate cyclonic flow of the fluid by receiving the fluid moving in a direction, and the offset angle of the pump inlet 340a directs the fluid at the angle that may not be perpendicular to the central axis 114 of the tube 102 and may not be parallel to the central axis 114 of the tube 102. For example, a portion within the pump 328a may be formed as a tunnel. The tunnel may be coupled to a portion of the tube inlet 116. The pump inlet 340a may receive the fluid and the fluid may travel through the tunnel within the pump 328a. The tunnel may be formed such that the tunnel rotates within the pump 328a. The rotation of the tunnel within the pump 328a may be configured to generate cyclonic flow of the fluid. In another example, the pump 328a may include an impeller that causes the fluid to travel through the pump inlet 340a. The impeller may cause the fluid to rotate within the pump 328a. The impeller may be configured to direct the fluid through the tube outlet 1 18 with cyclonic flow. The pump outlet 342a may be configured to output the fluid with cyclonic flow into the internal cavity 108 of the tube 102. The pump outlet 342a may be parallel to the central axis 1 14 of the tube 102. The pump outlet 342a may include geometries that may be configured to maintain cyclonic flow of the fluid through the pump outlet 342a. The fluid may exit the pump outlet 342a in the direction of rotation and along the curvilinear path 122.

With reference to Figure 3B, the pump 328b may include a pump inlet 340b configured to receive fluid, which may be generally travelling in the direction of traverse 120 at the pump inlet 340b. The pump 328b may include a pump outlet 342b coupled to a portion of the tube inlet 1 16. A portion of a pump body of the pump 328b may be coupled to a portion of the tube inlet 116. For example, the pump outlet 342b may be press fit, slip fit, compression fit, clamped, or welded, or attached by any other mechanism to the tube inlet 1 16. The pump outlet 342b may be offset from the central axis 114 of the tube 102 such that the pump outlet 342b may generate the cyclonic flow of the fluid. The pump outlet 342b may include an outlet angle similar to the angle of rotation. The pump 328b may apply a force to the fluid. The force being applied to the fluid by the pump 328b may cause the fluid to exit the pump 328b through the pump outlet 342b at the outlet angle. The force being applied to the fluid may include a centripetal force that may cause the cyclonic flow. The angle at which the fluid exits the pump 328b may correspond to an angle of the curvilinear path 122 and may be an angle not perpendicular to the central axis 114 of the tube 102 and not parallel to the central axis 114 of the tube 102.

Figure 4A illustrates yet another example PEF system 400a with one or more vanes 429a that may be configured to generate cyclonic flow. The PEF system 400a may include the tube 102 and the one or more electrodes 1 lOa-d of Figure 1. The PEF system 400a may illustrate an example configuration in which the flow inducer 124 may be positioned within the internal cavity 108 of the tube 102.

The flow inducer 124 may include a vane 429a. The vane 429a may be configured to generate cyclonic flow of the fluid. In one embodiment, a portion of the vane 429a may be coupled to a portion of the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 102. In this embodiment, a surface of the vane 429a may extend a second distance from the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 102 towards the central axis 1 14 of the tube 102. In another embodiment, the vane 429a may share a lateral axis with the central axis 1 14 of the tube 102 and the surface of the vane 429a may extend from the central axis 1 14 of the tube 102 towards the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 102. In yet another embodiment, the vane 429a may be a groove (not illustrated) in the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 102. Different configurations of the vane 429a are further described below in conjunction with Figures 5A-5D.

A length of the vane 429a may span between the tube inlet 116 and the tube outlet 118. For example, a first end of the vane 429a may be positioned at a first distance downstream of the tube inlet 116 and a second end of the vane 429a may end at the tube outlet 1 18. For another example, the vane 429a may be positioned at the tube inlet 116 and may end at a third distance upstream of the tube outlet 1 18. In another example, the vane 429a may be positioned at a fourth distance downstream of the tube inlet 116 and may end a fifth distance upstream of the tube outlet 118. Additionally, the length of the vane 429a may be longer than the portion of the tube 102 where the electric field 112 spans. Alternatively, the vane 429a may be positioned within the portion of the tube 102 where the electric field 112 spans. The example embodiment in which the vane 429a and the electric field 1 12 may be simultaneously present may include the treatment region 101 of the PEF system 400a. The vane 429a may be positioned at the tube inlet 116 and may end at the tube outlet 1 18.

As the vane 429a extends through the tube 102, the vane 429a may have a vane angle of rotation. For example, the vane 429a may twist along the vane angle of rotation as the vane 429a extends through the tube 102. The vane angle of rotation may be set based on a particular angle of rotation that may be determined for the cyclonic flow of the fluid (e.g. , along the curvilinear path 122). In at least one embodiment, the vane angle of rotation may cause the cyclonic flow of the fluid. For example, the vane 429a may generate cyclonic flow of the fluid by causing the fluid to flow through the tube 102 at or near the vane angle of rotation. For example, when the fluid enters the tube 102, the fluid may generally be traversing the tube 102 parallel to the central axis 114 of the tube 102 in the direction of traverse 120. The fluid may come in contact with the vane 429a (e.g., the surface of the vane 429a). The fluid contacting the surface of the vane 429a may direct the fluid along the curvilinear path 122.

Contact of the pathogens 104 with the surface of the vane 429a may apply additional shear force on the pathogens 104. The shear force may be caused by the surface of the vane 429a applying a force in a different direction than a path along which the pathogens 104 may travel. For example, when the pathogens 104 may be directed along the curvilinear path 122 by the vane 429a, the shear force may be applied in a direction that may not be along the curvilinear path 122. Additionally, the vane 429a may cause the pathogens 104 in the fluid to collide with the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 102. The shear force caused by the pathogens 104 experiencing acceleration associated with changes in flow direction or colliding with the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 102, the surface of the vane 429a, into other pathogens 104, or any combination thereof may increase the kill rate of the pathogens 104 in the fluid within the treatment region 101.

As the fluid flows along the surface of the vane 429a along the curvilinear path 122, the pathogens 104 may move towards the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 102. As the pathogens 104 move towards the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 102, the pathogens 104 may be exposed to the stronger magnitude of the electric field 112 generated by the one or more electrodes 1 lOa-d.

