CAVITATION REACTOR

• US 20120222744A1
• Filed: 06/09/2010
• Published: 09/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Technische Universitat Munchen
• Original Assignee: Technische Universitat Munchen
• Inventors: Maslak, Dominik, Weuster-Botz, Dirk
• Application Number:
  US13/387,858
• Publication Number:
  US 20120222744A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/41 Emulsifying
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/433 Mixing tubes wherein the shape of the tube influences the mixing, e.g. mixing tubes with varying cross-section or provided with inwardly extending profiles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/4335 Mixers with a converging-diverging cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/45 Mixers in which the materials to be mixed are pressed together through orifices or interstitial spaces, e.g. between beads B01F25/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/4521 the components being pressed through orifices in elements, e.g. flat plates or cylinders, which obstruct the whole diameter of the tube
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/006 Baffles
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/008 Processes for carrying out reactions under cavitation conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/26 Nozzle-type reactors, i.e. the distribution of the initial reactants within the reactor is effected by their introduction or injection through nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/34 with mechanical oscillations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes

Abstract

Cavitation reactor for hydrodynamic generation of homogeneous, oscillating cavitation bubbles in a fluid, including, while forming a flow duct and arranged one behind the other in the direction of flow of the fluid, an acceleration section designed to increase a flow velocity, a diaphragm arranged transversely to the direction of flow with a plurality of micro-passages designed for generating cavitation bubbles, where at least 10 micro-passages per cm² are provided over an entire flow cross-sectional surface defined on an oncoming flow side of the diaphragm, a stabilization section designed for stabilizing an oscillation of cavitation bubbles, and a collapse section with at least one widening of a flow cross-sectional surface of the flow duct in the direction of flow.

Claims

1. A cavitation reactor for hydrodynamic generation of substantially homogeneous, oscillating cavitation bubbles, comprising a flow duct that includes

an acceleration section configured to increase a flow velocity of a flow of a fluid,

a diaphragm arranged proximate the acceleration section in the direction of the flow and transversely to the direction of the flow, the diaphragm having a plurality of micro-passages configured to generate cavitation bubbles, wherein at least 10 micro-passages per cm² are provided over an entire flow cross-sectional surface defined on an oncoming flow side of the diaphragm,

a stabilization section that is arranged proximate the diaphragm in the direction of the flow and configured to stabilize an oscillation of cavitation bubbles, and

a collapse section that is arranged proximate the stabilization section in the direction of the flow and has at least one widening of a flow cross-sectional surface of the flow duct in the direction of the flow.

2. The cavitation reactor in accordance with claim 1, wherein a flow cross-sectional surface of the acceleration section steadily narrows in the acceleration section in the direction of the flow.

3. The cavitation reactor in accordance with claim 2, wherein the acceleration section includes an internal nozzle cone narrowing in the direction of the flow and extending up to the diaphragm, so that the flow cross-sectional surface in the acceleration section and the flow cross-sectional surface of the diaphragm contacting the oncoming flow are annularly designed.

4. The cavitation reactor in accordance with claim 3, wherein the nozzle cone converges upstream of the acceleration section to a tip pointing against the direction of the flow.

5. The cavitation reactor in accordance with claim 1, wherein the acceleration section for generating a swirl in the fluid includes helical wall elements.

7. The cavitation reactor in accordance with claim 1, wherein the flow cross-sectional surface of the diaphragm contacting the oncoming flow has at least 26, in particular at least 50, in particular at least 100, in particular at least 150, in particular at least 200 micro-passages.

8. The cavitation reactor in accordance with claim 1, wherein the micro-passages have in each case a passage surface of <

3 mm², in particular <

2 mm², in particular between 0.01 mm² and 1 mm², in particular between 0.1 mm² and 0.2 mm².

9. The cavitation reactor in accordance with claim 1, wherein over the entire flow cross-sectional surface defined on the oncoming flow side of the diaphragm at least 20, in particular at least 50, in particular at least 100, in particular at least 1000 micro-passages per cm² are provided.

10. The cavitation reactor in accordance with claim 1, wherein the micro-passages of the diaphragm are designed round or angled, in particular square or rhomboidal, and/or in the form of one-dimensional parallel slots.

11. The cavitation reactor in accordance with claim 1, wherein 25% to 65%, in particular 35% to 55%, in particular 40% to 50% of the flow cross-sectional surface of the diaphragm contacting the oncoming flow is taken up by the micro-passages.

12. The cavitation reactor in accordance with claim 1, wherein the diaphragm is designed as a micro-grid or micro-fabric.

13. The cavitation reactor in accordance with claim 12, wherein a material of the micro-grid or micro-fabric has a diameter of 0.01 mm to 1.0 mm and the micro-passages have a mesh width of 0.1 mm to 1.7 mm.

16. The cavitation reactor in accordance with claim 1, wherein the flow cross-sectional surface is constant over the stabilization section or slightly steadily increases in the direction of the flow.

17. The cavitation reactor in accordance with claim 1, wherein a flow cross-sectional surface of the stabilization section at the beginning of the stabilization section corresponds to 100% to 200% of the flow cross-sectional surface of the diaphragm contacting the oncoming flow.

18. The cavitation reactor in accordance with claim 17, wherein the flow cross-sectional surface of the stabilization section at the beginning of the stabilization section corresponds to 200% to 1000% of a surface of all micro-passages that can be passed by the flow.

19. The cavitation reactor in accordance with claim 1, wherein an axial length of the stabilization section is 3 to 75 times a flow diameter in the stabilization section.

20. The cavitation reactor in accordance with claim 1, wherein a flow cross-sectional surface in the collapse section widens in a large stage and/or in several small stages, and/or with a constant opening angle and/or with various continuously or non-continuously merging opening angles.

21. The cavitation reactor in accordance with claim 20, wherein the widening of the flow cross-sectional surface in the collapse section is radially symmetrical or helical.

6. (canceled)

14-15. -15. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

23. A method for hydrodynamic generation of substantially homogeneous, oscillating cavitation bubbles in a fluid, comprising the following steps:

accelerating the fluid,

flowing the fluid onto a diaphragm having a plurality of micro-passages, wherein at least 10 micro-passages per cm² are formed over an entire flow cross-sectional surface defined on an oncoming flow side of the diaphragm,

flowing the fluid through the micro-passages to generate the fluid into cavitation bubbles,

stabilizing an oscillation of the cavitation bubbles, and

widening of the flow of the fluid in the direction of the flow in order to collapse the cavitation bubbles.

24. The method in accordance with claim 23, further comprising mixing the fluid with disinfectant before the fluid flows through the micro-passages.

25-27. -27. (canceled)