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Method and apparatus for separating mixtures of gases using an acoustic wave

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1174837

A thermoacoustic device separates a mixture of gases. An elongated duct is provided with first and second ends and has a length that is greater than the wavelength of sound in the mixture of gases at a selected frequency, and a diameter that is greater than a thermal penetration depth in the mixture of gases. A first acoustic source is located at the first end of the duct to generate acoustic power at the selected frequency. A plurality of side branch acoustic sources are spaced along the length of the duct and are configured to introduce acoustic power into the mixture of gases so that a first gas is concentrated at the first end of the duct and a second gas is concentrated at the second end of the duct.

Research Organization:
The Regents of the University of California, Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-36
Assignee:
University Of California, The Regents Of
Patent Number(s):
6,733,569
Application Number:
10/238,250
OSTI ID:
1174837
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (2)

Thermal diffusion and mixture separation in the acoustic boundary layer journal October 1999
Thermoacoustic Separation of a He-Ar Mixture journal August 2000

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