Multi-chamber supercavitation reactor

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for the molecular integration or disintegration of solid, liquid and/or gaseous flowing, entrained and/or countercurrent components by means of cavitation in order to modify, build or disintegrate molecular compounds. The invention allows to obtain stable mixtures from immiscible or difficult-to-mix components or to separate such mixtures. The supercavitation molecular reactor allows to build up or disintegrate or modify, with low expenditure in terms of energy, even complex compounds that so far have not been accessible to modification and/or production or only by very extensive multiple processes and a large amount of technical complexity.

1 . A device ( 100 ) for mixing and/or demixing the components of one or more through-flowing, entrained and/or counter-flowing mass flows, which components may be, in particular, solid, liquid or gaseous, by means of one or more hydrodynamic supercavitation fields, in order to produce a mixture, in particular an emulsion or suspension, and new molecular compounds and separations (cavitative integration and disintegration), comprising a housing ( 1 - 1 ) which may have one or more inlet/outlet openings ( 1 - 2 ) for supplying or discharging at least a part of a mass flow and one or more outlet/inlet openings ( 1 - 3 ) for supplying or discharging a mass flow, 
 whereby the inlet/outlet openings ( 1 - 2 ) and ( 1 - 3 ) may be reversed,    wherein, in that case ( 1 - 3 ) is the inlet opening and ( 1 - 2 ) is the outlet opening, the housing ( 1 - 1 ) comprising a through-flow chamber ( 1 - 4 ) which has a flow-impeding body ( 1 - 8 ) arranged therein by means of amounting ( 1 - 6 ) and the flow-impeding body ( 1 - 8 ) having at least one and/or a plurality of flow-impeding sub-zones ( 1 - 9 ), each of which provides a local flow restriction, wherein the cross-section of the through-flow chamber ( 1 - 4 ) taken perpendicularly to its centre axis becomes first larger and then smaller in at least a part of the region surrounding the flow-impeding body ( 1 - 8 ) with changing flow direction of the total mass flow passing through the through-flow chamber ( 1 - 4 ).    
   
   
       2 . The device ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure of the through-flowing and counter-flowing mass flow, and of further mass flows, can in each case be varied independently of the others.  
   
   
       3 . The device ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the flow-impeding body ( 1 - 8 ) can be displaced along the direction of the centre axis of the through-flow chamber ( 1 - 4 ) and/or perpendicularly thereto, or wherein the flow-impeding body ( 1 - 8 ) is mounted rigidly.  
   
   
       4 . The device ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the flow-impeding sub-zones ( 1 - 9 ) is so configured that its cross-section taken perpendicularly to the centre axis of the through-flow chamber ( 1 - 4 ) is larger or smaller at the end of the sub-body located closest to the inlet/outlet opening ( 1 - 2 ) than at the end closest to the inlet/outlet opening ( 1 - 3 ).  
   
   
       5 . The device ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the flow-impeding sub-zones ( 1 - 9 ) has the form of a frustum and, as a result of the two-way flow direction of the total mass flow passing through the through-flow chamber ( 1 - 4 ), each cone tip faces towards or away from the total mass flow passing through the through-flow chamber ( 1 - 4 ).  
   
   
       6 . The device ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the flow-impeding sub-zones ( 1 - 9 ) is in the form of a frustum and/or a cylinder having concave and/or convex surfaces according to device ( 400 ) and, as a result of the two-way flow direction of the total mass flow passing through the through-flow chamber ( 1 - 4 ), each cone tip faces towards or away from the total mass flow passing through the through-flow chamber ( 1 - 4 ).  
   
   
       7 . The device ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the flow-impeding sub-zone ( 1 - 9 ) which, of all the flow-impeding sub-zones ( 1 - 9 ), is located closest to the outlet/inlet opening ( 1 - 2 ) or ( 1 - 3 ), is so configured that its cross-section taken perpendicularly to the centre axis of the through-flow chamber ( 1 - 4 ), viewed in the two-way flow direction of the total mass flow passing through the through-flow chamber ( 1 - 4 ), becomes first smaller and then larger or first larger again and then smaller again.  
   
   
       8 . The device ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the flow-impeding sub-zone ( 1 - 9 ) which, of all the flow-impeding sub-zones ( 1 - 9 ), is located closest to the outlet/inlet opening ( 1 - 2 ) or ( 1 - 3 ), has a hollow end/start portion ( 1 - 5 ) which faces towards the outlet/inlet opening ( 1 - 2 ) or ( 1 - 3 ), the cross-section of said cavity ( 1 - 5 ) taken perpendicularly to the centre axis of the through-flow chamber ( 1 - 4 ) becoming smaller or larger.  
   
