阅读说明：本技术 过滤装置和方法 (Filtration apparatus and method ) 是由 P·奈瑟 于 2019-05-03 设计创作，主要内容包括：提供了用于与目标物体相互作用的装置和方法。过滤装置可以包括通道系统,目标物体能够扩散通过该通道系统。通道系统可以包括沿通道的长度合适配置的非均匀横截面面积的通道。在一些实施方式中,通道系统可以由合适配置的多孔整体材料提供。在一些实施方式中,通道系统可以包括内部腔,其包括过滤的物体,其中过滤的物体在第一侧上被第一过滤表面(诸如半透膜)和在第二侧上被第二过滤表面包含,其中第一和第二过滤表面的代表性通道的横截面面积不相同。过滤的物体还可以配置为与外部施加的彻体力相互作用,诸如作用于带电的过滤的物体的电场。通道系统配置为在小于比目标物体的平均自由程大若干数量级的值的规模上与目标物体相互作用。一些实施方式配置为与粒子相互作用,诸如空气分子、水分子或气溶胶。其他板实施方式配置为与波或波状粒子相互作用,诸如电子、光子、声子或声波。(Apparatus and methods for interacting with a target object are provided. The filter device may comprise a system of channels through which the target object is able to diffuse. The channel system may comprise channels of non-uniform cross-sectional area suitably arranged along the length of the channel. In some embodiments, the channel system may be provided by a suitably configured porous monolithic material. In some embodiments, a channel system may comprise an internal cavity comprising a filtered object, wherein the filtered object is contained on a first side by a first filter surface (such as a semi-permeable membrane) and on a second side by a second filter surface, wherein the cross-sectional areas of representative channels of the first and second filter surfaces are not the same. The filtered objects may also be configured to interact with externally applied mechanical forces, such as electric fields acting on the charged filtered objects. The system of channels is configured to interact with the target object on a scale that is less than a value that is several orders of magnitude greater than a mean free path of the target object. Some embodiments are configured to interact with particles, such as air molecules, water molecules, or aerosols. Other plate embodiments are configured to interact with waves or waved particles, such as electrons, photons, phonons, or acoustic waves.)

1. A filter device for preferentially delivering a target object, wherein the filter device comprises:

a channel system comprising at least one channel;

a channel disposed within the channel system that extends from at least one first opening at a first container to at least one second opening at a second container and facilitates diffusion of a target object from the first container to the second container through the channel;

a region of reduced cross-sectional area disposed within the channel, wherein the cross-sectional area is viewed along the length of the channel; and wherein the minimum feature width of the reduced cross-sectional area is measured perpendicular to the length of the channel and is less than 1000 times the mean free path of the target object at that location;

a first gradient section disposed within the channel, wherein the first gradient section extends from the region of reduced cross-sectional area to a region of increased cross-sectional area in a direction of the first vessel; and

a second gradient section disposed within the channel, wherein the second gradient section extends from the region of reduced cross-sectional area to a region of increased cross-sectional area in a direction of the second vessel, and wherein an increase in channel cross-sectional area per unit length of the channel in the second gradient section is less than an increase in channel cross-sectional area per unit length of the channel in the first gradient section.

2. The filtering device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the interaction between the target object and the boundary of the channel system comprises a diffuse reflection or scattering event.

3. The filtering device of claim 2, wherein a majority of interactions between the target object and the boundary of the channel system include diffuse reflection or scattering events.

4. The filtering device of claim 1, wherein a majority of interactions between the target object and boundaries of the channel system include specular reflections, or no scattering events.

5. The filtration device of claim 1, wherein the increase in channel cross-sectional area per unit length of channel in the first gradient section is infinite.

6. The filtration device of claim 1, wherein the first gradient section or second gradient section may comprise a section of constant cross-sectional area along the length of the channel, wherein at least one section of constant cross-sectional area along the length of the channel has a characteristic width that is less than 1000 times a mean free path of a target object within the channel.

7. The filter device according to claim 1, wherein the channel is disposed within the monolithic material and exclusively diffusively connects a first opening to a second opening.

8. The filtration device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of a pathway is disposed within an interior region that includes filtered objects, wherein the pathway describes a shortest path through the filtration device for a target object between the first receptacle and the second receptacle for a given location within the filtration device, and wherein the pathway includes a region within the interior region that is accessible to the target object, and wherein a concentration of filtered objects within the interior region is greater than a concentration of filtered objects outside the interior region.

9. The filter device of claim 8, wherein a filter surface is located between the interior region and the first container.

10. The filtration device of claim 9, wherein a characteristic width of the channels in the filtration surface is less than an average characteristic width of the channels in the interior region, the transition from the filtration surface to the interior region thereby forming a second gradient section.

11. The filtration device of claim 9, wherein a cross-sectional area of a channel in the filtration surface increases in a direction of the second vessel along a length of the channel, thereby forming a second gradient section within the filtration surface.

12. The filter device of claim 8, wherein a filter surface is located between the interior region and the second container.

13. The filtration device of claim 12, wherein a characteristic width of channels in the filtration surface is greater than an average characteristic width of channels in the interior region, the transition from the interior region to the filtration surface thereby forming a second gradient section.

14. The filtration device of claim 12, wherein the cross-sectional area of the channel in the filtration surface along the length of the channel increases in the direction of the second receptacle, thereby forming a second gradient section within the filtration surface.

15. The filtration device of claim 8, wherein an average width of the channels in the interior region increases throughout at least a portion of the interior region in a direction of the second vessel, thereby forming a second gradient section within the interior region.

16. The filtering device of claim 8, wherein the filtered object is at least partially contained by a force field, wherein a through force per unit mass acts on at least part of the filtered object, and wherein the force field is provided by a through force generating device per unit mass.

17. The filtration device of claim 16, wherein the force per unit mass is electromagnetic in nature.

18. The filtration device of claim 16, wherein the force per unit mass is gravitational or inertial in nature.

19. The filtration device of claim 8, wherein at least a portion of the filtered objects experience an attractive force between adjacent filtered objects, the filtered objects thereby contributing to the integrity of the porous monolithic material, and wherein the channels comprise regions within the porous monolithic material accessible to the target objects.

20. The filter device according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the length of a channel is perpendicular to another portion of the length of the same channel.

21. The filtering device of claim 1, wherein the target object comprises an atom, a molecule, a dust particle, an aerosol, a proton, an electron, or a positively or negatively charged ion, a photon, a phonon, or a sonic wave, or any combination of the foregoing.

22. The filtering device of claim 1, wherein the target object comprises a virtual particle, a virtual photon, a virtual electron or a virtual positron, or a variation thereof, or any combination of the foregoing.

23. The filtration device of claim 1, wherein the system of channels comprises a planar array of channels.

24. A system comprising two or more of the filtration devices of claim 1.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein at least one of the filtration devices is connected in series with another filtration device.

26. A method of preferentially transferring a target object from a first container to a second container, comprising:

providing a filtration device according to claim 1, wherein a first opening of the channel is diffusively connected to said first receptacle and a second opening of the channel is diffusively connected to said second receptacle; and

thereby preferentially transferring target objects from the first container to the second container.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for filtering, pumping and/or concentrating target objects.

Background

Filtering, pumping or changing the concentration of the target object typically consumes useful energy. For example, in a typical desalination plant employing reverse osmosis, separating solutes from a solution consumes useful power in the form of electricity. Similarly, pumping fluid through a conventional aircraft engine consumes useful energy provided separately, for example, in the form of a hydrocarbon fuel or in the form of a battery, in generating thrust.

Disclosure of Invention

In accordance with the present disclosure, a method of facilitating diffusion of a target object from a first receptacle to a second receptacle includes providing a filtration device comprising a channel system provided by the present disclosure, wherein the channel system is diffusively (diffusively) coupled to the first receptacle and the second receptacle.

There is provided a filtering apparatus for preferentially delivering (transmit) a target object, wherein the filtering apparatus comprises: a channel system comprising at least one channel; a channel disposed within the channel system, extending from the at least one first opening at the first receptacle to the at least one second opening at the second receptacle, and facilitating diffusion of the target object from the first receptacle to the second receptacle through the channel; a region of reduced cross-sectional area disposed within the channel, wherein the cross-sectional area is viewed along the length of the channel; and wherein the minimum feature width of the reduced cross-sectional area is measured perpendicular to the length of the channel and is less than 1000 times the mean free path (free path) of the target object at that location; a first gradient section disposed within the channel, wherein the first gradient section extends from a region of decreasing cross-sectional area to a region of increasing cross-sectional area in a direction of the first vessel; and a second gradient section disposed within the channel, wherein the second gradient section extends in a direction of the second vessel from a region of decreasing cross-sectional area to a region of increasing cross-sectional area, and wherein an increase in channel cross-sectional area per unit length of the channel in the second gradient section is less than an increase in channel cross-sectional area per unit length of the channel in the first gradient section. As described herein, the geometry of the channels in the filter device may be configured to preferentially pass the target object from the first receptacle to the second receptacle. Therefore, the transmittance of the target object from the first container to the second container through the filter device may be configured to be greater than the transmittance of the target object from the second container to the first container through the filter device.

For static boundary conditions, this property of the filter device can be exploited to generate a concentration difference of the target object in the second receptacle relative to the first receptacle. For dynamic boundary conditions, this property can also be used to produce a net diffusion of the target object through the filtering means. In some embodiments of the invention, the net dissipated energy, i.e. the energy associated with the resulting bulk flow (bulk flow) of the target object, is provided by the thermal energy of the target object. For example, bulk flow of OI may be used for thrust generation in an aircraft propulsion unit. Bulk flow of OI may also be used to convert thermal energy of the fluid into useful work, such as into mechanical or electrical energy.

Drawings

In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals may describe similar parts throughout the different views. Like numerals having different letter suffixes may represent different instances of similar parts. The accompanying drawings illustrate generally by way of example and not by way of limitation various embodiments discussed in this document,

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 10A is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 10B is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in fig. 10A.

Fig. 10C is another cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in fig. 10A.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention and a schematic representation of the interaction of the embodiment with a target object.

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view of an application of an embodiment of the invention in a scramjet supersonic engine.

Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in fig. 12 in a closed or zero-thrust configuration.

Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view of an application of an embodiment of the invention in a current source.

FIG. 15 is a plot of pressure value versus specific volume (specific volume) for air passing through an example embodiment of the present invention, such as the example embodiment shown in FIG. 12.

Detailed Description

Apparatus and methods for filtering objects based on defined properties of the objects are provided.

The term "medium" as used herein describes any material capable of containing, carrying, transporting or transferring a target object. The medium may be, for example, a gas, a liquid, a solid or a vacuum. By default, a medium refers to the set of all objects that interact with a given device.

The term "object" as used herein describes any component of the medium. Objects may be described as particles, such as dust particles, smoke particles, water droplets or water molecules. Other examples of objects are subatomic particles, such as electrons or protons. An object may also be described as a wave, such as a photon or phonon. Note that for embodiments of the present invention, the OI's need to be able to interact with each other, where interaction may refer to a collision, scattering event, or another modification of the properties of at least one OI by at least one other OI. The object may have a target property and a defining property that may be used to distinguish the object from other objects of the medium. The invention is applicable to any medium that can be considered to comprise different objects.

