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.
Claims88
An acoustic agglomerator for agglomerating constituents, comprising:
- an acoustic generator configured to communicate with an area containing a fluid having constituents,
- wherein the acoustic generator is operable to generate a frequency modulated acoustic field to enhance agglomeration of the constituents in the fluid.
The acoustic agglomerator of claim. 5, wherein the second acoustic field is frequency and amplitude modulated.
An acoustic agglomerator for agglomerating constituents, comprising:
- an acoustic generator configured to communicate with an area containing a gas having constituents,
- wherein the acoustic generator is operable to generate a modulated acoustic field to enhance agglomeration of the constituents in the gas.
An acoustic agglomerator for agglomerating constituents, comprising:
- an acoustic generator configured to communicate with a fluid having constituents, wherein
- the fluid is in an open area, and
- the acoustic generator is operable to generate an acoustic field to enhance agglomeration of the constituents in the fluid in the open area.
An acoustic agglomerator for agglomerating constituents, comprising:
- an acoustic generator configured to communicate with an exhaust of a vehicle having constituents, wherein
- the acoustic generator is operable to generate an acoustic field to enhance agglomeration of the constituents in the exhaust.
The acoustic agglomerator of claim. 52, wherein the exhaust includes gas.
An acoustic agglomerator for agglomerating constituents, comprising:
- an acoustic generator configured to communicate with an area with a fluid flow having constituents, wherein
- the acoustic generator is operable to generate an acoustic field to enhance agglomeration of the constituents in the area, and
- the acoustic generator applies the acoustic field to the area at an angle arbitrary to a direction of the fluid flow.
An acoustic agglomerator for agglomerating constituents, comprising:
- an acoustic generator configured to communicate with an area containing a fluid with constituents,
- wherein the acoustic generator is operable to generate an acoustic field to enhance agglomeration of the constituents in the area;
- and
- a system operable to determine information about the constituents in the area, wherein
- the acoustic generator can modify the acoustic field in response to the information.
A method of decreasing the frequency of cleaning a filtration device, the method comprising:
- providing a filtration device, operable to filter a fluid stream having constituents;
- applying an acoustic field to the fluid stream at a point upstream of the filtration device, wherein
- the acoustic field enhances an agglomeration of the constituents.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.