Fluid conduit

• US 6,106,236 A
• Filed: 03/25/1999
• Issued: 08/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Henoch, Charles W., Hendricks, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROBINSON, DANIEL LEON
• Application Number:
  US09/285,182
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 417/48, 417/49, 417/50, 310/11, 244/205, 440/6
• US Class Current: 417/50
• CPC Class Codes: G21C 15/247 for liquid metals
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 44/04 Conduction pumps
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 30/30 Nuclear fission reactors

Abstract

A fluid conduit for flowing electrically conductive fluids includes an elrically conductive pipe, an electrically conductive rod extending axially through the pipe and centrally thereof, a first power source in electrical communication with the pipe and rod, a solenoidal electromagnet disposed around the pipe and a second power source in electrical communication with the electromagnet. Activation of the first and second power sources creates an electric and a magnetic field, respectively, within the pipe which interact and result in a circumferential force in the flow with consequent reduction in wall friction in the pipe.

Claims

1. A fluid conduit for flowing electrically conductive fluids, said conduit comprising:

an electrically conducting pipe;

an electrically conducting rod extending axially through said pipe and centrally of said pipe;

a first power source in electrical communication with said pipe and said rod; and

a magnetic means disposed around said pipe to create a magnetic field within said pipe, activation of said first power source creating an electric field within said pipe interacting with said magnetic field to effect flow in said pipe with consequent reduction in wall-friction in said pipe.

2. The fluid conduit in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first power source comprises an AC power supply.

3. The fluid conduit in accordance with claim 2 wherein said pipe and said rod define an annular flow path through said conduit.

4. The fluid conduit in accordance with claim 3 wherein said magnetic means is fixed on said pipe.

5. The fluid conduit in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a second power source in electrical communication with said magnetic means, said magnetic means being an electromagnet.

6. The fluid conduit in accordance with claim 5 wherein said second power source comprises a DC power supply.

7. The fluid conduit in accordance with claim 5 wherein said first power source comprises an AC power supply.

8. The fluid conduit in accordance with claim 7 wherein said second power source comprises a DC power supply.

9. The fluid conduit in accordance of claim 5 wherein said pipe and said rod define an annular flow path through said conduit.

10. The fluid conduit in accordance with claim 5 wherein said electromagnets is fixed on said pipe.