EP1261382A1 - Chambre haute energie - Google Patents

Chambre haute energie

Info

Publication number
EP1261382A1
EP1261382A1 EP00905154A EP00905154A EP1261382A1 EP 1261382 A1 EP1261382 A1 EP 1261382A1 EP 00905154 A EP00905154 A EP 00905154A EP 00905154 A EP00905154 A EP 00905154A EP 1261382 A1 EP1261382 A1 EP 1261382A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
chamber
fluid
electromagnetic
electromagnetic radiation
laser
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP00905154A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
David Christian Daniel Van Alstyne
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Pilgrim Systems Ltd
Original Assignee
Pilgrim Systems Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Pilgrim Systems Ltd filed Critical Pilgrim Systems Ltd
Priority claimed from PCT/GB2000/000499 external-priority patent/WO2001060418A1/fr
Publication of EP1261382A1 publication Critical patent/EP1261382A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method of distributing by reflection into a chamber at least one high energy electromagnetic radiation beam according to a specific pathway which provides the chamber with a particularly high density of energy.
  • Laser and incoherent light decontamination of surfaces and liquids has been investigated for a range of lasers and light sources but no technology has been developed that is viable economically or has been optimised for delivery of laser or incoherent sources of light, UV or infra-red, RF or Microwave energy. It is convenient to define these wavelength ranges as light.
  • Lasers have historically been too expensive and their deployment too inefficient to develop into a commercially viable decontamination or combustion processes .
  • Laser sources are becoming cheaper and the development of high power solid state lasers will open new opportunities to exploit laser decontamination and combustion applications.
  • High power laser diode sources are available from the red to IR part of the spectrum and the future will see development towards the blue and UV end of the spectrum. These devices can be mass-produced cheaply. Development of optics and active optic systems will lead to efficient collimation of incoherent sources that may make them suitable for implementing in systems like the one of the present invention. The future development of optics technology makes these systems even more viable economically. Therefore there is a need for a method and/or apparatus to distribute and effectively amplify electromagnetic radiation energy for the treatment for example decontamination) of air, gas , water and other fluids with the potential to increase the throughput and make such systems viable . Additionally such systems can be used as the basis for efficient laser combustion systems .
  • apparatus for providing exposure of a fluid to electromagnetic radiation, said apparatus comprising: - a fluid chamber having an inlet and an. outlet and internal walls; - at least one electromagnetic radiation beam generating means; and - reflection means shaped and positioned on the internal walls of the chamber so as to reflect the electromagnetic radiation beam at least three times within the chamber according to a predetermined pathway which distributes the beam in order to substantially fill the chamber with energy.
  • the beam is reflected according to a direction substantially perpendicular to the flow of fluid to be treated.
  • the electromagnetic radiation is a laser.
  • it may be UV, IR or visible light.
  • Fig. lb is a schematic representation of the radiation beam pathway according to the first embodiment of the invention which shows a two-dimensional rendition of two sets of twisted helixes;
  • Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a third embodiment of the invention wherein the radiation beam reflection pathway is shown by transparency;
  • Fig. 3a is a cross-sectioned schematic representation of a fourth embodiment of the invention.
  • Fig. 3c is a frontal view of Fig. 3b with the addition of a third and fourth strand being added, and
  • Fig 4 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention being coupled to a feedback for controlling irradiation of the fluid.
  • an apparatus 16 is provided which comprises an enclosed conduit 10 throughout which a fluid (not shown) to be treated flows.
  • the conduit 10 is provided with a number of reflectors or mirrored facets 12.
  • Single or multiple lasers or electromagnetic energy sources emit a single or multiple radiation beam 14 that may be either continuous wave or pulsed. In this example, the radiation is light but this need not always be the case.
  • This light beam 14 is fed into the conduit 10 and reflected by mirrors 12 throughout the volume.
  • the light beam 14 bounces inside the system many times in a helical pattern and efficiently fills the conduit 10 with the electromagnetic energy (in this example, light energy) .