A "dynamic boundary condition" may be defined as a simplified scenario in which the properties of the medium on the first container and the second container are consistent and uniform in time and space.

A "static boundary condition" may be defined as a simplified scenario in which the first and second containers are finite in size and isolated from each other and from any other container except embodiments of the present invention, allowing OI's to be exchanged between the first container and the second container. Under static boundary conditions, the target macroscopic properties of the media in the first and second vessels have reached a steady state value, i.e. a value that is substantially constant in time and space, i.e. substantially uniform throughout the vessel. Such macroscopic properties may refer to, for example, pressure, temperature, or density of the medium.

The "characteristic width" of a channel is the maximum collision diameter of a theoretical spherical target object that can diffuse through the channel.

The "default boundary conditions" for the example plate embodiment may refer to a modeling scenario in which the properties of the media at the first and second containers are consistent and uniform in time and space.

A "baseline scenario" may refer to a scenario in which an example embodiment that includes a filtering device is replaced with a "baseline device" that includes a solid, impermeable, possibly reflective, flat plate and is subject to default boundary conditions.

"Baseline probability" may refer to the probability that any object that interacts with the baseline device after the interaction is completed in the baseline scene is located on a designated side of the baseline device. For example, the baseline probability may be 50% on either side of the baseline device.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention. Some features of the device shown in fig. 1 and some operating principles of the device have similarities with the devices shown in the other figures and will therefore not be described in the same detail in the context of fig. 1 and vice versa.

There is a first vessel 240 and a second vessel 241 in which the medium comprises a target object or "OI" that is schematically represented by individual particles, such as the schematic representation of OI 257. In a simplified embodiment, OI is assumed to be spherical. In fig. 1, the medium can be considered as an ideal gas containing monoatomic molecules for the sake of simplicity. In other embodiments, the medium may be composed of other types of objects, such as water molecules. In other embodiments, the OI need not be spherical, but may take any shape. For example, OI may be a diatomic molecule, or a polyatomic molecule, or an aerosol particle, such as a dust particle or pollen, which may take a variety of shapes. The medium may also contain several different types of objects, such as sodium and chloride ions found in salt water, or electrons in a conductor. OI may also be a subatomic particle such as an electron, positron, or photon. The OI may also be a virtual particle or a virtual object, such as a virtual photon, a virtual electron, or a virtual positron, as described in quantum field theory. These virtual particles can produce zero energy and related effects, such as the Casimir effect.

In this example, the invention is embodied by a channel system 242, the channel system 242 comprising a first gradient section 247 and a second gradient section 249. OI can diffuse from the first vessel 240 into the first gradient section 247 through the first inlet 252 and from the first gradient section 247 into the second gradient section 249 through the internal channel opening 250 and from the second gradient section 249 into the second vessel 241 through the second inlet 253. The OI can also diffuse from the second vessel 241 into the first vessel 240 through the channel system 242. In other embodiments, there is also a uniform section, such as uniform section 273 in fig. 2, connecting the first gradient section 247 and the second gradient section 249.

Embodiments of the present invention may include several channel systems, such as channel system 242. In some embodiments, the channel systems are positioned next to each other in the XZ-plane. For example, the first inlet 252 of one channel system may be adjacent to six other first inlets of six other channel systems. In this case, the first inlet 252 may have a hexagonal shape.

The channel system 242 is surrounded by a bulk material 245, the bulk material 245 comprising a first surface 243 and a second surface 244, both planar and parallel to the XZ-plane. The monolith 245 may be made of any suitable material, such as a metal, composite, or ceramic. In some embodiments, the unitary material 245 can also be described as a fabric. In some embodiments, bulk material 245 may include graphene. In this embodiment, bulk material 245 is configured to be fully reflective of OI. Note that in this and this type of embodiments, the reflection may be specular or diffuse. In other embodiments, the bulk material 245 may have a reflectivity greater than zero.

In this embodiment, the cross-sectional geometry of the channel system 242 is constant and circular when viewed in the Y-direction. In other embodiments, the channels may have any cross-section, such as a square, rectangular, or polygonal cross-section. In other embodiments, the cross-sectional geometry of the channel system 242 need not be constant throughout the channel system. For example, the cross-sectional geometry of the channel system 242 may change as a linear function of position along the Y-axis from a hexagonal shape at the first inlet 252 to a circular cross-section at the internal channel opening 250.

In some embodiments, the size of the channel cross-sectional area decreases evenly in the negative Y-direction throughout the first gradient section 247. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the diameter of the cross-sectional area of the channel decreases as a linear function of position along the Y-axis. The cross-sectional area of the channel decreases at a decreasing rate in the negative Y-direction. In other embodiments, the reduction in cross-sectional area may be a linear function of position along the Y-axis. In some embodiments, the cross-sectional area may decrease at an increasing rate in the negative Y-direction.

In such an embodiment, the size of the channel cross-sectional area increases evenly in the negative Y-direction throughout the second gradient section 249. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the increase in diameter of the cross-sectional area of the channel is a linear function of position along the Y-axis. The cross-sectional area of the channel increases at an increasing rate in the negative Y-direction. In other embodiments, the increase in cross-sectional area may be a linear function of position along the Y-axis. In some embodiments, the cross-sectional area may increase at a decreasing rate in the negative Y-direction.

The cross-sectional area of the internal channel 250 is four times larger than the cross-sectional area of OI in FIG. 1, or equal to the impingement area of OI, where the impingement area is the effective cross-sectional area of the effective scan volume of OI. The active swept volume is the volume associated with the motion of OI, where the intersection of the swept volumes of two OI's is associated with the interaction between the two OI's. In other embodiments, the channel area may be smaller than the collision area of the OIs, but large enough so that at least one OI can diffuse through the internal channels 250. In other embodiments, the channel area may be less than ten times the impingement area of the OI. In some embodiments, the size of internal passage openings 250 is on the order of the average separation distance between OIs in the media in first vessel 240. In some embodiments, the size of internal passage opening 250 is on the order of the mean free path of the OI in first vessel 240. In some embodiments, the size of the internal passage opening 250 is on the order of several orders of magnitude of the mean free path of the OI in the first vessel 240. In some embodiments, the size of internal passage opening 250 is less than 1000 times the mean free path of OI in first vessel 240. In other embodiments, the channel area may be any suitable size. In some embodiments, the channel width is constant over time. In other embodiments, this need not be the case. For example, the width of the channel may be adjusted to control the diffusion rate of OI through the interior channel 250. The width of a channel at a given position in the Y-direction in channel system 242 may take any suitable value at any point in time (at any instant in time), where suitability depends on the particular application, and may be determined using methods known in the art

The cross-sectional areas of the first and second channel inlets 252, 253 are determined by the rate of increase of the cross-sectional area of the channel in the positive and negative Y-directions, respectively, and the length of the first and second gradient sections 247, 249, respectively, along the Y-direction.

In the depicted embodiment, the length of the first gradient section 247 in the Y-direction is sufficiently large that the width of the first channel inlet 252 is greater than 1000 times the mean free path of OI in the first vessel 240. Note that the actual density of particles (e.g., particles 257) is much greater than that shown in fig. 1. This difference is due to clarity of description. In other embodiments, the width of the first channel inlet 252 may be less than 1000 times the mean free path of OI in the first vessel 240, provided that the principles of the present invention described below are still applicable.

In the depicted embodiment, the length of the second gradient section 249 in the Y-direction is sufficiently large such that the width of the second channel entrance 253 is greater than 1000 times the mean free path of OI in the second vessel 241. In other embodiments, the width of the second channel entrance 253 may be less than 1000 times the mean free path of OI in the first vessel 240, provided that the principles of the present invention described below are still applicable.

The characteristic width of the internal passage opening 250 is typically less than 1000 times the mean free path of the target object at that location. In some embodiments, the characteristic width of the channel is less than 10 times the mean free path. In some embodiments, the characteristic width of the channel is less than 1000 times the collision diameter of the target object. In some embodiments, the characteristic width of the channel is less than 10 times the collision diameter of the target object. In some embodiments, the characteristic width of the channel is less than 5 times the collision diameter of the target object.

The rate of change of the characteristic dimension of the cross-sectional area of the first gradient section 247 along the Y direction at a given position along the Y direction is referred to as a "first gradient". The "second gradient" is the rate of change of the characteristic dimension of the cross-sectional area of the second gradient section 249 along the Y-direction at a specified position along the Y-direction. In fig. 1, the characteristic dimension of the cross-sectional area is the diameter of the channel. In other embodiments, the characteristic dimension may be a circumferential average diameter of the channel. The average first gradient along the entire length of the first gradient section 247 in the Y direction is referred to as "average first gradient". The average second gradient along the entire length of the second gradient section 256 in the Y direction is referred to as "average second gradient". In FIG. 1, the magnitude of the average first gradient denoted "MAG 1" is greater than the magnitude of the average second gradient denoted "MAG 2". In other embodiments, this need not be the case. In fig. 1, the first gradient is positive and constant throughout the first gradient section 247, while the second gradient is negative and constant throughout the second gradient section 249.

For the default boundary condition, the probability of an object of the medium being located at the first container 240 before interacting with the first surface of the control volume (control volume) is 50%, the other 50% being applied to the second container 241. Since the first capture area (capture area) is larger than the second capture area, the probability of a particle entering the channel system from the first container 240 is larger than the probability of a particle entering the channel system from the second container 241. The fraction of particles entering the channel system via the first trapping area and exiting via the second trapping area may be referred to as "first transmittance", while "second transmittance" describes the fraction of particles entering the channel system via the second trapping area and exiting via the first trapping area. The value of the transmittance is a function of the geometry of the device and the properties of the medium. For the default boundary condition of a filtration device configured as described herein, when the ratio of the first transmittance to the second transmittance multiplied by the ratio of the first capture area to the second capture area is greater than 1, there will be a net flow rate of objects from the first vessel 240 to the second vessel 241. The geometry of the channel system and the ratio of the first capture area to the second capture area are examples of parameters that may be optimized to maximize the target object of constraint. The objective may be the net flow rate of the target property from the first container 240 to the second container 241 for dynamic boundary conditions, or the ratio of the number density of target objects in the second container 241 to the number density of target objects in the first container 240 for static boundary conditions.

In the context of fig. 1-5, the generic capture area can be defined in several different ways. Note that the generic capture area defined in one way is not necessarily the same as the generic capture area defined in a different way, such as the way the generic capture area is defined in the context of other embodiments and other figures. However, the concept of the universal capture area is substantially the same for different definitions of the universal capture area.

