# US 2017/0282097 A1 · Separation of multi-component fluid through ultrasonic acoustophoresis > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0282097 A1 - Document ID: US20170282097A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/621,691 - Filed: 2017-06-13 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-03-15 - Assignees: FloDesign Sonics, Inc. - Applicants: FloDesign Sonics, Inc. - Inventors: Bart Lipkens; Jason Dionne; Ari Mercado; Brian Dutra; Walter M. Presz, JR.; Thomas J. Kennedy, III; Louis Masi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170282097A1 ## CPC - B01D 17/04: Breaking emulsions - B01D 43/00: Separating particles from liquids, or liquids from solids, otherwise than by sedimentation or filtration (flotation processes B03D1/00; drying solid materials or objects F26B) - C12M 47/02: {Separating microorganisms from the culture medium; Concentration of biomass (separating microorganisms from their culture media C12N1/02)} - G10K 15/02: Synthesis of acoustic waves (synthesis of speech G10L13/00) - B06B 1/0644: {using a single piezoelectric element (B06B1/0688 takes precedence)} - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS} - G10K: SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B06B: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, {e.g.} FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL (for particular applications, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. B07B1/40, B23Q17/12, B24B31/06; measurement of mechanical vibrations G01H; in direction finding, locating, distance or velocity measuring G01S; {generating seismic energy G01V1/02}; control of mechanical vibrations in general G05D; sound-producing devices, e.g. bells, sirens, whistles G10K, {e.g. methods or devices for transmitting, conducting, or directing sound in general G10K11/00}; generation of electrical oscillations H03B; electromechanical resonators in general H03H; electromechanical transducers {for communication techniques, e.g. microphones, speakers} H04R) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the cells or particles exit the device through the one or more device outlets located at the second end of the device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the host fluid exits the device through a first device outlet located at the first end of the device and separated from the one or more device inlets by a longitudinal sidewall. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the device has a length L from the one or more device inlets to a bottom of the longitudinal sidewall, and a ratio of the length L to the first diameter is less than 1. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the device operates at a flow rate of up to 3 gallons/minute. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first end of the device has a circular cross-section and the flow chamber has a rectangular cross-section. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the multi-dimensional acoustic standing wave results in an acoustic radiation force having an axial force component and a lateral force component that are of the same order of magnitude. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the transducer comprises: a housing having a top end, a bottom end, and an interior volume; and a crystal at the bottom end of the housing having an exposed exterior surface and an interior surface, the crystal being able to vibrate when driven by a voltage signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein no backing layer is present within the housing of the transducer, and an air gap is present in the interior volume between the crystal and a top plate at the top end of the housing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the transducer further comprises a backing layer contacting the interior surface of the crystal, the backing layer being made of a substantially acoustically transparent material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the flow chamber further comprises a transparent window for viewing the interior of the flow chamber. ### Claim 12 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. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein the device includes a plurality of device inlets spaced about the first end of the device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein the piezoelectric material of the at least one ultrasonic transducer has a rectangular shape. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein the reflector has a non-planar surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein the first end of the device has a circular cross-section and the flow chamber has a rectangular cross-section. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein the transducer comprises: a housing having a top end, a bottom end, and an interior volume; and a crystal at the bottom end of the housing having an exposed exterior surface and an interior surface, the crystal being able to vibrate when driven by a voltage signal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein the flow chamber further comprises a transparent window for viewing the interior of the flow chamber. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the device has a length L from the one or more device inlets to a bottom of the longitudinal sidewall, and a ratio of the length L to the first diameter is less than 12. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein the flow chamber has a plurality of the ultrasonic transducers located on the wall of the flow chamber.