阅读说明：本技术 流体净化设备 (Fluid purification device ) 是由 杰拉尔德·弗克斯 于 2018-11-15 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种流体净化设备,其具有容器本体,该容器本体具有在其内间隔开的多个三维开放式结构的(3DOS)基材,其中流过该容器本体的被污染流体将接触该3DOS基材。围绕该容器本体设置的喷嘴,其构造成注入有/没有空气的被污染流体以引发水力空化。基材可以是多孔的和可渗透的,从而使被污染流体能够穿其而过流动,其中穿过孔的流体流动通道扩展了暴露于湍流和空化引发流动条件的被污染流体的体积。此外,3DOS基材可以涂覆有一种或多种类型的催化剂。这样,被污染流体长时间暴露于水力空化形成条件下、以及在多孔表面上发生的化学反应,使得更多数量的有毒物质和不希望有机化合物被破坏和/或改变,从而增强净化能力。(A fluid purification apparatus having a container body with a plurality of three-dimensional open architecture (3DOS) substrates spaced therein, wherein contaminated fluid flowing through the container body will contact the 3DOS substrates. A nozzle disposed about the container body configured to inject a contaminated fluid with/without air to induce hydrodynamic cavitation. The substrate may be porous and permeable to enable contaminated fluid to flow therethrough, wherein fluid flow channels through the apertures expand the volume of contaminated fluid exposed to turbulent and cavitation-inducing flow conditions. In addition, the 3DOS substrate can be coated with one or more types of catalysts. In this way, prolonged exposure of the contaminated fluid to hydrodynamic cavitation-forming conditions, as well as chemical reactions occurring on the porous surface, causes a greater number of toxic substances and undesirable organic compounds to be destroyed and/or altered, thereby enhancing purification capacity.)

1. A fluid purification apparatus comprising:

a body defining a housing through which fluid can flow, the body having opposite ends;

an inlet aperture coupled to a contaminated fluid source and to the body for introducing a fluid flow into the enclosure, the inlet aperture configured to generate hydrodynamic cavitation within the enclosure upon exiting the inlet aperture;

a three-dimensional open structured (3DOS) substrate disposed within the housing, the 3DOS substrate having an openness in a range of 10 pores per inch (ppi) to 50ppi and a relative density between 2% and 20%, the 3DOS structure being located proximate the inlet aperture to cause the 3DOS substrate to expand into hydrodynamic cavitation in a fluid stream of the 3DOS substrate to enable destruction of toxic substances and undesirable organic compounds contained in the contaminated fluid; and

an outlet aperture for discharging a fluid flow from the housing, the inlet aperture and the outlet aperture configured to direct the fluid flow through the housing.

2. The fluid purification apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid stream is introduced into the body at a pressure in the range of 0.2MPa to 0.55MPa for a water flow rate of between 3.5 liters/minute to 5.0 liters/minute.

3. The fluid purification apparatus of claim 1, wherein the 3DOS substrate is configured such that hydrodynamic cavitation extending therein results in a local pressure between 10 and 500MPa and a local temperature between 1000 and 10,000K.

4. A fluid purification apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inlet aperture is a venturi nozzle.

5. The fluid purification apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inlet aperture is coupled to a first opposite end of the body and has a nozzle opening oriented to align with a direction of fluid flow.

6. The fluid purification apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second inlet aperture coupled to the body and having a nozzle opening oriented orthogonal to the direction of fluid flow.

7. The fluid purification apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of inlet apertures coupled to the body, each inlet aperture having a nozzle opening oriented orthogonal to the direction of fluid flow.

8. The fluid purification apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inlet aperture is coupled to an air supply to enable the fluid stream to be introduced into the enclosure with air to enhance hydrodynamic cavitation within the enclosure upon exiting the inlet aperture.

9. The fluid purification apparatus of claim 1, wherein the 3DOS substrate comprises a metal alloy configured as a metal foam having a relative density between 2 to 15 percent.

10. The fluid purification apparatus of claim 1, wherein the 3DOS substrate comprises a corrugated metal structure.

11. The fluid purification apparatus of claim 1, wherein the 3DOS substrate comprises carbon foam having a relative density between 3 and 4 percent.

12. The fluid purification apparatus of claim 1, wherein the 3DOS substrate comprises ceramic foam having a relative density between 3 and 20 percent.

13. The fluid purification apparatus of claim 1, wherein the 3DOS substrate defines a plurality of segments, each segment configured to differ from each other in openness and relative density.

14. The fluid purification apparatus of claim 1, wherein the 3DOS substrate defines a porous surface coated with a catalyst to cause a chemical reaction to destroy toxic substances and undesirable organic compounds contained in the contaminated fluid.

15. The fluid purification apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inlet aperture and the outlet aperture are coupled to and aligned with a piping system to form a continuous piping section.

16. The fluid purification apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the body comprising quartz material to enable a germicidal UV lamp disposed around the body to project UV light radiation onto the fluid stream; and is

The 3DOS substrate comprises a quartz material to enable the germicidal UV lamp to project UV light radiation onto the fluid stream.

