Method and apparatus for producing gas bubbles in a liquid medium
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorRobert Kuklinski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for producing gas bubbles of a uniform ize in a liquid. First, the liquid medium flows over a wall or other liquid containment surface. Gas is then emitted into the liquid medium to form gas bubbles from an aperture in the wall at a bubble formation position. A standing wave is then established in the liquid medium at the aperture. It is found that the bubbles formed at the aperture are of a substantially uniform size.
Claims20
An apparatus for generating uniformly sized gas bubbles in a flowing liquid, said apparatus comprising:
- a liquid boundary surface positioned in said flowing liquid such that said flowing liquid flows externally of said surface, said surface having at least one bubble formation aperture therein;
- a gas source in communication with said liquid boundary surface having said at least one bubble formation aperture;
- and
- at least one acoustic standing wave generating means positioned to generate standing waves in said liquid at said liquid boundary surface having said at least one bubble formation aperture whereby uniformly sized gas bubbles are generated at said bubble formation aperture.
An apparatus for generating uniformly sized gas bubbles in a flowing liquid, said apparatus comprising:
- a liquid boundary surface being acoustically reflective and having at least one bubble formation aperture therein;
- a gas source in communication with said liquid boundary surface having said at least one bubble formation aperture;
- at least one acoustic wave generating means positioned in directly opposed relation to said liquid boundary surface to generate standing waves in said liquid at said liquid boundary surface having said at least one bubble formation aperture, and said standing waves being created by said generated waves and said reflected waves between said at least one wave generating means and said liquid boundary surface;
- and
- a barrier means positioned in said liquid boundary surface for shielding said bubble formation aperture from said flowing liquid.
A method of producing gas bubbles in a liquid medium comprising the steps of:
- providing a liquid boundary surface in said liquid medium;
- causing the liquid medium to flow in a flow direction externally over said liquid boundary surface;
- emitting gas into the liquid medium to form gas bubbles at a bubble formation position;
- and
- establishing a standing wave in said liquid medium at said bubble formation position whereby the gas bubbles formed at said bubble formation position are of a substantially uniform size whereby uniformly sized gas bubbles are generated at said bubble formation position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.