In an example embodiment, a first end of the vane 429a may be positioned in the internal cavity 108 of the tube 102 prior to the electric field 112. In at least one embodiment, the first end of the vane 429a may be positioned in the internal cavity 108 of the tube 102 between the tube inlet 116 and the electric field 1 12 and a second end of the vane may be positioned between the tube outlet 118 and the electric field 112. The electric field 1 12 may span between the first end of the vane 429a and the second end of the vane 429a. In another example embodiment, the first end of the vane 429a may be positioned in the internal cavity 108 of the tube 102 between the tube inlet 1 16 and the electric field 112 and the second end of the vane 429a may be positioned in the internal cavity 108 of the tube 102 within the electric field 112. In an example embodiment, the first end of the vane 429a may be positioned in the internal cavity 108 of the tube 102 within the electric field 1 12. In at least one embodiment, the first end of the vane 429a may be positioned in the internal cavity 108 of the tube 102 within the electric field 112 and the second end of the vane 429a may be positioned in the internal cavity 108 of the tube 102 between the tube outlet 118 and the electric field 1 12. In another example embodiment, the first end of the vane 429a may be positioned in the internal cavity 108 of the tube 102 within the electric field 112 and the second end of the vane 429a may be positioned in the internal cavity 108 of the tube 102 within the electric field 112.

In some embodiments, the vane 429a may be configured as an electrode. For example, the vane 429a may be configured to apply the electric field 112. A configuration in which the vane 429a may be configured as an electrode may cause the electric field 1 12 to penetrate the fluid in the internal cavity 108 of the tube 102 at a more uniform rate. Applying the electric field 112 using the vane 429a as an electrode may increase the kill rate of the pathogens 104 in the fluid in the treatment region 101 by exposing the pathogens 104 to the stronger magnitude portion of the electric field 112. In some embodiments, the vane 429a may include multiple vanes which may be configured as electrodes. Each of the multiple vanes may have different voltage values so as to induce electric fields between each of the vanes.

Figure 4B illustrates an example perspective view of the PEF system 400a of Figure 4A. The perspective view in Figure 4B is illustrated from a perspective of looking through the tube 102 along the central axis 1 14 of the tube 102. As illustrated in Figure 4B, the vane 429a may include a twist as the vane 429a extends through the tube 102. The rotation of the twist of the vane 429a, for example, may be in a helical or spiral shape. The fluid and the pathogens 104 may flow along the surface of the vane 429a following the helical shape of the vane 429a.

Figure 4C illustrates another example PEF system 400b with multiple vanes 429a- b that may be configured to generate cyclonic flow. The PEF system 400b may include the tube 102 and the one or more electrodes HOa-d of Figure 1. The multiple vanes 429a-b may be spaced any distance from each other, including a uniformly spaced distance through the tube 102 and a non-uniformly spaced distance through the tube 102. The multiple vanes 429a-b may be located on opposite sides of the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 102. The multiple vanes 429a-b may include similar vane angles of rotation such that the multiple vanes 429a-b rotate symmetrically and do not overlap within the tube 102. The multiple vanes 429a-b may transmit a relatively greater amount of moment than the PEF system 400a of Figure 4A. The relatively greater amount of moment may be due to an increased surface area of the multiple vanes 429a-b that the pathogens 104 may contact compared to the PEF system 400a of Figure 4A.

In some embodiments, the multiple vanes 429a-b may include multiple pieces of material that may be configured to cause cyclonic flow of the fluid. Additionally or alternatively, each of the multiple vanes 429a-b may include a single piece of material. An example configuration in which each of the multiple vanes 429a-b include a single piece of material is further described below in conjunction with Figure 5C. An example configuration in which the multiple vanes 429a-b include multiple pieces of material is further described below in conjunction with Figure 5D. In some embodiments, one or more of the multiple vanes 429a-b may be configured as an additional electrode. In the configuration in which the one or more of the multiple vanes 429a-b may be configured as an additional electrode, the electric field 112 may be applied more uniformly within the tube 102.

Figures 5A-5D illustrate example vane configurations 529a-d that may be used to generate cyclonic flow in the PEF system 100 of Figure 1. In some embodiments, the vane configurations 529a-d may be used in combination with pumps in order to generate cyclonic flow. Referring to Figure 5A, the vane 529a may include a continuous sheet of material (e.g., a continuous sheet of twisted material). The vane 529a may twist as the vane 529a extends through the tube 102 along the central axis 114 of the tube 102. The vane 529a may share a lateral axis with the central axis 114 of the tube 102. The continuous sheet of material may be formed as a helical shape.

The vane 529a may include a first edge 546 and a second edge 548. The first edge 546 may be coupled to a portion of the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 102 for the entire length of the vane 529a. The second edge 548 may extend towards the central axis 114 of the tube 102 and may be coupled to a portion of the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 102 on an opposite side of the first edge 546. The surface of the vane 529a may be a surface of the continuous sheet of material that spans between the first edge 546 and the second edge 548 of the vane 529a.

Referring to Figure 5B, the vane 529b may include a first vane piece 550 and a second vane piece 552. The first vane piece 550 and the second vane piece 552 may be mounted to the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 102 at different locations of the tube 102. The first vane piece 550 and the second vane piece 552 may rotate symmetrically on the central axis 114 of the tube 102 such that the vane angle of rotation of the first vane piece 550 and the second vane piece 552 may be similar. The first vane piece 550 and the second vane piece 552 may be configured as a double helix.

Referring to Figure 5C, the vane 529c may include multiple sheets of material. The multiple sheets of material may be formed as multiple helical shapes within the internal cavity 108 of the tube 102. The multiple sheets of material may rotate at a uniform rate as the vane 529c extends through the tube 102 along the central axis 114 of the tube 102 (e.g., the vane angle of rotation of the multiple sheets of material may rotate at a uniform rate).