  • the multiple reflections from the mirrors 12 have the effect of amplifying the exposure that the contaminants contained in the fluids flowing through the conduit 10 receive.
  • the apparatus 16 of Fig. la can create an effect of hundreds of light beams with a single unit. This results in an increase in the peak and main power within the conduit 10.
  • the light beam 14 strikes the first mirror 12a of the helix, within the conduit 10, and the light is reflected to the second mirror 12b that is positioned across the diameter or width of the conduit 10, from where it is reflected to the third mirror 12c of the helix, on the other side of the conduit.
  • the light beam 14 makes many reflections as it travels in a helical pathway down the length of the conduit 10, crossing back and forth.
  • the total energy density received can be calculated by any person competent in the area of optics and decontamination. Quite clearly the energy density received will be dependent on the type of electromagnetic radiation used (in the case of laser, laser parameters like pulse energy, pulse width, pulse repetition, frequency, beam size) and velocity at which the contaminant is moving through the system.
  • the applied energy density required to achieve the desired process is dependent on the process, the type of electromagnetic radiation beam and the rate of flow of the fluid.
  • the device can be easily optimised for each particular application.
  • a second helix that travels in the opposite direction to the first helix and out of phase therewith.
  • Any number of helixes can be used provided the energy density is sufficient to achieve the required process; this is dependent on the factors described previously.
  • the apparatus according to the invention can be designed so that the contaminant will interact with more than one beam at a time.
  • the magnitude of the amplification can be calculated by considering how the beam is attenuated through the system and how many beams intersect at any given point and adding up the resultant spatial energy density profile of the multiple helix system.
  • the beam diameter and the phase between the different helixes can be optimised for any particular application.
  • the electromagnetic radiation projected into the apparatus 10 may come from more than one coherent or incoherent electromagnetic radiation source from any wavelength range.
  • biological and molecular decontamination require wavelengths of approx 260nm and for thermal effects light at 900 nm - 30 ⁇ m is most efficient.
  • Laser diode arrays operating at 975 nm are useful in that this corresponds to a peak in the absorption spectrum of water.
  • normal collimating optics are used to ensure propagation of the light through the system.
  • a number of sources could be arranged in a helical path down the outside of the conduit with suitable windows on the conduit to allow transmission of the light into the conduit.
  • the windows would be made of material that is appropriate for passing the wavelengths that are most efficient for the process application.
  • the light may be generated from Nd:YAG lasers or KrFl excimer lasers, or laser diodes or laser diode arrays, light emitting diodes or any other light source.
  • the beam may be delivered to the system of mirrors within the system using fibre optics, mirrors, and/or diffractive optics operating in reflection or transmission or using scanning optics.
  • VOCs Volatile Organic Compounds
  • the shape of the conduit may be altered to adjust the rate of flow of the medium through it such that it has a longer contact time in the beam where the energy density of the beam has been reduced.
  • the last mirror of the system could be partially transmissive, and a detector could be placed behind it to measure the energy transfer through the system and determine whether the system is functioning properly.
  • Other sensor systems can include a detector or series of detectors to measure the scattered light, or conventional particle counters for monitoring the particles.
  • a system could be implemented before, during and/or after the helix. Data collected by the sensors would be used as feed-back to determine, control and optimise the efficiency of the system. For example, error control signals would be generated to control the electromagnetic energy sources for optimum use. If the substrate is relatively clean then a lower power can be used, if the substrate is highly contaminated then a higher power will be needed. The sensor system increases the overall efficiency of the system.
  • the quality of the optics can be ascertained and appropriate action taken.
  • the sensor system allows for quality control measures to ensure that complete destruction or reaction has been achieved.
  • the flow of the contaminated fluid through the system has to be optimised. Aerofoils placed strategically through any of the systems will help the flow stability and uniformity. For some turbid fluids there may be an advantage in deliberately introducing turbulence into