17. A method of purifying a fluid, comprising:

introducing contaminated fluid from a fluid source into a housing via an inlet aperture, the inlet aperture coupled to a body defining the housing through which fluid can flow;

generating hydrodynamic cavitation within the housing upon exiting the inlet aperture;

expanding hydrodynamic cavitation in a three-dimensional open structured (3DOS) substrate disposed within the housing, the 3DOS substrate having an openness in the range of 10 pores per inch (ppi) to 50ppi and a relative density between 3 percent and 15 percent, the 3DOS structure being located proximate the inlet aperture to expand the 3DOS substrate into hydrodynamic cavitation of the fluid stream of the 3DOS substrate to enable destruction of toxic substances and undesirable organic compounds contained in the contaminated fluid; and is

The fluid flow is discharged from the housing via an outlet aperture, the inlet aperture and the outlet aperture configured to direct the fluid flow through the housing.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the fluid stream is introduced into the body at a pressure in the range of 0.2MPa to 0.55MPa for a water flow rate of between 3.5 liters/minute to 5.0 liters/minute.

19. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein the 3DOS substrate defines a porous surface coated with a catalyst to cause a chemical reaction to destroy toxic substances and undesirable organic compounds contained in the contaminated fluid.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the body is coupled to a second inlet aperture having a nozzle opening oriented orthogonal to a direction of fluid flow.

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to fluid purification and, more particularly, to the use of three-dimensional open structured materials to enhance existing fluid purification methods.

Background

Liquids, particularly liquids such as water, are susceptible to contamination by toxic substances and other undesirable organic compounds. Accordingly, several methods are used in various industries to purify and treat such contaminated fluids. These methods include sonication, hydrodynamic cavitation and/or the use of chemical reactions (particularly with the aid of catalysts).

However, due to physical and/or spatial constraints, several of these existing approaches are often limited in their effectiveness. For example, hydrodynamic cavitation, which relies on an increase in fluid flow turbulence and the occurrence of cavitation or gas voids/bubbles, is generally limited to the purification of a particular localized area where cavitation occurs. Thus, to produce effective purging, a significant portion of the fluid flow needs to be exposed to cavitation. Another example is the use of catalysts to cause chemical reactions that destroy or modify these undesirable chemicals to make them safe. Typically, a single or homogeneous type of catalyst is used that can effectively target only a portion of the undesired compounds.

Thus, it will be appreciated that there remains a need to effectively purify liquids, including enhancing existing purification processes to improve the destruction of toxic substances and other undesirable organic compounds. The present invention addresses this need and others.

Disclosure of Invention

Briefly, in general, the present invention provides a fluid purification apparatus comprising one or more three-dimensional open architecture (3DOS) substrates to facilitate destruction of toxic materials and undesirable organic compounds contained in a contaminated fluid. The apparatus can include a body configured to introduce a contaminated fluid through one or more nozzles configured to induce turbulent flow, wherein the contaminated fluid contacts the one or more 3DOS substrates prior to flowing through the body and then exiting through an outlet. The 3DOS substrate can be porous and permeable, wherein the porosity enables expansion of fluid flow exposure to flow turbulence, further inducing cavitation, thereby promoting degradation and/or alteration of toxic and undesirable organic chemicals. The 3DOS substrate is also configured to cause chemical reactions on its outer and inner surfaces. Thus, the 3DOS substrate provides a means of enhancing the destruction of toxic materials and undesirable organic compounds contained in the contaminated fluid.

In a detailed aspect of an exemplary embodiment, one or more inlet apertures are provided around the body, wherein a respective nozzle may be inserted and secured within each of the inlet apertures. Each nozzle is configured to spray the contaminated fluid in a manner that induces turbulence, while the turbulence is directed to impinge on the inner and/or outer surfaces of the respective 3DOS substrate. The nozzle may have a nozzle opening oriented in any direction, such as parallel or orthogonal to the fluid flow through the 3DOS substrate through which the contaminated fluid is sprayed. The nozzles can also have different configurations, orientations, sizes, and can also be varied in number and location to vary the spray projection directed to the 3DOS substrate and optimize the cleaning of the contaminated fluid.

More specifically, in exemplary embodiments, the 3DOS substrate may be composed of a metal alloy, such as FeCrAl, also known as fecralloy (which includesBrand name). The metal alloy may be configured as a metal foam or configured to have similar properties to the metal foam, such as high elasticity, tensile strength, and heat resistance. These characteristics may also vary depending on any other fluid purification means used. 3DOS substrateCan be configured to a specified porosity level, permeability level, and tortuosity level, including open-ended and closed-ended pores, depending on the open cell size range from a few microns to a few millimeters, as seen with common metal and ceramic foams, wire mesh, and other reticulated materials. The porosity may define fluid flow paths (flow patterns) within the 3DOS substrate, thereby enabling expansion of the volume of fluid subjected to turbulent flow conditions and thus increasing hydrodynamic cavitation exposure within the fluid, thereby further destroying undesirable and toxic chemicals. The 3DOS substrate also provides active sites on its outer and/or inner surfaces where chemical reactions can take place, also resulting in the destruction of undesirable and toxic chemicals. The 3DOS substrate can also be configured in a variety of shapes and sizes, including a cylinder and/or a conical end cylinder, or a sheet shaped to receive a fluid stream from a nozzle.

In detailed aspects of exemplary embodiments, the 3DOS substrate can be configured as a metal foam with a surface that is chemically modified such that chemical reactions occurring on the surface are enhanced, which will help chemically destroy toxic chemicals in the fluid stream. Additionally, the foam material may be composed of any non-metallic material, such as, but not limited to, ceramics, such as aluminum or silicon oxide, and may be an open cell structured reticulated carbon or quartz. Furthermore, the surface of the substrate can be modified to specifically capture and remove toxic chemicals due to chemical or physical interactions between the toxic substances and the nature of the modified surface.

In another detailed aspect of the exemplary embodiments, a catalyst can be coated on the 3DOS substrate to enhance the ability to cause chemical reactions on its outer and/or inner surfaces. Further, the 3DOS substrate can comprise a selective catalyst system wherein a plurality of different types of catalysts are coated on different portions of the 3DOS substrate to promote and accelerate different chemical reactions that destroy or alter specific contaminants of the fluid. Furthermore, a 3DOS substrate coated with a catalyst at the entrance of the substrate, followed by a surface coated with a material capable of absorbing and/or adsorbing a particular chemical species, will maximize the removal of undesirable contaminants.

In yet another detailed aspect of the exemplary embodiments, a fluid purification apparatus can include a plurality of individual purification bodies coupled to one another in series, each purification body including: 1) an inlet nozzle configured to initiate hydrodynamic cavitation, and 2) a 3DOS substrate segment. Thus, as the fluid flows through each purification body in turn, the volume of contaminated fluid exposed to cavitation-forming conditions is increased.

In yet another detailed aspect of an exemplary embodiment, the 3DOS substrate can comprise a corrugated and/or smooth metal strip, wound with or without a mandrel, providing similar effects as previously described using metal alloys having metal foam properties. The metal strips may include corrugated metal strips placed at different angles (e.g., V-shaped corrugations), perforated corrugated metal strips, and metal strips of different lengths.

In yet another detailed aspect of the exemplary embodiments, the 3DOS substrate can comprise a wire mesh wrapped in a cylinder or placed as a packed bed within the container body, providing similar effects as previously described using metal foam or corrugated metal tape.

In yet another detailed aspect of an exemplary embodiment, the fluid purification apparatus can be used with a UV-spectrum radiation reaction chamber, wherein fluid flows through the reaction chamber and is aimed by UV light from a germicidal UV lamp. The reaction chamber may be quartz walled to allow UV light to be projected onto the contaminated fluid. Furthermore, the 3DOS substrate can be made of quartz material to allow the continued projection of UV light onto the contaminated fluid. The 3DOS substrate can be a packed bed of quartz beads or particles, or a packed bed of a plurality of quartz particles fused to a quartz support column, wherein both methods can expand the volume of fluid exposed to turbulent flow conditions.

In yet another detailed aspect of the exemplary embodiments, the system can be configured to purify the fluid as the fluid flows therethrough in a continuous or pulsed flow. Embodiments may include (1) continuous flow, (2) pulsed flow, or (3) both continuous and pulsed flow.

For the purpose of summarizing the advantages achieved by the present invention and the prior art, certain advantages of the present invention have been described herein. Of course, it is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.

All such embodiments are intended to fall within the scope of the invention disclosed herein. These and other embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments having reference to the attached figures, the invention not being limited to any particular preferred embodiment disclosed.

Drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings, in which:

fig. 1 is a side cut-away perspective view of a fluid purification apparatus according to the present invention depicting a contaminated fluid entering a body through a nozzle and contacting a plurality of 3DOS substrates.

Fig. 2 is a side cut-away perspective view of a fluid purification apparatus according to the present invention depicting a nozzle spraying contaminated fluid into a body in different orientations and impinging on a 3DOS substrate having a conical head and a cylindrical body.

Fig. 3 is a side cut-away perspective view of a fluid purification apparatus according to the present invention depicting a nozzle spraying contaminated fluid into a body in different orientations and impinging upon a 3DOS substrate having a cylindrical body of uniform diameter.

FIG. 4 is a side cutaway perspective view of a fluid purification apparatus according to the present invention, depicting a contaminated fluid flowing through the piping and contacting the 3DOS substrate, wherein the nozzle has a nozzle opening oriented in a direction orthogonal to the direction of fluid flow.

Fig. 5 depicts an open cell foam structure with a random spatial configuration of pores.

Fig. 6 depicts a 3DOS substrate embodied as a metal foam having a spatial configuration of organized pores.

Fig. 7 depicts a fluid purification apparatus according to the present invention, depicting an inlet section and a 3DOS substrate section and connected pipes.

Fig. 8 depicts a fluid purification apparatus according to the present invention, depicting a plurality of purification bodies arranged in sequence, each purification body comprising an inlet section and a 3DOS substrate section.

Fig. 9 depicts a perforated corrugated metal strip that is attached to a mandrel when wound.

FIG. 10 depicts a corrugated metal strip wound in a cylindrical fashion without a mandrel.

FIG. 11 depicts a perforated corrugated metal strip that may be combined in layers and wound with or without a mandrel.

Fig. 12 depicts a corrugated metal strip that may be combined in layers and wound with or without a mandrel.

Fig. 13 depicts a perforated corrugated metal strip in which the corrugations are aligned in an angled V-shape, and such metal strip may be combined in layers and wound with or without a mandrel.

Fig. 14 is a side cut-away perspective view of a UV reaction chamber for fluid purification that includes an inlet orifice or venturi for spraying a contaminated fluid onto a 3DOS substrate in a turbulent flow.

Fig. 15 is a side cross-sectional view of the fluid purification apparatus of fig. 14 depicting a 3DOS substrate comprising quartz particles attached to quartz posts and UV lamps disposed around the reaction chamber.

Fig. 16 is a side cross-sectional view of the fluid purification apparatus of fig. 14 depicting a 3DOS substrate comprising quartz particles or beads arranged in a packed bed and a germicidal UV lamp disposed about the reaction chamber.

Fig. 17 depicts the optimal UV light wavelength in the spectrum for destroying undesirable biological compounds and substances in contaminated fluid.

Fig. 18 depicts a graphical representation of the germicidal efficacy for UV wavelengths, indicating peak efficiency.

FIG. 19 is a depiction of fluid flow through a venturi nozzle depicting the overlap of cavitation bubble paths or trajectories on the resulting pressure profile.

FIG. 20 is a depiction of fluid flowing through an orifice depicting a cavitation bubble path or trajectory superimposed on the resulting pressure profile.

Detailed Description

Referring now to the drawings and in particular to fig. 1, there is shown a fluid purification apparatus having a body 10 with a plurality of three-dimensional open architecture (3DOS) substrates 14 spaced apart therein, wherein contaminated fluid flowing through 12 the body 10 will contact the 3DOS substrates 14. The nozzle 16 may be inserted and secured within an inlet aperture disposed about the body 10 and configured to inject 28 a contaminated fluid with/without air to initiate the occurrence of hydrodynamic cavitation 18. Substrate 14 can be porous and permeable to allow contaminated fluid to flow therethrough through flow 12, wherein fluid flow channels through the pores expand the volume of contaminated fluid exposed to turbulent and cavitation-inducing flow conditions. In addition, the 3DOS substrate 14 can be coated with one or more types of catalysts, wherein the interaction between the contaminated fluid and the porous surface can cause a chemical reaction. In this way, prolonged exposure of the contaminated fluid to the formation and implosion of gaseous cavities due to hydrodynamic cavitation and chemical reactions occurring on the porous surface enables a greater number of toxic substances and undesirable organic compounds to be destroyed and/or altered, thereby enhancing the purification of the flowing fluid 12.

Referring to fig. 1-3, exemplary embodiments depict bodies (10, 40) defining an enclosure that receives contaminated fluid through one or more nozzles (16, 42, 46) inserted and secured within inlet apertures disposed about the respective bodies. Each nozzle defines a fluid flow passage between the body (10, 40) and an external fluid source, such as a piping system. The contaminated fluid flows through the body (10, 40), and at least a portion of the fluid exits the body through one or more outlets (e.g., 207 in fig. 7) after flowing through one or more three-dimensional open structured substrates (14, 44, 52). The net displacement of the fluid flow is in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (Ax)22 of the body (10, 40). Each nozzle may be configured to spray the contaminated fluid in a uniform manner. Additionally or alternatively, the actual fluid flow profile may also be non-uniform due to its turbulence.

In the exemplary embodiment, the fluid flow displacement is based on the position of the inlet orifice(s) (16, 42, 46) and outlet orifice(s) (not shown) from which fluid will flow. Additionally or alternatively, the flow of contaminated fluid within the body may be a continuous and/or pulsed flow. Further, in additional or alternative embodiments, the inlet port(s) may be aligned with or inserted into other means for receiving fluid, such as other types of tube fittings. The body (10, 40) may include a longitudinal section (24, 48) parallel to the longitudinal axis 22(Ax), and the body may further include opposing ends including a first end (26, 50) and a second end (not shown). The body may be configured as a tube or any other shape.

Referring now to fig. 1, the contaminated fluid is introduced into the vessel body 10 via injection nozzles 16 (inserted into respective inlet holes) disposed around a longitudinal section 24 of the body. Each injection nozzle 16 includes a nozzle opening oriented orthogonal to the longitudinal axis 22 and thus configured to spray contaminated fluid orthogonal to the fluid flow through the 3DOS substrate 14 and the container body 10. Exemplary conditions for the fluid introduced into the container body include pressures ranging from 0.2MPa to 0.55MPa for water flow rates between 3.5 liters/minute and 5.0 liters/minute.

In contrast, referring now to fig. 2 and 3, the body 40 includes parallel spray injection nozzles 42 disposed at one of the opposite sides 50 and orthogonal spray injection nozzles 46 disposed on longitudinal sections 48, with the 3DOS substrate(s) (44, 52) covering the body 40 and cross-section of the fluid channel over a prescribed length of the respective longitudinal sections 48. The 3DOS substrate (44) in fig. 2 includes a conical inlet portion, while the 3DOS substrate (52) depicted in fig. 3 is a cylinder having a uniform diameter. The number and location of the nozzles for either body (10, 40) can be varied to spray the fluid toward and impinge on the corresponding 3DOS substrate(s) in a manner that optimizes decontamination of the contaminated fluid (described further below).

In addition, the type and size of the nozzle may vary for each inlet aperture (16, 42, 46), thereby affecting the performance of the 3DOS substrate to purify fluids. For example, a venturi nozzle may be used to facilitate injection/dispersion of the fluid with increased turbulence. Each nozzle may include a nozzle opening, which may be slot, conical or the like, so that the spray pattern may be varied to affect fluid flow turbulence. As previously described, each nozzle opening can be configured such that a flow pattern of the fluid will be directed to the 3DOS substrate such that the fluid flow can be projected onto an outer surface and/or an inner surface of the 3DOS substrate (described further below). Further, each nozzle opening may be configured to spray contaminated fluid such that the contaminated fluid interacts uniformly over the inlet section of the respective 3DOS substrate. It will be appreciated that a given fluid purification apparatus may contain various combinations of the size, orientation and inlet configuration of such nozzles, in addition to any combination of the number and location of such nozzles, without departing from the invention.

Referring now to fig. 4, in an alternative embodiment, the purification assembly may be included within a tube section of the continuous tube 60 (with the contaminated fluid flowing inside 62), wherein the tube 60 defines a fluid flow path parallel to the longitudinal axis (Ay) 68. The purification assembly includes one or more 3DOS substrates 66 and an inlet 64 configured with an injection nozzle for increasing fluid turbulence (increasing fluid turbulence may include injecting contaminated fluid and/or air at medium or high pressure).

With continued reference to fig. 1-4, the 3DOS substrate(s) (14, 44, 52, 66) can be constructed of a rigid porous material, wherein liquid interaction with the 3DOS substrate increases based on porosity. The open structure is a function of the void volume in the substrate (i.e., the total volume of void space occupied in the 3DOS substrate). In exemplary embodiments, the 3DOS substrate comprises a metal alloy, such as, for example, available under the trade nameCommercial FeCrAl. Metal alloyMay be configured as a metal foam (e.g., a metal sponge), or exhibit properties similar to those seen in metal foams, such as high porosity, elasticity, tensile strength, and good heat resistance. Additionally or alternatively, the 3DOS substrate may be configured with a ceramic foam. Characteristics such as porosity, permeability, and tortuosity may be configured according to an open pore size ranging from 5 microns to 5 millimeters. Moreover, the characteristics of the 3DOS substrate (including porosity) can vary with respect to the substrate, such as over its length (e.g., from inlet to outlet).

In alternative or additional embodiments, the foam material may be composed of any non-metallic material, such as, but not limited to, ceramics, such as aluminum or silicon oxide, and/or may be an open pore structured reticulated carbon or quartz.

In exemplary embodiments, the 3DOS substrate can employ open cell pores, consisting of an interconnected network of pores within a metal body, enabling fluid to travel within and through the 3DOS substrate. Additionally or alternatively, the cells may be partially blocked, but not completely closed, thereby still allowing fluid to flow therein. Furthermore, the cells may be randomly arranged within the 3DOS substrate (fig. 5), or may be arranged in an organized configuration (fig. 6). The open degree of the foam cells may range from nominally 10 pores per inch (ppi) to 50ppi, but may be as high as 100ppi, depending on the foam material selection and inlet operating pressure. Further, an exemplary range of relative densities of the metal foam may be between 2% and 15% of the metal density constituting the 3DOS structure. For relative ppi and density, metal oxide foam structures can be employed over similar ranges. Other exemplary ranges of relative density may include ceramic foam ranging between 3% and 20% and carbon foam ranging between 3% and 4%. The relative density is the density of the 3DOS structure (with a specified porosity) divided by the density of the solid material (i.e. non-porous) constituting the 3DOS structure. The porosity of the 3DOS structure can be determined based on the relative density.

The 3DOS structure can further be configured with various shapes of open pore structures, from triangular to circular, to provide a means of controlling and/or directing the flow pattern through the 3DOS substrate, which will enhance the ability to visualize inlet hydrodynamic cavitation. In this way, the contaminated fluid that is in turbulent flow and that causes hydrodynamic cavitation to form can be configured to pass through and exit the 3DOS substrate in a manner that extends hydrodynamic cavitation throughout the 3DOS structure due to the fluid flow pattern defined by the open structure within the 3DOS substrate. Thus, an additional region of reduced pressure is created, further initiating hydrodynamic cavitation within the fluid (as described below). In addition, the fluid flow paths (patterns) within the 3DOS substrate increase the interaction between the fluid and the outer and/or inner surface of the substrate, thereby promoting chemical reactions and/or absorption/adsorption (as described below) on the outer and/or inner surface. As previously described, the interconnected network of pores or mesh structures may be further configured to have varying degrees of tortuosity and permeability, thereby affecting the length and extent of exposure of the contaminated fluid to pores within the 3DOS substrate, which may be manipulated to enhance interaction with the substrate surface.

The 3DOS substrate can have different shapes, sizes, and voidages to enhance the interaction between the contaminated fluid and the substrate surface and to extend the exposure of the fluid to turbulent and/or hydraulic initiation conditions. As previously mentioned, the pore size for a 3DOS substrate can vary from microns to millimeters, with the specified size being based on the fluid velocity, viscosity, and inlet pressure of the fluid causing hydrodynamic cavitation at the body inlet. As previously described, exemplary inlet flow conditions may be 0.2MPa to 0.55MPa for water flow rates between 3.5 liters/minute to 5.0 liters/minute, and the viscosity of the contaminated fluid may be similar to the viscosity of water (lcP, 20 ℃). The wall thickness of a 3DOS substrate can be defined based on a specified number of pores per inch (ppi) and density of interconnected pores, where such specifications also affect the size and porosity (voidage) of a given substrate. Moreover, the porosity of a given 3DOS substrate may vary over its length, such as increasing, decreasing, or non-uniformly varying over the 3DOS substrate, thereby manipulating the turbulence and/or the number of active sites on which a chemical reaction is performed, e.g., increasing turbulence and the number of active sites. Such varying porosity can be achieved by varying the cell configuration and foam composition, which can be made by different methods, resulting in variations in the range of cell sizes and relative densities.

As previously mentioned, the structure of the 3DOS substrate may be a cylinder having a uniform diameter, as shown in FIG. 3 (52). As another example, the structure of the 3DOS substrate can be conical at one end, as seen in fig. 1, 2, and 4(14, 44, 66). If a body (reactor) design other than cylindrical is used, the reactor (body) may also contain 3DOS substrate pieces. It should be understood that the structure of the 3DOS substrate can be any shape that promotes hydrodynamic cavitation and fluid flow turbulence that supports purification. In addition, the 3DOS substrate can be configured to limit the back pressure created by the fluid flowing therethrough to ensure 1) the fluid flows at a certain flow rate and 2) hydrodynamic cavitation is induced within the fluid while maintaining a minimum driving force (pressure differential).

As previously described, the 3DOS substrate can help expand the volume of fluid exposed to hydrodynamic cavitation-forming conditions. Hydrodynamic cavitation refers to the formation, growth, and subsequent collapse of microbubbles in a fluid, resulting in the release of large amounts of energy per volume in a few milliseconds. The formation of such microbubbles or gas voids in the fluid may be initiated by a local point of reduced pressure. With respect to 3DOS substrates, the combined effect of the fluid velocities on the substrate walls within the 3DOS substrate results in a pressure drop on the downstream side of the walls, due to the resistance of the fluid flow over the respective surfaces, resulting in cavitation formation. Subsequent increases in ambient pressure cause implosion of these gas voids (i.e., ruptured microbubbles), which may result in localized pressures ranging from, but not limited to, 10MPA to 500MPA and temperatures ranging from 1000K to 10,000K, respectively. As a result of the disrupted microbubble conditions, unique chemical reactions may occur that can alter and/or destroy toxic substances and/or undesirable organic compounds. The chemical reaction may occur in part due to free radicals formed by the fluid (e.g., water) and/or due to trace chemicals dissolved in the fluid (e.g., water).

Referring to fig. 19 and 20, a depiction of the path or trajectory of cavitation bubbles superimposed on the pressure profile in the venturi nozzle (fig. 19) and through the orifice (fig. 20), respectively, is shown. As depicted in fig. 19, fluid flow through the venturi nozzle results in a larger cross-sectional area exposed to the low pressure region, while as the fluid flows through the orifice (fig. 20), a low pressure region is created around the bore.

The effectiveness of using hydrodynamic cavitation to purify a fluid depends on the extent to which the volume of fluid is exposed to sufficiently turbulent flow conditions. Thus, the use of a 3DOS substrate based on 1) interconnected voids contained within the substrate and 2) the 3DOS substrate as a semi-barrier presented to fluid flow as a whole will expand the volume of fluid exposed to such turbulent flow conditions, thereby expanding the cavitation-forming conditions generated by the inlet nozzle. Continuous cavitation may also occur within the 3DOS substrate depending on the flow velocity within the flow path and the 3DOS substrate wall/structure.

Referring now to fig. 7, an exemplary decontamination apparatus 200 is depicted in connection with a piping system 202 and configured to perform experimental tests to evaluate the effectiveness of fluid decontamination using 3DOS substrate(s). The apparatus 200 includes a 2 "inlet section 204 comprising nozzles (not shown) configured to induce hydrodynamic cavitation within a fluid and a larger 4" section 206 configured to contain a 3DOS substrate therein. The tube 202 connected to the apparatus was 1/4 inches. In an exemplary experimental test, the fluid flowing through the pipe 202 and apparatus 200 was an aqueous solution of four halogenated hydrocarbons. Water was introduced through inlet nozzle 204 at a rate of 500gpd and a pressure of 0.00527 MPa. Experimental tests evaluated the purification of aqueous solutions achieved by the following method: 1) using only hydrodynamic cavitation initiated by the inlet nozzle, wherein the fluid does not encounter the 3DOS substrate; 2) hydrodynamic cavitation was initiated followed by flowing a fluid through a 3DOS substrate segment comprising about 50ppi of FeCrAl foam structure. The results of the experimental tests are as follows:

hydrodynamic cavitation only (via nozzle) (without 3DOS substrate)

Hydrodynamic cavitation (via nozzle) with 3DOS substrate

The test results show that the reduction in contaminant concentration increases when hydrodynamic cavitation is initiated within the fluid (via the inlet nozzle) and then the fluid is passed through the 3DOS substrate zone. Specifically, as seen from the test results, combining hydrodynamic cavitation with Fecralloy foam significantly reduced each halogenated contaminant, whereas hydrodynamic cavitation was not generated without Fecralloy foam. The effect exhibited by the addition of foam may be provided by any of several structures having a plurality of voids or open spaces (such as found in a reticulated shape (i.e., foam), perforated material, or reticulated material) through which fluid may flow, having a low pressure drop or similar pressure differential from inlet to outlet, and undergoing hydrodynamic cavitation, as shown in the above experiments. Thus, when such fluids flow through one or more 3DOS substrates in turbulent flow and pressure differential, the test results provide support for improved fluid purification by extending the exposure to turbulence and thereby creating hydrodynamic cavitation.

Referring now to fig. 8, in additional or alternative embodiments, the fluid purification apparatus 208 may include a plurality of separate purification bodies (210, 212, 214) coupled to one another in a sequential manner. The first (210) and last (214) sequential bodies may be connected to a fluid containment system, such as a piping system (228, 230), with the connection between each pair of sequential bodies forming a fluid path therethrough for flow. Each decontaminating body (210, 212, 214) may include an inlet (216, 220, 224) having a nozzle (not shown) configured to induce hydrodynamic cavitation within the fluid as it enters the respective decontaminating body. In addition, each purge body (210, 212, 214) can include a 3DOS substrate segment (218, 222, 226) that encounters the fluid as the fluid flows through the respective purge body. Thus, sequentially arranging such purification bodies (210, 212, 214) further expands the volume of fluid exposed to cavitation-forming conditions, thereby enhancing purification of the fluid. As depicted in fig. 8, fluid flowing through the conduit system 228 enters the first cleaning body 210 through the first inlet 216 nozzle, wherein cavitation formation is initiated by the first nozzle and extends over the fluid as it flows through the first 3DOS substrate section 218. The fluid exits the first cleaning body 210 and flows sequentially through the second cleaning body (212) and the third cleaning body (214), each initiating cavitation formation through a respective inlet (220, 224) nozzle and expanding such cavitation formation conditions in the fluid through a respective 3DOS substrate section (222, 226). The fluid enters the piping system 230 after exiting the third purification body 214.

With continued reference to fig. 8, the inlet nozzles can be configured to spray the fluid in a manner that induces a uniform distribution of cavitation within the fluid and uniformly distribute the fluid over the respective 3DOS substrate. This can be achieved by any of several methods that will produce hydrodynamic cavitation, two examples of which are shown in fig. 19-20. In addition, the pressure of the fluid in the pipe system before entering the first purification body is high enough to take into account the pressure drop over all purification bodies and to meet the minimum required pressure at the discharge of the purification device 208 (i.e. the pressure in the pipe system downstream of the last sequential purification body). The pressure loss across each purging body can include a pressure drop across the respective inlet nozzle and a pressure drop across the respective 3DOS substrate.

In additional or alternative embodiments, the 3DOS substrate can help provide additional active sites that enable undesirable chemicals to undergo chemical reactions and be destroyed or altered in the process. Examples of such reactions include catalytic reactions, i.e., chemical reactions accelerated by a catalyst coated on a substrate. In addition, the 3DOS substrate can employ a selective catalyst system in which different types of catalysts are applied to different regions of a given substrate. This allows a given 3DOS substrate to be specific for undesirable toxic substances and/or organic compounds that are not harmed or that are still toxic under the action of a previously given type of catalyst. For example, one type of catalyst may be coated on a 3DOS substrate to cause a chemical reaction at the inlet of the substrate, while a different type of catalyst is coated on the other end of the same 3DOS substrate to cause a different chemical reaction for the remaining or generated unwanted chemicals and compounds.

Examples of such catalysts/materials that may be coated or sprayed (or bonded) onto the surface of the 3DOS substrate include oxides, such as perovskites, alumina and/or similar materials, which may act as active surfaces that may require less energy to activate (for chemical reactions) or cause adsorption/absorption of harmful or toxic substances and further enhance the harmful/toxic substance interaction. Additional catalyst examples would include applying catalytic species such as noble or non-noble metal species to the coated surface, where the coated surface may be alumina or similar catalyst support material. Additionally or alternatively, an oxide or similar material may be coated or sprayed (or bonded) onto the surface of the substrate to act as a surface into which a catalyst may be incorporated to reduce activation energy, while another material may be sprayed or coated to enhance the activity of the catalyst. Examples of reactions occurring on the modified metal foam surface 3DOS substrate may be oxidation reactions between oxide surfaces, dissolved oxygen and/or toxic hydrocarbons, similar to any catalytic hydrocarbon oxidation process.

In yet another embodiment, only the inlet of a given 3DOS substrate may be applied with a catalyst to accelerate the chemical reaction. Alternatively, the remaining surface of a given substrate may be coated or treated with a material that will adsorb or adsorb the species and/or compounds generated at the catalytic sites to complete the removal process of the undesirable harmful species and/or organic compounds. Zeolite and Metal Organic Framework (MOF) chemistries are examples of materials that can be coated on a substrate that will facilitate such absorption and/or adsorption.

It should be understood that 3DOS substrates can be used with any combination of existing fluid purification processes. For example, 3DOS substrates can be used together, where all hydrodynamic cavitation, sonication, catalytic reaction and absorption/adsorption are used together at the same time.

In an alternative or additional embodiment, the nozzle for each inlet may be configured to increase turbulence of the fluid by injecting air into the contaminated fluid at medium or high pressure, resulting in droplets, voids, and/or areas of pressure variation projected onto the surface of each 3DOS substrate. The inclusion of air in the inlet nozzle as the nozzle sprays the contaminated fluid helps to combine with the void area within the 3DOS substrate as the fluid flows across the flowing substrate. Thus, by increasing the turbulence of the fluid, such a nozzle makes it possible to: 1) initiating the formation of hydrodynamic cavitation by spraying directly onto the 3DOS substrate, and 2) increasing the interaction between the contaminated fluid and the 3DOS substrate, thereby allowing chemical reactions involving undesirable chemicals to proceed. Air may be received from an external air supply and then injected into the liquid feed stream.

Referring to fig. 9-13, a corrugated metal structure produced by any of several methods, including but not limited to a wound corrugated and/or smooth metal strip, may also be used instead of, or in combination with, a metal alloy configured as a metal foam. Likewise, instead of metal foam, a monolithic piece incorporating a series of wound corrugated and/or smooth metal strips may be used to achieve the same purpose as metal foam already described previously. The monolith may or may not be wound with a mandrel 120 (fig. 9) and may be wound to a given size (similar to the 3DOS substrate (52) shown in fig. 3) matching the vessel interior or pipe diameter (fig. 10). Also, the metal strips may be wound in different configurations along the mandrel or cell center, such as corrugations from different metal strips aligned at opposite angles, different lengths of metal strips and/or using alternating length/angle strips. Types of metal strips that can be wound include corrugated metal strip layers (fig. 12) or similarly deformed metal strips, perforated corrugated metal strip layers (fig. 11), and/or layers where the corrugations or deformations are not nested together, i.e., the corrugations/deformations do not collapse together, thereby maintaining the desired original open structure (between the metal strip layers) so that smooth metal strips may not be required. Furthermore, the metal strip may be corrugated at an angle, for example in a V-shape (fig. 13) or herringbone pattern, the perforations may be randomly or uniformly located, or may vary within sections of the sheet. In an alternative embodiment, the corrugated and/or angled corrugated metal strips may be stacked on top of each other rather than wound on a mandrel, with the metal strips layered without nesting. The corrugation angle may be varied to correspond to varying number of pores per inch (ppi), i.e., from large ppi to small ppi. Treatment of the surface of the corrugated metal monolith may be employed to maintain the properties of the metal foam previously described, including catalytic surfaces and adsorption/absorption surfaces. Further, any combination of the foregoing uses of corrugated and/or smooth metal strips, varying angles, metal strip lengths, etc. may be used to manipulate the degree of purification achieved. In any case, if a foam or layered tape is employed, the entire cross-section of the body (reactor) is fully exposed to the 3DOS substrate to eliminate any possible bypass of the flowing liquid not flowing through the 3DOS substrate.

Furthermore, an alternative to a metal belt may be the use of a wire mesh, which may also be wound into cylinders of various shapes and configurations that result in chaotic inflow and flow through the bed in a manner similar to that of flow through metal foam. Alternatively, the wire mesh may be implemented to form a packed bed of wire mesh to provide the desired three-dimensional open structure. Likewise, these surfaces may be modified in a similar manner as described for the metal foam surfaces and metal bands to enhance catalytic and adsorption/absorption properties, including features that vary over the length of a given section.

Referring now to fig. 14, an alternative embodiment of a fluid purification apparatus according to the present invention is depicted, comprising a reaction chamber 100 and a 3DOS substrate 106 disposed within a section of the reaction chamber 100. The reactor may include a metal and/or an Ultraviolet (UV) transparent material, such as quartz 102. The use of quartz 102 for both the reaction chamber and the substrate enables exposure of UV spectrum radiation to the fluid flowing therein, where UV lamps/light sources may be located outside and around the reactor. In this way, the entire outer surface of the quartz reactor is exposed to UV radiation.

It may be desirable to expose the fluid to UV spectrum radiation to destroy biological species and/or very stable organic compounds found in the fluid. The UV wavelength range for effective destruction of such biological substances and/or stabilized organic compounds is depicted in fig. 17 and 18. This UV spectral radiation can be achieved by using a quartz wall reactor that will allow unimpeded UV light from a germicidal UV lamp to penetrate through a flowing fluid.

By combining with cavitation processes (turbulently injected fluid) in conjunction with 3DOS substrates, destruction of these undesirable species in the presence of UV light can be accomplished. However, as previously mentioned, since it is desirable to allow UV light to pass into and through the entire fluid as it passes through the 3DOS structure, the material choice for the 3DOS will be quartz, rather than the material choice introduced above (e.g., metal alloys). Referring now to fig. 15-16, quartz 3DOS may take one of the following forms: 1) a packed bed of quartz particles 114 (fig. 16), such as beads, chips, or pellets; or 2) implementing a structure 110 that rigidly holds the quartz particles 108 in a fixed position (FIG. 15). Both approaches will achieve the same goal, combining cavitation enhancement, tortuous fluid flow paths, and continued exposure to UV light from germicidal UV lamps 112. Further, in either method, the quartz 3DOS can comprise a porous structure. Referring now to fig. 14, a quartz 3DOS structure can be configured to fit 116 within a recess of the end plate for each O-ring gasket within the reactor and aligned with the inlet orifice or venturi 104 to achieve hydrodynamic cavitation at the inlet of the reactor.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the present invention provides a fluid purification apparatus having a body with a plurality of three-dimensional open architecture (3DOS) substrates spaced therein, wherein contaminated fluid flowing through the body will contact the 3DOS substrates. A nozzle may be inserted and secured within an inlet aperture disposed about the body and configured to inject a contaminated fluid with/without air to initiate the occurrence of hydrodynamic cavitation. The substrate may be porous and permeable to enable contaminated fluid to flow therethrough, wherein fluid flow channels through the apertures expand the volume of contaminated fluid exposed to turbulent and cavitation-inducing flow conditions. Furthermore, the 3DOS substrate may be coated with one or more types of catalysts, where the interaction between the contaminated fluid and the porous surface may cause a chemical reaction. In this way, prolonged exposure of the contaminated fluid to the formation and implosion of gaseous cavities due to hydrodynamic cavitation and chemical reactions occurring on the porous surface enables a greater number of toxic substances and undesirable organic compounds to be destroyed and/or altered, thereby enhancing the purification of the flowing fluid.

The present invention has been described in terms of the presently preferred embodiments so that an understanding of the invention may be conveyed. However, there are other embodiments of the invention that are not specifically described that may be applied to the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not to be considered as limited to the forms shown, which are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in detail with reference only to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various other embodiments may be provided without departing from the scope of the invention to include any and all combinations of features discussed herein.