Referring to Figure 5D, the vane 529d may include multiple pieces of material. The multiple pieces of material may be mounted to and positioned on the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 102 at different locations of the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 102. For example, the multiple pieces of material may be positioned between the tube inlet 116 and the one or more electrodes 1 10a and 110c, between the one or more electrodes 1 lOa-d, between the one or more electrodes 110b and 1 lOd and the tube outlet 118, or any combination thereof. The multiple pieces of material may be mounted on the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 102 at the angle that may not be perpendicular to the central axis 114 of the tube 102 and may not be parallel to the central axis 114 of the tube 102. The multiple pieces of material may not be uniform in size or shape. For example, a height of one or more of the multiple pieces of material may decrease as the one or more of the multiple pieces of material extends through the tube 102. In another example, a distance the one or more of the multiple pieces of material extend from the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 102 toward the central axis 114 of the tube 102 may increase as the one or more of the multiple pieces of material extends through the tube 102. In another embodiment, the multiple pieces of material may be more or less uniform in size and shape. In yet another embodiment, the multiple pieces of material may be more or less uniform in size and/or shape, while other multiple pieces of material in the same vane or in another vane may be non-uniform in size and/or shape.

Figure 6 illustrates an example PEF system 600 with an offset tube 644 that may be configured to generate cyclonic flow. The tube inlet 1 16 may be coupled to a portion of the offset tube 644 and a portion of a pump 654. The offset tube 644 may be positioned between the pump 654 and the tube 102. In another embodiment, the tube inlet 116 may be closed and the offset tube 644 may be coupled to a portion of the tube 102 near the tube inlet 116. The offset tube 644 may be configured to provide additional fluid into the tube 102. The offset tube 644 may be coupled to a portion of the tube 102 and a portion of the pump 654 at an angle above the angle parallel to the central axis 114 of the tube 102 and below the angle perpendicular to the central axis 114 of the tube 102. The angle at which the offset tube 644 may be coupled to a portion of the tube 102 and a portion of the pump 654 may be the angle of rotation of the cyclonic flow of the fluid. In some embodiments, the PEF system 600 may include multiple offset tubes configured to generate cyclonic flow.

The pump 654 may be configured to regulate the rate of traverse of the fluid within the tube 102. For example, the pump 654 may increase the force applied to the fluid in the direction of traverse 120 to increase the rate of traverse of the fluid. Alternatively, the pump 654 may decrease the force applied to the fluid in the direction of traverse 120 to decrease the rate of traverse of the fluid. In some instances, the increase in force may be created by increasing pressure applied to the fluid by the pump 654 given that pressure may be referred to as force per unit area that may be applied to the fluid. In one embodiment, the pump 654 may regulate the rate of traverse in the direction of traverse by increasing or decreasing a volume of the fluid output by the pump 654. Additionally or alternatively, the pump 654 may be configured to generate cyclonic flow of the fluid in conjunction with the pumps 228 and 528a-b of Figures 2 and 5A-5B.

The offset tube 644 may be configured to generate cyclonic flow of the fluid by introducing additional fluid into the tube 102 at an angle. The offset tube 644 may introduce the additional fluid at an angle such that the additional fluid causes the fluid within the tube 102 to flow in the tube 102 along the curvilinear path 122. For example, the offset tube 644 may introduce the additional fluid at an angle above the central axis 114 of the tube 102 and the pump 654 may introduce the fluid parallel to the direction of traverse 120. The angle that the offset tube 644 introduces the additional fluid may be determined based on a particular angle of rotation that may be determined for cyclonic flow of the fluid. The tube 102 may be configured to receive the additional fluid. The tube 102 may be configured to maintain cyclonic flow of the fluid.

The fluid introduced by the offset tube 644 may generate cyclonic flow of the fluid within the tube 102. In response to increasing the angle in which the offset tube 644 introduces the additional fluid, the introduction of the additional fluid may cause relatively more of the additional fluid to collide with the fluid within the tube 102. The additional fluid may cause more of the additional fluid to collide with the fluid within the tube 102 than in an embodiment in which the angle the offset tube 644 introduces the additional fluid may be decreased. For example, in an embodiment in which the offset tube 644 introduces the additional fluid within a range of one to forty five degrees above the central axis 114 of the tube 102, the additional fluid may collide with the fluid within the tube 102 relatively less than in an embodiment in which the additional fluid may be introduced at an angle within a range of forty six degrees and eighty nine degrees above the central axis 1 14 of the tube 102. Additionally, the offset tube 644 may be configured to regulate the rate of traverse of the fluid in the direction of traverse 120. The offset tube 644 may regulate the rate of traverse by introducing the additional fluid at a relatively small angle above the angle parallel to the central axis 114 of the tube 102. The additional fluid may collide relatively less with the fluid within the tube 102.

In the embodiment in which the tube inlet 1 16 may be covered, the offset tube 644 may be configured to provide the fluid within the tube 102. The offset tube 644 may introduce the fluid at an angle similar to the angle the offset tube 644 may be coupled to the tube 102. The tube 102 may include geometric properties configured to maintain cyclonic flow of the fluid within the tube 102.

Figure 7 illustrates an example PEF system 700 with a pump 754 and a vane 329 that may be configured to generate cyclonic flow. In one embodiment, the pump 754 may be similar to the pump 228 of Figure 2. In another embodiment, the pump 754 may be similar to the pump 654 of Figure 6. The vane 329 may be similar to the vane 429a of Figures 4A-4B. As illustrated, the vane 329 may be positioned upstream and downstream of (but not among) the electrodes 1 10. The vane 329 may be positioned in any configuration with respect to the electrodes 1 10, including upstream, downstream, and among the electrodes 110.

In an embodiment, the pump 754 may be configured to generate cyclonic flow of the fluid as discussed in relation to the pumps 228 and 528a-b of Figures 2 and 5A-5B. The vane 329 may be configured to maintain cyclonic flow of the fluid. For example, the pump 754 may output the fluid with cyclonic flow at the tube inlet 1 16. Cyclonic flow of the fluid may be maintained for a distance within the internal cavity 108 of the tube 102 based on an initial force applied by the pump 754 along the curvilinear path 122. Cyclonic flow of the fluid may have a tendency to dissipate prior to the fluid exiting the electric field 112. The dissipation of cyclonic flow of the fluid may cause the pathogens 104 to return to the flow in which the fluid generally flows parallel to the central axis 1 14 of the tube 102 as discussed above. The vane 329 may maintain cyclonic flow of the fluid within the internal cavity 108 of the tube 102. The vane 329 may be located downstream of the pump 754 and may receive the fluid with cyclonic flow. The vane 329 may maintain cyclonic flow of the fluid in similar ways as the vane 429a of Figures 4A and 4B generates cyclonic flow of the fluid. The distance before cyclonic flow of the fluid dissipates may be extended by including the vane 329. Including the vane 329 before cyclonic flow of the fluid dissipates may increase the distance and/or extend a period of time in which the pathogens 104 may be exposed to the relatively stronger magnitude of the electric field 1 12.