  • the beam can make many reflections before the energy density is below the threshold to give the desired level of decontamination or sterility.
  • the multiple helix design with the electromagnetic radiation bouncing up and down the conduit it is possible to have multiple helixes originating from the same end of the conduit with or without the return helixes incorporated into the system.
  • the helix itself may rotate and one or multiple sources be used. In these cases the firing of the electromagnetic radiation source and alignment of the mirrors can be done by using optical sensors or otherwise to detect when the optics are in the correct position and triggering the electromagnetic radiation sources as appropriate.
  • the conduit could contain two or more distinct sets of helixes that are used to distribute two or more different wavelengths.
  • one helix may be utilised to produce a photochemical effect associated with a UV laser while simultaneously a second laser energy is reflected off a secondary grouping of helixes which produce a photothermal effect associated with IR lasers.
  • Fig 2 is an example of a tapered helix for a conical-based conduit. At the narrow part of the tube the medium will be travelling faster and will spend less time in the beam than at the wider part of the tube. Hence the energy density at the thinner end will have to be greater and this will be the position where the electromagnetic radiation is injected into the helix.
  • the flow will be slower and the energy density will be lower, so this is suitable for the beam after it has experienced some attenuation.
  • the radiation is injected into the wider end first, then a higher energy density will be given to the material as it flows through the system.
  • An alternative to the double strand of reflectors that has been described hereinabove in the first, second other embodiments is to reflect the electromagnetic radiation beam according to a plane perpendicular to the flow of fluid. This is achieved with the embodiment of the invention which is shown in Fig. 3a where the beam is reflected in a plane according to a star shape pattern.
  • the apparatus is provided with a chamber or conduit 110 throughout which a fluid to be purified or catalyzed is passed.
  • the apparatus is provided with means to introduce a electromagnetic radiation beam 114 into it which is directed to a first reflector or mirror 112a which directs it to a second reflector 112b and then to a third reflector 112c and so on in order to accomplish a revolution.
  • a star shaped pattern is formed whereby the electromagnetic radiation (eg. light) would first bounce within a plane several or many times before being reflected down the conduit to a primary point on a secondary star shape, this process continues down the length of the conduit.
  • electromagnetic radiation eg. light
  • the electromagnetic radiation beam can be made to pass through the plane in any number of configurations.
  • the first beam can pass through the centre of the conduit, strike the first mirror on the far wall of the conduit, from where it is reflected to a second mirror positioned close to the entry point of the first beam, it is then reflected through the middle of the conduit, such that it passes through the position where the first beam went, it strikes the third mirror positioned close to the first mirror, from where it is reflected towards a mirror positioned close to the second mirror.
  • the beam reflected from this mirror passes through the centre of the conduit and strikes a mirror positioned close to the third mirror.
  • the beam is passed many times through the centre of conduit forming a multiple star pattern, a substance passing through this plane experiences an amplified effect of the radiation beam.
  • the last optic in the plane reflects the radiation towards the first mirror of the next star pattern further down the conduit slightly out of phase with the first star pattern.
  • the radiation bounces around this star pattern and is finally reflected to the next set of mirrors on the third plane, again out of phase with the second star.
  • the first mirror of each plane may form a helix shape through the length of the conduit, so that the radiation completely fills the conduit.
  • Spinning optics and/or multiple sources can be used to fire the electromagnetic radiation beam into different planes.
  • the planes may be separate or overlap so as to completely fill the conduit.
  • the last reflector 120 on the first star would be aimed at the first point 122 on a secondary star slightly further down the length of the conduit and slightly out of phase with the original star.
  • These would be arranged in a helical pattern whereby each star would be slightly out of alignment with the previous star shaped pattern whereby the stars would descend down the length of the conduit in a helical shape.
  • multi-photon ionization processes may occur that result in transformation of harmful pathogens or high levels thereof into safe or safer ones or more efficient combustion processes.
  • a secondary catalytic effect could be created whereby the initial stage of decontamination may use a coherent light source or other electromagnetic energy source then followed by the use of an incoherent light source, such as a xenon flashlamp or other electromagnetic energy source or vice versa. During one or both of these processes a gas stream could be introduced to further facilitate a beneficial catalytic effect.
  • a secondary gas or liquid could be introduced into the helix chamber. This could produce several desirable effects including osmosis, reaction or bonding. For example one could introduce a hydrocarbon based fuel into a chamber and simultaneously introduce pure oxygen. The effect of for example, an IR laser, would be to create a more complete combustion of the material.
  • the helix could be used as a preheater of materials to be burned or otherwise heated.
  • Economic benefits would include a reduction in the volume of waste being generated. This would equate to a direct economic benefit in that fines can be imposed to companies that over pollute.
  • Formulas will be created to weigh the overall cost per unit of energy, the specific application, throughput, reaction to peak vs mean power, molecular effects, coupling and economic factors.
  • the catalytic effect could be used to produce a more complete disintegration of the material being treated.
  • This could include liquid gas and gas compounds.
  • This effect could be utilised to, for example, create the complete combustion of a hydrocarbon based fuel whereby the fuel would be exposed to large amounts of electromagnetic energy.
  • Such applications could include for example a laser combustion engine, a laser turbo booster, or laser jet engine. In this case an IR laser may be more effective.
  • One could ignite, for example, hydrogen using apparatus in accordance with the present invention.
  • the shape of the helix could be advantageous from a aero/fluid dynamic standpoint in that the helix could be abutted by a fin in order to keep debris away from the reflective facets. This would also keep the gas or liquid moving in a desirable direction from a control standpoint.
  • the fins would act to create venturi, vortexes or screw shapes and could be modified and adapted to create desirable effects .
  • Fig. 4 of the drawings depicts a schematic diagram of apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention in which a cylindrical conduit 10 has an inlet 10a and an outlet 10b through which fluid to be treated flows.
  • the conduit has a plurality of mirrors 12 disposed on the internal surface.
  • a laser source 13 emits a laser beam 14 into the conduit via window 15 it is reflected by the mirrors respective forward and reverse helical paths 17, 19 to create a high level of electromagnetic energy throughout the conduit 10.
  • the conduit 10 has a partially optically transmissive window 21 through which some laser light passes and impinges on a photo-detector 23 disposed at the window.
  • the photo-detector generates a signal which is amplified by amplifier 25 and which is then fed back to be compared with an input 27 signal, in a summation block 29, as is well known in the art, so that the output of the summation block is the input signal 31 to the laser light source 13 is modified to control the power of the laser beam 14 and hence the energy in the chamber applied to the fluid thus optimising the system.

Abstract

L'invention concerne un procédé et un dispositif de production d'une densité élevée d'énergie électromagnétique, dans une chambre ou un conduit comprenant un fluide. L'énergie est fournie par un faisceau laser réfléchi par des miroirs, dans une chambre ou conduit porteur du fluide, selon un trajet hélicoïdal, de manière à créer un flux d'énergie élevée dans le fluide, à travers toute la chambre. L'invention décrit encore divers modes de réalisation.
EP00905154A 2000-02-15 2000-02-15 Chambre haute energie Withdrawn EP1261382A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/GB2000/000499 WO2001060418A1 (fr) 1998-06-18 2000-02-15 Chambre haute energie

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1261382A1 true EP1261382A1 (fr) 2002-12-04

Family

ID=9883459

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00905154A Withdrawn EP1261382A1 (fr) 2000-02-15 2000-02-15 Chambre haute energie

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1261382A1 (fr)
AU (1) AU2000226787A1 (fr)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO0160418A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2000226787A1 (en) 2001-08-27

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