US3693792A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrodynamic particle separator
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-05-05
•
Granted: 1972-09-26
•
Expires: 1991-05-05
Abstract
Abstract Charged particles such as ions in solution or suspended solids having a natural or induced electric charge are separated from or concentrated in the fluid medium in which they are contained. The fluid medium is conducted through a non-magnetic duct through which an intense magnetic flux rotating at high velocity is directed. Particles having opposite polarity charges are deflected in opposite directions and concentrated under the influence of Lorentz forces which are defined as F q V X B, where F is the deflecting force vector, q is the magnitude of the charge on a particle, V is the velocity vector of the particle and B is the magnetic flux vector. A multiported analyzer near the duct exit divides the streams which contain the concentrates from the dilute stream. Means are provided for regulating the flow volume through the ports.
Inventors
- 👤 James I Lang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 20:17
CPC Classifications
B; B03; B03C; B03C1/00; B03C1/02; B03C1/023
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
A Lorentz-force method of concentrating fluid suspended charged particles in a stream that is separable from the more dilute fluid stream, said method comprising: a. admitting said charged particle containing fluid into a curved substantially nonconducting and nonmagnetic duct so that the fluid flows around the interior of the duct in a direction that is substantially normal to a cross sectional plane of the duct, b. disposing magnetic polE pieces having opposite polarity on opposite sides of the duct to produce a magnetic flux which is substantially uniform about the fluid flow path during rotation and has a vector substantially normal in direction to the flow direction of the fluid, c. rotating said magnetic pole pieces along a curved path defined by the duct at a velocity which is high compared to the fluid velocity and which has a velocity vector substantially normal to said flux vector to thereby produce an intense Lorentz force to cause the charged particles to migrate substantially normal to the plane defined by the velocity vector of the flux and flux vector thereby causing the fluid stream to separate into concentrate and dilute portions, and d. passing said portions through ported separating means interposed transverse to the fluid flow direction in a curved part of the duct whereby to permit exiting the dilute and concentrate portions from the duct in substantially separate paths.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
228 words
A Lorentz-force method of concentrating fluid suspended charged particles in a stream that is separable from the more dilute fluid stream, said method comprising: a. admitting said charged particle containing fluid into a curved substantially nonconducting and nonmagnetic duct so that the fluid flows around the interior of the duct in a direction that is substantially normal to a cross sectional plane of the duct, b. disposing magnetic polE pieces having opposite polarity on opposite sides of the duct to produce a magnetic flux which is substantially uniform about the fluid flow path during rotation and has a vector substantially normal in direction to the flow direction of the fluid, c. rotating said magnetic pole pieces along a curved path defined by the duct at a velocity which is high compared to the fluid velocity and which has a velocity vector substantially normal to said flux vector to thereby produce an intense Lorentz force to cause the charged particles to migrate substantially normal to the plane defined by the velocity vector of the flux and flux vector thereby causing the fluid stream to separate into concentrate and dilute portions, and d. passing said portions through ported separating means interposed transverse to the fluid flow direction in a curved part of the duct whereby to permit exiting the dilute and concentrate portions from the duct in substantially separate paths.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. said magnetic flux is rotated at a rate in the range of about 1000 to about 100,000 revolutions per minute.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. the magnetic field is moved at a linear velocity in the range of 100 to 1000 feet per second.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. the flux density of the magnetic field is in the range of 1000 to 25,000 gausses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
221 words
Apparatus for concentrating charged particles in a fluid suspension with Lorentz forces and for separating the concentrates from the more dilute part of the suspension comprising: a. a curved duct means of nonconducting and nonmagnetic material, said duct means having a fluid inlet and an exit region angularly displaced within the duct means from said inlet, b. magnetic pole means of opposite polarity on opposed sides of the duct means for producing a substantially uniform magnetic flux along the fluid flow path during rotation which has a vector that is directed substantially normal to the fluid flow direction within the duct means, c. means for rotating said pole means jointly about the duct at high angular velocity whereby the flux has a velocity vector substantially normal to said vector to produce an intense Lorentz force on the charged particles causing them to migrate substantially normal to the plane of the flux vector and the velocity vector of the flux in the duct means to form concentrate and dilute streams, d. multiport means disposed transversely to the fluid flow path in a curved part of the duct means and near the exit region thereof, at least one of the ports being positioned to pass a concentrate stream and at least another of said ports being positioned to pass a more dilute stream.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
221 words
