Patent ID: 7504031

Claim:
A device for separating ions from a fluid, said device comprising: an elongated conduit oriented substantially parallel to and positioned eccentric to an axis of rotation; an inlet positioned at one end of said conduit; a first ion duct positioned at an opposite end of said conduit and in fluid communication with said conduit; a first exit port in fluid communication with said first ion duct; a second ion duct positioned at said opposite end of said conduit and in fluid communication with said conduit, said second ion duct being positioned closer to said axis of rotation than said first ion duct; a second exit port in fluid communication with said second ion duct; an inductor coil surrounding said conduit, said coil producing a magnetic field substantially parallel to said axis of rotation when an electrical current flows therethrough, one of said coil and said conduit being rotatable about said axis of rotation; and wherein said fluid containing said ions entering said inlet and flowing through said conduit, said magnetic field exerting a force on said ions in said fluid, ions having one polarity being moved radially away from said axis of rotation, ions having an opposite polarity being moved radially toward said axis of rotation, ions having said one polarity entering said first ion duct and exiting through said first exit port, ions having said opposite polarity entering said second ion duct and exiting through said second exit port.