Bubble Implosion Reactor Cavitation Device, Subassembly, and Methods for Utilizing the Same

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a bubble implosion reactor cavitation device. The bubble implosion reactor cavitation device includes a tube-shaped cylindrical body including an upstream, a distal end surface and a downstream, proximal end surface. The tube-shaped cylindrical body defines an axial passage that extends through the tube-shaped cylindrical body between the upstream, distal end surface and the downstream, proximal end surface. The apparatus also includes a bubble generator subassembly connected to the tube-shaped cylindrical body. The bubble generator subassembly is at least partially disposed within the axial passage defined by the tube-shaped cylindrical body. The apparatus also includes a retaining member connected to the tube-shaped cylindrical body for retaining the bubble generator subassembly within the axial passage defined by the tube-shaped cylindrical body.

1 - 77 . (canceled) 
     
     
         78 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a bubble implosion reactor cavitation device, including:   a tube-shaped cylindrical body including an upstream, a distal end surface and a downstream, proximal end surface, wherein the tube-shaped cylindrical body defines an axial passage that extends through the tube-shaped cylindrical body between the upstream, distal end surface and the downstream, proximal end surface;   a bubble generator subassembly connected to the tube-shaped cylindrical body, wherein the bubble generator subassembly is at least partially disposed within the axial passage defined by the tube-shaped cylindrical body; and   a retaining member connected to the tube-shaped cylindrical body for retaining the bubble generator subassembly within the axial passage defined by the tube-shaped cylindrical body.   
     
     
         79 . The apparatus of  claim 78 , wherein the bubble generator subassembly includes
 an upstream-facing member,   a downstream-facing member connected to the upstream-facing member, and   a nozzle array disk arranged between and connected to both of the upstream-facing member and the downstream-facing member.   
     
     
         80 . The apparatus of  claim 79 , wherein the nozzle array disk includes an upstream, distal end surface and the downstream, proximal end surface, wherein the nozzle array disk defines
 a plurality of fluid-flow passages that extend through the nozzle array disk between the upstream, distal end surface and the downstream, proximal end surface,   
     
     
         81 . The apparatus of  claim 80 , wherein the nozzle array disk defines
 an axial passage that extends through the nozzle array disk between the upstream, distal end surface and the downstream, proximal end surface of the nozzle array disk, wherein
 a stem extending away from a downstream, proximal end surface of the upstream-facing member extends through the axial passage that extends through the nozzle array disk and into 
 a stem-receiving passage formed in an upstream, distal end surface of the downstream-facing member for connecting the upstream-facing member to the downstream-facing member while retaining the nozzle array disk therebetween. 
   
     
     
         82 . The apparatus of  claim 80 , wherein each fluid flow passage of the plurality of fluid-flow passages are equally spaced from an axial center of the nozzle array disk at a radius to form
 a circular array of fluid-flow passages.   
     
     
         83 . The apparatus of  claim 80 , wherein each fluid flow passage of the plurality of fluid-flow passages is defined by
 a non-constant diameter that decreases in cross-section as each fluid flow passage of the plurality of fluid-flow passages extends through the nozzle array disk in a direction referenced from the upstream, distal end surface of the nozzle array disk toward the downstream, proximal end surface of the nozzle array disk.   
     
     
         84 . The apparatus of  claim 83 , wherein the nozzle array disk of the bubble generator subassembly includes
 an axial passage that extends through the nozzle array disk between the upstream, distal end surface and the downstream, proximal end surface of the nozzle array disk, wherein   a stem extending away from a downstream, proximal end surface of the upstream-facing member extends through the axial passage and into   a stem-receiving passage formed in an upstream, distal end surface of the downstream-facing member for connecting the upstream-facing member to the downstream-facing member while retaining the nozzle array disk therebetween.   
     
     
         85 . The apparatus of  claim 84 , wherein the nozzle array disk includes
 an upstream-facing projection,   an annular central portion connected to the upstream-facing projection, and   a downstream-facing projection connected to the annular central portion.   
     
     
         86 . The apparatus of  claim 85 , wherein the upstream, distal end surface of the nozzle array disk includes a first upstream, distal end surface portion and a second upstream, distal end surface portion, wherein the second upstream, distal end surface portion is axially offset from the first upstream, distal end surface portion, wherein the upstream-facing projection defines a circumferentially arcuate outer surface portion that connects the first upstream, distal end surface portion to the second upstream, distal end surface portion. 
     
     
         87 . The apparatus of  claim 85 , wherein the downstream, proximal end surface of the nozzle array disk includes a first downstream, proximal end surface potion and a second downstream, proximal end surface portion, wherein the second downstream, proximal end surface portion is axially offset from the first downstream, proximal end surface potion, wherein the downstream-facing projection defines a circumferentially arcuate outer surface portion that connects the first downstream, proximal end surface potion to the second downstream, proximal end surface portion. 
     
     
         88 . The apparatus of  claim 85 , wherein the upstream-facing projection is defined by a first diameter, wherein the annular central portion is defined by a second diameter, wherein the downstream-facing projection is defined by a third diameter, wherein the third diameter is less than the second diameter, wherein the first diameter is approximately equal to but slightly less than the third diameter. 
     
     
         89 . The apparatus of  claim 85 , wherein the first diameter is a non-constant diameter defined by the circumferentially arcuate outer surface portion of the upstream-facing projection, wherein the second diameter is a constant diameter, wherein the third diameter is a non-constant diameter defined by the circumferentially arcuate outer surface portion of the downstream-facing projection. 
     