In another embodiment, the pump 754 may be configured to regulate the rate of traverse of the fluid within the tube 102 as discussed above in conjunction with Figure 6. The vane 329 may be configured to generate cyclonic flow of the fluid as discussed above. For example, the pump 754 may output the fluid generally travelling in the direction of traverse 120. The vane 329 may generate cyclonic flow of the fluid by directing the fluid along the curvilinear path 122 as discussed above in conjunction with Figures 4A-4B. In another embodiment, the pump 754 may be configured to contribute to the generation of at least some cyclonic flow and the vane 329 may be configured to maintain or contribute additional cyclonic flow of the fluid. The pump 754 may contribute to the generation of cyclonic flow of the fluid in similar ways that the pump 228 of Figure 2 generates cyclonic flow of the fluid. The vane 329 may maintain or contribute additional cyclonic flow of the fluid in similar ways that the vane 429a of Figures 4A-4B generates cyclonic flow of the fluid. For example, the angle of rotation to achieve a certain kill rate of the pathogens 104 in the fluid may be 85 degrees above the central axis 114 of the tube 102. The pump 754 may generate cyclonic flow of the fluid that may be 45 degrees above the central axis 114 of the tube 102. The vane 329 may be configured to receive the fluid rotating at the angle of 45 degrees above the central axis 114 of the tube 102. The vane 329 may be configured to adjust the angle of rotation from 45 degrees above the central axis 114 of the tube 102 to the 85 degrees above the central axis 1 14 of the tube 102 to achieve the certain kill rate of the pathogens 104 in the fluid.

Figure 8 illustrates a cross sectional view of a tube 802 and the electric field 1 12 of an example PEF system. The tube 802 may include a first electrode 831, a first insulative portion 833, a ground portion 835, a second insulative portion 837, and a second electrode 839. The tube 802 may include a tube inlet 116 and a tube outlet 118. The tube inlet 116 and tube outlet 118 may be configured as discussed above in conjunction with Figure 1.

A first end of the first electrode 831 may include the tube inlet 116. A second end of the first electrode 831 may be coupled and/or adjacent to a portion of a first end of the first insulative portion 833. A second end of the first insulative portion 833 may be coupled and/or adjacent to a portion of a first end of the ground portion 835. A second end of the ground portion 835 may be coupled and/or adjacent to a portion of a first end of the second insulative portion 837. A second end of the second insulative portion 837 may be coupled and/or adjacent to a portion of a first end of the second electrode 839. A second end of the second electrode 839 may include the tube outlet 118.

The ground portion 835 may be electrically grounded. The first electrode 831 and the second electrode 839 may each be configured as electrodes. The first insulative portion 833 may electrically insulate the first electrode 831 from the ground portion 835. The second insulative portion 837 may electrically insulate the second electrode 839 from the ground portion 835. The first electrode 831 and/or the second electrode 839 may be configured to generate the electric field 1 12 as discussed above in conjunction with Figure 1. For example, the first electrode 831 and/or the second electrode 839 may be formed as the one or more electrodes HOa-d, or may be electrically coupled to the one or more electrodes HOa-d.

The first electrode 831 and/or the second electrode 839 may be configured to apply the electric field 112 disposed around the central axis 114 of the tube 802. For example, the first electrode 831 and the second electrode 839 may be configured to apply the electric field 1 12. The electric field 1 12 may be applied omnidirectional by the first electrode 831 and/or the second electrode 839. Alternatively, the first electrode 831 and/or the second electrode 839 may be configured to apply the electric field 1 12 in a limited direction. For example, the first electrode 831 and/or the second electrode 839 may apply the electric field 112 within the internal cavity 108 of the tube 802.

The electric field 112 may include a first magnitude portion 836a-b and a second magnitude portion 838a-b that both may be provided by the first electrode 831. The first magnitude portion 836a-b may include a relatively weaker portion of the electric field 1 12 than the second magnitude portion 838a-b. The first magnitude portion 836a-b may include the relatively weaker portion of the electric field 1 12 due to the first magnitude portion 836a-b being located further from the first electrode 831 than the second magnitude portion 838a-b. The first magnitude portion 836a-b may be located near or along the central axis 114 of the tube 802. The second magnitude portion 838a-b may include a relatively stronger portion of the electric field 1 12 than the first magnitude portion 836a-b. The second magnitude portion 838a-b may include the relatively stronger portion of the electric field 112 because the second magnitude portion 838a-b may be in closer proximity to the first electrode 831 than the first magnitude portion 836a-b. The second magnitude portion 838a- b may be located along or near the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 802.

The electric field 112 may include a third magnitude portion 836c-d and a fourth magnitude portion 838c-d that both may be provided by the second electrode 839. The third magnitude portion 836c-d may include a relatively weaker portion of the electric field 1 12 than the fourth magnitude portion 838c-d. The third magnitude portion 836c-d may include the relatively weaker portion of the electric field 112 due to the third magnitude portion 836c-d being located further from the second electrode 839 than the fourth magnitude portion 838c-d. The third magnitude portion 836c-d may be located near or along the central axis 114 of the tube 802. The fourth magnitude portion 838c-d may include a relatively stronger portion of the electric field 112 than the third magnitude portion 836c- d. The fourth magnitude portion 838c-d may include the relatively stronger portion of the electric field 1 12 because the second magnitude portion 838a-b may be in closer proximity to the second electrode 839 than the third magnitude portion 836c-d. The fourth magnitude portion 838c-d may be located along or near the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 802. In at least one embodiment, the first magnitude portion 836a-b and the third magnitude portion 836c-d are approximately the same magnitude. In at least one embodiment, the second magnitude portion 838a-b and the fourth magnitude portion 838c-d are approximately the same magnitude.

