Abstract: A pump and methods for compressing a fluid are provided that comprise a pump head comprising a flexible metal diaphragm attached to a rigid compression chamber. Fluid compression is provided within the rigid compression chamber when the flexible diaphragm is mechanically oscillated back and forth by a linear motor operated at a drive frequency that is at or below the mechanical resonance of the moving parts, mechanical springs and gas springs. Tuned ports and valves allow low-pressure fluid to enter and high-pressure fluid to exit the compression chamber in response to the cyclic compressions. The linear resonance pump provides high frequency operation, small diaphragm displacements, and high compression ratios for gases.

Abstract: Motor control of a variable reluctance motor is obtained by providing a periodic voltage waveform to a coil of a motor. No coil current control or current or flux feedback is needed to obtain flux waveforms that allow for low-distortion or distortion-free operation of the motor. The periodic voltage waveform may be a sinusoidal or sawtooth signal, for example, and has a substantially zero mean for each cycle of the signal. The periodic voltage waveform may be offset to compensate for the resistance of the coil, and the coil current may be monitored in order to determine the amount of offset required. By providing a zero-mean or substantially zero-mean periodic voltage waveform, the coil current and flux in the gap between the core and the moving part are guaranteed to reach a zero value at some point during each period (or cycle) of the periodic voltage waveform.

Abstract: Physical effects produced within RMS resonators are utilized 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.

Abstract: An energy conversion device comprises an acoustic resonator, a pulse combustion device for creating a standing wave within said resonator, and an electric alternator. The alternate is coupled to the resonator to convert acoustically driven mechanical vibrations into electrical power.

Abstract: A vibrational acoustic unit comprises a dynamic force motor, a power take-off spring having one end attached to the dynamic force motor and the other end attached to a fluid filled acoustic resonator. The motor oscillates the entire acoustic resonator so as to excite a resonant mode of the acoustic resonator.A method of delivering power to an acoustic resonator comprises resiliently connecting a motor to the resonator, and driving the motor to oscillate the entire acoustic resonator so as to excite a resonant mode of the acoustic resonator.

Abstract: An energy conversion device comprises an acoustic resonator, a pulse combustion device for creating a standing wave within said resonator, and an electric alternator. The alternator is coupled to the resonator to convert acoustically driven mechanical vibrations into electrical power.

Abstract: An acoustic resonator includes a chamber which contains a fluid. The chamber has a geometry which produces self-destructive interference of at least one harmonic in the fluid to avoid shock wave formation at finite acoustic pressure amplitudes. The chamber can have reflective terminations at each end or a reflective termination at only one end. A driver mechanically oscillates the chamber at a frequency of a selected resonant mode of the chamber. The driver may be a moving piston coupled to an open end of the chamber, an electromagnetic shaker or an electromagnetic driver.

Abstract: An acoustic resonator includes a chamber containing a fluid. The chamber has anharmonic resonant modes and provides boundary conditions which predetermine the harmonic phases and amplitudes needed to synthesize a non-sinusoidal, unshocked waveform.