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Title: Methods and apparatus for moving and separating materials exhibiting different physical properties

Abstract

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.

Inventors:
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. al of Salt Lake City, UT
  2. Lehi, UT
  3. Alpine, UT
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
867668
Patent Number(s):
4983189
Assignee:
Technical Research Associates, Inc. (Salt Lake City, UT)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
A - HUMAN NECESSITIES A61 - MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE A61M - DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY
B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B01 - PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL B01D - SEPARATION
DOE Contract Number:  
AC04-76
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
methods; 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; /210/95/96/366/406/435/

Citation Formats

Peterson, Stephen C, Brimhall, Owen D, McLaughlin, Thomas J, Baker, Charles D, and Sparks, Sam L. Methods and apparatus for moving and separating materials exhibiting different physical properties. United States: N. p., 1991. Web.
Peterson, Stephen C, Brimhall, Owen D, McLaughlin, Thomas J, Baker, Charles D, & Sparks, Sam L. Methods and apparatus for moving and separating materials exhibiting different physical properties. United States.
Peterson, Stephen C, Brimhall, Owen D, McLaughlin, Thomas J, Baker, Charles D, and Sparks, Sam L. Tue . "Methods and apparatus for moving and separating materials exhibiting different physical properties". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/867668.
@article{osti_867668,
title = {Methods and apparatus for moving and separating materials exhibiting different physical properties},
author = {Peterson, Stephen C and Brimhall, Owen D and McLaughlin, Thomas J and Baker, Charles D and Sparks, Sam L},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991},
month = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991}
}