In the context of fig. 1-5, the generic capture area is defined by default as follows. For a given incremental area and a given direction on the surface describing the channel opening, the average location of the last scattering event of the OI passing through the channel opening from the specified direction and at the specified incremental area may be defined. In fig. 1, the passage opening is defined as a theoretical surface parallel to the XZ plane and coinciding with the indicated position of the passage opening 250. Consider the following simplified example to illustrate the concept. Consider a planar passage opening facing an infinite container containing a desired gas. There is no structure on the side of the channel opening facing the plane of the desired gas. In other words, the passage opening can be considered as a theoretical planar surface embedded within an ideal gas positioned in an infinite container. In this configuration, the average location of the last scattering event of an ideal gas molecule from a given direction through an incremental area within the planar channel opening forms a three-dimensional surface when all possible directions are considered. This surface is called the "originating surface". In the simple example described, the originating surface is a hemisphere centered at the center of the incremental area and protruding into the container. The radius associated with this hemisphere is a function of the mean free path of the ideal gas molecule. Such originating surface can be found for each incremental surface area of the channel opening. The envelope (envelope) of all originating surfaces of all incremental areas of the channel opening can be calculated. The envelope is the set of points on the originating surface that are furthest from any point on the surface that describes the beginning of the channel. The envelope also describes a three-dimensional surface which together with the channel opening surface encloses a volume. This volume may be referred to as the aforementioned general capture area of the channel opening. The foregoing definition is the default definition for the generic capture area.

Alternatively, the generic capture area may be defined as follows. The boundary of the general capture area, i.e., the surface surrounding the general capture area, may be considered to comprise three segments. The first section is the surface describing the opening of the channel. The second section is a surface representing a spatial range limitation of the designated container. For example, the second section may be a portion of the universal capture area that is in surface contact with the bulk material associated with the designated channel. The third section is the remaining boundary of the generic capture area. The third section passes through the designated container. Note that in some embodiments of the present invention, the second section is not required. The position and shape of the third section may be defined as follows. Consider an object, such as an OI, diffusing from a given container into a universal capture area associated with a channel opening. Once within the universal capture area, the object may eventually diffuse to the channel opening. Once within the universal capture area, the object may also diffuse outside of the universal capture area without having a passage opening. The "probability of interaction" may be defined as the probability that a given object diffusing into the generic capture area through the incremental surface elements of the boundary surface of the generic capture area will be incident on a given passage opening at least once before diffusing out of the generic capture area through the passage opening or the third section. The boundaries of the generic capture area may be defined according to a specified value of the interaction probability. In other words, all objects that diffuse through the third section of the boundary of the universal capture area have the same specified probability of interacting with the specified passage opening at least once before diffusing out of the universal capture area. Note that by definition, any object that diffuses out of the universal capture area through a designated passage opening must interact with the designated passage opening at least once. By default, the interaction probability is 0.1.

The general capture area can also be defined as follows. The minimum distance between a given point on the third section of the bounding surface and any point on the first section of the bounding surface (i.e., the passage opening) can be defined as a specified function of the mean free path length of the objects in the specified container. By default, the specified function is a linear function of the mean free path length with a default proportionality constant of ten.

The general capture area may be defined as follows. For static boundary conditions, the velocity of the object incident on the passage opening per unit time is known. This rate of incidence on the object is referred to as the "incident flux". The third section of the boundary surface of the universal capture area may be defined as the surface through which the rate of diffusion of the object from the designated receptacle to the universal capture area is a designated function of the incident flux. By default, the diffusion rate of the object through the third section is directly proportional to the incident flux, with a proportionality constant greater than 1. This is because a portion of the OI that diffuses into the universal capture area also diffuses out of the universal capture area without being incident on the channel opening. The default value for this proportionality constant is 10. The shape of the third section may be defined in a manner wherein, for static boundary conditions, the expected diffusion rate of the object through the incremental surface of the third section is constant and uniform for any and all incremental surfaces of the third section. Thus, the third section may be considered a constant flux profile. As mentioned, the flux need only enter the third section, i.e. the return flux is not subtracted, and this flux is typically defined as being greater than or equal to the incident flux.

The general capture area can also be explained in the following manner. According to the aforementioned default definition of the universal capture area, the state of any object located at or near the third segment of the boundary of the universal capture area may be considered independent or unrelated to the state of the object at the opening of the passageway. Thus, the properties of the object at the third section are approximately equal to the properties of any object in the designated container, i.e., outside the universal capture area. In the simplified case shown in FIG. 1, the state refers to the magnitude and direction of the velocity of OI. In other embodiments, the state may refer to other or additional parameters. The third section marks the position closest to the passage opening where the average properties of the object substantially match the average properties of the object in the medium of the given container. Thus, the third section may be interpreted as a real interface between the channel and the designated container. The third section may also be interpreted as an orifice that is open with respect to a given passage of a given container. The third section may also be interpreted as an effective passage opening or capture area with respect to a given passage opening of a given container.

According to some embodiments of the invention, for static boundary conditions, the surface area of the third section of the first general capture area of the first channel opening of the first container is larger than the third section of the second general capture area of the second channel opening of the second container, wherein the second channel opening and the first channel opening are associated with the same channel system.

A third section of the boundary surface of the first universal capture area of the internal passage opening 250 in the first gradient section 247 is schematically represented by dashed line 254. For static boundary conditions, a third segment of the boundary surface of the second general capture area of the internal passage opening 250 in the second gradient segment 249 is schematically represented by dashed line 255. Since the passage opening is axisymmetric, the boundary surface of the associated universal capture area is axisymmetric about an axis parallel to the Y-axis. The third section of the boundary surface of the "hypothetical universal capture area" of the internal passage opening 250 in the second gradient section 249 of the "hypothetical case" is schematically represented by the dashed line 256. In the hypothetical case, the properties of the medium in the second container 241 are considered to be the same as the properties of the medium in the first container 240. Note that in practice, because the configuration is similar to the initial configuration of the dynamic boundary conditions, such configuration can only be maintained instantaneously, i.e., over an infinitely short period of time. Note that for static boundary conditions, the properties of the medium within the first gradient section 247 are substantially uniform, isotropic, and equal to the properties of the medium in the first vessel 240, and the properties of the medium within the second gradient section 249 are substantially uniform, isotropic, and equal to the properties of the medium in the second vessel 241. For example, these properties may include the pressure or density of the OI within the vessel. For simplicity, the universal capture area can be considered as the intersection (interaction) between the volume of a sphere of a certain radius centered at the center of the channel opening and the volume of a given container. The radii of the hypothetical universal capture area 256 and the first universal capture area 254 may be considered similar in size because, in the hypothetical case, the properties of the media and OI contained therein are the same in the second vessel 241 and the first vessel 240. Typically, the surface area of the third section of the first universal capture area 254 is greater than the surface area of the third section of the hypothetical universal capture area 256. In FIG. 1, this is due to the more gradual (more gradual) increase in the dimension of the channel cross-sectional area viewed along the Y-axis over the portion of the entire second gradient section 249 adjacent the second common capture area 255 in the negative Y-direction when compared to a less gradual (less gradual) increase in the dimension of the channel cross-sectional area viewed along the Y-axis over the portion of the entire first gradient section 247 adjacent the first common capture area 254. For simplicity, the surface area of the third section of the boundary surface that specifies a common capture area that specifies a specified channel opening in the container is referred to as the "aperture". Due to the larger pore size, the diffusion rate of OI from the first gradient section 247 through the internal channel openings 250 into the second gradient section 249 is greater than the hypothetical diffusion rate of OI from the second gradient section 249 into the first gradient section 247 through the same channel openings for the hypothetical case described above. Under static boundary conditions, the diffusion rate must be the same in either direction through the internal passage opening 250. To satisfy this constraint, the number density of OI in the second vessel 241 must be greater than the number density of OI in the first vessel 240 despite the smaller pore size, as shown in FIG. 1. Due to the greater number density and reduced mean free path, the radius and aperture of the actual second universal capture area 255 is smaller than the radius and aperture of the hypothetical universal capture area 256. For some embodiments of static boundary conditions, the pressure of OI in the second vessel 241 is greater than the pressure of OI in the first vessel 240. For some embodiments of static boundary conditions, the entropy of OI in the second container 241 is less than the entropy of OI in the first container 240. For some embodiments of static boundary conditions, the average velocity of OI in the second vessel 241 is substantially equal to the average velocity of OI in the first vessel 240. For some embodiments of the static boundary, the temperature of OI in the second vessel 241 is substantially equal to the temperature of OI in the first vessel 240.

For dynamic boundary conditions, there is a net diffusion of OI from the first vessel 240 into the second vessel 241. Accordingly, embodiments of the invention may also be considered to relate to pumping applications. Due to the net diffusion of OI, there is a net force acting in the positive Y direction in embodiments of the present invention. This force can be used to do mechanical work. For example, a flat panel containing an array of channels configured in accordance with the present invention may be mounted on an aircraft or spacecraft and used to generate thrust or provide actuation for attitude (attitude) control. The mechanical work may also be converted to electrical energy by a generator. Where OI is charged, for example where OI is an electron or a positively or negatively charged ion, embodiments of the present invention may be used to generate a net charge movement, which may be used to do electrical work. The electrical work may also be converted into mechanical work by an electric motor. Thus, embodiments of the present invention may also be considered for applications involving power generation or power consumption.

The larger magnitude of the average gradient in the first gradient section 247 results in a larger aperture associated with the first universal capture area 254 compared to the aperture of the hypothetical second universal capture area 256. This results in a stronger focusing action of the OI diffusion from the first aperture of the first general trapping area 254 to the internal channel opening 250 than in the hypothetical case of the OI diffusion from the second aperture of the second general trapping area 255 to the internal channel opening 250. The focusing action results from statistical or natural diffusion OI from the second gradient section 247 toward the internal channel opening 250.

In describing the principle of operation of the embodiment shown in fig. 1, it is necessary to distinguish between specular and diffuse reflection between OI and the inner walls of the channel. Note that both types of reflections may result in a reduction of the aperture in the second gradient section compared to the first gradient section. Note that specular and diffuse reflection may be considered to be total reflection by the bulk material 245, as opposed to transmission or absorption by the bulk material 245. The case where there is specular reflection between the OI and the inner walls of the channel is described in detail in the context of fig. 11. Specular reflection between the OI and the channel walls supports diffusion of the OI along the length of the channel due to the angle formed between the opposing walls of the channel, which is also associated with variations in the trajectory angle of the target object, where the variations in trajectory angle are directed to regions of larger cross-sectional area of the channel. As a result, successive wall collisions may result in a turning or focusing of the trajectory of the OI in a direction towards a region of larger cross-sectional area of the channel, such as in the direction of the second vessel or in the direction of the first vessel. The degree of steering or focusing is a function of the gradient section or the rate of change of the cross-sectional area of the channel along the length of the channel. In general, a smaller gradient will result in a stronger focusing action and a smaller aperture, as depicted in FIG. 11. Thus, a more gradual change in cross-sectional area along the length of the channel in the second gradient section as compared to the first gradient section may be associated with a smaller aperture area in the second gradient section as compared to the first gradient section. Note that in such embodiments, the number density of target objects along the length of the channel decreases in the direction of decreasing cross-sectional area. The reduction of the second gradient section may be greater than the reduction of the first gradient section. Since it is desirable that the number density of OI at the interface between the first and second gradient sections (i.e., at the region of reduced cross-sectional area or at the internal channel opening 250) be equal, a greater number density variation in the second gradient section results in a greater number density of OI in the second vessel 241 as compared to the first vessel 240.

