Methods and apparatus for moving and separating materials exhibiting different physical properties

A method for separating blood cells from plasma, the method comprising the steps of:

• moving the blood cells and the plasma in a continuous flow through a separation vessel;
• propagating a first acoustic wave of a first frequency through the separation vessel;
• propagating a second acoustic wave of a second frequency through the separation vessel, said second frequency being different from the first frequency;
• superimposing the first and second acoustic waves to form a beat frequency acoustic wave having a group velocity, said beat frequency acoustic wave comprising maximum and minimum pressure surfaces that move with the group velocity of the beat frequency acoustic wave, said maximum and minimum pressure surfaces moving the blood cells towards a location in the vessel in the direction of the group velocity of the beat frequency acoustic wave;
• and
• separating the blood cells from the plasma.

A method for effectuating controlled movement of materials having different physical properties, the method comprising the steps of:

• generating by a transducer an incident acoustic wave which propagates through a vessel containing the materials;
• changing the frequency of the incident acoustic wave over time from a first frequency to a second frequency;
• impinging the incident acoustic wave on a reflective surface to form a reflected acoustic wave which propagates through the vessel containing the materials such that the frequency of the reflected acoustic wave also continuously changes over time from a first frequency to a second frequency;
• and
• superimposing the incident and reflected acoustic waves to form a pseudo-standing acoustic wave having a group velocity, said pseudo-standing acoustic wave comprising maximum and minimum pressure surfaces that move with the group velocity of the pseudo-standing acoustic wave, said maximum and minimum pressure surfaces moving at least one of the materials towards a location in the vessel in the direction of the group velocity of the pseudo-standing acoustic wave.

A method for separating particulates from a particulate suspension, the method comprising the steps of:

• moving the particulates in the particulate suspension in a continuous flow through a separation vessel;
• generating by transducer an incident acoustic wave which propagates through the separation vessel;
• changing the frequency of the incident acoustic wave over time from a first frequency to a second frequency;
• impinging the incident acoustic wave on a reflective surface to form a reflected acoustic wave which propagates through the separation vessel such that the frequency of the reflected acoustic wave also changes over time from a first frequency to a second frequency;
• superimposing the incident and reflected acoustic waves to form a pseudo-standing acoustic wave having a group velocity, said pseudo-standing acoustic wave comprising maximum and minimum pressure surfaces that move with the group velocity of the pseudo-standing acoustic wave, said maximum and minimum pressure surfaces moving at least one of the particulates towards a location in the vessel in the direction of the group velocity of the pseudo-standing acoustic wave;
• and
• separating at least one of the particulates from the particulate suspension.

A method for separating immiscible liquids, the method comprising the steps of:

• moving the immiscible liquids in a continuous flow through a separation vessel;
• generating by a transducer an incident acoustic wave which propagates through the separation vessel;
• changing the frequency of the incident acoustic wave over time from a first frequency to a second frequency;
• impinging the incident acoustic wave on a reflective surface to form a reflected acoustic wave which propagates through the separation vessel such that the frequency of the reflected acoustic wave also changes over time from a first frequency to a second frequency;
• superimposing the incident and reflected acoustic waves to form a pseudo-standing acoustic wave having a group velocity, said pseudo-standing acoustic wave comprising maximum and minimum pressure surfaces that move with the group velocity of the pseudo-standing acoustic wave, said maximum and minimum pressure surfaces moving at least one of the immiscible liquids towards a location in the vessel in the direction of the group velocity of the pseudo-standing acoustic wave;
• and
• separating at least one of the immiscible liquids from the remaining immiscible liquids.

A method for separating undissolved gases from a liquid, the method comprising the steps of:

• moving the undissolved gases and the liquid in a continuous flow through a separation vessel;
• generating by a transducer an incident acoustic wave which propagates through the separation vessel;
• changing the frequency of the incident acoustic wave over time from a first frequency to a second frequency;
• impinging the incident acoustic wave on a reflective surface to form a reflected acoustic wave which propagates through the separation vessel, such that the frequency of the reflected acoustic wave also changes over time from a first frequency to a second frequency;
• superimposing the incident and reflected acoustic waves to form a pseudo-standing acoustic wave having a group velocity, said pseudo-standing acoustic wave comprising maximum and minimum pressure surfaces that move with the group velocity of the pseudo-standing acoustic wave, said maximum and minimum pressure surfaces moving the undissolved gases towards a location in the vessel in the direction of the group velocity of the pseudo-standing acoustic wave;
• and
• separating the undissolved gases from the liquid.

