Separating components of mixed fluid using a functionally graded material

An apparatus for separating components of a fluid containing at least a first component and a second component, comprising:

• a device;
• an inlet in said device for flowing the fluid containing the first component and the second component into said device;
• a first outlet in said device;
• a second outlet in said device;
• and
• a material that has a gradient in properties in said device between said inlet and said first and second outlets, wherein said fluid has a direction of flow between said inlet and said first and second outlets with said gradient in properties of said material being perpendicular to said direction of flow, said material having a first portion with an affinity for the first component of the fluid and a second portion with an affinity for the second component of the fluid;
• wherein the fluid containing the first component and the second component flow from said inlet through said material, and
• wherein said first portion of said material has a location with relation to said first outlet such that the first component of the fluid flows into said first portion of said material with an affinity for the first component of the fluid and wherein the first component of the fluid flows from said first portion of said material out of said device through said first outlet, and
• wherein said second portion of said material has a location with relation to said second outlet such that the second component of the fluid flows into said second portion of said material with an affinity for the second component of the fluid and wherein the second component of the fluid flows from said second portion of said material out of said device through said second outlet.

A method of separating components of a fluid containing at least a first component and a second component, comprising the steps of:

• providing a material that has a gradient in properties including a first portion with an affinity for the first component of the fluid and a second portion with an affinity for the second component of the fluid,
• flowing said fluid into said material,
• flowing the first component of the fluid into said first portion of said material with an affinity for the first component of the fluid,
• flowing the second component of the fluid into said second portion of said material with an affinity for the second component of the fluid,
• flowing the first component of the fluid out of said first portion of said material, and
• flowing the second component of the fluid out of said second portion of said material thereby separating the components of the fluid.

An system for separating components of a fluid containing at least a first component and a second component, comprising:

• an array of a multiplicity of devices with the devices arranged in parallel,
• each device having an inlet for flowing the fluid into said device,
• each device having a first outlet,
• each device having a second outlet, and
• each device having a material with a gradient in properties between said inlet and said first and second outlets, said material having a first portion with an affinity for the first component and a second portion with an affinity for the second component;
• wherein said first portion of said material is positioned with relation to said first outlet such that the first component of the fluid is drawn into said first portion of said material with an affinity for the first component and wherein the first component of the fluid flows from said first portion of said material out of said device through said first outlet, and
• wherein said second portion of said material is positioned with relation to said second outlet such that the second component of the fluid is drawn into said second portion of said material with an affinity for the second component and wherein the second component of the fluid flows from said second portion of said material out of said device through said second outlet.

A system for separating components of a fluid containing at least a first component and a second component, comprising:

• an array having a multiplicity of devices arranged in series;
• each device having an inlet for flowing the fluid containing the first component and the second component into said device;
• each device having a first outlet;
• each device having a second outlet;
• and
• each device having a material with a gradient in properties between said inlet and said first and second outlets, said material having a first portion with an affinity for the first component and a second portion with an affinity for the second component;
• wherein said first portion of said material is positioned with relation to said first outlet such that the first component of the fluid is drawn into said first portion of said material with an affinity for the first component and wherein the first component of the fluid flows from said first portion of said material out of said device through said first outlet, and
• wherein said second portion of said material is positioned with relation to said second outlet such that the second component of the fluid is drawn into said second portion of said material with an affinity for the second component and wherein the second component of the fluid flows from said second portion of said material out of said device through said second outlet;
• and
• wherein said multiplicity of devices are connected in series to produce said array with said first outlet of a device connected to an inlet of another device.