Abstract: A thermoacoustic device separates a mixture of gases. An elongated duct is provided with first and second ends and has a length that is greater than the wavelength of sound in the mixture of gases at a selected frequency, and a diameter that is greater than a thermal penetration depth in the mixture of gases. A first acoustic source is located at the first end of the duct to generate acoustic power at the selected frequency. A plurality of side branch acoustic sources are spaced along the length of the duct and are configured to introduce acoustic power into the mixture of gases so that a first gas is concentrated at the first end of the duct and a second gas is concentrated at the second end of the duct.

Abstract: A method for slowing down the increase in pressure drop across a gas filter caused by clogging as a result of a contaminant particles layer being formed on the filter. The method comprises applying acoustic waves from an acoustic wave source to a gas to be filtered as it flows into the filter; thereby producing steady secondary acoustic streaming around dust particles already deposited on the filter, thus reducing pressure drop across the filter initially caused by clogging.

Abstract: An acoustic agglomerator for agglomerating constituents in a fluid is provided. The acoustic agglomerator includes an area containing a fluid having constituents and an acoustic generator operable to generate a modulated acoustic field to enhance agglomeration of the constituents in the fluid. In one aspect the acoustic field is frequency modulated and in other aspects the acoustic field is amplitude modulated, while yet in other aspects the acoustic field is both frequency and amplitude modulated. A method for agglomerating constituents in a fluid is also provided. The method includes providing a fluid with a constituent and applying an acoustic field to the fluid. The method provides for modulating the acoustic field to cause the constituent to agglomerate.

Abstract: A thermoacoustic device separates a mixture of gases. An elongated duct is provided with first and second ends and has a length that is greater than the wavelength of sound in the mixture of gases at a selected frequency, and a diameter that is greater than a thermal penetration depth in the mixture of gases. A first acoustic source is located at the first end of the duct to generate acoustic power at the selected frequency. A plurality of side branch acoustic sources are spaced along the length of the duct and are configured to introduce acoustic power into the mixture of gases so that a first gas is concentrated at the first end of the duct and a second gas is concentrated at the second end of the duct.

Abstract: An air induction system with active noise control includes a self-cleaning air filter that is integrated within an air intake housing. The self-cleaning air filter filters out contaminants such as dust and dirt particulates from air flowing through the intake housing. The self-cleaning filter is powered and controlled by the same electronic unit that is used to power the active noise control system.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of removing a selected component from a stream of fluid containing a plurality of components is provided. The stream is induced to flow at supersonic velocity through a conduit so as to decrease the temperature of the fluid to below a selected temperature at which one of condensation and solidification of the selected component occurs, thereby forming particles of the selected component. The conduit is provided with a structure for imparting a swirling motion to the stream of fluid thereby inducing the particles to flow to a radially outer section of a collecting zone in the stream. A shock wave is created in the stream so as to decrease the axial velocity of the fluid to subsonic velocity, and to increase the swirling motion of the particles which are extracted into an outlet stream from the radially outer section of the collecting zone downstream of the shock wave.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of removing a selected component from a stream of fluid containing a plurality of components is provided. The stream is induced to flow at supersonic velocity through a conduit so as to decrease the temperature of the fluid to below a selected temperature at which one of condensation and solidification of the selected component occurs, thereby forming particles of the selected component. The conduit is provided with a structure for imparting a swirling motion to the stream of fluid thereby inducing the particles to flow to a radially outer section of a collecting zone in the stream. A shock wave is created in the stream so as to decrease the axial velocity of the fluid to subsonic velocity, and to increase the swirling motion of the particles which are extracted into an outlet stream from the radially outer section of the collecting zone downstream of the shock wave.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of removing a selected component from a stream of fluid containing a plurality of components is provided. The stream is induced to flow at supersonic velocity through a conduit so as to decrease the temperature of the fluid to below a selected temperature at which one of condensation and solidification of the selected component occurs, thereby forming particles of the selected component. The conduit is provided with a structure for imparting a swirling motion to the stream of fluid thereby inducing the particles to flow to a radially outer section of a collecting zone in the stream. A shock wave is created in the stream so as to decrease the axial velocity of the fluid to subsonic velocity, and to increase the swirling motion of the particles which are extracted into an outlet stream from the radially outer section of the collecting zone downstream of the shock wave.

Abstract: Pollutant molecules and/or particles are removed from a stream of polluted gas utilizing moisture-containing sonic or supersonic shock waves passing through the stream of polluted gas stream to alter, change, modify, grow or otherwise change the molecules and/or particles to render then removable or separable from the gas stream.

Abstract: An apparatus for liquefying a gas has a nozzle having a convergent nozzle portion and a nozzle throat, and a divergent nozzle portion (in the case of supersonic flow), and a working section. Vanes or another mechanism for creating a swirl velocity are connected to the nozzle, to create a strong swirl velocity in gas fed to the nozzle. In the nozzle, the gas adiabatically expands, gas velocity increases and gas temperature drops, to promote the condensation of gas with formation of droplets. The gas then passes through a working section having a wall, whereby further condensation of at least a portion of the gas flow occurs and droplets of condensed gas grow. Centrifugal effects generated by the swirl velocity drive the droplets towards the wall of the working section. Condensed liquid gas droplets are separated from remaining gas in the gaseous state at least adjacent the wall of the working section.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for removing solid particles from a particle containing stream of fluid, the method including the steps of: inducing the stream to flow at supersonic velocity through a conduit; inducing a swirling motion to the supersonic stream of fluid thereby causing the particles to flow to a radially outer section of a collecting zone in the stream; and extracting the solid particles into an outlet stream from the radially outer section of the collecting zone. The apparatus is an apparatus effective for performance of this method.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and a device for agglomerating particles in a gaseous flow through an acoustical agglomeration chamber (3). According to the invention a portion of the flow at the outlet of the chamber is selectively extracted by preferring larger particles, and is re-injected into the inlet of the chamber.