The case where there is diffuse reflection between the OI and the inner wall of the channel is described as follows. In determining the flux of OI (i.e., the number of OI's per unit time and per unit area that pass through a region of reduced cross-sectional area, such as the interior channel 250), it is desirable to sum the contributions to the flux from the diffusing walls, such as the interior walls of the channel, and from the interior volume of the channel. When comparing the flux from a first scene where the flux is provided solely by the volume of OI (where this volume does not contain any walls) with the flux from a second scene where the flux is provided by the internal volume comprising OI and the channel comprising the diffusing wall at the same number density, it is clear that the role of the diffusing wall is to replace or shield or hide the theoretical volume of OI located outside the diffusing wall. In order to equalize the flux from the first and second scenes, the flux contribution from the diffusing wall of the channel must be equal to the flux contribution of a theoretical volume located outside the diffusing wall. For a given number density of OIs in the interior volume of the channel, the flux contribution to and from the diffusing walls decreases as the separation distance between the diffusing walls decreases to a value that is less than about 1000 times the mean free path of the target object. Thus, for a sufficiently small separation between the inner diffusely reflecting walls of the channel, the flux contribution from the diffusing wall is smaller than the flux contribution of a theoretical volume of an equal number density of OIs located outside the diffusing wall. Thus, in this case, the flux contribution from the second scenario is smaller than the flux contribution from the first scenario. The reduced flux is associated with a reduction in aperture in the second scene as compared to the first scene. Under static boundary conditions, the flux from the first scene must be equal to the flux from the second scene. Thus, the number density of OIs in the interior channels of the second scene is greater than the number density of OIs in the semi-infinite volume of the first scene. This increase in density along the length of the channel is depicted in fig. 1 by line 258. Note that the gradient of the number density of OIs along the length of the channel is a function of the local number density of OIs in the channel (i.e., the local mean free path of OIs in the channel) and the rate of change of the cross-sectional area of the channel. Note that the mean free path of OI in the channel is also a function of the collision diameter of OI. Thus, a shallower gradient in the second gradient section than the first gradient section may be used to cause a smaller reduction in the number density of OI in the second gradient section than the reduction in the number density of OI in the first gradient section relative to the location of the region of reduced cross-sectional area 205. This may result in a greater number density of OIs in the second vessel 241 than the first vessel 240 for static boundary conditions. A similar principle explains the operation of the embodiment shown in fig. 2-10.

The embodiments shown in fig. 1-5 may be configured in such a way that: wherein the interaction between the target object and the inner wall of the passage may comprise diffuse reflection. In some such embodiments, more than 50% of the interaction may be described as diffuse reflection. In some such embodiments, more than 90% of the interaction may be described as diffuse reflection. In some such embodiments, more than 30% of the interaction may be described as diffuse reflection.

Note that in fig. 1-5, the plots of the number density of OI versus position along the length of the channel represent the diffusely reflecting channel walls. These curves are provided for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the application of these geometries or the scope of the present invention. The embodiments shown in fig. 1 to 5 may also be configured in the following manner: wherein the interaction between the target object and the inner wall of the passage may comprise specular reflection. In some such embodiments, more than 50% of the interaction may be described as specular reflection. In some such embodiments, more than 90% of the interaction may be described as specular reflection. In some such embodiments, more than 30% of the interaction may be described as specular reflection.

The interaction between the OI and the filtered object in fig. 7 or fig. 10A, or the porous monolith (such as porous monolith 162) in fig. 6, fig. 8, and fig. 9, may be described as a diffuse reflection or scattering event.

In the context of line 258, an axis 261 parallel to the X-axis schematically represents the average OI score, while an axis 262 parallel to the Y-axis represents the location along the Y-direction at which the average OI score is measured. The average OI score is measured along the central axis of the channel system 241. Dashed line 259 shows the value of the average OI score in the first container 240 for reference.

In the context of line 260, axis 261 represents the average bulk fraction (average bulk fraction), while axis 262 represents the position at which the average bulk fraction is measured in the Y-direction. As previously described, the average portion of the space not occupied by the first container 240, the second container 241, the first gradient section 247, or the second gradient section 249 at a specified position in the Y direction is represented as an "average integral fraction".

Due to the reduced pore size in the second gradient section, the diffusion rate of OI from the second vessel 241 to the second theoretical universal trapping area is, in the assumed case, lower than the diffusion rate of OI from the first vessel 240 to the first universal trapping area 254. In order to balance the diffusion rate of the latter of the static boundary conditions, the values of some properties of the medium in the second container 241 need to be different from the values of the same properties of the medium in the first container 240. For example, the average bulk number density of OI in the second vessel 240 may be greater than the average bulk number density of OI in the first vessel 240.

The effectiveness (efficiency) of embodiments of the present invention of the type shown in fig. 1 may be improved by decreasing the cross-sectional area of the internal channel 250, increasing the aperture associated with the first universal capture area 247 relative to the aperture associated with the second universal capture area 255. Other parameters, such as those describing properties of OI, such as the collision diameter of OI, also affect the performance of the embodiment. The performance may be characterized in several ways, such as the ratio of the density of OI in the second vessel 241 to the density of OI in the first vessel 240 for static boundary conditions, or the flux rate of OI from the first vessel 240 to the second vessel 241 for dynamic boundary conditions, or a combination of these measures. In other embodiments, the efficiency may be the net diffusion rate of OI from the first vessel 240 to the second vessel 241. Connecting several stages (stages) of the apparatus of the invention in series, such as the apparatus shown in fig. 2, i.e. allowing the second vessel of a first apparatus to coincide with the first vessel of a second apparatus, may improve efficiency. As mentioned, arranging several channel systems in parallel, e.g. channel system 267, i.e. arranging a plurality of adjacent channel systems in the XZ-plane, may achieve the desired efficiency. The most suitable configuration of an embodiment of the present invention can be found using methods known in the art.

Note that as the size of the internal passage opening 250 increases while the values of the first and second gradients and the nature of the OI remain, the ratio of the aperture of the first general trapping area 254 to the aperture of the second general trapping area 255 decreases. As a result, the performance of the embodiments of the present invention is reduced. In this case, the size of the internal passage opening 250 may be expressed in terms of the diameter of the internal passage opening 250. Thus, for some embodiments, it may be desirable for the dimensions of the internal via openings 250 to be on the order of the strike diameter of the OI, or as small as possible to the feasibility of the fabrication method, while still allowing diffusion of the OI through the internal via openings 250. For example, embodiments of the present invention may be fabricated using methods known in the semiconductor fabrication art.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention. Some features of the device shown in fig. 2 and some of the operating principles of the device have similarities with the other figures, in particular the device shown in fig. 1, and will therefore not be described in detail in the context of fig. 2, and vice versa.

There is a first container 265 and a second container 266 where the medium comprises OI, which is schematically represented by individual particles, such as the schematic representation of OI 282.

In this example, the invention is embodied by a channel system 267, the channel system 267 comprising a first gradient section 273 or a uniform section 273 and a second gradient section 274. OI can diffuse from the first container 265 into the uniform section 273 through the first opening 275, from the uniform section 273 into the second gradient section 274 through the internal passage opening 276, and from the second gradient section 274 into the second container 266 through the second inlet 278. OI is also able to diffuse from second reservoir 266 into first reservoir 265 through channel system 267. Other embodiments need not include a uniform section 273. In other words, the internal passage opening 276 need not be internal to the filter device, but instead may be identical to the first opening 275, i.e., forming an interface between the second gradient section 274 and the first receptacle 265.

Embodiments of the present invention may include several channel systems, such as channel system 267. In some embodiments, the channel systems are positioned next to each other in the XZ-plane. For example, the second inlet 278 of one channel system may be adjacent to six other second inlets of six other channel systems. In this case, the second inlet 278 may have a hexagonal shape.

The channel system 267 is surrounded by a monolithic material 270, the monolithic material 270 comprising a first surface 268 and a second surface 269, both planar and parallel to the XZ-plane. The monolith 270 may be made of any suitable material, such as metal, composite material (e.g., fiberglass or carbon fiber), or ceramic.

In this embodiment, the cross-sectional geometry of the channel system 267 is constant and circular when viewed in the Y-direction. In other embodiments, the channels may have any cross-section, such as a square, rectangular, or polygonal cross-section. In other embodiments, the cross-sectional geometry of channel system 267 need not be constant throughout the channel system. For example, the cross-sectional geometry of channel system 267 may change from a hexagonal shape at second inlet 278 to a circular cross-section at inner channel opening 276 as a linear function of position along the Y-axis.

In the uniform section 273, the size of the cross-sectional area of the channel is constant along the Y-direction.

For simplicity, the second gradient section 274 in FIG. 2 is the same as the second gradient section 249 in FIG. 1. The embodiments and configurations of the second gradient section 249 discussed in the context of fig. 1 also apply to the second gradient section 274.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 2, the uniform section 273 has a cross-sectional area that is the same size as the cross-sectional area of the internal passage opening 250.

A third section of the boundary surface of the first general capture area of the first passage opening 275 in the first receptacle 265 is schematically represented by the dashed line 279. For static boundary conditions, a third segment of the boundary surface of the second common capture area of the internal passage opening 276 in the second gradient segment 274 is schematically represented by a dashed line 280. Since the passage opening is axisymmetric, the boundary surface of the universal capture area is axisymmetric about an axis parallel to the Y-axis. A third section of the boundary surface of the hypothetical universal capture area of the internal passage opening 276 in the second gradient section 274 of the hypothetical case is schematically represented by dashed line 281. In this hypothetical case, the properties of the medium in the second receptacle 266 are considered to be the same as the properties of the medium in the first receptacle 265.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 2, the aperture of the first general capture area 279 is larger than the aperture of the first general capture area 254 of fig. 1. In fig. 2, the first container 265 may be considered equivalent to a first gradient section, e.g., first gradient section 247-for scenarios where the first gradient is infinite in magnitude. The larger aperture of the first universal capture area 279 compared to the device shown in fig. 1 may result in improved previously described performance of the device. This is indicated by the greater ratio of the density of OI in second vessel 266 to the density of OI in first vessel 265 for the apparatus shown in FIG. 2 as compared to the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

In the context of line 283, axis 286, parallel to the X-axis, schematically represents the average OI score, while axis 287, parallel to the Y-axis, represents the location along the Y-direction at which the average OI score is measured. The average OI fraction is measured along the central axis of channel system 267. The dashed line 284 shows the value of the average OI score in the first container 265 for reference.

In the context of line 285, axis 286 represents the average overall score, while axis 287 represents the location where the average overall score is measured in the Y-direction. As previously described, the average portion of the space not occupied by the first container 265, the second container 266, the uniform section 273 or the first gradient section 273 at a specified position in the Y direction is represented as an "average overall fraction".

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention. Some features of the device shown in fig. 3 and some operating principles of the device have similarities with the devices shown in the other figures and will therefore not be described in the same detail in the context of fig. 3 and vice versa.

There is a first vessel 290 and a second vessel 291 where the medium comprises OI, which is schematically represented by individual particles, such as the schematic representation of OI 307.

