Apparatus for Heating Fluids

Abstract

The apparatus described herein uses a disc wafer-type rotor featuring channels disposed around its circumference and around the interior circumference of the rotor housing specifically to induce cavitation. The channels are shaped to control the size, oscillation, composition, duration, and implosion of the cavitation bubbles. The rotor is attached to a shaft which is driven by external power means. Fluid pumped into the device is subjected to the relative motion between the rotor and the device housing, and exits the device at increased temperature. The device is thermodynamically highly efficient, despite the structural and mechanical simplicity of the apparatus. Such devices accordingly provide efficient, simple, inexpensive, and reliable sources of distilled potable water for residential, commercial, and industrial use, as well as the separation and evaporation of other liquids.

1 .- 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A method of extracting at least one substance from a fluid comprising:
 (a) providing a fluid containing at least one substance therein;   (b) passing the fluid through a cavitation zone;   (c) causing cavitation events in the fluid that produce shock waves and pressure variations in the cavitation zone, the cavitation zone being defined between the outer peripheral surface of a rotor and an interior surface of a housing within which the rotor is rotatably mounted, the rotor having cavitation inducing structures on its outer peripheral surface, and wherein the step of causing cavitation events comprises rotating the rotor within the housing as the mixture passes through the cavitation zone; and   (d) separating at least one of the substances from the fluid.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein in step (c), the shock waves and pressure variations are controlled by varying the rotation rate of the rotor. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein in step (a), the fluid comprises water. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising subjecting the mixture to a non-cavitation based process prior to step (b). 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising subjecting the mixture to a non-cavitation based extraction process following step (c). 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the fluid contains at least one petroleum product. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the fluid contains at least one oil. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the cavitation inducing structures comprise indentations. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising repeating step (c) two or more times. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising, after step (c), causing the fluid to flow from the cavitation zone into a tank. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising, after step (c), causing at least a portion of the fluid to flow through a heat exchanger.