A method for effectuating controlled movement of materials having different physical properties, the method comprising the steps of:

• generating by a transducer an incident acoustic wave which propagates through a vessel containing the materials;
• impinging the incident acoustic wave on a reflective surface to form a reflected acoustic wave which propagates through the vessel containing the materials;
• moving the reflective surface;
• and
• superimposing the incident and reflected acoustic waves to form a pseudo-standing acoustic wave having a group velocity, said pseudo-standing acoustic wave comprising maximum and minimum pressure surfaces that move with the group velocity of the pseudo-standing acoustic wave, said maximum and minimum pressure surfaces moving at least one of the materials towards a location in the vessel in the direction of the group velocity of the pseudo-standing acoustic wave.

A method for effectuating controlled movement of materials having different physical properties, the method comprising the steps of:

• generating by a transducer an incident acoustic wave which propagates through a vessel containing the materials;
• impinging the incident acoustic wave on a reflective surface to form a reflected acoustic wave which propagates through the vessel containing the materials;
• superimposing the incident and reflected acoustic waves to form a resultant wave comprising maximum and minimum pressure surfaces;
• and
• moving the reflective surface and changing the frequency of the incident acoustic wave such that the number of wavelengths of the incident acoustic wave between the transducer and the reflective surface remains substantially constant and the acoustic impedance seen by the transducer remains substantially the same whereby at least one of the materials is moved towards a location in the vessel.

A method for separating particulates from a particulate suspension, the method comprising the steps of:

• generating by a transducer an incident acoustic wave which propagates through the separation vessel;
• moving the particulates in the particulate suspension in a continuous flow through the separation vessel;
• impinging the incident acoustic wave on a reflective surface to form a reflected acoustic wave which propagates through the separation vessel;
• moving the reflective surface;
• superimposing the incident and reflected acoustic waves to form a pseudo-standing acoustic wave having a group velocity, said pseudo-standing acoustic wave comprising maximum and minimum pressure surfaces that move with the group velocity of the pseudo-standing acoustic wave, said maximum and minimum pressure surfaces moving at least one of the particulates towards a location in the separation vessel in the direction of the group velocity of the pseudo-standing acoustic wave;
• and
• separating at least one of the particulates from the particulate suspension.

A method for separating particulates from a particulate suspension, the method comprising the steps of:

• moving the particulates in the particulate suspension in a continuous flow through a separation vessel;
• generating by a transducer an incident acoustic wave which propagates through the separation vessel;
• impinging the incident acoustic wave on a reflective surface to form a reflected acoustic wave which propagates through the separation vessel;
• superimposing the incident and reflected acoustic waves to form a resultant wave comprising maximum and minimum pressure surfaces;
• moving the reflective surface and changing the frequency of the incident acoustic wave such that the number of wavelengths of the incident acoustic wave between the transducer and the reflective surface remains substantially constant and the acoustic impedance seen by the transducer remains substantially the same whereby at least one of the particulates is moved towards a location in the vessel;
• and
• separating at least one of the particulates from the particulate suspension.

A method for separating immiscible liquids, the method comprising the steps of:

• moving the immiscible liquids in a continuous flow through a separation vessel;
• generating by a transducer an incident acoustic wave which propagates through the separation vessel;
• impinging the incident acoustic wave on a reflective surface to form a reflected acoustic wave which propagates through the separation vessel;
• moving the reflective surface;
• superimposing the incident and reflected acoustic waves to form a pseudo-standing acoustic wave having a group velocity, said pseudo-standing acoustic wave comprising maximum and minimum pressure surfaces that move with the group velocity of the pseudo-standing acoustic wave, said maximum and minimum pressure surfaces moving at least one of the immiscible liquids towards a location in the separation vessel in the direction of the group velocity of the pseudo-standing acoustic wave;
• and
• separately at least one of the immiscible liquids from the remaining immiscible liquids.

A method for separating immiscible liquids, the method comprising the steps of:

• moving the immiscible liquids in a continuous flow through a separation vessel;
• generating by a transducer an incident acoustic wave which propagates through the separation vessel;
• impinging the incident acoustic wave on a reflective surface to form a reflected acoustic wave which propagates through the separation vessel;
• superimposing the incident and reflected acoustic waves to form a resultant wave comprising maximum and minimum pressure surfaces;
• moving the reflective surface and changing the frequency of the incident acoustic wave such that the number of wavelengths of the incident acoustic wave between the transducer and the reflective surface remains substantially constant and the acoustic impedance seen by the transducer remains substantially the same whereby at least one of the immiscible liquids is moved towards a location in the vessel;
• and
• separately at least one of the immiscible liquid from the remaining immiscible liquids.

A method for separating undissolved gases from a liquid, the method comprising the steps of:

• moving the undissolved gases and the liquid in a continuous flow through a separation vessel;
• generating by a transducer an incident acoustic wave which propagates through the separation vessel;
• impinging the incident acoustic wave on a reflective surface to form a reflected acoustic wave which propagates through the separation vessel;
• moving the reflective surface;
• superimposing the incident and reflected acoustic waves to form a pseudo-standing acoustic wave having a group velocity, said pseudo-standing acoustic wave comprising maximum and minimum pressure surfaces that move with the group velocity of the pseudo-standing acoustic wave, said maximum and minimum pressure surfaces moving the undissolved gases toward a location in the separation vessel in the direction of the group velocity of the pseudo-standing acoustic wave;
• and
• separating at least one of the undissolved gases from the liquid.

