Roto-dynamic fluidic systems

Abstract

An apparatus and method for generating cavitation in fluids is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing for receiving a rotor, which is driven by a motive force. Multiple embodiments of the rotors are disclosed including, but not limited to, centrally feed, centrally drained, face feed, and face drained rotors. In one preferred embodiment, cavitation is enhanced by inducing tensile stress in the fluid by subjecting the fluid centrifugal force or centripital force depending upon the flow of the fluid.

1 . An apparatus for facilitating cavitation in fluids, the apparatus comprising: 
 a housing having a generally hollow interior, the housing defining a first opening for receiving a shaft;    a rotor disposed within the hollow interior of the housing, the rotor adapted to couple with a shaft, the rotor having an exterior surface, the rotor defining a first opening disposed on the exterior surface and a second opening with a fluid passage extending therebetween, wherein the fluid passage facilitates cavitation in a fluid.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing defines a fluid ingress opening and a fluid egress opening, and the rotor includes a front face and an opposed rear face with a longitudinal exterior surface extending therebetween, wherein the front face defines a void extending rearward toward the rear face, the rotor defining a fluid passage extending generally outward from the void to the longitudinal exterior surface, wherein responsive to rotation of the rotor and fluid flowing through fluid passage in the rotor, cavitation occurs in the fluid.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the fluid ingress opening is aligned with the void of the rotor such that fluid flowing from the fluid ingress opening is received by the void.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the fluid engress opening is aligned with the void of the rotor such that fluid flowing from the void is received by the fluid egress.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein a given opening selected from a set of openings consisting of the fluid ingress opening and the fluid egress opening is generally aligned with the void, and further including: 
 a fluid seal abutting the rotor, the fluid seal generally aligned with the void and the given opening, wherein the fluid seal substantially communicates direct fluid flow between the given opening and the void.    
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further including: 
 a pipe received by the given opening, the pipe extending at least partially into the hollow interior of the housing.    
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the front face of the rotor defines a notch extending around the circumference of the void, wherein the fluid seal fixedly abuts the notch and extends therefrom to the pipe.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the fluid passage includes a point of minimal clearance such that on one side of the point fluid in the fluid passage is at a higher pressure than fluid on the opposite side of the point.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the housing includes a front face having the fluid ingress and egress openings formed therein.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further including: 
 a shaft defining a hollow interior in communication with the void, wherein a non-fluid flows either into or out of the housing via the hollow shaft.    
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the housing includes a face plate and a base portion, wherein the face plate defines only one opening for providing fluid flow, the one opening being either the fluid ingress or the fluid egress opening.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the housing includes a face plate and a base portion, wherein the face plate defines multiple openings for providing fluid flow, the multiple openings including the fluid ingress opening and the fluid egress opening.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further including: 
 a restrictive element disposed in the fluid passage, wherein fluid in the fluid pressure on one side of the restrictive element is at a higher pressure than fluid on the opposite side of the restrictive element.    
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further including: 
 a second restrictive element disposed in the fluid passage, wherein fluid in the fluid passage on one side of the second restrictive element is at a higher pressure than fluid on the opposite side of the second restrictive element.    
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further including: 
 a restrictive element biaser adapted to bias the restrictive element such that fluid flow past the restrictive element is approximately at a predetermined value.    
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the housing includes a base portion and a face plate, the base portion having an inner wall defining the hollow interior of the housing, and the inner wall defines a circumferential trough about the rotor.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein fluid flows into the void of the rotor, through the passage of the rotor, and into the circumferential trough, wherein responsive to spinning of the rotor and fluid flowing through the apparatus, the fluid in the circumferential trough spins about an axis defined by the rotor, the spinning fluid having a pressure gradient with maximum pressure distal from the rotor.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further including: 
 a transducer disposed within the housing, the transducer adapted to emit ultrasonic energy into the cavity.    
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the transducer is affixed to the rotor.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further including: 
 a volute ring circumferentially disposed around the rotor, the volute ring adapted to spin about an axis and receive fluid from the rotor, wherein responsive to the volute ring spinning about the axis and having a fluid therein, the fluid develops a pressure gradient with maximum pressure distal from the axis.