Title: Acoustic manipulation of fluids based on eigenfrequency

Abstract

An acoustic resonator device includes a fluid chamber with a carrier surface and a reflector surface. The fluid chamber is filled with a volume of a fluid that includes a phase-separate material such as algae. The carrier surface is coupled to a transducer, which may be a lead zirconate titanate (PZT) transducer. The transducer, when supplied with electricity, emits an acoustic wave-based output of an output frequency (e.g., ultrasound). A sensor may be used to track one or more eigenfrequencies of the volume of fluid, the acoustic resonator device, or some combination thereof. A controller may receive tracking data from the sensor and control the voltage source, the transducer, or some combination thereof to ensure that the output frequency matches one of the tracked eigenfrequencies, thereby maximizing excitation of the fluid to improve efficiency of mixing, stimulation, and separation of materials from fluid (e.g., for algal biocrude production).

Inventors:

Coons, James E.; Ten Cate, James A.; Raby, Eric Y.; Kalb, Daniel M.

Issue Date:

2019-10-01

Research Org.:

Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1576247

Patent Number(s):

10428324

Application Number:

15/400,890

Assignee:

Triad National Security, LLC (Los Alamos, NM)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

H - ELECTRICITY H03 - BASIC ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY H03H - IMPEDANCE NETWORKS, e.g. RESONANT CIRCUITS

H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01L - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES

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H - ELECTRICITY H03 - BASIC ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY H03H - IMPEDANCE NETWORKS, e.g. RESONANT CIRCUITS

H03H9/176 - {consisting of ceramic material

H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01L - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES

H01L41/1876 - {Lead zirconate titanate based}

C - CHEMISTRY C02 - TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE C02F - TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE

C02F2101/30 - Organic compounds

C - CHEMISTRY C12 - BIOCHEMISTRY C12N - MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES

C12N1/12 - Unicellular algae

C - CHEMISTRY C12 - BIOCHEMISTRY C12M - APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY

C12M35/04 - {Mechanical means, e.g. sonic waves, stretching forces, pressure or shear stimuli}
C12M41/42 - {of agitation speed}

B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B01 - PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL B01D - SEPARATION

B01D21/283 - {Settling tanks provided with vibrators}

C - CHEMISTRY C12 - BIOCHEMISTRY C12M - APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY

C12M21/02 - {Photobioreactors

C - CHEMISTRY C02 - TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE C02F - TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE

C02F1/36 - ultrasonic vibrations

C - CHEMISTRY C12 - BIOCHEMISTRY C12M - APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY

C12M41/48 - {Automatic or computerized control
C12M47/02 - {Separating microorganisms from the culture medium

H - ELECTRICITY H03 - BASIC ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY H03H - IMPEDANCE NETWORKS, e.g. RESONANT CIRCUITS

H03H9/13 - for networks consisting of piezo-electric or electrostrictive materials

C - CHEMISTRY C12 - BIOCHEMISTRY C12N - MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES

C12N13/00 - Treatment of microorganisms or enzymes with electrical or wave energy, e.g. magnetism, sonic waves

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DOE Contract Number:  

AC52-06NA25396

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 2017 Jan 06

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

09 BIOMASS FUELS; 71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; 42 ENGINEERING