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US 2017/0282097 A1Published application
Separation of multi-component fluid through ultrasonic acoustophoresis
AssigneeFloDesign Sonics, Inc.
InventorsBart Lipkens, Jason Dionne, Ari Mercado, Brian Dutra, Walter M. Presz, JR., Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Louis Masi
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Abstract
An acoustic standing wave is utilized to separate components from a multi-component fluid, such as oil from an oil-water mixture, in a fluid flow scheme with an acoustophoresis device. For example, the flow scheme and device allows for trapping of the oil as the oil coalesces, agglomerates, and becomes more buoyant than the water.
Claims20
A method for continuously separating cells or particles from a host fluid, comprising:
- flowing the host fluid through an acoustophoresis device that comprises:
- one or more device inlets at a first end of the device;
- a flow chamber downstream of the one or more device inlets, the flow chamber having:
- a flow chamber inlet at a first end for receiving the fluid flow,
- a flow chamber outlet at a second end opposite the first end,
- at least one ultrasonic transducer includes a piezoelectric material driven by a voltage signal to create a multi-dimensional acoustic standing wave in the flow chamber, and
- a reflector located opposite the at least one ultrasonic transducer;
- and
- one or more device outlets located at a second end of the device downstream of the flow chamber outlet;
- driving the at least ultrasonic transducer to create the multi-dimensional acoustic standing wave in the flow chamber and separate the cells or particles from the host fluid.
7 more elements
An acoustophoresis device, comprising:
- one or more device inlets at a first end of the device, the first end having a first diameter for receiving fluid flow;
- a chamber downstream of the one or more device inlets, the chamber having:
- at least one ultrasonic transducer, the ultrasonic transducer including a piezoelectric material driven by a voltage signal to create a multi-dimensional acoustic standing wave in the chamber, and
- a reflector located opposite side from the at least one ultrasonic transducer;
- one or more device outlets located at a second end of the device downstream of the chamber.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.