In an example, cyclonic flow of the fluid may cause the pathogens 104 to travel near or along the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 802 and within the second magnitude portion 838a-b and/or the fourth magnitude portion 838c-d of the electric field 112. The pathogens 104 may remain within the second magnitude portion 838a-b and/or the fourth magnitude portion 838c-d of the electric field 112 if cyclonic flow of the fluid may be maintained throughout the electric field 112. The relatively stronger second magnitude portion 838a-b and/or the fourth magnitude portion 838c-d of the electric field 112 may be more efficient at opening the pores of the structure of the pathogens 104.

In an example embodiment in which cyclonic flow of the fluid may be generated prior to the pathogens 104 entering the electric field 112, the pathogens 104 may be moving along or near the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 802 prior to entering the electric field 1 12. The pathogens 104 moving along or near the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 802 may be exposed to the first magnitude portion 836a-b of the electric field 1 12 in response to the pathogens 104 entering the electric field 112. As the pathogens 104 continue to flow through the tube 802 along the curvilinear path 122, the pathogens 104 moving along the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 802 may enter the second magnitude portion 838a-b of the electric field 112 as the pathogens 104 move closer to the first electrode 831. The pathogens 104 may exit the second magnitude portion 838a-b and enter the first magnitude portion 836a-b as the pathogens 104 move further downstream of the first electrode 831. Similarly, the pathogens 104 may enter the third magnitude portion 836c-d and the fourth magnitude portion 838c-d as the pathogens 104 move closer to the second electrode 839. The pathogens 104 may exit the fourth magnitude portion 838c-d and enter the third magnitude portion 836c-d as the pathogens 104 move further downstream of the second electrode 839.

Alternatively, in an embodiment in which cyclonic flow may be generated within the portion of the tube 802 in which the electric field 1 12 spans, a first portion of the pathogens 104 moving along the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 802 may be exposed to the second magnitude portion 838a-b and a second portion of the pathogens 104 moving along the central axis 114 of the tube 802 may be exposed to the first magnitude portion 836a-b of the electric field 112. Cyclonic flow of the fluid may cause the second portion of the pathogens 104 that may be exposed to the first magnitude portion 836a-b to move towards the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 802 and enter the second magnitude portion 838a-b. Cyclonic flow of the fluid may cause the first portion of the pathogens 104 that may be exposed to the second magnitude portion 838a-b to remain within the second magnitude portion 838a-b. In some embodiments, a field strength of the electric field 1 12 may be between twenty and forty five kilovolts per cm (kV/cm). In these and other embodiments, a nominal pulse current of the electric field 112 may be between two and six amps (A).

Figure 9 illustrates a flow diagram of an example method 900 to generate cyclonic flow in a PEF system that may be configured to kill pathogens in a fluid. The method 900 may be performed, for example, in or by the PEF system 100 of Figure 1 and/or other PEF systems and configurations discussed in the present disclosure. Certain operations of the various methods disclosed herein may be modified, combined, omitted, supplemented with other operations, or broken up into multiple operations. Moreover in some embodiments, the operations need not be performed in the exact order that has been depicted.

The method 900 may begin at block 902 (Receive A Fluid At An Internal Cavity Of A Tube), in which a fluid may be received at an internal cavity of a tube (e.g. , the internal cavity 108 of the tube 102 of Figure 1). The tube may include a treatment region, such as the treatment region 101 of Figure 1. The internal cavity of the tube may be configured to permit the fluid to flow through the tube including through the treatment region. In an example embodiment, the tube may be configured to receive fluid from a fluid source or a pump such as pump 228 of Figure 2.

At block 904 (Generate An Electric Field Within A Treatment Region), an electric field may be generated within the treatment region. The electric field may be generated by an electrode, such as the one or more electrodes 1 lOa-d of Figure 1.

At block 906 (Generate Cyclonic Flow Of The Fluid At Least Within The Treatment Region), cyclonic flow of the fluid may be generated at least within the treatment region. Cyclonic flow of the fluid may be generated by a flow inducer such as the flow inducer 124 of Figure 1. The cyclonic flow may be generated by the flow inducer subjecting the fluid to a centripetal force. The centripetal force may cause the fluid to move through the tube along a curvilinear path about an approximate central axis of the tube. Additionally, cyclonic flow of the fluid may cause pathogens in the fluid to move away from a central axis of the tube towards a cylindrical inner surface of the tube where the pathogens may be exposed to a stronger magnitude of the electric field relative to a magnitude of the electric field elsewhere in the treatment region. The pathogens may move towards a cylindrical inner surface of the tube such as the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 102 of Figure 1.

At block 908 (Monitor A Flow Rate Of The Fluid), a flow rate of the fluid through the tube may be monitored by a control system, such as the control system 126 of Figure 1.

At block 910 (Monitor Cyclonic Flow Of The Fluid), cyclonic flow of the fluid may be monitored by the control system. At block 912 (Monitor One Or More System Characteristics Of The Fluid), one or more system characteristics of the fluid may be monitored by the control system as discussed in conjunction with Figure 1. For example, the control system may monitor the system characteristics of the fluid such as the rate of traverse, a rate of flow, the rate of rotation, the speed of fluid at various points within the flow, the acceleration of shear within the fluid, the distribution of particles/pathogens, the time spent in various electric field regions. The system characteristics of the fluid may be monitored by the control system as discussed above with Figure 1.

At block 914 (Adjust The Flow Rate Of The Fluid) the flow rate of the fluid through the tube may be adjusted by the control system. The adjustment of the flow rate of the fluid through the tube by the control system may be based on the one or more system characteristics of the fluid as discussed in conjunction with Figure 1.

At block 916 (Adjust Cyclonic Flow Of The Fluid), cyclonic flow of the fluid may be adjusted by the control system. Cyclonic flow of the fluid may be adjusted by modifying a rate at which the fluid rotates within the internal cavity of the tube. The rate at which the fluid rotates within the internal cavity of the tube may be modified as discussed above in conjunction with Figure 1, such as by adjusting an angle of rotation of the fluid and the flow rate of the fluid. Cyclonic flow of the fluid may be adjusted based on the one or more system characteristics of the fluid.

