Apparatus and method for ultrasound treatment for ballast water management
AssigneesThe Research Foundation for The State University of New York, University of Vermont and State Agricultural College, Montclair State University
InventorsMei-Yin Wu, Jun-Ru Wu
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Abstract
The invention provides a method of treating a target area with an ultrasound wave pattern, including: providing an ultrasound apparatus having an ultrasound wave generator operatively attached to a plurality of transducers, coupled to an immersible support and configured to emit an ultrasound wave; immersing the apparatus into a water environment; positioning the apparatus proximate to a target area to treat at least one in situ organism; and emitting a pattern of ultrasound waves from the transducers, the pattern of ultrasound waves additive in effect and emitted onto the target area to threat an in situ underwater organism.
Claims20
An apparatus for treatment of ballast water, comprising:
- (a) a generally cylindrical module having a tubular wall and an open interior along its axis;
- (b) a plurality of transducer probes disposed in the wall of said module and extending more than halfway across said module, each of said probes having a first end and a second end, the second end of one or more probes being offset from the second end of one or more adjacent probes about the axis, said second end being located within said open interior of said module, and each of said probes intersecting with a center of said module along said axis;
- (c) a power supply for at least one of said transducer probes;
- wherein said transducer probes are capable of emitting ultrasonic waves at said second end.
A method for treatment of ballast water, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing an untreated ballast water source including at least one organism to be destroyed;
- (b) providing an apparatus comprising:
- (i) a generally cylindrical module having a tubular wall and an open interior along its axis;
- (ii) a plurality of transducer probes disposed in the wall of said module and extending more than halfway across said module, each of said probes having a first end and a second end, the second end of one or more probes being offset from the second end of one or more adjacent probes about the axis, said second end being located within said open interior of said module, and each of said probes intersecting with a center of said module along said axis;
- and
- (iii) a power supply for at least one of said transducer probes;
- wherein said transducer probes are capable of emitting ultrasonic waves at said second end;
- (c) powering on at least one of said transducer probes, thereby emitting ultrasonic waves within said interior;
- and
- (d) flowing said ballast water through said interior, whereby said ballast water is in contact with said ultrasonic waves.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.