Colloid systems and wetting agents; subcombinations thereof; pro – Continuous liquid or supercritical phase: colloid systems;... – Primarily organic continuous liquid phase
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-10
2003-03-25
Lovering, Richard D. (Department: 1712)
Colloid systems and wetting agents; subcombinations thereof; pro
Continuous liquid or supercritical phase: colloid systems;...
Primarily organic continuous liquid phase
C366S165400, C366S167100, C366S176100, C366S336000, C366S337000, C516S053000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06538041
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for forming stabilized atomized microemulsions from different liquids which are normally mutually immiscible, for the most disparate applications in the chemical-pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic sectors et cetera. In particular, the apparatus and the method according to the present invention allow to form microemulsions with untreated and/or basified water of liquid hydrocarbons, with the most disparate densities and viscosities, for use as fuels for civil and industrial heating systems and also for large engines and/or as fuels for Diesel engines.
BACKGROUND ART
Apparatuses and methods for forming microemulsions are known in the art.
For example, EP-630,398 discloses the formation of emulsions by mixing components in a static mixer in particular pressure and temperature conditions in the presence of a mixture of surfactants.
EP-124,061 in the name of this same Applicant discloses an apparatus and a method for forming emulsions of fluid fuels with other immiscible fluids, particularly water. The described apparatus is constituted by a turbotransducer which comprises an emulsification chamber in which the fluid fuel and the water are subjected to a combined mechanical and electromagnetic action which generates, inside said chamber, a centered corridor through which the mixed fuel and water flow.
EP-373,353, in the name of this same Applicant, discloses a process for producing stabilized emulsions of a fuel, particularly a fuel for Diesel engines, and water, with the addition of a product which acts as a lubricant and antifreeze, which comprises the premixing of fuel, water and additive and the subsequent passage of the resulting mix through a turbotransducer similar to the one of the above-cited EP-124,061.
The Applicant has found that these methods entail a relatively high energy expenditure with respect to the productivity of the system and have a low need for conversion of the energy associated with the passage through the emulsifying apparatus into surface energy of the particles of the disperse phase.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The aim of the present invention is to provide a system for obtaining stabilized atomized microemulsions which is even more advanced and most of all less expensive, for the purpose of industrialization with a considerable saving in terms of times and costs for production, maintenance, siting and electric power.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which can assume any size and therefore can be inserted directly in production line of any required productivity, even if it is a few liters per hour, and for use in the pharmaceutical and/or cosmetic industry.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which can work without very expensive and unreliable ultrasound systems or other devices.
This aim, these objects and others which will become better apparent from the following description are achieved by an emulsifying apparatus according to the invention for forming stabilized atomized microemulsions, which comprises a primary chamber and a sequence of at least two cavitation chambers arranged in succession, means for feeding fluids into said primary chamber, and means for the exit toward the outside of said apparatus of the microemulsion from the last cavitation chamber of the sequence of cavitation chambers, said primary chamber and said at least two cavitation chambers being fluid-connected to each other by way of fluid passage means, said passage means being adapted to produce a velocity of the fluids, during passage, which gradually increases from the primary chamber to the last cavitation chamber of the sequence of cavitation chambers.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The apparatus according to the invention includes a reverse-flow diffuser with multiple cavitation chambers, capable of imparting a turbine effect to the fluids. The cavitation chambers can be theoretically unlimited in number and can have the most specific dimensions. In said chambers, the microemulsion takes form from the peripheral region and is perfected in the last cavitation chamber.
The primary chamber can be cylindrical or can also have an oval, square or rectangular cross-section. A polyhedral or triangular cross-section is also possible.
Conveniently, the first cavitation chamber of the sequence of cavitation chambers is at least partially arranged inside the primary chamber and the other cavitation chambers of the sequence of cavitation chambers are is arranged so that each one is at least partially inside the preceding one in the sequence of cavitation chambers.
Advantageously, the cavitation chambers of the sequence of cavitation chambers are each arranged inside the preceding cavitation chambers in the sequence of cavitation chambers, the sequence of cavitation chambers being arranged inside the primary chamber.
In a preferred embodiment, the primary chamber is the container of all the other cavitation chambers installed inside it.
Advantageously, the primary chamber and the cavitation chambers of the sequence of cavitation chambers have substantially parallel axes and are even more advantageously coaxial.
A larger number of cavitation chambers with turbine effect is convenient in the presence of a plurality of secondary fluids with highly contrasting physical and chemical characteristics.
The cavitation chambers of the sequence of cavitation chambers preferably each have a blind wall which is arranged substantially at right angles to the axes of the cavitation chambers and is directed toward the preceding cavitation chamber in the sequence of cavitation chambers.
Preferably, the cavitation chambers of the sequence of cavitation chambers are mutually rigidly coupled and are rigidly coupled to the primary chamber.
The outside of the apparatus, or the surface of the primary chamber, can if necessary be heated for example by means of a self-compensating self-adjusting heating cable and insulated.
The primary cavitation chamber can be made of non-magnetic or scarcely magnetizable steels (AISI 304L, AESI 316L, ASTELLOY C), since if appropriate the system can be activated with magnetic assemblies of lanthanum and/or samarium or cobalt with a high energy yield.
The dimensions of the chamber and the thickness of the walls are chosen according to the productivity required by the user and/or by the process.
Conveniently, the fluid passage means are adapted to impart to the fluids a turbine effect motion.
Preferably, the fluid passage means comprise holes in the walls of the cavitation chambers of the sequence of cavitation chambers.
Advantageously, the holes have longitudinal axes which are inclined with respect to the axis of the corresponding cavitation chamber, the inclination of the axes in the holes of each cavitation chamber of the sequence of cavitation chambers being opposite to the inclination of the axes of the holes of the preceding and subsequent cavitation chambers of the sequence of cavitation chambers.
The number of holes, their cross-section, the inclination of the holes with respect to the horizontal axis, the distance between the surfaces of each chamber, the working volume of each chamber and the total volume of the primary chamber are the basis for the calculations related to the mechanics of obtaining instant stable microemulsions or microcells with assurance of the degree of dispersion of the secondary fluid. In the calculation (volume of chambers, number of holes, cross-section of holes, inclination of holes, distance between the walls of the chambers) it is also necessary to take into high account the chemical-physical parameters of the involved fluids.
For example, the sum of the cross-sections of all the holes of each cavitation chamber should be lower than for the preceding cavitation chamber in the sequence to ensure an increase of the fluid velocity in the holes from the first to the last cavitation chamber in the sequence.
The velocity of the fluids in the holes of the walls of the cavitation chambers grad
Josif Albert
Lovering Richard D.
Modiano Guido
O'Byrne Daniel
LandOfFree
Apparatus and method for forming stabilized atomized... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Apparatus and method for forming stabilized atomized..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Apparatus and method for forming stabilized atomized... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3013855