     
         90 . The apparatus of claim  2 , wherein an outer side surface of the upstream-facing member is defined by
 an interrupted surface, wherein the interrupted surface includes a fluted, spiral surface.   
     
     
         91 . The apparatus of  claim 79 , wherein an outer side surface of the upstream-facing member is defined by
 an interrupted surface, wherein the interrupted surface includes a stepped surface, wherein each step of the stepped surface is defined by a circumferentially arcuate outer surface portion.   
     
     
         92 . The apparatus of  claim 79 , wherein an outer side surface of the upstream-facing member is defined by
 a smooth, uninterrupted surface.   
     
     
         93 . The apparatus of  claim 79 , wherein an outer side surface of the downstream-facing member is defined by
 an interrupted surface, wherein the interrupted surface includes a fluted, spiral surface.   
     
     
         94 . The apparatus of  claim 79 , wherein an outer side surface of the downstream-facing member is defined by
 an interrupted surface, wherein the interrupted surface includes a stepped surface, wherein each step of the stepped surface is defined by a circumferentially arcuate outer surface portion.   
     
     
         95 . The apparatus of  claim 79 , wherein an outer side surface of the downstream-facing member is defined by
 a smooth, uninterrupted surface, wherein a downstream, proximal end surface of the downstream-facing member is defined by   a hemispherical depression.   
     
     
         96 . A fluid handling system that handles a fluid, comprising:
 a bubble implosion reactor cavitation device forming a fluid-flow passage, wherein the bubble implosion reactor cavitation device includes:
 an inlet opening formed by an upstream, distal end of the bubble implosion reactor cavitation device that permits the fluid to enter the fluid-flow passage, and 
 an outlet opening formed by a downstream, proximal end of the bubble implosion reactor cavitation device that permits the fluid to exit the fluid-flow passage; and 
   a cavitation-inducing pump connected to the outlet opening formed by a downstream, proximal end of the bubble implosion reactor cavitation device for pulling the fluid through the fluid-flow passage such that very little if any positive pressure with respect to atmospheric pressure is placed on the fluid as the fluid enters the fluid-flow passage.   
     
     
         97 . The fluid handling system of  claim 96 , further comprising:
 a fluid inlet conduit connected to the inlet opening formed by the upstream, distal end of the bubble implosion reactor cavitation device; and   a fluid outlet conduit connected to a downstream, proximal end of the cavitation-inducing pump.   
     
     
         98 . The fluid handling system of  claim 97 , further comprising:
 a fuel tank connected to the fluid inlet conduit for supplying the fluid from the fuel tank to the bubble implosion reactor cavitation device, wherein the fluid is fuel.   
     
     
         99 . The fluid handling system of  claim 98 , further comprising:
 a fuel injection system of an engine connected to the fluid outlet conduit for supplying the fuel from the bubble implosion reactor cavitation device to the fuel injection system of the engine.   
     
     
         100 . A method for operating a fluid handling system that handles a fluid, comprising:
 providing a bubble implosion reactor cavitation device a fluid-flow passage, wherein the bubble implosion reactor cavitation device includes:
 an inlet opening formed by an upstream, distal end of the bubble implosion reactor cavitation device that permits the fluid to enter the fluid-flow passage, and 
 an outlet opening formed by a downstream, proximal end of the bubble implosion reactor cavitation device that permits the fluid to exit the fluid-flow passage; and 
   connecting a cavitation-inducing pump to the outlet opening formed by a downstream, proximal end of the bubble implosion reactor cavitation device for
 pulling the fluid through the fluid-flow passage such that very little if any positive pressure with respect to atmospheric pressure is placed on the fluid as the fluid enters the fluid-flow passage. 
   
     
     
         101 . The method of  claim 100 , further comprising:
 connecting a fluid inlet conduit to the inlet opening formed by the upstream, distal end of the bubble implosion reactor cavitation device; and   connecting a fluid outlet conduit to a downstream, proximal end of the cavitation-inducing pump.   
     
     
         102 . The method of  claim 101 , further comprising:
 connecting a fuel tank to the fluid inlet conduit for
 supplying the fluid from the fuel tank to the bubble implosion reactor cavitation device, wherein the fluid is fuel. 
   
     
     
         103 . The method of  claim 102 , further comprising:
 connecting a fuel injection system of an engine to the fluid outlet conduit for
 supplying the fuel from the bubble implosion reactor cavitation device to the fuel injection system of the engine. 
   
     
     
         104 . The method of  claim 103 , further comprising:
 connecting an additive tank to the fluid inlet conduit for
 supplying an additive from the additive tank to the bubble implosion reactor cavitation device for permitting emulsification of the liquid. 
   
     
     
         105 . The method of  claim 103 , wherein the bubble implosion reactor cavitation device conducts the step of:
 processing the fuel for increasing an amount of cracked hydrocarbons of the fuel prior to combustion of the fuel by the engine to thereby increase one or more of fuel quality, fuel efficiency and engine horsepower.   
     
     
         106 . The method of  claim 105 , wherein the fuel includes crude petroleum and derivatives of crude petroleum, wherein the bubble implosion reactor cavitation device conducts the step of:
 processing the crude petroleum and derivatives of crude petroleum in a refinery for increasing an amount of cracked hydrocarbons of the crude petroleum and derivatives of crude petroleum prior to production of an end product including: gasoline, jet fuel, diesel fuel or heating fuel.   
     
     
         107 . The method of  claim 105 , wherein the fuel includes one of: diesel fuel, jet fuel, gasoline, heating fuel and heavy bottom fuel.