Abstract: Systems and methods for cleaning and operating gas cleaning devices using vibration generators wherein the systems include sensors and programs for monitoring and predicting resonant conditions of different surface areas and zones in order to vary the frequency and amplitude of vibrations to establish optimum resonant conditions on such surface areas or zones and thereby optimize cleaning and operation of such gas cleaning devices.

Abstract: An exhaust emissions filtering system for filtering of particulate matter from a flow of exhaust. The exhaust emissions filtering system comprises an ultrasonic transducer unit, an ultraviolet light unit, a magnetic particle filter unit, and an electronic control unit. The exhaust emissions filtering system removes particulates from exhaust emissions by fracturing the particles with the ultrasonic transducer unit, further breaking down the fractured particles with a high-intensity ultraviolet light, and removing the particles with an electrostatic mesh that is located in the magnetic particle filter unit.

Abstract: A method for wetting a filter element by a high viscosity liquid and an apparatus for practicing such method are provided. In the method, a sealable container that is equipped with a vibration device and is capable of holding a pressurized liquid therein is used. The vibration device creates a vibration in the pressurized liquid such that trapped air bubbles in the filter element are separated from the filter element and are exhausted. The method and apparatus can be used for pre-wetting any filter element in any type of liquid, either of the high viscosity type or of the low viscosity type, even though it is particularly suitable for wetting a filter element by a high viscosity liquid and removing trapped air bubbles in the filter element.

Abstract: A thermodynamic pressure swing adsorption cycle utilizing "loudspeaker" diaphragms or pistons which are located at the top and bottom of a column containing a bed of adsorbent. The diaphragms are vibrated out of phase with each other so as to provide a displacement wave in the gas mixture within the bed of adsorbent. In addition to this displacement wave the gas is compressed prior to upward displacement and the gas pressure is lowered before the downward displacement by way of a second set of "loudspeakers" which form the side walls of the column. The second set of loudspeakers vibrate in phase with each other and operate at the same frequency as the displacement speakers.

Abstract: Electrostatic filter in which the enclosure (2) is fitted with a flexible membrane (12) , behind which an acoustic wave generator (14) is placed and which vibrates the gaseous contents of the filter to detach retained dust and clean the filter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing sulfur from gas streams, utilizing liquid redox, including an improved method for preventing build-up of elemental sulfur in a sulfur absorber. Ultrasonic irradiation of one or more portions of the structure of the absorber prevents sulfur build-up. In combination with monitoring of the pressure across the absorber, the freeing of sulfur from surfaces in an absorber can be automatically actuated.

Abstract: A machine and method for separating aerosol particles in a cylindrical ultrasonic member in which the particles are agglomerated in the presence of an injected allgomeration initiator, and retaining the agglomerated particles in a filter.

Abstract: Gas which is contaminated with liquid and/or solid is purified using a vertically oriented Venturi column in conjunction with a sound field. At the throat of the Venturi column, a scrubbing liquid is atomized and injected in a direction substantially perpendicular to the flow of the contaminated gas. A sound field is generated at the throat in order to cause the contaminate to shift relative to the vesicles of the scrubbing liquid.

Abstract: The objective of the present patent is an acoustic chamber for treatment of gaseous effluents containing solid and liquid micro-particles in suspension at various frequencies and high intensities. The acoustic energy agglomerates the micro-particles, thereby facilitating their separation by means of conventional systems (electrostatic filters, cyclones, etc.). The chamber has a rectangular cross section and is axially traversed by the flow of the aerosols to be agglomerated (1), while the acoustic generators, being of vibrating-stepped-plate type (2) and being able to work at different frequencies, are arranged contiguously or alternatingly on the side walls to create intensive stationary fields in the various transversal sections of the chamber. To take advantage of the emissions from both faces of the acoustic generator's radiating plate, it is proposed to locate it in between of two planar reflectors which form an angle.

Abstract: A method of processing a test sample to concentrate an analyte in the sample from a solvent in the sample includes: a) boiling the test sample containing the analyte and solvent in a boiling chamber to a temperature greater than or equal to the solvent boiling temperature and less than the analyte boiling temperature to form a rising sample vapor mixture; b) passing the sample vapor mixture from the boiling chamber to an elongated primary separation tube, the separation tube having internal sidewalls and a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis being angled between vertical and horizontal and thus having an upper region and a lower region; c) collecting the physically transported liquid analyte on the internal sidewalls of the separation tube; and d) flowing the collected analyte along the angled internal sidewalls of the separation tube to and pass the separation tube lower region.

Abstract: In the present invention separation is effected by means of a convergent-divergent nozzle, in which the divergent portion is convex. A supersonic flow of a gas-droplets mixture is introduced into the convergent-divergent nozzle and at the throat thereof a normal shock wave occurs and results to an abrupt change in the speed and direction of gas flow, which becomes subsonic and follows the geometry of the convex divergent portion. The droplets are inertially separated from the gas stream and two flow zones emerge, one zone free from droplets and one enriched with droplets, these two zones being subsequently separated by a separator plate. Henceforth, a conventional subsonic separator is used to receive the liquid formed by the separated droplets, whereas the zones of gas flow being free from droplets converge to be subsequently used in any desired manner.