Fluid mixer/charger and method

Abstract

According to one aspect of the invention, a fluid mixer/charger includes an inlet for receiving input flowing fluid, the inlet including a flow directing portion for directing fluid in the first directional flow path, an outlet positioned to receive fluid flowing from the inlet to direct the fluid along a second directional flow path different from the first one, and a charging device for applying or removing electrical charge with respect to fluid during flow by at least one of the inlet and outlet. The invention functions as an electric capacitor with a fixed bleed rate to charge fluid. According to an additional aspect, a method of mixing and charging of fluid includes directing a fluid through a mixer/charger device, including receiving an input fluid, directing the input fluid along a flow path defined at least in part by at least partially electrically conductive members, at least once during flow of fluid along the flow path changing the direction of fluid flow and the number of streams in which such fluid flows, and applying or removing an electrical charge with respect to the fluid flowing through the mixer/charger.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.