Abstract: A system and method for heating a surface. The system can be a solar panel system and the surface can be a solar panel. The system includes a heat source and a processor. The processor determines an amount of heating energy for removing an accumulated material from the solar panel to obtain an unobstructed solar panel, determines an amount of energy production of the unobstructed solar panel, and controls the heat source to apply the determined amount of heating energy to the solar panel when the determined amount of energy production is greater than the amount of heating energy.

Abstract: A system and method for heating a surface. The system can be a solar panel system and the surface can be a solar panel. The system includes a heat source and a processor. The processor determines an amount of heating energy for removing an accumulated material from the solar panel to obtain an unobstructed solar panel, determines an amount of energy production of the unobstructed solar panel, and controls the heat source to apply the determined amount of heating energy to the solar panel when the determined amount of energy production is greater than the amount of heating energy.

Abstract: A fluid reactor for facilitating mixing and/or chemical reaction and including an elongated cylindrical flow chamber having a first for receiving a flow of a first fluid, a second flow inlet through which a relatively low mass flow of a second fluid may be admitted to the chamber; and a cone-pi element disposed downstream of the second flow inlet and having an upstream conical portion with a leading apex generally facing the first flow inlet, an intervening cylindrical portion, and a downstream conical portion with a trailing apex generally facing the flow outlet, the cone-pi element being operable to produce cavitation and/or vortical flow within the flow stream to effectuate mixing and/or chemical interaction of the first fluid and the second fluid, and to deliver a mixed and/or reacted fluid from the flow outlet.

Abstract: A mass flow meter device utilizing a housing having a wall portion forming a chamber with an entrance and exit for passing fluid through the same. A body is located within the chamber and is composed of a first conical portion, a second conical portion, and a cylindrical portion positioned intermediate the first and second conical portions. The body is held within the chamber in a standard or reverse direction. A first pressure probe or sensor measures the fluid pressure at the apex of the first conical portion while a second pressure probe or sensor obtains a second pressure measurement at the cylindrical portion of the body. The comparison of the first and second pressure measurements serves as an indication for the mass flow of fluid through the housing.

Abstract: A flow metering apparatus possessing a housing with a chamber including and entrance and an exit for the passageway of fluid therethrough. A flow directing body is located in the chamber and includes first and second conical portions positioned on either side of a cylindrical portion. The body is supported in the chamber in a fixed manner. An orifice is located within the chamber upstream of the first conical portion of the body and is of a predetermined size to control the passage of fluid through the housing chamber. First and second sensors sense the dynamic pressures at the apex of the first conical portion and at a position between the body and a wall of the chamber.

Abstract: A flow metering apparatus possessing a housing with a chamber including and entrance and an exit for the passageway of fluid therethrough. A flow directing body is located in the chamber and includes first and second conical portions positioned on either side of a cylindrical portion. The body is supported in the chamber in a fixed manner. An orifice is located within the chamber upstream of the first conical portion of the body and is of a predetermined size to control the passage of fluid through the housing chamber. First and second sensors sense the dynamic pressures at the apex of the first conical portion and at a position between the body and a wall of the chamber.

Abstract: A mass flow meter device utilizing a housing having a wall portion forming a chamber with an entrance and exit for passing fluid through the same. A body is located within the chamber and is composed of a first conical portion, a second conical portion, and a cylindrical portion positioned intermediate the first and second conical portions. The body is held within the chamber in a standard or reverse direction. A first pressure probe or sensor measures the fluid pressure at the apex of the first conical portion while a second pressure probe or sensor obtains a second pressure measurement at the cylindrical portion of the body. The comparison of the first and second pressure measurements serves as an indication for the mass flow of fluid through the housing.

Abstract: A mass flow meter device utilizing a housing having a wall portion forming a chamber with an entrance and exit for passing fluid through the same. A body is located within the chamber and is composed of a first conical portion, a second conical portion, and a cylindrical portion positioned intermediate the first and second conical portions. The body is held within the chamber in a standard or reverse direction. A first pressure probe or sensor measures the fluid pressure at the apex of the first conical portion while a second pressure probe or sensor obtains a second pressure measurement at the cylindrical portion of the body. The comparison of the first and second pressure measurements serves as an indication for the mass flow of fluid through the housing. The flow meter device may be adapted to existing fluid sources such as aerosol generators.

Abstract: A medicinal delivery system utilizing a gaseous propellant source. The system includes a nozzle having an entrance and exit for passing medicinal powder material threrethrough. A conduit is also utilized to direct gaseous propellant to a place adjacent the nozzle exit. A flow shaper produces a vortex stream of the gaseous propellant which mixes with the medicinal powder material exiting the nozzle. The medicinal powder, gaseous propellant, and air are mixed in a vessel chamber and forced from the vessel chamber through an exit for use as a homogeneous aerosol.

Abstract: A medicinal delivery system utilizing a gaseous propellant source. The system includes a nozzle having an entrance and exit for passing medicinal powder material threrethrough. A conduit is also utilized to direct gaseous propellant to a place adjacent the nozzle exit. A flow shaper produces a vortex stream of the gaseous propellant which mixes with the medicinal powder material exiting the nozzle. The medicinal powder, gaseous propellant, and air are mixed in a vessel chamber and forced from the vessel chamber through an exit for use as a homogeneous aerosol.

