Transducer and reflector configurations for an acoustophoretic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017217794-A1
Application number	US-201715490878-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 18, 2017
Priority date	Mar 15, 2012
Publication date	Aug 3, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Separation of particles or droplets from a host fluid may be achieved using a transducer and/or reflector that is a thin, non-planar structure. The thin non-planar structure improves operation of an acoustic standing wave generated by an acoustic transducer. The structure may operate as a pressure release boundary and may be constructed as plastic film.

First claim

1 . An acoustophoretic separation apparatus, comprising:
a chamber for containing a fluid; at least one ultrasonic transducer acoustically coupled to the chamber; and a thin structure with a non-planar surface facing the at least one ultrasonic transducer that is configured to reflect at least some acoustic energy from the at least one ultrasonic transducer.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the thin structure is a plastic film.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the plastic film is made of a material selected from the group consisting of olefins, polyurethanes, polyureas, polyesters, polystyrenes, polyamides, cellulosics, ionomers, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyvinylidene chloride, ethylene vinyl acetate, ethylene tetrafluoroethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, and combinations thereof.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the thin structure is configured to provide a pressure release boundary.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one ultrasonic transducer includes a non-planar surface.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one ultrasonic transducer is a thin structure.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the thin structure has a thickness that is ½ or less of the wavelength emitted by the at least one ultrasonic transducer.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transducer is operable to generate a multi-dimensional acoustic standing wave in the chamber.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the multi-dimensional acoustic standing wave includes an axial force component and a lateral force component that are of the same order of magnitude.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one ultrasonic transducer has a face that contacts fluid within the flow chamber, the face being coated with a wear layer comprising chrome, electrolytic nickel, electroless nickel, p-xylylene, glassy carbon, or urethane.

11 . An acoustophoretic method, comprising:
receiving a mixture of a host fluid and a second fluid or particulate in a container; generating an acoustic standing wave in the container using a thin, non-planar acoustic component; and collecting droplets of the second fluid or particles in the acoustic standing wave to separate the second fluid or particulate from the host fluid.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising flowing the host fluid through the container.

13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising closing off the container to provide a closed container.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the thin, non-planar component is an ultrasonic transducer.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the ultrasonic transducer is operable to generate a multi-dimensional acoustic standing wave in the chamber.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the multi-dimensional acoustic standing wave includes an axial force component and a lateral force component that are of the same order of magnitude.

17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the ultrasonic transducer includes a face that contacts fluid within the container, the face being coated with a wear layer comprising chrome, electrolytic nickel, electroless nickel, p-xylylene, glassy carbon, or urethane.

18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the thin, non-planar component is a reflector configured to provide a pressure release boundary.

19 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising a free surface that is configured to provide a pressure release boundary for the acoustic standing wave.

20 . An apparatus, comprising:
a chamber for containing a fluid; at least one ultrasonic transducer acoustically coupled to the chamber; a thin structure with a non-planar surface facing the at least one ultrasonic transducer that is configured to reflect at least some acoustic energy from the at least one ultrasonic transducer with an acoustic reflection coefficient from about −0.1 to about −1.0.

Assignees

• Flodesign Sonics Inc

Inventors

• Lipkens Bart
• Presz Jr Walter M
• Chitale Kedar
• Mccarthy Brian
• Ross-Johnsrud Benjamin
• Kennedy Iii Thomas J
• Mealey Dane
• Dutra Brian
• Sokolowski David

Classifications

• B06B1/0622 Primary

  on one surface · CPC title

• B01D43/00

  Separating particles from liquids, or liquids from solids, otherwise than by sedimentation or filtration (flotation processes B03D1/00; drying solid materials or objects F26B) · CPC title

• C02F1/40

  Devices for separating or removing fatty or oily substances or similar floating material (cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water from oil or like materials E02B15/04; devices in sewers for separating liquid or solid substances from sewage E03F5/14, e.g. for use in drains leading to the sewer E03F5/16) · CPC title

• B01D17/04

  Breaking emulsions · CPC title

• C02F1/36 Primary

  ultrasonic vibrations · CPC title