In this example, the invention is embodied by a channel system 292, the channel system 292 comprising an inlet section 297, a homogenizing section 298 and a second gradient section 299. OI can diffuse from the first container 290 into the homogeneous section 298 through the first passage opening 300, from the homogeneous section 298 into the second gradient section 299 through the inner passage opening 301, and from the second gradient section 299 into the second container 291 through the second inlet 303. OI can also diffuse from second container 291 into first container 290 through channel system 292. Other embodiments need not include the uniformity section 298.

Embodiments of the present invention may include several channel systems, such as channel system 292. In some embodiments, the channel systems are positioned next to each other in the XZ-plane. For example, the second inlet 303 of one channel system may be adjacent to six other second inlets of six other channel systems. In this case, the second inlet 303 may have a hexagonal shape.

Channel system 292 is surrounded by a unitary material 295, and unitary material 295 includes a first surface 293 and a second surface 294. The second surface 294 is planar and parallel to the XZ-plane. The portion of the first surface 293 associated with an inlet section (such as inlet section 297) describes a surface of a cone, where the longitudinal axis of the cone coincides with the central axis of the uniformity channel 298, and where the outer normal of the surface of the cone has a radially outward component, where the outer direction is directed out of the bulk material 295 and into the first container 290. The remainder of the first surface 293 is planar and parallel to the XZ-plane. The unitary material 295 may be made of any suitable material, such as metal, composite, or ceramic.

In this embodiment, the cross-sectional geometry of the channel system 292 is constant and circular when viewed along the Y-direction. In other embodiments, the channels may have any cross-section, such as a square, rectangular, or polygonal cross-section. In other embodiments, the cross-sectional geometry of the channel system 292 need not be constant throughout the channel system. For example, the cross-sectional geometry of the channel system 292 may change as a linear function of position along the Y-axis from a hexagonal shape at the second inlet 303 to a circular cross-section at the internal channel opening 301. In FIG. 3, the cross-sectional geometry of the outer surface of inlet section 297 is circular when viewed along the Y-direction, as the outer surface of inlet section 297 describes the outer surface of a conical, i.e., tapered cylinder, wherein the radius of the circular cross-sectional area of the cylinder, viewed along the Y-direction, decreases in a linear manner along the positive Y-direction. As previously described, the exterior surface of the inlet section 297 refers to the interface between the bulk material 295 and the first container 290. In other embodiments, the cross-sectional geometry of the exterior surface of the inlet section 297 need not be circular when viewed along the Y-direction. For example, the cross-sectional geometry of the exterior surface of the inlet section 297 may change from hexagonal at the bottom to circular at the first channel opening 300 as a linear function of position along the Y-axis.

In the uniform section 298, the size of the cross-sectional area of the channel is constant along the Y-direction.

For simplicity, the second gradient section 299 is identical to the second gradient section 249. The embodiments and configurations of the second gradient section 249 discussed in the context of fig. 1 also apply to the second gradient section 299.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 3, the cross-sectional area of the uniform section 298 is the same size as the cross-sectional areas of the interior passage opening 250 and the first passage opening 300.

In some embodiments, the extent of inlet section 297 along the Y-direction is at least as large as the extent of first universal capture area 304 along the theoretically infinite length of inlet section 297 along the Y-direction. In other embodiments, this need not be the case.

In the context of line 308, axis 311, which is parallel to the X-axis, represents the average OI score, while axis 312, which is parallel to the Y-axis, represents the location along the Y-direction at which the average OI score is measured. The average OI fraction is measured along the central axis of the cylindrical uniform section 298. The dashed line 309 shows the value of the average OI score in the first container 290 for reference.

In the context of line 310, axis 311 represents the average overall score, while axis 312 represents the location where the average overall score is measured in the Y-direction. As previously described, the average portion of the space not occupied by the first container 290, the second container 291, the uniform section 298, or the second gradient section 299 at a specified position in the Y-direction is represented as an "average overall fraction".

A third section of the boundary surface of the first universal capture area of the first passage opening 300 in the first container 290 is schematically represented by the dashed line 304. For static boundary conditions, a third section of the boundary surface of the second common capture area of the internal passage opening 301 in the second gradient section 299 is schematically represented by dashed line 305. Since the passage opening is axisymmetric, the boundary surface of the universal capture area is axisymmetric about an axis parallel to the Y-axis. A third section of the boundary surface of the hypothetical universal capture area of the internal passage opening 301 in the second gradient section 299 of the hypothetical case is schematically represented by dashed line 306. In this hypothetical case, the properties of the medium in the second container 291 are considered to be the same as the properties of the medium in the first container 290.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 3, the aperture of the first general capture area 304 is larger than the aperture of the first general capture area 254 of fig. 1. In fig. 3, the first container 290 near the inlet section 297 may be considered equivalent to a first gradient section, e.g., first gradient section 247, for the scenario where the interior surface of the first gradient section is part of a first surface 293 associated with the inlet section 297. The larger aperture of the first universal capture area 304 may result in improved aforementioned performance of the device as compared to the device shown in fig. 1. This is indicated by the greater ratio of the density of OI in the second vessel 291 to the density of OI in the first vessel 290 for the apparatus shown in figure 3 as compared to the apparatus shown in figure 1. Note that for static boundary conditions, the performance of the device shown in fig. 3 may be substantially the same as the performance of the device shown in fig. 2. For dynamic boundary conditions, the performance of the device shown in fig. 3 may be greater than the performance of the device shown in fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention. Some features of the device shown in fig. 4 and some operating principles of the device have similarities with the devices shown in the other figures and will therefore not be described in the same detail in the context of fig. 4 and vice versa.

There is a first vessel 315 and a second vessel 316 where the medium comprises OI, which is schematically represented by individual particles, such as the schematic representation of OI 332.

In this example, the invention is embodied by channel system 317, which channel system 317 comprises an inlet section 322, a uniform section 323, and a second gradient section 324. OI can diffuse from first vessel 315 through first passage opening 325 into uniform section 323, and from uniform section 323 into second gradient section 324 through internal passage opening 326, and from second gradient section 324 into second vessel 316 through second inlet 328. OI is also able to diffuse from second vessel 316 into first vessel 315 through channel system 317. Other embodiments need not include the uniform section 323.

Embodiments of the present invention may include several channel systems, such as channel system 317. In some embodiments, the channel systems are positioned next to each other in the XZ-plane. For example, the second inlet 328 of one channel system may be adjacent to six other second inlets of six other channel systems. In this case, the second inlet 328 may have a hexagonal shape.

The channel system 317 is surrounded by a monolithic material 320, the monolithic material 320 comprising a first surface 318 and a second surface 319. The second surface 319 is planar and parallel to the XZ-plane. The portion of the first surface 318 associated with an inlet section (such as inlet section 322) describes a surface of a cylinder, wherein the longitudinal axis of the cylinder coincides with the central axis of the uniform passage 323, and wherein the outer normal of the surface of the cylinder has a radially outward component, wherein the outer direction is directed out of the bulk material 320 and into the first vessel 315. The remainder of the first surface 318 is planar and parallel to the XZ-plane. The monolith 320 may be made of any suitable material, such as a metal, composite, or ceramic.

In this embodiment, the cross-sectional geometry of channel system 317 is constant and circular when viewed in the Y-direction. In other embodiments, the channels may have any cross-section, such as a square, rectangular, or polygonal cross-section. In other embodiments, the cross-sectional geometry of channel system 317 need not be constant throughout the channel system. For example, the cross-sectional geometry of channel system 317 may change as a linear function of position along the Y-axis from a hexagonal shape at second inlet 328 to a circular cross-section at inner channel opening 326. In FIG. 4, the cross-sectional geometry of the exterior surface of the inlet section 322 is circular when viewed along the Y-direction because the exterior surface of the inlet section 322 describes a cylinder. In other embodiments, the cross-sectional geometry of the exterior surface of the inlet section 322 need not be circular when viewed along the Y-direction. For example, the cross-sectional geometry of the exterior surface of the inlet section 322 may be square, rectangular, or polygonal.

In the uniform section 323, the size of the channel cross-sectional area is constant along the Y-direction.

For simplicity, the second gradient section 324 is identical to the second gradient section 249. The embodiments and configurations of the second gradient section 249 discussed in the context of fig. 1 also apply to the second gradient section 324.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 4, the size of the cross-sectional area of the uniform section 323 is the same as the size of the cross-sectional areas of the internal passage opening 250 and the first passage opening 325.

In some embodiments, the extent of the inlet section 322 in the Y-direction is at least as large as the extent of the first universal capture area 329 of the inlet section 322 in the Y-direction along the theoretical infinite length. In other embodiments, this need not be the case.

In the context of line 333, axis 336, which is parallel to the X-axis, represents the average OI score, while axis 337, which is parallel to the Y-axis, represents the location along the Y-direction at which the average OI score is measured. The average OI fraction is measured along the central axis of the cylindrical uniform section 323. Dashed line 334 shows the value of the average OI score in first container 315 for reference.

In the context of line 335, axis 336 represents the average overall score, while axis 337 represents the position at which the average overall score is measured in the Y-direction. As previously described, the average portion of the space not occupied by the first container 315, the second container 316, the uniform section 323, or the second gradient section 324 at a specified position in the Y direction is represented as an "average integral fraction".

A third section of the boundary surface of the first universal capture area of the first passage opening 325 in the first container 315 is schematically represented by dashed line 329. For static boundary conditions, a third segment of the boundary surface of the second common capture area of the internal passage opening 326 in the second gradient segment 324 is schematically represented by dashed line 330. Since the passage opening is axisymmetric, the boundary surface of the universal capture area is axisymmetric about an axis parallel to the Y-axis. The third section of the boundary surface of the hypothetical universal capture area of the internal passage opening 326 in the second gradient section 324 of the hypothetical case is schematically represented by the dashed line 331. In this hypothetical case, the properties of the medium in the second container 316 are considered to be the same as the properties of the medium in the first container 315.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the aperture of first general capture area 329 is larger than the aperture of first general capture area 254 of FIG. 1. In fig. 4, the first container 315 near the inlet section 322 may be considered equivalent to a first gradient section, e.g., first gradient section 247, for scenarios in which the interior surface of the first gradient section is part of the first surface 318 associated with the inlet section 322. The larger aperture of the first universal capture area 329 compared to the device shown in fig. 1 can result in improved previously described performance of the device. This is indicated by the greater ratio of the density of OI in second vessel 316 to the density of OI in first vessel 315 for the apparatus shown in figure 4 as compared to the apparatus shown in figure 1.

Note that for static boundary conditions, the performance of the device shown in fig. 4 may be substantially the same as the performance of the devices shown in fig. 2 and 3. For dynamic boundary conditions, the performance of the device shown in fig. 4 may be greater than the performance of the device shown in fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention. Some features of the device shown in fig. 5 and some of the operating principles of the device have similarities with the devices shown in the other figures and will therefore not be described in the same detail in the context of fig. 5 and vice versa.

There is a first vessel 505 and a second vessel 506 in which the medium comprises OI, which is schematically represented by individual particles, such as the schematic representation of OI 522.

In this example, the invention is embodied by a channel system 507, which channel system 507 comprises a first section 513 and a second section 514. OI can diffuse from first container 505 into first section 513 through first opening 515, from first section 513 into second section 514 through internal passage opening 516, and from second section 514 into second container 506 through second inlet 518. OI can also diffuse from second container 506 into first container 514 through channel system 507. In the first section 513 and the second section 514, the size of the channel cross-sectional area is constant in the Y-direction.