Figure 10 illustrates a flow diagram of an example method 1000 to construct a PEF System. The method 1000 may be performed, for example, by an assembly system that may be configured to construct the PEF system 100 of Figure 1 and/or other PEF systems and configurations discussed in the present disclosure.

The method 1000 may begin at block 1002 (Couple An Electrode To A Tube), in which an electrode may be coupled to a portion of a tube by the assembly system. The operations of the method 1000, as performed by the assembly system in one embodiment, may include actions taken by an automated assembly line, a machine, a robot, or other device or combination thereof. The electrode may be configured to apply an electric field to a treatment region. The electrode may be coupled to a portion of a tube such as the one or more electrodes 1 lOa-d and the tube 102 of Figure 1.

At block 1004 (Couple A Flow Inducer To The Tube), a flow inducer may be coupled to a portion of the tube by the assembly system. In an embodiment in which the flow inducer includes a pump, the flow inducer may be coupled to a portion of the tube through production methods such as welding, 3D printing, connecting fluid tight seals, installing fasteners such as screws, bolts, rivets, tube clamps, tube couplers, etc., or any combination thereof. In an embodiment in which the flow inducer includes a vane, the flow inducer may be coupled to a portion of the tube through production methods such as welding, 3D printing, inserting vane pieces, or any combination thereof. The flow inducer may be configured to receive a fluid. The flow inducer may be configured to generate cyclonic flow of the fluid through an internal cavity of the tube such that the fluid has the cyclonic flow while passing through the treatment region. The cyclonic flow may be generated by subjecting the fluid to a centripetal force. The electrode may be configured to apply an electric field to the treatment region to kill pathogens in the fluid. The flow inducer may be coupled to a portion of the tube such as the flow inducer 124 of Figure 1.

Figure 11 illustrates a block diagram of an example computing device 1 100 that may be arranged to monitor and adjust PEF system characteristics. The computing device 1100 may be used in some embodiments to implement some of the operations of the control system 126 described above, and/or any other device that may be capable to provide the features and operations described herein. In a basic configuration 1 102, the computing device 1 100 typically includes one or more processors 1 104 and a system memory 1 106. The processor 1 104 may be used to implement the control system 126 of Figure 1. A memory bus 1108 may be used for communicating between the processor 1 104 and the system memory 1106.

Depending on the particular configuration, the processor 1104 may be of any type including, but not limited to, a microprocessor (μΡ), a microcontroller ( ΰ), a digital signal processor (DSP), or any combination thereof. The processor 1104 may include one or more levels of caching, such as a level one cache 1 110 and a level two cache 1 1 12, a processor core 11 14, and registers 1 116. The processor core 1 114 may include an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a floating point unit (FPU), a digital signal processing core (DSP core), or any combination thereof. An example memory controller 1 118 may also be used with the processor 1104, or in some implementations the memory controller 1 1 18 may be an internal part of the processor 1 104.

Depending on the particular configuration, the system memory 1106 may be of any type including, but not limited to, volatile memory (such as RAM), non-volatile memory (such as ROM, flash memory, etc.), or any combination thereof. The system memory 1106 may include an operating system 1 120, one or more applications 1122, and program data 1124, which may be present in the control system 126. The application 1122 may include a characteristics algorithm 1 126 that may be arranged to determine and adjust one or more characteristics of a PEF system or component thereof. The program data 1124 may include characteristics data 1 128 representative of a rate in which a fluid flows along a direction that may be parallel to a central axis of a tube, cyclonic flow of the fluid, a kill rate of the pathogens in the fluid, and other data that may be useful for characteristic tracking and adjusting using a control system 126 as described herein. In some embodiments, the application 1122 may be arranged to operate with the program data 1124 on the operating system 1120 such that characteristics may be tracked and adjusted based on the rate in which a fluid flows in the direction that may be parallel to the central axis of the tube, cyclonic flow of the fluid, and/or a kill rate of the pathogens in the fluid. The application 1122 may be arranged to operate with the characteristics data 1128 such that a rate of traverse of the fluid and an angle of rotation of the fluid within the tube may be adjusted by the control system 126. The processor 1104 and/or the system memory 1106 may be provided on a device with the physical interface or on a remote device to which the device with the physical interface may be communicatively coupled. The processor 1104 may be communicatively coupled to a GUI. The processor 1104 may transmit the characteristics data 1128 to a display within the GUI. Alternately or additionally, the processor 1104 may be included in the control system 126 of Figure 1.

The computing device 1 100 may include additional features or functionality, and additional interfaces to facilitate communications between the basic configuration 1102 and any required devices and interfaces. For example, a bus/interface controller 1130 may be used to facilitate communications between the basic configuration 1 102 and one or more data storage devices 1132 via a storage interface bus 1134. The data storage devices 1132 may be removable storage devices 1136, non-removable storage devices 1 138, or a combination thereof. Examples of removable storage and non-removable storage devices include magnetic disk devices such as flexible disk drives and hard-disk drives (HDDs), optical disk drives such as compact disk (CD) drives or digital versatile disk (DVD) drives, solid state drives (SSDs), and tape drives to name a few. Example computer storage media may include volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information, such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data.

The system memory 1 106, the removable storage devices 1 136, and the nonremovable storage devices 1138 may be examples of computer storage media. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVDs) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which may be used to store the particular information and which may be accessed by the computing device 1100. Any such computer storage media may be part of the computing device 1100.

The computing device 1100 may also include an interface bus 1140 for facilitating communication from various interface devices (e.g., output devices 1142, peripheral interfaces 1 144, and communication devices 1146) to the basic configuration 1 102 via the bus/interface controller 1 130. The output devices 1142 include a graphics processing unit 1148 and an audio processing unit 1 150, which may be configured to communicate to various external devices such as a display or speakers via one or more A/V ports 1152. The peripheral interfaces 1 144 include a serial interface controller 1 154 or a parallel interface controller 1156, which may be configured to communicate with external devices such as input devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse, pen, voice input device, touch input device, etc.), sensors, or other peripheral devices (e.g., printer, scanner, etc.) via one or more I/O ports 1158. The communication devices 1 146 include a network controller 1 160, which may be arranged to facilitate communications with one or more other computing devices 1162 over a network communication link via one or more communication ports 1164.

