Modulated acoustic agglomeration system and method
AssigneeBoard of Regents, The University of Texas System
InventorGeorge Douglas Meegan JR.
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Abstract
An acoustic agglomerator for agglomerating constituents in a fluid is provided. The acoustic agglomerator includes an area containing a fluid having constituents and an acoustic generator operable to generate a modulated acoustic field to enhance agglomeration of the constituents in the fluid. In one aspect the acoustic field is frequency modulated and in other aspects the acoustic field is amplitude modulated, while yet in other aspects the acoustic field is both frequency and amplitude modulated. A method for agglomerating constituents in a fluid is also provided. The method includes providing a fluid with a constituent and applying an acoustic field to the fluid. The method provides for modulating the acoustic field to cause the constituent to agglomerate.
Claims161
A method for agglomerating constituents in a fluid, comprising:
- providing a fluid with a constituent;
- applying an acoustic field to the fluid;
- and
- modulating the acoustic field to cause the constituent to agglomerate.
A method for agglomerating constituents in a fluid, comprising:
- providing a fluid with a constituent;
- applying an acoustic field to the fluid;
- and
- frequency modulating the acoustic field to cause the constituent to agglomerate.
A method for agglomerating constituents in a fluid, comprising:
- providing a fluid with a constituent;
- applying an acoustic field to the fluid;
- and
- amplitude modulating the acoustic field to cause the constituent to agglomerate.
A method for agglomerating constituents in a fluid stream, comprising:
- providing the fluid stream containing a constituent into a fluid passageway adapted to communicate the fluid stream;
- applying an acoustic field to the fluid stream in the fluid passageway;
- and
- modulating the acoustic field in the fluid passageway to cause the constituent to agglomerate in the fluid stream.
An acoustic agglomerator for agglomerating constituents in a fluid, comprising:
- an area containing a fluid having constituents desirably agglomerated;
- and
- a means for generating a modulated acoustic field to enhance agglomeration of the constituents in the fluid.
An acoustic agglomerator for agglomerating constituents in a fluid, the acoustic agglomerator comprising:
- an acoustic plate configured for acoustic generation;
- a shaft having a first end and a second end, the first end of the shaft connected to the acoustic plate;
- and
- a mechanical oscillator connected to the second end of the shaft for imparting an oscillation thereon the shaft and the acoustic plate connected thereto for generating a modulated acoustic field.
An acoustic agglomerator for agglomerating constituents in a fluid stream, the acoustic agglomerator comprising:
- a duct having a sidewall defining a fluid passageway, the duct adapted to receive the fluid stream having the constituents;
- a manifold system coupled to the duct such that the manifold system communicates with the fluid passageway;
- and
- at least a first sound source coupled to the manifold system and operable to generate a modulated acoustic field within the fluid passageway of the duct.
An acoustic agglomerator for removing particulates from a fluid stream, comprising:
- a duct having a sidewall defining a passageway, the duct operable to receive the fluid stream having particulates;
- an acoustic generator adapted to generate a modulated acoustic field in the fluid passageway of the duct;
- and
- a particle collection device in communication with the duct to receive the fluid stream therefrom the duct, the particle collection device adapted to remove at least a portion of the particulate from the fluid stream.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.