Abstract: A liquid medicament delivery system utilizing a carrier for a dose of liquid medicament. A conduit having an entrance and exit communicates with the carrier to permit the same to travel along the conduit. A propellant and the liquid medicament carried by the conduit are formed into a stable vortex eddy and passed to a mixing chamber where the medicament is delivered through an outflow aperture for use.

Abstract: The micro-atomizing device of the present invention creates high energy vortices. These high speed vortices are generated simultaneously and synchronously and then merged into a three dimensional force field. When the high energy vortices are brought together, a large vacuum is produced in a resultant stable vortex force field in a vortex accumulation zone. The high vacuum draws the fluid to be atomized through a delivery tube into the vortex accumulation zone. The high energy within the vortex accumulation zone either breaks up the fluid to be atomized into very small droplets or gasifies the fluid by the combination of high energy density cold boiling, shockwave generated ultrasound, and centripetal forces.

Abstract: A mass flowmeter includes a hollow flow tube with a contoured longitudinal bore. Inserted into the contoured longitudinal bore are preferably four rods. The rods establish stable axial vortices within the hollow flow tube. Pressure pulses on the flow rods produced by the vortical flows are measured by pressure transducers and associated electronics then translated into an accurate measurement of mass flow. Total wide ranging flow stability and high signal output characterize this mass flowmeter as well as its ability to handle liquids, gases, and fluidized solids.

Abstract: One or more rods are employed in the flow passage of the above-described flowmeter as the drag-producing bluff body. Conveniently, the rods can also serve as probes for sensing the pressure in the flow passage. In the preferred embodiment, one rod is radially oriented upstream of the restriction and another rod is radially oriented at an angle to the first rod within the restriction. The rods have hollow interiors connected to a .DELTA.P transducer. The first rod has a chamfered end facing upstream.

Abstract: One or more rods are employed in the flow passage of the above-described flowmeter as the drag-producing bluff body. Conveniently, the rods can also serve as probes for sensing the pressure in the flow passage. In the preferred embodiment, one rod is radially oriented upstream of the restriction and another rod is radially oriented at an angle to the first rod within the restriction. The rods have hollow interiors connected to a .DELTA.P transducer. The first rod has a chamfered end facing upstream.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for applying an active ingredient as an aerosol. A transducer (22) for creating an aerosol includes a propellant inlet (96) and a chamber defined by at least one chamber wall (128) confluent with the propellant inlet. A bluff body (112) is provided for creating at least one vortex (152) in the chamber when the propellant enters the propellant inlet in a supersonic flow condition. An orifice (118, 146) spaced apart from the bluff body and separated therefrom by the chamber wall is provided for creating an exiting vortex (154).

Abstract: An apparatus (22) for applying medication as an aerosol includes a fluid supply channel (96) for supplying fluid from a container (24) of a mixture of propellant and medication wherein the fluid supply channel is adapted to accept a nozzle (26) coupled to the container for receiving the mixture and wherein the fluid supply channel has a first cross-sectional area. A first chamber (30) at a first downstream portion from the fluid supply channel has a second cross-sectional area (34) for expanding the fluid and for forming a first flow condition. A chamber (36) is supplied downstream from the fluid supply channel for changing the first flow condition.

Abstract: A perforated planar member is spaced from the outlet of a vortex generating transducer and a tube is coupled between the outlet of the transducer and the perforated member to completely close the space therebetween. Preferably, the perforated member is a screen composed of non-conductive criss-crossing wires having resonant dimensions as to a component frequency of the sonic waves generated by the transducer. In addition, the screen is also preferably spaced from the outlet of the transducer a resonant distance as to the component frequency. A drag member is spaced from the perforated member. Preferably, the drag member is cylindrical and its axis lies transverse to the plane of the perforated member; the drag member is spaced from the perforated member a resonant distance as to a component frequency of the sonic waves generated by the transducer. Atomization in the described apparatus is enhanced by means of thermal and/or electrical energy.

Abstract: The nebulizing device (44') and apparatus (10) for supplying nebulized liquids or powders for inhalation is provided. The device (44') include a base (108) having a closed bore (50) and an annular passageway (60) extending from the bore to an outlet (62). At least one auxiliary passage (62) is provided which extends through the base from the bore and opens to the passageway. Compressed gas is supplied through a supply hose (52) to the bore. A liquid port (118) extends from a liquid supply to the passageway adjacent the outlet such than when compressed gas is supplied to the bore the gas flows through the passageway and is discharged from the outlet, generating a subatmospheric pressure region to draw the liquid through the port into the passageway, the gas further generating a vortex action to nebulize the liquid. A plurality of screens (88, 92, 100) may be provided in series to further slow and nebulize the liquid. The apparatus includes a container (12).

Abstract: A nebulizer comprises an upright, cylindrical, tower-like chamber mounted on the lid of a liquid storage bottle and a vortex-generating transducer. The chamber has a closed upper end and an open lower end directed to the bottle. The transducer is mounted on the closed end with its outlet opening into the chamber. Windows are formed in the side of the chamber adjacent the outlet of the transducer. A nebulizer comprises a T-shaped chamber secured to the inside of a closed liquid storage bottle and a vortex-generating transducer. The chamber has inline legs with open ends and a transverse leg with a closed end. One open end faces downwardly into the bottle, the other open end is connected by an elbow to a spout leaving the bottle. The transducer is mounted on the closed end with its outlet facing into the chamber and its axis is pointed down at a small acute angle to the axis of the transverse leg.