Embodiments of the present invention may include several channel systems, such as channel system 507. In some embodiments, the channel systems are positioned next to each other in the XZ-plane. For example, the second inlet 518 of one channel system may be adjacent to six other second inlets of six other channel systems. In this case, the second inlet 518 may have a hexagonal shape.

The channel system 507 is surrounded by a monolithic material 510, the monolithic material 510 comprising a first surface 508 and a second surface 509, both planar and parallel to the XZ-plane. The monolith 510 may be made of any suitable material, such as a metal, composite, or ceramic.

In this embodiment, the cross-sectional geometry of the channel system 507 is constant and circular when viewed in the Y-direction. In other embodiments, the channels may have any cross-section, such as a square, rectangular, or polygonal cross-section. In other embodiments, the cross-sectional geometry of channel system 507 need not be constant throughout the channel system. For example, the cross-sectional geometry of channel system 507 may change from a hexagonal shape at second inlet 518 to a circular cross-section at inner channel opening 516 as a linear function of position along the Y-axis.

In the context of line 523, axis 526 parallel to the X-axis represents the average OI score, while axis 527 parallel to the Y-axis represents the location along the Y-direction at which the average OI score is measured. The average OI fraction is measured along the central axis of the cylindrical first section 513. Dashed line 524 shows the value of the average OI score in first container 505 for reference.

In the context of line 525, axis 526 represents the average overall score, while axis 527 represents the position at which the average overall score is measured in the Y-direction. As previously described, the average portion of the space not occupied by the first container 505, the second container 506, the first section 513, or the second section 514 at the specified position in the Y direction is represented as an "average overall fraction".

A third section of the boundary surface of the first influencing (influencing) region of the first channel opening 515 in the first receptacle 505 is schematically indicated by the dashed line 519. For static boundary conditions, a third section of the boundary surface of the second region of influence of the internal passage opening 516 in the second section 514 is schematically represented by a dashed line 520. Since the passage opening is axisymmetric, the boundary surface of the region of influence is axisymmetric about an axis parallel to the Y-axis. A third section of the boundary surface of the assumed region of influence of the inner passage opening 516 in the second section 514 of the assumed case is schematically indicated by a dashed line 521. As mentioned, in this hypothetical case, the properties of the medium in the second container 506 are considered to be the same as the properties of the medium in the first container 505.

Note that the characteristic width of the second section 514 is smaller than the diameter of the third section of the boundary surface of the second region of influence 520.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention. Some features of the device shown in fig. 6 and some operating principles of the device have similarities with the devices shown in the other figures and will therefore not be described in the same detail in the context of fig. 6 and vice versa.

There is a first vessel 150 and a second vessel 151 in which the medium comprises OI, which is schematically represented by individual particles, such as the schematic representation of OI 175.

In this example, the invention is embodied by a first filter device 153, a second filter device 160. Other embodiments of the invention may include only a second filter device of the same or similar configuration as shown in fig. 6.

The first filter means 153 has a first surface 154 and a second surface 155, both planar and parallel to the XZ-plane. In this embodiment, several identical channels, such as channel 157, allow OI to pass through bulk material 156 from first container 150 to interior region 152, and vice versa.

The bulk material 156 may be made of any material, such as metal, composite, or ceramic. In some embodiments, the monolithic material 156 may also be described as a fabric. In some embodiments, the bulk material 156 may include graphene.

Each channel has a first opening, such as first opening 158, and a second opening, such as second opening 159. The cross-section of the channel 157 is constant and circular when viewed in the positive Y-direction. In other embodiments, the channels may have any cross-section, such as a square, rectangular, or polygonal cross-section. In general, the basic principle of the configuration of the channel 157 is similar to that of the configuration of the internal channel opening 250. In some embodiments, the channel width is constant over time. In other embodiments, this need not be the case. For example, the width of the channels may be adjusted to control the diffusion rate of OI through the first filter device 153. The width of the channel may take any suitable value at any point in time, where suitability depends on the particular application, and may be determined using methods known in the art.

The second filter device 160 comprises several layers, for example a first layer 161 and a second layer 168. Each layer comprises several cylindrical tubes arranged parallel to the Z-axis, such as cylindrical tube 163, cylindrical tube 165, cylindrical tube 170 or cylindrical tube 172. These tubes are evenly spaced in the X direction and are supported by cylindrical tubes such as cylindrical tube 167 or cylindrical tube 174 arranged parallel to the X axis. The tubes are evenly spaced in the Z-direction and are rigidly connected to tubes parallel to the Z-axis. In other embodiments, the vertical tubes need not be rigidly connected, but may overlap like the fibers in a fabric. In such an embodiment, for a given layer, the spacing between tubes parallel to the X-axis in the XZ-plane is equal to the spacing of tubes parallel to the Z-axis. Thus, the cross-sectional area of the gap or channel between the tube parallel to the X-axis and the tube parallel to the Z-axis (e.g., channel 166 between tube 163, 165, 167 and the fourth tube above the plane of the page) is square in shape when viewed along the Y-axis. In other embodiments, the channels may have any cross-sectional geometry, such as circular, rectangular, or polygonal. Thus, the spacing between the tubes of a given layer can be described by a single parameter, denoted "channel width", which is equal to the distance of separation between the centroids of the tubes of the same layer parallel to the Z-axis. In such an embodiment, the distance of separation between the layers in the Y direction is uniform for all layers. In other embodiments, this need not be the case. For example, the longitudinal separation may increase in the negative Y-direction simultaneously with the increase in channel width of each layer in the negative Y-direction.

The separation distance between the layers and the structural support of the layers is provided by longitudinal support structures, which are not shown in fig. 6. The longitudinal support structure may comprise a tube rigidly connected to each layer and parallel to the Y-axis. In some embodiments, the longitudinal tubes are connected to the layer at locations where the tubes parallel to the X-axis and the tubes parallel to the Z-axis are connected. In other embodiments, the longitudinal support structure may not be rigidly connected to the various layers, but may be woven between the layers like fibers in a fabric.

Other embodiments of the present invention may include a variety of other configurations of second filter device 160. Note that for some embodiments, there is no difference between the first and second filter devices. In this case, it can be said that the present invention is constituted by a single filtering apparatus configured in a similar manner to the second filtering apparatus 160 in fig. 6.

In fig. 6, the monolith of the second filter device 160, e.g., monolith 162 of layer 161 or monolith 169 of layer 168, is the same material as monolith 156. The overall material of each layer in the second filter device 160 may also be the same. In other embodiments, the monolithic material of second filter device 160 may be different than monolithic material 156. The aforementioned circular tube, such as tube 163, may be composed of a single strand of polymer, i.e., monomer molecules. In other embodiments, the circular tube may represent a chain of single molecules, such that the diameter of the circular tube is equal to the diameter of a single molecule. In other embodiments, the circular tubes may be carbon nanotubes. The integral material of the second filter device need not form a tube but may take any form. For example, the bulk material may comprise individual particles or a collection of particles. For example, consider the case where OI is an electron and the first and second containers are conductors. In this case, the bulk material of the first filter device may be an electrical insulator, such as ceramic or glass, and the channel, such as channel 157 or channel 166 or channel 173, may comprise an electrically conductive material. In this case, any medium that is not a bulk material in fig. 6 may be configured to conduct electrons. The width of the channel 157 may be the width of one atom of the conductive material, or may be the width of a collection of atoms. In this case, the bulk material of the second filter means consists of individual atoms of insulating material embedded in a crystal lattice of conductive material, which form interstitial spaces (interstitial spaces) of the inner region 152. In other words, the conductive material forms part of a medium through which free electrons (i.e., OI) can travel or diffuse. Typically, the bulk material of the first or second filter means is configured to reflect free or mobile electrons back into the surrounding conductive material. Such a second filter device may be manufactured using methods known in the art of doped semiconductors. Note that the second filter means may be manufactured by doping the conductor with atoms of an insulator, or doping the insulator with atoms of a conductor, or by doping the insulator, conductor or semiconductor with a suitable type of semiconductor, among several other configurations. The doping process may be configured to produce a desired spatial density profile of the bulk material within the interior region 152. For example, a portion of the space occupied by the bulk material may gradually (gradually) decrease in the negative Y-direction, and may more steeply or less gently (less gradually) decrease in the positive Y-direction. Where OI is a real or virtual photon, the bulk material may be a metal having a high reflection coefficient for a given type of target photon, while the medium surrounding the bulk material is configured to allow OI to diffuse throughout the medium.

The second filter device 160 includes a uniform section and a gradient section. The uniform segments are characterized by uniform longitudinal spacing between adjacent layers, i.e., spacing in a direction parallel to the Y-axis, and uniform channel widths for all channels within one and all layers within the uniform segment. In the context of line 178, axis 179 represents the average portion of the space occupied by the bulk material of an embodiment of the present invention, denoted as the "average bulk fraction," and axis 180 corresponds to the position along the Y-axis where the quantity represented by line 178 is measured. The monolithic material may be any monolithic material, such as the monolithic material 156 of the first filter device 153 or the monolithic material of the second filter device 160. For smoothness, an average is calculated over the length of several layers of the second filter device 160. The aforementioned average portion of space may be interpreted as the number of atoms per unit area of the bulk material of the first or second filter device intersecting a plane parallel to the XZ-plane, wherein the position of said plane corresponds to the axis of the graph parallel to the Y-axis, and wherein the area is the area of said plane. For simplicity, the range of the depicted apparatus can be assumed to be infinite in the XZ-plane. Since in this embodiment, the layers of second filter device 160 are evenly spaced in the Y-direction, a portion of line 178 may also be interpreted as representing an average number of tubes per unit area (such as tubes 163) in the XZ-plane at a specified location along the Y-axis. The extent of the uniform section of the second filter device 160 is apparent in the uniform section of the line 178 over a range of positions along the Y-axis corresponding to the extent of the second filter device 160. The uniform segment is located adjacent to the indicia 162. In the uniform zone, the average portion of the space occupied by the bulk material is constant in the X-, Y-, and Z-directions. In the uniform section, the average integral fraction is constant in the Y direction. In general, the basic principle of the configuration of the channels 157 or channels in the uniform section (e.g., channel 166) is similar to that of the configuration of the internal channel opening 250.

In the uniform section of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the distance of separation between adjacent tubes of the bulk material, which may refer to the separation in the X-direction or Z-direction, i.e., the channel width, or the separation of the tubes in the Y-direction, i.e., the longitudinal separation, is substantially equal to the mean free path of OI in the interior region 152. Mean free path represents the average distance traveled by OI between collisions with other OI's or with the bulk material 156 of first filter device 153 or the bulk material of second filter device 160. When the distance of separation between the elements of the bulk device, such as tube 163 and tube 165, is substantially equal to the mean free path of OI, most of the OI's collisions are with the bulk material and not with other OI's. In other embodiments, only a portion of the OI collisions may be between the OI and the first or second filter device of the uniform section. Note that for static boundary conditions, the mean free path of OI inside inner region 152 is less than the mean free path of OI inside first container 150, which is theoretically infinite. Note that for other embodiments, the uniform segment may be infinitely small in the Y-direction, i.e., other embodiments may include at least one gradient segment.

