Patent ID: 8221679

Claim:
A free radical sterilization system comprising: a) a chamber for containing items to be sterilized; b) an effluent generator, comprising: i) a blower having an inlet coupled to the chamber, a first output and a second output, and a flow distributor for distributing blower flow between the first output and the second output in selected portions; ii) a plasma electric free radical generator having an input coupled to the first output of the blower and an output; iii) a vaporizer having an input coupled to the second output of the blower and to the output of the plasma electric free radical generator, and an output coupled to the chamber, the vaporizer contacting a liquid sterilizing agent with the output of the blower and free radicals from the free radical generator to produce bactericidal effluent; such that bactericidal effluent from the effluent generator flows through the chamber and back through the effluent generator in a closed loop; c) an open loop pre-heater and dryer comprising: i) an input valve having an input open to atmosphere and an output; ii) a heater having an input coupled to the input valve and an output coupled to the chamber; iii) an exhaust blower having an input coupled to the chamber and an output exhausting to atmosphere; such that air is taken in through the input valve, heated by the heater, passes through the chamber and is exhausted to atmosphere in an open loop.