The network communication link may be one example of a communication media. Communication media may typically be embodied by computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal, such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and may include any information delivery media. A "modulated data signal" may be a signal that includes one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media may include wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, radio frequency (RF), microwave, infrared (IR), and other wireless media. The term "computer-readable media" as used herein may include both storage media and communication media.

The computing device 1 100 may be implemented as a portion of a small -form factor portable (or mobile) electronic device such as a cell phone, a personal data assistant (PDA), a personal media player device, a wireless web-watch device, a personal headset device, an application-specific device, or a hybrid device that include any of the above functions. The computing device 1100 may also be implemented as a personal computer including both laptop computer and non-laptop computer configurations.

Figure 12 illustrates an example PEF system 1200 with a flow inducer 1256 that includes multiple vanes 1229a-d that may be configured to generate cyclonic flow. The PEF system 1200 may include the tube 102 of Figure 1. The multiple vanes 1229a-d may be mounted to a central portion of the flow inducer 1256. Each of the multiple vanes 1229a- d may extend outward from the flow inducer 1256 toward the cylindrical inner surface 106 of the tube 102. The multiple vanes 1229a-d may be spaced any distance from each other, including a uniformly spaced distance along the flow inducer 1256 or a non-uniformly spaced distance along the flow inducer 1256. The flow inducer 1256 may be located upstream of a treatment region (e.g., treatment region 101 of Figure 1) of the PEF system 1200 such that the flow inducer 1256 may generate cyclonic flow of the fluid prior to the fluid entering the treatment region. Additionally or alternatively, a second flow inducer (not illustrated) may be located in the treatment region or downstream of the treatment region.

The multiple vanes 1229a-b may be mounted to the flow inducer 1256 with a vane angle of rotation. The vane angle of rotation may be uniform along the flow inducer 1256. Additionally or alternatively, the vane angle of rotation may be non-uniform, such that the vane angle of rotation of the multiple vanes 1229a-d may change as the multiple vanes 1229a-d extend along the flow inducer 1256. For example, as the multiple vanes 1229a-d extend along the flow inducer 1256, the vane angle of rotation may increase. In another example, as the multiple vanes 1229a-d extend along the flow inducer 1256, the vane angle of rotation may decrease. As illustrated in Figure 12, the vane angle of rotation of the multiple vanes 1229a-d increases as the multiple vanes 1229a-d extend along the flow inducer 1256 and the vane angle of rotation of the multiple vanes 1229a-d may approach an angle perpendicular to the central axis of the tube 102.

In an embodiment, a first vane angle of rotation may be configured such that fluid flowing through the tube 102 may generate cyclonic flow of the fluid. In another embodiment, a magnetic field from outside the tube 102 may be applied to the flow inducer 1256 such that the magnetic field may cause the flow inducer 1256 to rotate within the tube 102 and generate cyclonic flow of the fluid. In yet another embodiment, a rod (not illustrated) may be coupled to a portion of the flow inducer 1256. The rod may rotate and cause the flow inducer 1256 to rotate and generate cyclonic flow of the fluid. Additionally or alternatively, the flow inducer 1256 including the multiple vanes 1229a-d may be fixed within the tube 102 so that pressure of the fluid as the fluid flows through the tube causes the fluid to rotate along a surface of the multiple vanes 1229a-d which may generate cyclonic flow of the fluid.

Figure 13 illustrates another example PEF system 1300 with a flow inducer 1356 that includes multiple vanes 1329a-d that may be configured to generate cyclonic flow. The flow inducer 1356 and multiple vanes 1329a-d may be configured in a similar manner as the flow inducer 1256 and multiple vanes 1229a-d of Figure 12. As illustrated in Figure 13, the vane angle of rotation of the multiple vanes 1329a-d may start at a relatively small angle above the angle parallel to a central axis of the tube 102 and as the multiple vanes 1329a-d extend along the flow inducer 1356, the vane angle of rotation may increase. The vane angle of rotation at a downstream side of the flow inducer 1356 may roughly be forty five degrees above the angle parallel to the central axis of the tube 102.

The present disclosure is not to be limited in terms of the particular embodiments described herein, which are intended as illustrations of various aspects. Many modifications and variations can be made without departing from its spirit and scope. Functionally equivalent methods and apparatuses within the scope of the disclosure, in addition to those enumerated herein, are possible from the foregoing descriptions. Such modifications and variations are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting.

The present disclosure is not to be limited in terms of the particular embodiments described herein, which are intended as illustrations of various aspects. Many modifications and variations can be made without departing from its spirit and scope. Functionally equivalent methods and apparatuses within the scope of the disclosure, in addition to those enumerated herein, are possible from the foregoing descriptions. Such modifications and variations are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting. With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.

In general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as "open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to," the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least," the term "includes" should be interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation, no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to embodiments containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or "an" should be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations," without other modifiers, means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is used, in general, such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" would include but not be limited to systems that include A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, or C, etc." is used, in general, such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, or C" would include but not be limited to systems that include A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B."

In addition, where features or aspects of the disclosure are described in terms of Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure is also thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group.

For any and all purposes, such as in terms of providing a written description, all ranges disclosed herein also encompass any and all possible sub ranges and combinations of sub ranges thereof. Any listed range can be easily recognized as sufficiently describing and enabling the same range being broken down into at least equal halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, tenths, etc. As a non-limiting example, each range discussed herein can be readily broken down into a lower third, middle third and upper third, etc. All language such as "up to," "at least," and the like include the number recited and refer to ranges which can be subsequently broken down into sub ranges as discussed above. Finally, a range includes each individual member. Thus, for example, a group having 1 -3 cells refers to groups having 1, 2, or 3 cells. Similarly, a group having 1 -5 cells refers to groups having 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 cells, and so forth.