Apparatus for concentrating charged particles in a fluid suspension with Lorentz forces and for separating the concentrates from the more dilute part of the suspension comprising: a. a curved duct means of nonconducting and nonmagnetic material, said duct means having a fluid inlet and an exit region angularly displaced within the duct means from said inlet, b. magnetic pole means of opposite polarity on opposed sides of the duct means for producing a substantially uniform magnetic flux along the fluid flow path during rotation which has a vector that is directed substantially normal to the fluid flow direction within the duct means, c. means for rotating said pole means jointly about the duct at high angular velocity whereby the flux has a velocity vector substantially normal to said vector to produce an intense Lorentz force on the charged particles causing them to migrate substantially normal to the plane of the flux vector and the velocity vector of the flux in the duct means to form concentrate and dilute streams, d. multiport means disposed transversely to the fluid flow path in a curved part of the duct means and near the exit region thereof, at least one of the ports being positioned to pass a concentrate stream and at least another of said ports being positioned to pass a more dilute stream.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The invention set forth in claim 5 wherein: a. said duct means has a radially extending fluid outlet means located beyond said port means in a direction of fluid flow, said outlet means having isolating channel means for directing the concentrate and dilute streams out of the duct means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention set forth in claim 6 including: a. valve means communicating with said channel means for regulating the flow volume of the concentrate and dilute streams.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
64 words
The invention set forth in claim 5 wherein said port means is characterized by it having: a. a substantially central dilute stream port, and b. concentrate stream ports which have dimensions radially of said duct means that are less than the radial dimension of said dilute stream port, said concentrate stream ports being located radially inwardly and outwardly, respectively, from said dilute stream port.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The invention set forth in claim 5 wherein said port means is characterized by it having: a. a radially and axially bounded substantially central dilute stream port, and b. an annular concentrate stream port surrounding said dilute stream port.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
The invention set forth in claim 5 wherein said port meaNs is characterized by it having: a. at least two central dilute stream ports being elongated radially and being axially spaced from each other to define a central radially extending concentrate stream port therebetween, and b. a continuous narrow concentrate stream port surrounding said dilute stream ports and said radially extending concentrate stream port.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention set forth in claim 5 including: a. a shaft on which said pole pieces are positioned in spaced relationship to create a flux gap in which said duct means is positioned.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
The invention set forth in claim 5 wherein: a. said pole pieces are concave and are in opposed relationship, the ends of said pole pieces constituting annular pole faces which are axially spaced from each other to define a magnetic flux gap in which said duct means is disposed,
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention set forth in claim 5 including: a. means subdividing the aforesaid duct means into individual duct means which are substantially coextensive with the aforesaid duct means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
The invention set forth in claim 5 wherein: a. the internal dimension of the duct means in the direction between said pole pieces is defined as L and the dimension of the duct means perpendicular to L is defined as W and the range of ratios between L and W is 1.5:1 to 5:1.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention set forth in claim 5 wherein: a. the range of area ratios for said dilute stream port to said concentrate stream port is 1.5:1 to 5:1.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention set forth in claim 5 wherein: a. the range of ratios between 2RH/r is between 1 and 14 where RH is the hydraulic radius of said duct means and r is the mean radius of curvature of said duct means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention set forth in claim 5 wherein: a. said pole piece rotating means rotates the same at a rate in the range of 1000 to 100,000 revolutions per minute.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention set forth in claim 5 wherein: a. the linear velocity vector of said flux is in the range of 100 to 1000 feet per second.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention set forth in claim 5 wherein: a. said flux is in the range of 1000 to 25,000 gausses.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
61 words
The invention set forth in claim 5 wherein: a. the said pole means on opposed sides of the duct means each have magnetic material faces adjacent the duct means which faces are substantially continuous in a direction about their rotational axis to thereby produce a magnetic flux which is substantially uniform around the duct means when the pole means are rotated.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1417189A
Cited
US1978509A
Cited
US2282510A
Cited
US2979202A
Cited
US3277631A
Cited
US3228878A
Cited
US3289836A
Cited
US3496762A
Cited
US3511776A
Cited
US3463319A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-26 | 1976-03-27 | 1976-09-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-26 | 1980-03-27 | 1980-09-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-26 | 1984-03-27 | 1984-09-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |