Apparatus for treating liquids with high-frequency electrical energy

Claim 2

In an apparatus for treatment of liquid materials with highfrequency electrical energy, the combination of an elongated outer electrically conductive member of annular tranSverse cross section; an elongated electrode extending axially within said outer member; electrical insulating means closing one end of said outer member and insulating said electrode therefrom; an elongated tube of electrical insulating material extending within said outer member concentrically with respect thereto, said tube having an open end disposed within said outer member adjacent one end thereof and having its other end arranged to receive liquid to be treated, liquid received by said tube flowing first through said tube and around said electrode to escape through said open end and thence back along the outside of said tube so as to be twice subjected to the action of said high-frequency electrical energy; and discharge mean for conducting the treated liquid from said outer member.

Claim 3

In apparatus for treatment of liquid materials with high-frequency electrical energy, the combination of an electrode structure comprising an elongated casing having an electrically conducting wall of circular transverse cross section, an insulating disc closing one end of said casing, a central rod electrode extending axially of said casing, there being an annular space between said electrode and said conducting wall, said rod electrode being shorter than said casing and supported at one end only on said insulating disc, and a tube of electrical insulating material surrounding and spaced outwardly from said rod electrode and dividing said annular space into concentric inner and outer zones, said tube having an open end adjacent to but spaced from said disc; means for connecting said rod electrode and said conducting wall to the output of a high-frequency generator; discharge means communicating with said outer zone adjacent the end of said casing remote from said disc; and means closing said outer zone at the end of said casing remote from said disc, liquid admitted to said inner zone at the end of said casing remote from said disc flowing first around said rod electrode toward said disc and then back through said outer zone to said discharge means and thus being twice subjected to the action of the high-frequency electrical energy.

Claim 4

In apparatus for treatment of liquid materials with high-frequency electrical energy, the combination of an electrode structure comprising an elongated casing having an electrically conducting wall of circular transverse cross section, an insulating disc closing one end of said casing, a central rod electrode extending axially of said casing, there being an annular space between said electrode and said conducting wall, said rod electrode being shorter than said casing and supported at one end only on said insulating disc, and a tube of electrical insulating material surrounding and spaced outwardly from said rod electrode and dividing said annular space into concentric inner and outer zones, said tube having an open end adjacent to but spaced from said disc; means for connecting said rod electrode and said conducting wall to the output of a high-frequency generator; discharge means communicating with said outer zone adjacent the end of said casing remote from said disc; and means closing said outer zone at the end of said casing remote from said disc, liquid admitted to said inner zone at the end of said casing remote from said disc flowing first around said rod electrode toward said disc and then back through said outer zone to said discharge means and thus being twice subjected to the action of the high-frequency electrical energy.

Claim 5

The combination defined in claim 2, wherein said means closing said outer zone is an annular end wall; said tube extends outwardly through said end wall; and liquid can be introduced directly into the extended end of said tube.

Claim 6

The combination defined in claim 2, wherein said discharge means defines a plurality of discharge openings spaced about said casing at least generally in the location of the end of said rod electrode remote from said disc.

Claim 7

The combination defined in claim 4, wherein said discharge means includes means defining two discharge openings which are diametrically opposed across said casing.