Methods and apparatus for moving and separating materials exhibiting different physical properties
- al of Salt Lake City, UT
- Lehi, UT
- Alpine, UT
Methods and apparatus for controlling the movement of materials having different physical properties when one of the materials is a fluid. The invention does not rely on flocculation, sedimentation, centrifugation, the buoyancy of the materials, or any other gravity dependent characteristic, in order to achieve its desired results. The methods of the present invention provide that a first acoustic wave is propagated through a vessel containing the materials. A second acoustic wave, at a frequency different than the first acoustic wave, is also propagated through the vessel so that the two acoustic waves are superimposed upon each other. The superimposition of the two waves creates a beat frequency wave. The beat frequency wave comprises pressure gradients dividing regions of maximum and minimum pressure. The pressure gradients and the regions of maximum and minimum pressure move through space and time at a group velocity. The moving pressure gradients and regions of maximum and minimum pressure act upon the materials so as to move one of the materials towards a predetermined location in the vessel. The present invention provides that the materials may be controllably moved toward a location, aggregated at a particular location, or physically separated from each other.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76
- Assignee:
- Technical Research Associates, Inc. (Salt Lake City, UT)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4983189
- OSTI ID:
- 867668
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Methods and apparatus for moving and separating materials exhibiting different physical properties
Methods and apparatus for moving and separating materials exhibiting different physical properties
Related Subjects
apparatus
moving
separating
materials
exhibiting
physical
properties
controlling
movement
fluid
rely
flocculation
sedimentation
centrifugation
buoyancy
gravity
dependent
characteristic
achieve
desired
results
provide
acoustic
wave
propagated
vessel
containing
frequency
waves
superimposed
superimposition
creates
beat
comprises
pressure
gradients
dividing
regions
maximum
minimum
move
space
time
velocity
towards
predetermined
location
provides
controllably
moved
aggregated
particular
physically
separated
physically separated
acoustic wave
physical properties
acoustic waves
vessel containing
beat frequency
predetermined location
minimum pressure
separating materials
particular location
desired results
frequency wave
materials exhibiting
pressure gradient
separating material
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