Devices, systems and methods for treatment of water with electromagnetic fields
Electromagnetic water treatment devices for applying electromagnetic fields to liquids, such as water are disclosed. The water treatment devices may include a water-immersible probe configured to generate electromagnetic output fields effective to remove scale, prevent the growth of scale and/or eliminate microbes in a water supply system. Systems and methods for treating water using the disclosed devices are also provided.
1. A system for removing scale or preventing growth of scale comprising: a main unit comprising a generator configured to generate an output signal at a resonant frequency; and
an immersible, capacitive device comprising a positive conductive element, and a negative conductive element, where the positive conductive element is smaller than the negative conductive element and is at least 0.75 the size of the negative conductive element,
the capacitive device configured to generate an electromagnetic output field at the resonant frequency based on the output signal from the main unit and to reduce fringing effects,
said main unit further operable to control the electromagnetic output field to at least remove scale or prevent growth of scale in a liquid.
2. The system as in claim 1 , further comprising a digital control section configured to receive inputs comprising desired characteristics of the electromagnetic output field.
3. The system as in claim 1 , wherein said positive conductive element or said negative conductive element is configured to vary a distance between the positive conductive element and the negative conductive element.
4. The system as in dam 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to measure at least one of a total dissolved solids, conductivity, flow rate, temperature, and pH.
5. The system as in claim 4 , wherein said main unit is configured to adaptively alter the resonant frequency of the output signal based on measurements from said sensor of the at least one of a total dissolved solids level, conductivity, flow rate, temperature, and pH.
6. The system as in claim 1 , wherein the positive conductive element comprises a first plate, and the negative conductive element comprises a second plate, wherein a surface area of the first plate is 0.75 to 0.90 the surface area of the second plate.
7. The system as in claim 1 , wherein the positive conductive element comprises a first cylindrical structure, and the negative conductive element comprises a second cylindrical structure, wherein a length of the first cylindrical structure is 0.75 to 0.90 the length of the second cylindrical structure.
8. The system as in claim 7 , wherein said positive conductive element and negative conductive element are configured to horizontally align.
9. The system as in claim 7 , wherein said positive conductive element comprises a tube and said negative conductive element comprises a rod aligned inside said tube having an annular spacing between the positive conductive element and the negative conductive element.
10. The system as in claim 1 , wherein said immersible, capacitive device comprises a cylindrical housing.
11. The system as in claim 1 , further comprising a user interface configured to exchange signals with the main unit to control the characteristics of electromagnetic output field.
12. A method for removing scale or preventing growth of scale comprising:
immersing an immersible, capacitive device in a liquid, said device comprising a positive conductive element, and a negative conductive element configured to reduce fringing effects, where the positive conductive element is smaller than the negative conductive element and is at least 0.75 the size of the negative conductive element;
outputting an output signal from a main unit to the immersible, capacitive device;
generating an electromagnetic output field based on the output signal; and
controlling the generation of the electromagnetic output field to at least remove scale or prevent growth of scale in the liquid.
13. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising adjusting a distance between the negative conductive element and the positive conductive element.
14. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising generating a digital driver signal or an analog driver signal.
15. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
inputting desired characteristics of the electromagnetic output field into an input system of a digital control section, and
operating a digital waveform generator to generate a digital driver signal based on the desired characteristics.
16. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising selecting at least one of the digital driver signal or the analog driver signal to drive an output amplifier to generate the output signal.
17. The method according to claim 16 , further comprising controlling the selection of at least one of the digital driver signal or the analog driver signal using a digital/analog selector.
18. The method according to claim 17 , further comprising automatically switching to the analog signal to feed the digital/analog selector upon failure of a digital control system.
19. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
measuring at least one of total dissolved solids, conductivity, flow rate, temperature, and pH of a liquid; and
adaptively altering the output signal based on said measurements.
20. The method as in claim 12 , further comprising exchanging signals with the main unit to remove scale or prevent growth of scale in a liquid using a user interface selected from the group consisting as in a desktop computer, laptop computer, tablet computer, handheld device, and electronic monitoring device.
21. A method for removing scale or preventing the growth of scale comprising:
powering a main unit, configured to generate an output signal and control an electromagnetic output field generated based on the output signal, to at least remove scale or prevent growth of scale in a liquid, and an immersible, capacitive device comprising a positive conductive element and a negative conductive element configured to reduce fringing effects and to generate the electromagnetic output field based on the output signal, where the positive conductive element is smaller than the negative conductive element and is at least 0.75 the size of the negative conductive element.