An apparatus for effectuating the controlled movement of materials having different physical properties, the apparatus comprising:

• a vessel capable of containing the materials;
• means for generating an incident acoustic wave;
• means for propagating the incident acoustic wave through the vessel;
• means for changing the frequency of the incident acoustic wave over time from a first frequency to a second frequency;
• and
• means for reflecting the incident acoustic wave to form a reflected acoustic wave which is propagated through the vessel, the reflected acoustic wave being propagated such that the incident and reflected acoustic waves interfere with each other to form a pseudo-standing acoustic wave having a group velocity, said pseudo-standing acoustic wave comprising pressure gradients which separate regions of maximum and minimum pressure, said pressure gradients moving through space and time and acting upon at least one of the materials so as to move at least one of the materials towards a location in the vessel in the direction of the group velocity of the pseudo-standing acoustic wave.

An apparatus for effectuating the controlled movement of materials having different physical properties, the apparatus comprising:

• a vessel capable of containing the materials;
• means for generating an incident acoustic wave at a fixed frequency;
• means for propagating the incident acoustic wave through the vessel;
• and
• moving reflector means moving in a direction parallel to the direction of propagation of the incident acoustic wave, the moving reflector means for reflecting the incident acoustic wave to form a reflected acoustic wave which is propagated through the vessel, the reflected acoustic wave being propagated such that the incident and reflected acoustic waves are superimposed to form a pseudo-standing acoustic wave having a group velocity, said pseudo-standing acoustic wave comprising maximum and minimum pressure surfaces that move with the group velocity of the pseudo-standing acoustic wave, said maximum and minimum pressure surface moving at least one of the materials towards a location in the vessel in the direction of the group velocity of the pseudo-standing acoustic wave.

An apparatus for effectuating the controlled movement of materials having different physical properties, the apparatus comprising:

• a vessel capable of containing the materials;
• means for generating an incident acoustic wave;
• means for propagating the incident acoustic wave through the vessel;
• moving reflector means for reflecting the incident acoustic wave to form a reflected acoustic wave which is propagated through the vessel;
• means for changing the frequency of the incident acoustic wave;
• and
• means for synchronizing the moving reflector means and the means for changing the frequency of the incident acoustic wave such that the number of wave lengths of the incident acoustic wave between the transducer and the effective surface remains substantially constant and the acoustic impedance seen by the means for generating remains substantially the same whereby the pressure gradients of the resultant wave formed by the superimposition of the incident and reflected acoustic waves are moved and at least one of the materials in the vessel is also moved thereby.

An apparatus for separating materials having different physical properties, the apparatus comprising:

• a separation vessel containing the materials;
• means for generating an incident acoustic wave;
• means for propagating the incident acoustic wave through the separation vessel;
• means for changing the frequency of the incident acoustic wave over time from a first frequency to a second frequency;
• means for reflecting the incident acoustic wave to form a reflected acoustic wave of which is propagated through the separation vessel, the reflected acoustic wave being propagated such that the incident and reflected acoustic waves interfere with each other to form a pseudo-standing acoustic wave having a group velocity, said pseudo-standing acoustic wave comprising pressure gradients which separate regions of maximum and minimum pressure, said pressure gradients moving through space and time and acting upon at least one of the materials so as to move at least one of the materials to a predetermined location;
• and
• means for separating and collecting at least one of the materials which has been moved to the predetermined location.

A method for effectuating controlled movement of materials having different physical properties, the method comprising the steps of:

• propagating a first acoustic wave of a first frequency from a transducer through a separation vessel containing the materials;
• propagating a second acoustic wave through the separation vessel containing the materials, the second acoustic wave formed by impinging the first acoustic wave on a reflective surface such that the reflected second acoustic wave is parallel to the first acoustic wave;
• and
• gradually changing the frequency of the second acoustic wave from the second frequency to a third frequency by gradually moving the reflective surface in a direction parallel to the direction of propagation of the first acoustic wave plane of the transducer thereby superimposing the first and second acoustic waves to form a continuous beat frequency wave having a group velocity, said beat frequency wave comprising maximum and minimum pressure surface that move with the group velocity of the beat frequency wave, said maximum and minimum pressure surfaces moving at least one of the materials towards a location in the vessel in the direction of the group velocity of the beat frequency wave.

