Acoustic-Assisted Heat and Mass Transfer Device

• US 20170219284A1
• Filed: 04/13/2017
• Published: 08/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Heat Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Heat Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Plavnik, Zinovy Zalman, Lye, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 10,139,162 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: D06B 13/00 Treatment of textile materials with liquids, gases or vapours with aid of vibration
• CPC Class Codes: D06B 19/007 by application of electric energy
• CPC Class Codes: D06B 3/045 in a tube or a groove
• CPC Class Codes: D06B 3/206 the textile material
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/06 by forced circulation
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/30 Quick freezing
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 25/04 by conveyors in general B65G
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 13/001 Drying and oxidising yarns, ribbons or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 13/002 Drying coated, e.g. enamelled, varnished, wires
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 3/36 by using mechanical effects, e.g. by friction by using ultrasonic vibrations F26B5/02
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 5/02 by using ultrasonic vibrations using sonic energy generated by pulse jet combustion F26B23/026
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 7/00 Drying solid materials or objects by processes using a combination of processes not covered by a single one of groups F26B3/00 and F26B5/00 F26B1/005, F26B5/04, F26B23/026 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 15/04 Sound-producing devices G10K15/02 takes precedence

Abstract

An acoustic energy-transfer system includes: an acoustic chest arranged circumferentially around a container configured to receive a material to be processed; and an ultrasonic transducer arranged circumferentially inside the acoustic chest, the ultrasonic transducer defining an acoustic slot extending through the ultrasonic transducer, the acoustic slot angled with respect to a central axis of the acoustic chest.

Claims

1. An acoustic energy-transfer system comprising:

an acoustic chest arranged circumferentially around a container configured to receive a material to be processed; and

an ultrasonic transducer arranged circumferentially inside the acoustic chest, the ultrasonic transducer defining an acoustic slot extending through the ultrasonic transducer, the acoustic slot angled with respect to a central axis of the acoustic chest.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the container is cylindrically shaped and configured to transport the material past the ultrasonic transducer.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the acoustic chest and the ultrasonic transducer comprises an annular ring.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the acoustic chest is a dryer.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducer defines a plurality of acoustic slots aligned concentrically along a material path.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the central axis of the container is aligned with a substantially vertical direction.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises a plurality of acoustic chests aligned concentrically along a material path and joined in series to one another, each acoustic chest comprising at least one ultrasonic transducer.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein a separate air inlet supplies air to each of the plurality of acoustic chests.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the acoustic slot of the ultrasonic transducer is defined in a plane that is angled at 90 degrees with respect to the central axis of the acoustic chest.

10. An acoustic energy-transfer system comprising:

a container; and

an acoustic chest positioned inside the container and comprising an ultrasonic transducer, the ultrasonic transducer defining an acoustic slot configured to direct acoustically energized air toward a circumference of a circulation path of a material being processed.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the ultrasonic transducer defines an acoustic slot configured to direct at least a portion of the acoustically energized air in an axial direction of the container.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of acoustic chests positioned inside the container, each acoustic chest comprising an ultrasonic transducer, the ultrasonic transducer defining an acoustic slot configured to direct acoustically energized air toward a circumference of a circulation path of the material being processed.

13. A method for processing a material using an acoustic energy-transfer system, the method comprising:

forcing inlet air through an acoustic slot of an ultrasonic transducer positioned inside an acoustic chest, the acoustic chest and the ultrasonic transducer arranged circumferentially around a container, the acoustic slot of the ultrasonic transducer defined extending through the ultrasonic transducer, the acoustic slot angled with respect to a central axis of the container;

directing acoustically energized air from the ultrasonic transducer at the material; and

transporting the material through the container.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the container defines a cylindrically shaped inner chamber.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising drying the material.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising producing acoustically energized air around a full circumference of the acoustic slot.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising positioning the ultrasonic transducer a spaced distance from the material.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the central axis of the container is aligned with a substantially vertical direction.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein directing acoustically energized air from the ultrasonic transducer at the material comprises directing acoustically energized air at the material in a direction that is 90 degrees with respect to the central axis of the container.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein directing acoustically energized air from the ultrasonic transducer at the material is a continuous process.