Systems and methods for separating surface materials from a fluid using acoustic pressure shock waves
AssigneeSanuwave, Inc.
InventorsIulian Cioanta, John Jackson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of separating material, such as foam, sludge, oil or grease, at a fluid's surface, by applying acoustic pressure shock waves to the material and the fluid's surface such that acoustic pressure shock waves are propagated in liquid medium of the fluid and in gas medium above the fluid surface.
Claims20
A method of separating material floating on a fluid's surface from the fluid comprising:
- applying acoustic pressure shock waves to the material and the fluid's surface such that acoustic pressure shock waves are propagated in liquid medium of the fluid and in gas medium above the fluid's surface;
- and
- collecting the material pushed by the acoustic pressure shock waves.
A method of separating material floating on a fluid's surface from the fluid comprising applying acoustic pressure shock waves to the material and the fluid's surface sufficient to create a velocity differential above and below the fluid's surface that generates shear forces which push the material along and away from the fluid's surface.
A system for separating material floating on a fluid's surface from the fluid comprising:
- an acoustic pressure shock wave generator;
- a membrane enclosing electrodes and an acoustic pressure shock wave reflector adjacent the electrodes, wherein the electrodes are operatively coupled to the shock wave generator;
- and
- a fluid containment containing liquid medium having with material floating on the fluid surface, wherein the containment includes a material outlet and the acoustic pressure shock wave reflector is supported adjacent the fluid surface and oriented to focus acoustic pressure shock waves horizontally across the fluid surface and push the material floating on the fluid's surface to the material outlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.