   
       9 . The device ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein each cross-sectional area of the hollow end portion ( 1 - 5 ) which completely contains the axis of symmetry thereof has an edge line which, depending on the two-way flow direction of the mass flow passing through the through-flow chamber ( 1 - 4 ), follows a convex or concave path.  
   
   
       10 . The device ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the flow-impeding body ( 1 - 8 ) is so arranged that the vertex of the through-flow chamber ( 1 - 4 ) contains at least one widened portion ( 1 - 7 ) which, in the two-way flow direction of the total mass flow passing through the through-flow chamber ( 1 - 4 ), is located after or before the flow-impeding body ( 1 - 8 ).  
   
   
       11 . The device ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the flow-impeding body ( 1 - 8 ) comprises a through-cavity ( 1 - 10 ) having at least one inlet/outlet opening ( 1 - 11 ) located at the end of the flow-impeding body ( 1 - 8 ) which is located closest to the inlet/outlet opening ( 1 - 3 ) or ( 1 - 5 ) of the housing ( 1 - 1 ) and/or is located between these two ends, the cavity ( 1 - 10 ) passing through the flow-impeding body ( 1 - 8 ) having at least one inlet/outlet opening ( 1 - 12 ), the mounting ( 1 - 6 ) comprises a through-cavity ( 1 - 13 ) having an inlet/outlet opening ( 1 - 14 ) and an inlet/outlet opening ( 1 - 15 ), the latter being connected to the inlet/outlet opening ( 1 - 11 ) of the flow-impeding body ( 1 - 8 ) and the mounting ( 1 - 6 ) and the flow-impeding body ( 1 - 8 ) being so connected to one another and so arranged in the housing ( 1 - 1 ) that via the inlet/outlet opening ( 1 - 14 ) of the mounting ( 1 - 6 ) at least some of the mass flows can be introduced into or discharged from the through-flow chamber ( 1 - 4 ) via the at least one inlet/outlet opening ( 1 - 12 ) of the flow-impeding body ( 1 - 8 ).  
   
   
       12 . The device ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure of the mass flow which is introduced or discharged via the inlet/outlet opening ( 1 - 14 ) of the mounting ( 1 - 6 ) is variable independently of all the other mass flows.  
   
   
       13 . The device ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity ( 1 - 10 ) passing through the flow-impeding body ( 1 - 8 ) is so configured that it has at least one inlet/outlet opening ( 1 - 12 ) located at the end of the flow-impeding body ( 1 - 8 ) which is located closest to the outlet/inlet opening ( 1 - 2 ) or ( 1 - 3 ) of the housing ( 1 - 1 ).  
   
   
       14 . The device ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity ( 1 - 10 ) passing through the flow-impeding body ( 1 - 8 ) is so configured that it has at least one inlet/outlet opening ( 1 - 16 ) which is located in a partial surface region of the flow-impeding body ( 1 - 8 ), faces at least partially towards the internal wall of the through-flow chamber ( 1 - 4 ) and/or is located between two adjacent flow-impeding sub-zones ( 1 - 9 ).  
   
   
       15 . The device ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity passing through the flow-impeding body ( 1 - 8 ) is so configured that it has at least one inlet/outlet opening ( 1 - 17 ) which is located in a partial surface region of the flow-impeding body ( 1 - 8 ), faces at least partially towards the internal wall of the through-flow chamber ( 1 - 4 ) and/or is located in the region of or on one of the flow-impeding sub-zones ( 1 - 9 ).  
   
   
       16 . The device ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein further supply/discharge channels ( 1 - 18 ) for admixing/discharging components to/from the mass flows are present between the inlet/outlet opening ( 1 - 2 ) and the inlet/outlet opening ( 1 - 3 ).  
   
   
       17 . The device ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein, furthermore, there is provided an arrangement for subjecting components of the device and/or the mass flows in at least one location in, or through, the through-flow chamber ( 1 - 4 ) to the influence of ultrasound, thermal energy and/or laser light.  
   
   
       18 . The device ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the flow-impeding bodies ( 1 - 8 ) and/or the flow-impeding sub-zones ( 1 - 9 ) are mounted on a chamber housing ( 3 - 2 ) which is attached to the housing ( 1 - 1 ) by one or more attachment points, further inlet/outlet connecting pieces ( 3 - 3 ) being optionally mounted at these attachment points.  
   
   
       19 . The device ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the interior of the chamber housing ( 3 - 2 ) which can be charged via the inlets ( 3 - 3 ) comprises a nested arrangement of further chamber cavitators of the type of device ( 300 ) with chamber housings ( 3 - 2 ) each having flow-impeding bodies ( 1 - 8 ) and/or flow-impeding sub-zones ( 1 - 9 ), so that each chamber housing itself acts as the housing ( 1 - 1 ) for the next chamber on the inside, and a system of nested cavitation chambers is produced in which each chamber acts like the device ( 100 ) with a cavitation chamber reactor (device ( 300 )) contained therein.  
   
   
       20 . The device ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of flow-impeding bodies ( 1 - 8 ) and/or flow-impeding sub-zones ( 1 - 9 ) and/or chamber cavitators according to device ( 300 ) are arranged in series.  
   
   
       21 . The device ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the housing ( 1 - 1 ), the flow-impeding bodies ( 1 - 8 ) and/or the flow-impeding sub-zones ( 1 - 9 ) and/or the chamber cavitators according to device ( 300 ) are catalytically active or can be utilized catalytically over their entire surface or parts thereof.  
   
   
       22 . The device ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the surface structure of the housing, of the flow-impeding bodies ( 1 - 8 ), of the flow-impeding sub-zones ( 1 - 9 ) and/or of the chamber cavitators according to device ( 300 ) is modified by notches or structurings which intensify or reduce and/or modulate the cavitation effects.  
   
   
       23 . The device ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure of the mass flows which are introduced or discharged via each inlet/outlet connecting piece ( 3 - 3 ) and/or via further supply passages ( 1 - 18 ) is variable independently of all other mass flows.  
   
   
       24 . The device ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the through-cavity or reaction body ( 3 - 1 ) of the chamber cavitator according to device ( 300 ) may be subdivided by at least one partition ( 3 - 6 ) into a plurality of chambers, and individual mass flows having freely variable pressures can be supplied and/or discharged at freely determinable locations on the flow-impeding body or cavitation chamber reactor according to device ( 300 ), preferably via one or more inlet/outlet connecting pieces ( 3 - 3 ), inflow and outflow openings ( 3 - 4 ) and/or chamber housing-inflow/outflow openings ( 3 - 5 ).  
   
   
       25 . An arrangement consisting of at least two devices ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the devices ( 100 ) are so arranged and configured that their inlet/outlet openings ( 1 - 2 ,  1 - 3 ) are utilized as a totality.  
   
   
       26 . The device ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein electrical fields and/or magnetic fields are applied to individual components.  
   
   
       27 . A use of the device ( 100 ) of  claim 1  for mixing the components of one or more mass flows, the components being in particular solid, liquid or gaseous, by means of a counter-flowing superposition of at least two hydrodynamic supercavitation fields in order to produce a mixture, in particular an emulsion or suspension.  
   
   
       28 . A use of the device ( 100 ) of  claim 26 , wherein the mixing process is an emulsifying, dispersing, gasifying or homogenizing process.  
   
   
       29 . A use of the device ( 100 ) of in  claim 1  for mixing the components of one or more mass flows, the components being in particular solid, liquid or gaseous, by means of a counter-flowing superposition of at least two hydrodynamic supercavitation fields in order to achieve demixing, preferably separation or degassing.  
   
   
       30 . A use of the device ( 100 ) of  claim 1  for mixing and/or demixing the components of one or more through-flowing mass flows, the components being in particular solid, liquid or gaseous, by means of a counter-flowing superposition of at least two hydrodynamic supercavitation fields for carrying out chemical reactions and/or producing new materials, the reaction being preferably electrolysis in the cavitation field.  
   
   
       31 . The use of  claim 1 , 
 a. for degassing water and/or other gas-containing substances,    b. for combining degassed water and/or gas-containing substances with hydrophobic substances (such as oil, wax or other insoluble or difficult-to-dissolve compounds),    c. for methanol synthesis by mixing water or degassed water with methane,    d. for treatment of water and sewage slurries,    e. for improving the effectiveness of biogas reactors,    f. for introducing gases into foodstuffs, preferably for original wort aeration in beer production, carbonization of mineral water and/or oxygen enrichment of O 2 -water,    g. for homogenizing foodstuffs, preferably milk,    h. for enriching combustibles and fuels, preferably diesel fuel, heating oil and/or petrol, with combustion-promoting gases such as air and/or oxygen, and/or water prior to the combustion process,    i. for stabilizing and/or homogenizing fuel and combustible storage facilities over longer time periods than hitherto (e.g. storage of heating oil),    j. for aerating bodies of water in environment regeneration,    k. for breaking up heavy metals in organic solid matrix,    l. for destroying germs, preferably in, but not limited to, drinking water, waste water and swimming pools, and in process engineering plants by mechanical destruction,    m. for destroying germs, preferably in, but not limited to, drinking water, waste water and swimming pools, and in process engineering plants by effective reduction of the required quantities of chlorine or ozone and/or other germicidal compounds by improved integration thereof in water, or    n. for premixing multicomponent systems prior to chemical processes, 
 o. for carrying out chemical processes which take place in cavitation fields and/or in cavitation fields of mixed systems,  
   for use in whirlpool facilities and/or saunas in the medical/fitness field for air and/or oxygen therapies and/or air and/or oxygen baths.