The entire space occupied by the first filter device 153 consists of the sum of any volume containing the monolith 156, and the cylindrical volume associated with the cylindrical channel, such as channel 157. The entire space occupied by the first filter means 153 can be considered as the volume between a plane parallel to the XZ-plane and coinciding with the first surface 154 and a plane parallel to the XZ-plane and coinciding with the second surface 155. The space occupied by the monolith 156 is divided into the ratio of the volume of the monolith 156 to the volume of the entire space occupied by the first filter device 153. In this embodiment, the portion of space occupied by the monolith 156 is greater than the portion of space occupied by the monolith of the uniform section of the second filter device 160. This difference in the values of the aforementioned spatial portions is represented by a discontinuity in the line 178 at the interface between the uniform sections of the second filter device 160 and the first filter device 153. In other embodiments of the invention, the values of the two portions are the same and no such discontinuity occurs. In some embodiments, the first filter device 153 may be considered part of a uniform section of the second filter device 160.

The gradient section is a section of the second filter device 160, which cannot be described as a uniform section of the second filter device 160 shown in fig. 6. In this embodiment, the gradient section is characterized by a gradually increasing channel width for a given layer (e.g., layer 168). For example, the width of channel 173 is greater than the width of channel 166. As a result, the portion of the space occupied by the bulk material of the second filter device 160 decreases in the negative Y-direction in the gradient section of the second filter device 160. This reduction is illustrated by line 178. A gradual increase in channel width refers to an increase occurring over a non-zero distance, i.e., the increase is not a step function of position along the Y-axis. In the illustrated embodiment, the increase in channel width occurs over a distance along the Y-axis equal to several mean free paths of OI in inner region 152. In this case, the decrease in the average integral fraction is a linear function of position along the negative Y-direction. In other embodiments, the average overall fraction may decrease at an increasing rate in the negative Y direction. In other embodiments, the average integral fraction may decrease at a decreasing rate in the negative Y direction.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the longitudinal spacing between the layers in the Y-direction is such that the area of influence of the channels of any layer (e.g., channels 166 of layer 161) overlaps with the area of influence of at least the closest channel of an adjacent layer. This is the case for both the homogeneous and gradient sections. The fraction of the designated first area of influence that overlaps the designated second area of influence is referred to as the "overlap fraction". For the inner region 152, the overlap fraction of the area of influence of a channel of a first layer and the nearest channel of an adjacent second layer is not zero. Note that the overlap of the areas of influence of the channels of adjacent layers within the second filter device 160 occurs in the Y-direction. In general, the overlap may occur in any direction.

The operating principle of the embodiment shown in fig. 6 can be described in several ways. The embodiment shown in fig. 6 may be considered similar to the embodiment shown in fig. 2. In the negative Y-direction, the gradual increase in width of the channel (e.g., channel 173), or the gradual decrease in the average portion of space occupied by the bulk material (e.g., bulk material 169) throughout the gradient section of the interior region 152 is similar to the gradual increase in cross-sectional area of the channel in the second gradient section 274 in the negative Y-direction. The channels (e.g., channel 166) in the uniform section of the second filter device 160 may conceptually combine with adjacent channels of adjacent layers and thus may be considered to form a funnel having an approximately constant cross-sectional area when viewed in the Y-direction, similar to the uniform section 273 in fig. 2. The channels (e.g., channel 173) in the gradient section of the second filter device 160 may be conceptually combined with adjacent channels of adjacent layers, and thus may be considered to form a funnel with gradually increasing cross-sectional area in the negative Y-direction, similar to the gradient section 274 in fig. 2. The operating principles of the embodiment shown in fig. 6 are therefore similar to those discussed in the context of fig. 1-5 in the case where the inner walls of the channel are diffusely reflective.

In the context of line 176, an axis 179 parallel to the X-axis represents the average fraction of free space occupied by OI (also referred to as the "average OI fraction"), while an axis 180 parallel to the Y-axis represents the location along the Y-direction at which the average OI fraction is measured. In this context, "free space" refers to space not occupied by any bulk material (e.g., bulk material 156, 162, or 169). Note that this space does not have to be free literally, as is the case where the medium also contains other objects, such as nuclei and bound electrons contained in a conductor. Dashed line 177 shows the value of the average OI score in the first container 150 for reference. In other embodiments, the variation of the average OI fraction across the gradient section of the second filter device 160 need not be a linear function of position along the Y-direction. The average OI fraction may vary at an increasing rate or at a decreasing rate along the negative Y direction.

In several embodiments, the interaction between the individual OIs and the interaction between the OI and the bulk material of the embodiments share common features. In the embodiment shown in fig. 6, the interactions between the individual OI's and the interactions between the OI's and the bulk material may be characterized as fully elastic collisions occurring within a negligibly short period of time.

In this case, the extent of the gradient section along the Y-axis is of the order of the mean free path of the OI in the second vessel 151 or within several orders of magnitude thereof. In the case of OI being a virtual particle (e.g., a virtual photon), the mean free path is described by the Compton wavelength, which is very small because the time period during which the virtual photon is present is short. The duration of the presence of a virtual photon or other virtual particle may be considered as the mean free time of the particle, i.e. the mean time between a particle colliding with another particle. Annihilation of a virtual particle can be considered a scattering event. The dimensions and geometry of embodiments of the present invention may be adapted to the particular properties of the medium and OI.

Under static boundary conditions, the diffusion rate of OI from first container 150 to interior region 152 is equal to the diffusion rate of OI from interior region 152 to first container 150. The diffusion rate of OI from second vessel 151 into interior region 152 is equal to the diffusion rate of OI from interior region 152 into second vessel 151. The diffusion rate of OI from the first vessel 150 to the uniform section of the second filter device 160 is equal to the diffusion rate of OI from the uniform section to the first vessel 150. The diffusion rate of OI from the gradient section of the second filter device 160 to the uniform section of the second filter device 160 is equal to the diffusion rate of OI from the uniform section to the gradient section.

Inner region 152 may be considered to include OI as well as conceptually filtered objects or "CFOs" that are conceptually similar to FOs in inner region 202 shown in FIG. 7, where the CFOs are comprised of the monolithic material of second filter device 160.

In some embodiments, the width of a via (e.g., via 166) is on the order of the collision diameter of OI. In some embodiments, the width of the channel is several orders of magnitude greater than the collision diameter of the OI.

In the context of the simplified embodiment shown in the figures, it may be defined that the interaction between OI and the depicted device or embodiment begins when OI crosses, intersects or contacts a first boundary surface or a second boundary surface. In some embodiments, the first boundary surface may be a plane containing a first surface, such as first surface 204 or 243, and the second boundary surface may be a plane containing a second surface, such as second surface 244, wherein the planes are parallel to the XZ-plane, wherein the planes encompass (blacket) embodiments of the present invention. In these and other embodiments, the first boundary surface may optionally be defined as an aperture of a first region of influence in the first receptacle and the second boundary surface as an aperture of a second region of influence in the second receptacle, wherein the surfaces may generally have a three-dimensional shape. The interaction may be defined as ending when the OI no longer intersects or contacts the first or second boundary surface. In this case, the "contact" may be defined as the presence of a non-negligible force between an object of the medium and an object of the device (e.g., an object of the bulk material 270).

"target input properties" and "target output properties" may be defined as target properties of a specified type of object, respectively, just before and after interacting with an embodiment of the invention in a non-negligible manner. The target property may be a location of the object in the first container (e.g., first container 240) or the second container (e.g., second container 241). The interaction of a target object with the apparatus of the invention can be described in terms of the difference between the target input and output properties. For example, one type of interaction may be described as transmission from one receptacle to another receptacle, while another type of interaction may be described as reflection back into the receptacle in which the object was located before the interaction began. In the context of transmission or reflection, the type of interaction is described by the magnitude of the difference between the target output property and the target input property. According to some embodiments of the invention, the type of interaction is a function of a "defining property" of the object. The defined set of properties of the target object may include properties that distinguish the target object from other objects of the surrounding medium. In the embodiments shown in the figures, the defined set of properties of the object also includes the target input properties, i.e. the position of the object in the first container or the second container, just before interacting in a non-negligible manner with the embodiments of the invention. Throughout the interaction process, devices configured and operated in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention will distinguish objects or filter objects based on the values of their defined properties. In other words, the expected type of interaction between an object of a specified category having at least one specified defined property and an embodiment of the invention is not equal to the expected type of interaction for objects of the same specified category but different specified defined properties. The expected value is a statistical expectation calculated for all objects contained within at least one specified class of objects that interact with an embodiment of the invention for a sufficiently long duration to provide sufficiently accurate results. By default, a class of objects includes all objects that interact with a given device.

For example, dynamic boundary conditions are considered where the second OI is located in the second container just prior to interaction with embodiments of the present invention. The target input property and the defined property fact of the second OI is that the OI is initially located in the second container. A first OI located in the first vessel just prior to interaction with embodiments of the present invention is contemplated. The first container and the second container are separated by an embodiment of the invention. The target input property and the defined property fact of the first OI is that the OI is initially located in the first container. The target output property is the location of the OI after it has interacted with an embodiment of the present invention. The interaction of OI with embodiments of the present invention may be one of two types: transmission or reflection. When the target output property is different from the target input property, the OI is considered to have been delivered. When the target output property is equal to the target input property, the OI is considered to have been reflected. Embodiments of the present invention are configured in a manner in which the expected value of the type of interaction is a function of the defined property of the OI (i.e., the initial location of the OI). According to some embodiments of the present invention, for dynamic boundary conditions, the probability of a second OI being passed is less than the probability of a first OI being passed. Thus, embodiments of the present invention may be considered to filter OI based on its defined properties.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention. Some features of the device shown in fig. 7 and some operating principles of the device have similarities with the devices shown in the other figures and will therefore not be described in the same detail in the context of fig. 7 and vice versa.

There is a first vessel 200 and a second vessel 201 in which the medium comprises OI, which is schematically represented by individual particles, such as the schematic representation of OI 226.

In this example, the invention is embodied by a first filter device 203, a second filter device 211, and an interior region 202 that includes a filtered object or "FO" (e.g., filtered object 227). Inner region 202 also includes OI.

FO cannot pass through the first filter device 203. Bulk material 206 is totally reflective of FO and OI. In other embodiments, bulk material 206 may transfer or adsorb a fraction of the OI or FO in contact with bulk material 206. In this embodiment, FO also carries a net charge. Several charge collectors (collection), such as charge collector 210, are embedded in the bulk material 206, where the charge collectors carry the same charge as the FO, causing the FO to be repelled by the charge collectors. The geometry, location, and strength of the charge collector are configured to prevent FO from successfully passing from the interior region 202 through a passageway (e.g., passageway 207) into the first container 200.

