Acoustic manipulation of particles in standing wave fields
US9686096B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 24, 2017 |
| Grant date | Jun 20, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 24, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L2012/4026
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method for separating a second fluid or a particulate from a host fluid is disclosed. The method includes flowing the mixture through an acoustophoretic device comprising an acoustic chamber, an ultrasonic transducer, and a reflector. The transducer includes a piezoelectric material driven by a voltage signal to create a multi-dimensional acoustic standing wave in the acoustic chamber. A voltage signal is sent to drive the ultrasonic transducer in a displacement profile that is a superposition of a combination of different mode shapes that are the same order of magnitude to create the multi-dimensional acoustic standing wave in the acoustic chamber such that the second fluid or particulate is continuously trapped in the standing wave, and then agglomerates, aggregates, clumps, or coalesces together, and subsequently rises or settles out of the host fluid due to buoyancy or gravity forces, and exits the acoustic chamber.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.