A method for effectuating controlled movement of materials having different physical properties, the method comprising the steps of:

• propagating a first acoustic wave of a first frequency from a transducer through a separation vessel containing the materials;
• propagating a second acoustic wave through the separation vessel containing the materials, the second acoustic wave formed by impinging the first acoustic wave on a reflective surface such that the reflected wave is parallel to the first acoustic wave;
• gradually changing the frequency of the first acoustic wave from a first frequency to a third frequency thereby superimposing the first and second acoustic waves to form a beat frequency wave having a group velocity, said beat frequency wave comprising maximum and minimum pressure surfaces that move with the group velocity of the beat frequency wave, said maximum and minimum pressure surfaces moving at least one of the materials toward a location in the vessel in the direction of the group velocity of the beat frequency wave;
• and
• gradually changing the distance between the transducer and the reflective surface such that the acoustic impedance seen by the transducer remains substantially constant.

An apparatus for effectuating the controlled movement of materials having different physical properties, the apparatus comprising:

• a vessel capable of containing the materials;
• a transducer operating at a first frequency and propagating a first acoustic wave through the vessel;
• and
• a moving reflector moving in a direction parallel to the direction of propagation of the first acoustic wave thereby propagating a second acoustic wave at a second frequency reflected from the moving reflector such that the first and second acoustic waves interfere with each other to form a beat frequency wave having a group velocity, the beat frequency wave comprising pressure gradients which separate regions of maximum and minimum pressure, said pressure gradients moving through space and time and acting upon at least one of the materials so as to move at least one of the materials toward a location in the vessel in the direction of the group velocity of the beat frequency wave.

An apparatus for separating materials having different physical properties, the apparatus comprising:

• a separation vessel containing the materials;
• means for generating an incident acoustic wave at a fixed frequency;
• means for propagating the incident acoustic wave through the vessel;
• moving reflector means moving in a direction parallel to the direction of propagation of the incident acoustic wave, the moving reflector means for reflecting the incident acoustic wave to form a reflected acoustic wave which is propagated through the separation vessel, the reflected acoustic wave being propagated such that the incident and reflected acoustic waves are superimposed to form a pseudo-standing acoustic wave having a group velocity, said pseudo-standing acoustic wave comprising maximum and minimum pressure surfaces that move with the group velocity of the pseudo-standing acoustic wave, said maximum and minimum pressure surfaces moving at least one of the materials towards a predetermined location in the separation vessel in the direction of the group velocity of the pseudo-standing acoustic wave;
• and
• means for separating and collecting at least one of the materials which has been moved to the predetermined location.

An apparatus for separating materials having different physical properties, the apparatus comprising:

• a separation vessel containing the materials;
• means for generating an incident acoustic wave;
• means for propagating the incident acoustic wave through the vessel;
• moving reflector means for reflecting the incident acoustic wave to form a reflected acoustic wave which is propagated through the vessel;
• means for changing the frequency of the incident acoustic wave;
• means for synchronizing the moving reflector means and the means for changing the frequency of the incident acoustic wave such that the number of wave lengths of the incident acoustic wave between the transducer and the reflective surface remains substantially constant and the acoustic impedance seen by the means for generating remains substantially the same whereby the pressure gradients of the resultant wave formed by the superimposition of the incident and reflected acoustic waves are moved and at least one of the materials in the separation vessel is moved toward a predetermined location in the separation vessel;
• and
• means for separating and collecting at least one of the materials which has been moved to the predetermined location.

An apparatus for effectuating the controlled movement of materials having different physical properties, the apparatus comprising:

• a vessel capable of containing the materials;
• means for propagating a first acoustic wave of a first frequency through the vessel;
• and
• means for reflecting the first acoustic wave to form a second acoustic wave of a second frequency which is propagated through the vessel, the second frequency being different from the first frequency, the second acoustic wave being propagated such that the incident and reflected acoustic waves interfere with each other to form a continuous beat frequency acoustic wave having a group velocity, said continuous beat frequency acoustic wave comprising pressure gradients which separate regions of maximum and minimum pressure within the vessel, said pressure gradients moving through space and time and acting upon at least one of the materials so as to move at least one of the materials towards a location in the vessel in the direction of the group velocity of the continuous beat frequency acoustic wave.

An apparatus for separating materials having different physical properties, the apparatus comprising:

• a separation vessel containing the materials;
• means for propagating a first acoustic wave of a first frequency through the separation vessel;
• means for reflecting the first acoustic wave to form a second acoustic wave of a second frequency which is propagated through the separation vessel, the second frequency being different from the first frequency, the second acoustic wave being propagated such that the incident and reflected acoustic waves interfere with each other to form a continuous beat frequency acoustic wave having a group velocity, said continuous beat frequency acoustic wave comprising pressure gradients which separate regions of maximum and minimum pressure within the separation vessel, said pressure gradients moving through space and time and acting upon at least one of the materials so as to move at least one of the materials to a predetermined location;
• and
• means for separating and collecting at least one of the materials which has been moved to the predetermined location.