Drying and gas or vapor contact with solids – Process – Mechanical liquid removal
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-02
2001-05-15
Wilson, Pamela (Department: 3749)
Drying and gas or vapor contact with solids
Process
Mechanical liquid removal
C034S256000, C034S257000, C034S258000, C034S279000, C034S164000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230420
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE CURRENT INVENTION
1) Field of Invention
This invention relates to the application of Resonant Macrosonic Synthesis (RMS) for the purposes of processing materials within an RMS resonator including, for example, comminution, converting liquids into vapors and gases, drying of powders, mixing of dissimilar materials, agglomeration, de-agglomeration, granulation, sterilization of gases, destruction of biological materials, separation by stratification, and coal gasification.
2) Description of Related Area
Previously, the processing of materials such as comminution, converting liquids into vapors and gases, drying of powders, rapid mixing of gases and various materials including mixtures of particulate solids, agglomeration, de-agglomeration, and granulation required a wide range of different processing equipment. Examples of such equipment can include rotary cutters, hammers, rollers, fluid-energy mills, ovens, and various filtration machines.
If the manufacture of a product requires more than one of these processes, then the product will often be progressively transferred from one machine to another. This can create disadvantages, due to reduced yield, product contamination, longer process time, and high production costs and worker exposure to processing agents.
A single process tool that can provide multiple process steps without product transfer and in a simpler manner would provide a significant advantage to the process industry.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of an embodiment of the present invention to utilize the physical effects produced within RMS resonators as a means to process materials within the resonator including for example one or more of comminution, converting liquids into vapors and gases, drying of powders, rapid mixing of gases and various materials, agglomeration, de-agglomeration, granulation, chemical reactions, stratification/separation, and the destruction of biological material.
A further object of an embodiment of the invention is to provide a method for processing materials in a self-contained, scaled tool for batch.
A still further object is to provide a process tool capable of generating a broad range of physical effects, such that multiple process steps can be performed within a self-contained, sealed tool, which may include simultaneous and sequenced process in a batch and/or continuous manner.
Yet another object of an embodiment of the invention is to apply an RMS acoustic process tool to process materials.
The RMS acoustic process tool (APT) of the present invention consists of an RMS system including an acoustic resonator capable of producing: an extremely large range of dynamic pressures, both pumping and levitation via nonlinearly-generated DC pressures, high acoustic particle velocities, streaming velocities, and turbulence. The APT also includes an entire-resonator drive system capable of providing the power necessary to produce these effects.
The shape of the APTs resonator is chosen to promote the specific effect(s) listed above, which will provide the desired process or processes. Inside the resonator is a fluid that serves as the medium within which an acoustic standing wave is created. The fluid can consist of a liquid, a gas, a vapor, a vapor-gas mixture, a liquid or particulate aerosol, or a mixture of any number of the forgoing fluids. The method of operation is such that as the actuator oscillates the entire resonator at the frequency of one of its acoustic modes, a standing acoustic wave is produced.
One of the advantages of the APT is the number of different process that can be performed within the same tool during a single processing session. Materials within the resonator are exposed to physical effects, such as high dynamic pressures, levitation via nonlinearly-generated DC pressures, acoustic particle velocities, streaming velocities, and turbulence. The relative magnitude of these effects is determined by the resonator's shape and the power delivered Depending upon the materials introduced into the resonator, these physical effects promote various types of processing including one or more of: the size reduction of solid matter (comminution), agglomeration, de-agglomeration, granulation, the vaporization/atomization of liquids, the drying of powders, the nixing of dissimilar materials such as gases, vapors, and powders, destruction of biological material, and chemical reactions.
The rate at which these processes occur can be controlled by varying the power delivered to resonator. Many of these individual process can be combined to occur concurrently or in a desired sequence within a single APT by varying the input power level.
Another advantage of the APT is that the high kinetic energy required for certain processes such as rapid mixing, rapid de-agglomeration, and communition are created within the resonator via the stored energy of the standing wave. This internal energy source eliminates the need for external energy sources that are outside of the tool, such as external pumps or compressors.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout.
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Database Inspec 'on line! Institute of Electrical Engineers, Stevenage, GB Lawerencson C C et al: “Measurements of macrosonic standing waves in oscillating closed cavities” Database accession no. 5995203 XP002136880 abstract & Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, Aug. 1998, Acoust. Soc. America Through AIP, USA, vol. 104, No. 2, pp. 623-636, ISSN: 00-4966.
Lawrenson Christopher C.
Lucas Timothy S.
VanDoren Thomas W.
Wisner James N.
Foley & Lardner
Macrosonix Corporation
Wilson Pamela
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