Method and apparatus for separating, purifying, promoting interaction and improving combustion

Abstract

An apparatus and method for separating joined components, purifying liquid, promoting interaction between two or more components and improving combustion. The apparatus has a housing, a rotor inside of the housing, a plurality of protrusions extending from the rotor, a shaft coupled with the rotor and a prime mover for rotating the shaft. Fluid within the housing cavitates as the rotor rotates and the protrusions move through the fluid. Cavitation causes joined components within the fluid to separate, kills undesirable organisms within the fluid, promotes interaction of components within the fluid and improves combustion of a liquid fuel. The fluid and components may also be subjected to abrasion and centrifugal and impact forces for separating the components, purifying the fluid, promoting interaction of the components and improving combustion.

1 . An apparatus for separating the endosperm, pericarp, and germ of a plurality of corn kernels placed in a fluid medium, comprising:
 a housing presenting an interior chamber, an inlet adapted to allow the fluid and corn kernels to enter said chamber, a shaft opening, and an outlet adapted to allow the fluid and endosperm, pericarp, and germ to exit said chamber after the endosperm, pericarp, and germ are separated;   a shaft projecting through said shaft opening into said chamber;   a rotor coupled with said shaft inside of said chamber;   a plurality of protrusions extending from said rotor; and   a prime mover for rotating said shaft and rotor at a speed sufficient to cause cavitation of the fluid within said chamber as said protrusions move through said fluid, wherein the endosperm, pericarp, and germ are separated by the rapid creation and implosion of the cavitation bubbles formed within the fluid, and wherein the corn kernels are not crushed by a mill or degerminator before the endosperm, pericarp, and germ are separated.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the endosperm, pericarp, and germ are separated by the combined effects of centrifugal force, abrasion between the fluid and corn kernels, abrasion between the corn kernels, and impacts between the corn kernels and protrusions. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the endosperm, pericarp, and germ of one of the corn kernels are separated in less than two minutes. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the corn kernels are not steeped in water or an acidic solution before separation. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said protrusions are spaced at least approximately 6 millimeters apart. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said housing presents first and second end walls and a side wall defining said chamber, wherein said inlet is in said first end wall, said shaft opening is in said second end wall, and said outlet is in said side wall, and wherein said rotor presents a front surface facing said inlet and said plurality of protrusions extend from said front surface of said rotor toward said inlet. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said rotor is circular and said protrusions are equidistant from the center of said rotor adjacent the peripheral edge of said front surface of said rotor, wherein said protrusions are cylindrical, and wherein there is an approximately 6 to 12 millimeter space between adjoining protrusions for retaining corn kernels within said chamber until separation of the germ, pericarp, and endosperm. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising protrusions extending from said first end wall toward said rotor. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a tube received by said inlet and extending into said chamber;   a counter-rotor coupled with said tube inside of said chamber, said counter-rotor presenting a front surface facing said front surface of said rotor; and   protrusions extending from said front surface of said counter-rotor toward said rotor.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a centrifuge coupled to said outlet. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for separating joined components placed in a fluid medium, comprising:
 a housing presenting an interior chamber, an inlet adapted to allow the fluid and joined components to enter said chamber, a shaft opening, and an outlet adapted to allow the fluid and components to exit said chamber after the components are separated;   a shaft projecting through said shaft opening into said chamber;   a rotor coupled with said shaft inside of said chamber;   a plurality of protrusions extending from said rotor; and   a prime mover for rotating said shaft and rotor at a speed sufficient to cause cavitation of the fluid within said chamber as said protrusions move through said fluid, wherein the joined components are separated by the rapid creation and implosion of the cavitation bubbles formed within the fluid, and wherein the joined components are not crushed by a mill or degerminator before separation.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the joined components are separated by the combined effects of centrifugal force, abrasion between the fluid and components, abrasion between the components, and impacts between the components and protrusions. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the joined components are grains or beans. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the joined components comprise the endosperm, germ, and pericarp of a corn kernel. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the joined components comprise the skin, pulp, mucilage, parchment, and beans of a coffee berry. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the joined components comprise the skin, pulp, and pit of a fruit. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the joined components comprise the starch and cells of a cassava root or potato. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said protrusions are spaced at least approximately 6 millimeters apart. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein there is an approximately 6 to 12 millimeter space between adjoining protrusions. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said protrusions have a top profile that is C-shaped. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said protrusions have a side profile that is J-shaped. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said protrusions have a fixed end rotatably mounted on said front surface of said rotor and a free end. 
     
     
         23 . An apparatus for separating relatively large joined components placed in a fluid medium, comprising:
 a housing presenting an interior chamber, an inlet adapted to allow the fluid and joined components to enter said chamber, a shaft opening, and an outlet adapted to allow the fluid and components to exit said chamber after the components are separated;   a shaft projecting through said shaft opening into said chamber;   a rotor coupled with said shaft inside of said chamber;   a plurality of protrusions extending from said rotor, wherein said protrusions are spaced no less than approximately 6 millimeters apart; and   a prime mover for rotating said shaft and rotor at a speed sufficient to cause cavitation of the fluid within said chamber as said protrusions move through said fluid, and wherein the joined components are separated into relatively large components by the rapid creation and implosion of the cavitation bubbles formed within the fluid.   
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the joined components are separated by the combined effects of centrifugal force, abrasion between the fluid and components, abrasion between the components, and impacts between the components and protrusions. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein said housing presents first and second end walls and a side wall defining said chamber, wherein said inlet is in said first end wall, said shaft opening is in said second end wall, and said outlet is in said side wall, and wherein said rotor presents a front surface facing said inlet and said plurality of protrusions extend from said front surface of said rotor toward said inlet. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the joined components comprise the endosperm, germ, and pericarp of corn kernels, wherein said rotor is circular and said protrusions are equidistant from the center of said rotor adjacent the peripheral edge of said front surface of said rotor, wherein said protrusions are cylindrical, and wherein there is an approximately 6 to 12 millimeter space between adjoining protrusions for retaining corn kernels within said chamber until separation of the germ, pericarp, and endosperm. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , further comprising protrusions extending from said first end wall toward said rotor. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 a tube received by said inlet and extending into said chamber;   a counter-rotor coupled with said tube inside of said chamber, said counter-rotor presenting a front surface facing said front surface of said rotor; and   protrusions extending from said front surface of said counter-rotor toward said rotor.   
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprising a centrifuge coupled to said outlet.