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US 9,605,789 B2Granted
Magneto-cryogenic valves, systems and methods for modulating flow in a conduit
AssigneeBiofilm IP, LLC
InventorsDaniel X. Wray, Reed Nicholas Liu, Ericson C. Ceniceros
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Provided are magneto-cryogenic valves, methods and systems that extract thermal energy from a fluid within a conduit such that the temperature of at least a portion of the fluid is reduced to a temperature below which at least a portion of the fluid becomes a solid thereby forming a frozen plug of fluid and magnetically susceptible particles that reversibly plugs the conduit, preventing flow of fluid past the plug. Also provided are methods and systems for temporarily preventing the flow of fluid in a conduit.
Claims58
A magneto-cryogenic valve, comprising:
- a connector for connecting the magneto-cryogenic valve to a conduit through which a fluid flows;
- a valve chamber, comprising:
- end walls;
- and
- at least one fold;
- a heat transfer system comprising a cooling chamber suitable to contain a cryogen, wherein the cooling chamber is integrated into the magneto-cryogenic valve in proximity to the valve chamber;
- a first injector device for injecting magnetically susceptible particles into the fluid;
- and
- a magnetic field generating device,
- wherein:
- the valve chamber is connectable in fluid communication with the conduit so that the fluid of the conduit can flow through the valve chamber;
- the magnetic field generating device produces a magnetic field comprising field lines and is positioned so that at least a portion of the field lines penetrate through the fluid in the valve chamber and interact with the injected magnetically susceptible particles;
- and
- the heat transfer system removes thermal energy from the valve chamber and the fluid therein.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.