From the foregoing, various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, and various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the various embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to be limiting.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:

a tube with a cylindrical inner surface that defines an internal cavity of the tube, wherein the internal cavity of the tube is configured to permit a fluid to flow through the tube, wherein at least a first portion of the tube is located proximate a treatment region; an electrode coupled to a second portion of the tube near the treatment region, the electrode being configured to apply an electric field to the treatment region to kill pathogens in the fluid; and

a flow inducer coupled to a third portion of the tube and configured to generate cyclonic flow of the fluid such that the fluid has the cyclonic flow while passing through the treatment region, wherein the cyclonic flow is generated by subjecting the fluid to a centripetal force.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the flow inducer is configured to generate the cyclonic flow of the fluid to cause the fluid to flow through the treatment region with an angle of rotation different from parallel to a central axis of the tube.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrode is configured to apply the electric field so that the electric field is disposed around a central axis of the tube, wherein a first magnitude of the electric field near the central axis of the tube is weaker than a second magnitude of the electric field near the cylindrical inner surface of the tube.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the flow inducer is configured to generate the cyclonic flow of the fluid to cause the pathogens in the fluid to be exposed to the second magnitude of the electric field, due at least in part to the pathogens being caused by the cyclonic flow of the fluid to move towards the cylindrical inner surface of the tube.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein a kill rate of the pathogens in the fluid increases as the pathogens in the fluid move towards the cylindrical inner surface of the tube near where the second magnitude of the electric field is present, wherein the kill rate of the pathogens in the fluid is a percentage of the pathogens in the fluid that are killed through exposure to the electric field, and wherein the kill rate of the pathogens in the fluid increases as an amount of time the pathogens in the fluid are exposed to the electric field increases and as the pathogens in the fluid are exposed to the second magnitude of the electric field.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the tube includes an inlet and an outlet, a first portion, a first insulative portion, a ground portion, a second insulative portion, a second portion, and a third portion, and wherein the inlet of the tube is coupled to a portion of a first end of the first portion, wherein a second end of the first portion is coupled to a portion of a first end of the first insulative portion, wherein a second end of the first insulative portion is coupled to a portion of a first end of the ground portion, wherein a second end of the ground portion is coupled to a portion of a first end of the second insulative portion, wherein a second end of the second insulative portion is coupled to a portion of a first end of the second portion, and wherein a second end of the second portion is coupled to a portion of the outlet of the tube.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the flow inducer comprises a pump coupled to a portion of an inlet of the tube, the pump being configured to generate the cyclonic flow of the fluid, which causes the fluid to flow through the tube with an angle of rotation not perpendicular to a central axis of the tube and not parallel to the central axis of the tube.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising an offset tube coupled to a portion of the tube and configured to generate the cyclonic flow of the fluid through introduction of additional fluid into the tube at an angle that is not perpendicular to the central axis of the tube and not parallel to the central axis of the tube.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the flow inducer comprises at least one vane configured to generate the cyclonic flow of the fluid, wherein the at least one vane includes a continuous sheet of material formed as a helical shape within the internal cavity of the tube such that the at least one vane causes the fluid to flow through the tube with an angle of flow not perpendicular to a central axis of the tube and not parallel to the central axis of the tube to generate the cyclonic flow.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one vane includes a continuous sheet of twisted material that twists as the at least one vane extends through the tube in a direction that is parallel to the central axis of the tube, wherein a first edge of the continuous sheet of material is coupled to a portion of the cylindrical inner surface of the tube.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the flow inducer comprises a pump and at least one vane, wherein the pump is configured to regulate a fluid flow rate of the fluid, and wherein the at least one vane is configured to generate the cyclonic flow of the fluid to cause the fluid to flow through the treatment region with an angle of rotation different from parallel to a central axis of the tube.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a control system coupled to a portion of the flow inducer and configured to monitor a set of system characteristics, the set of system characteristics including at least one of: a rate in which the fluid flows in a direction that is parallel to a central axis of the tube, cyclonic flow of the fluid, or a kill rate of the pathogens in the fluid, the control system being further configured to adjust at least one of the rate in which the fluid flows in the direction that is parallel to the central axis of the tube, and a rate at which cyclonic flow of the fluid rotates based on the set of system characteristics.

13. A method, comprising:

receiving a fluid at an internal cavity of a tube, wherein a portion of the tube is located proximate a treatment region, wherein the internal cavity of the tube is configured to permit the fluid to flow through the tube including through the treatment region;

generating an electric field within the treatment region; and

generating cyclonic flow of the fluid at least within the treatment region such that the fluid has the cyclonic flow while passing through the treatment region, wherein the cyclonic flow is generated by subjecting the fluid to a centripetal force.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein generating cyclonic flow of the fluid comprises causing the fluid to flow through the treatment region with an angle of rotation different from parallel to a central axis of the tube.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein generating cyclonic flow of the fluid causes pathogens in the fluid to be exposed to the electric field due to centrifugal force that causes the pathogens in the fluid to move towards a cylindrical inner surface of the tube.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein generating cyclonic flow of the fluid comprises causing a kill rate of pathogens in the fluid to increase as the pathogens in the fluid move towards a cylindrical inner surface of the tube near where a stronger magnitude of the electric field is present, wherein the kill rate of the pathogens in the fluid is a percentage of the pathogens in the fluid that are killed through exposure to the electric field, and wherein the kill rate of the pathogens in the fluid increases as an amount of time the pathogens in the fluid are exposed to the electric field increases and as the pathogens in the fluid are exposed to the stronger magnitude of the electric field due to cyclonic flow of the fluid causing the fluid to flow through the treatment region with an angle of rotation different from parallel to a central axis of the tube.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

regulating a flow rate of the fluid; and

regulating an angle of flow of the fluid in the tube, wherein an angle of rotation of the cyclonic flow is greater than zero degrees from a central axis of the tube and less than ninety degrees from the central axis of the tube.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein generating the electric field within the treatment region comprises generating a pulsed electric field by providing intermittent voltage pulses on an electrode coupled to a portion of the tube.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

causing a shear by force to be applied to pathogens in the fluid, wherein the shear force on the pathogens in the fluid causes the pathogens in the fluid to be further weakened, which increases a kill rate of the pathogens in the fluid.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

monitoring a flow rate of the fluid in the tube;

monitoring the cyclonic flow of the fluid;

monitoring one or more characteristics of the fluid; and

adjusting, based on one or more system characteristics of the fluid, the cyclonic flow of the fluid.