Device and method for separation
First Claim
1. A device for separating suspended particles from a fluid, comprising a channel unit arranged in a plate having first and second opposing great surfaces, said channel unit including a base stem channel having substantially parallel or near parallel base stem walls perpendicular to said surfaces, said base stem channel having an inlet and, opposite said inlet, a branching point connected to two or more different outlets;
- and oscillation means for delivering mechanical energy to a fluid in said channel unit, such that said particles are concentrated into laminar layers in the base stem channel, substantially parallel to said base stem walls, wherein said branching point is devised to separate particles, arranged in said laminar layers in a fluid flowing in said base stem channel, to said different outlets, wherein said channel unit is formed as a part of a material layer close to said first great surface, and said oscillation means are arranged in contact with said second great surface for delivering mechanical energy to said plate such that a standing wave field is created between said base stem walls.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a device and a method for separating particles from fluids using ultrasound, laminar flow, and stationary wave effects comprising a micro-technology channel system with an integrated branching point or branching fork, and a single ultrasound source. One of the characteristics of the invention is that the single ultrasound source, which generates the standing waves, excites the complete structure including the channel system. No special reflectors or the like are needed. Extremely thin dividers can separate the flow, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of the device. The device could be manufactured in silicon and the ultrasound energy could preferably be delivered by a piezoelectric element.
177 Citations
43 Claims
-
1. A device for separating suspended particles from a fluid, comprising a channel unit arranged in a plate having first and second opposing great surfaces, said channel unit including a base stem channel having substantially parallel or near parallel base stem walls perpendicular to said surfaces, said base stem channel having an inlet and, opposite said inlet, a branching point connected to two or more different outlets;
- and oscillation means for delivering mechanical energy to a fluid in said channel unit, such that said particles are concentrated into laminar layers in the base stem channel, substantially parallel to said base stem walls, wherein said branching point is devised to separate particles, arranged in said laminar layers in a fluid flowing in said base stem channel, to said different outlets, wherein said channel unit is formed as a part of a material layer close to said first great surface, and said oscillation means are arranged in contact with said second great surface for delivering mechanical energy to said plate such that a standing wave field is created between said base stem walls.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
-
32. A method for separating particles from fluids using ultrasound, laminar flow, and stationary wave effects comprising the steps of:
-
feeding a fluid to a separator unit comprising a plate having first and second opposing great surfaces and a channel unit formed as a part of a material layer close to said first surface, forcing the fluid to a substantially laminar flow in a flow direction;
applying an ultrasound oscillating wave field to said second surface, thereby subjecting said flow to an ultrasound stationary wave field during its flow past a distance in said channel unit, forcing said particles to a non-uniform distribution in a separation direction parallel to said surfaces and perpendicular to the flow direction; and
separating said second laminar flow into a first and a second separated flow in such a way that the concentration of particles is higher in the first separated flow than in the second separated flow. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
-
Specification