US 8,931,644 B2 · Method and apparatus for splitting fluid flow in a membraneless particle separation system

Abstract

A method and system for splitting fluid flow in an outlet of a particle separation device is provided. The system may include static or passive mechanisms or subsystems. These mechanisms could also be modular and interchangeable to provide for preset fluid split divisions of 20:80, 30:70, 40:60, 50:50, . . . etc. In other forms of the presently described embodiments, the system is adjustable and variable. In still another form of the presently described embodiments, the system allows for differential pressure control at the outlets to facilitate the flow of varying size particles or particle bands in the respective channels or paths.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A particle separation device comprising:

an inlet operative to receive fluid having particles dispersed therein;
at least one curved channel operative to generate a flow field comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first and second portions of the flow field being formed by flow driven forces generated by the flow field in the curved channel, the flow driven forces including centrifugal forces and at least flow pressure forces or buoyancy forces;
an outlet including a mechanism to split the fluid such that the first portion flows on a first path and the second portion flows on a second path;
and
a controller configured to control the mechanism based on pressure, flow rate, bandwidth, temperature or viscosity.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for splitting fluid flow in a membraneless particle separation system

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for splitting fluid flow in a membraneless particle separation system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21