In the case where OI is a molecule, FO may be either a positively or negatively ionized form of the OI molecule, where the magnitude of the charge may take any practical value. FO may also be a molecule other than an OI molecule. FO may also be a collector of molecules such as dust particles. In the case where OI carries charge, FO may be configured to carry more or less charge on average than OI. The first filtering means 203 and any charge collectors associated therewith may in this case be configured to filter OI from FO based on the average difference in charge between OI and FO. For example, OI may carry a net negative charge equal to one electron charge on average, and FO may be configured to carry a net charge equal to two or three electron charges on average. The charge collector associated with the first filter device 203 may then be negatively charged and its geometry, size, and amount of charge may be configured to ensure that, for static boundary conditions, the probability that FO in the inner region 202 interacting with the first filter device 203 will diffuse from the inner region 202 into the first vessel 200 is lower than the probability that OI in the inner region 202 interacting with the first filter device 203 will diffuse from the inner region 203 into the first vessel 200. For a given collector of charge associated with the first filtering means 203, FO of greater net charge of the same sign (sign) will experience a greater repulsive force than OI of lesser net charge of the same sign. The greater repulsive force can be used to repel or filter a greater portion of FO, which achieves the intended filtering effect, than the repelled portion of OI. Generally, the first filtering device 203 is configured to be less conductive to FO than to OI. The transmission coefficient (transmission coefficient) of FO incident on the first filter means 203 is lower than the transmission coefficient of OI incident on the first filter means 203.

In other embodiments, other characteristics or properties of the FO may be used so as to prevent it from passing through the filtration device. For example, FO may be more easily polarized than OI, i.e., its polarization coefficient may be greater. In this case, the charge collector may be configured to deflect the FO entering the channel more strongly than the OI, wherein a portion of the OI and a greater portion of the FO may then be reflected back into inner region 202. Such methods are known in the art.

Note that the principle applied to electric dipoles can also be used in scenarios involving permanent or temporary magnetic dipoles, and vice versa.

The first filter means 203 has a first surface 204 and a second surface 205, both planar and parallel to the XZ-plane. In such an embodiment, several identical channels, such as channel 207, allow OI to pass through bulk material 206 from first container 200 to interior region 202, and vice versa.

The bulk material 206 may be made of any material, such as metal, composite, or ceramic. In some embodiments, the monolith 206 may also be described as a fabric. In some embodiments, the bulk material 206 may include graphene.

Each channel has a first opening, such as first opening 208, and a second opening, such as second opening 209. The cross-section of the channel 207 is constant and circular when viewed in the positive Y-direction. In other embodiments, the channels may have any cross-section, such as a square, rectangular, or polygonal cross-section.

The width of the channel (e.g., channel 207) is slightly larger than the impingement diameter of OI in FIG. 7. In other embodiments, the channel width may be less than twice the impingement diameter of the OI. In other embodiments, the channel width may be less than ten times the impingement diameter of the OI. In general, the basic principle of the configuration of the channel 207 is similar to that of the configuration of the internal channel opening 250. In some embodiments, the channel width is constant over time. In other embodiments, this need not be the case. For example, the width of the channels may be adjusted to control the diffusion rate of OI through the first filter means 203. The width of the channel may take any suitable value at any point in time, where suitability depends on the particular application, and may be determined using methods known in the art.

Charge collectors refer to the insulating arrangement in the charged material within the bulk material 206. Each collector of charge shown in fig. 7 is of annular shape having a rectangular cross-section, as shown, wherein the annular or ring shape is configured to enclose or surround the channel associated with the collector of charge. In the case of channels that are relatively close together, such as the embodiment shown in fig. 7, the above-described rings of charge collectors that contain charge around the channels may overlap such that the device containing charge collectors forms a hexagonal cross-section when viewed in the Y-direction. To ensure an even distribution of charge within the charge collector, portions of the charge collector may be electrically isolated from each other. For example, the collectors of charge may not form a uniform ring, but rather a series of separate point charges or a series of smaller distinct charge collectors located near the channel.

The charge collector may comprise an insulated conductor, for example a metal to which an electrical potential has been applied, such that the number of electrons contained in the charge collector has increased or decreased compared to a nominal neutral configuration. In other embodiments, the collector of charge may comprise at least one charged particle embedded within the bulk material 206. For example, the bulk material 206 may be a semiconductor, and charged particles may be embedded within the semiconductor by doping the semiconductor with atoms or molecules of different numbers of electrons in the outer layer and then ionizing the atoms or molecules. Such methods are well known in the art.

In the case where the bulk material 206 is a conductor (e.g., metal), the collector of charge is insulated from the conductive material by an insulator. Electrical insulation may be facilitated by appropriate selection of an electrically insulating material (e.g., glass). Note that in this case, the distribution of the electric field in the channel is also a function of the electrical response of the conductive bulk material to the presence of the collector of charges.

In this embodiment, the field associated with the collector of charge is constant in time. In other embodiments, the field may change over time. This can be achieved by varying the potential of the means for collecting and containing the charge. The adjustment of the electric field of the collector of charges can be used to control the filtering properties of the first filtering means 203. For this purpose, the charge collector may be electrically connected to the voltage regulating device.

The second filter device 211 may include several stages or layers, such as a first layer 212 and a second layer 219. In other embodiments, the second filter device 211 may include more than two such layers. In other embodiments, the second filter device 211 may include only one layer. Each layer comprises several cylindrical tubes arranged parallel to the Z-axis, such as cylindrical tube 213, cylindrical tube 218, cylindrical tube 220, or cylindrical tube 225. The tubes are evenly spaced in the X direction. The support means for these tubes are not shown, but are configured to rigidly connect the tubes to each other and to the rest of the devices associated with embodiments of the present invention, or to external devices.

In fig. 7, the monolith of the second filter means 211, for example, monolith 214 of layer 212 or monolith 211 of layer 219, is of the same material as monolith 206. In other embodiments, the monolithic material of the second filter device 211 may be different from the monolithic material 206. The overall material of each layer in the second filter device 211 may not be the same. Similar to the monolith 206, the monolith of the second filter device 211 may be made of any material, such as a metal, composite, or ceramic.

Each cylindrical tube in layer 212 contains a collector of electrical charge, such as collector 215 of electrical charge of cylindrical tube 213, or collector 222 of electrical charge of cylindrical tube 220. Each charge collector is embedded in a bulk material, such as bulk material 214 or bulk material 221. As previously mentioned, each charge collector refers to an insulated arrangement of charged material within the bulk material.

The basic principle of embedding of the charge collector within the second filter device 211 also applies to the charge collector of the first filter device 203 and vice versa.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 7, the average charge density per unit area of a layer (such as layer 212) gradually increases in the negative Y direction. Therefore, the electric field intensity gradually increases in the vicinity of the second filter device 211 in the negative Y direction or in the positive Y direction in the inner region 202. This results in a gradual increase in the potential of the individual FO moving in the negative Y direction towards the second filter device 211. In the context of line 234, an axis 236 parallel to the X-axis represents the average magnitude of the potential in the XZ-plane, and an axis 237 parallel to the Y-axis represents the location along the Y-direction at which the average magnitude of the potential is measured. The maximum energy of the FO in the inner region 202 determines the maximum potential that can be achieved in the potential wells FO created in the first and second filter devices. This maximum energy is indicated by dashed line 235. For static boundary conditions, for some embodiments, the maximum energy may be a function of other parameters such as the temperature of the medium in the interior region 202. In this embodiment, the maximum energy of FO is less than the peak potential required for FO to escape the potential well in the positive or negative Y direction. Thus, all FO is confined within the interior area 202 by the first and second filter devices. In other embodiments, this need not be the case, i.e., a portion FO may be able to diffuse into or out of the potential well. In fig. 7, the farthest that FO can diffuse in the negative Y-direction is where the potential within inner region 202 first reaches the maximum energy of FO along the negative Y-direction, as indicated by the first intersection of line 235 and line 234 in the positive Y-direction. Similarly, the furthest that FO can diffuse in the positive Y-direction is the location along the positive Y-direction where the potential within inner region 202 first reaches the maximum energy of FO, as indicated by the second intersection of line 235 and line 234 in the positive Y-direction.

For simplicity, in this embodiment, each layer of second filter device 211 is constructed in a similar manner, i.e., since each cylindrical tube and the charged material and bulk material contained therein have the same geometry and the same dimensions for each layer and within each layer. In other embodiments, the configuration of each layer may not be uniform for all layers. To produce the aforementioned gradual increase in potential, each charge collector in the second layer (such as charge collector 222) contains more charge than the charge collector in the first layer (such as charge collector 215).

One of the purposes achieved by the second layer 219 is to prevent FO from escaping the inner zone 202 into the second container 201. This is also one of the objects achieved by the first device 203 with respect to the first container 200. In other embodiments, some FO may be allowed to diffuse from the second container 201 or the first container 200 into and out of the interior region 202.

Between each cylindrical tube of the second filter device 211, there is a passage, such as the passage 217 between the cylindrical tube 218 and the cylindrical tube 213, or the passage 224 between the cylindrical tube 220 and the cylindrical tube 225. It can also be considered that half of the channel 217 and half of the channel 224 form a single channel.

The channel width of the second filter device 211 is configured to at least allow the OI and FO to pass each other within the channel. In some embodiments, the channel width of the second filter device is as large as possible for creating a desired gradual increase in electrical potential in the negative Y-direction near or within at least a portion of the channel facing the interior region 202. The dimensions of the channels are constrained by structural constraints as well as constraints on the strength and gradient of the electric field generated by the charge collectors. For example, the insulating properties of the insulating material or the bulk material surrounding the charge collector may degrade high electric fields. If OI is a molecule, too strong a gradient in the electric field may ionize the OI. In embodiments of the second filtering means where FO does not enter the channel due to the potential generated by the charge collector, the channel width of the second filtering means may be arbitrarily small while still allowing the OI to diffuse through the second filtering means 211. In this case, the channel width may be just large enough to allow a single OI at a time to diffuse from the interior region 202 to the second container 201. In other such embodiments, the channel width may be any width greater than this, provided that the aforementioned need for spatial variation of the potential is met. In this case, the average density of OI on the side of the second filter device 211 facing the positive Y direction is equal to the average density of OI on the side of the second filter device 211 facing the negative Y direction. Such a scenario is shown in fig. 7 and indicated by line 231.

In the context of line 233, axis 236, which is parallel to the X-axis, represents the average fraction of space occupied by FO in interior space 202, also referred to as the "average FO fraction," while axis 237, which is parallel to the Y-axis, represents the location at which the average FO fraction is measured in the Y-direction. As shown, the average FO fraction decreases more gradually in the negative Y direction than it does in the positive Y direction.

A subset of conventional filtration systems employ osmosis, which is a process by which solvent molecules tend to diffuse through a semi-permeable membrane from a region of low solute concentration to a region of high solute concentration. In a typical osmosis process, a semi-permeable membrane is permeable to solvent molecules in solution and impermeable to solute molecules. When the difference in total pressure between the solutions on either side of the membrane is equal to the difference in osmotic pressure of the two solutions, the net diffusion through the membrane is zero.

At low solute concentrations, the solution can be modeled as an ideal solution, and the relationship between osmotic pressure and solute concentration in the solution volume is similar to the ideal gas relationship between pressure and concentration of gas molecules in the gas volume. More specifically, the osmotic pressure of a solute in solution is similar to the partial pressure of a gas in a gas mixture.

The total pressure of the ideal gas mixture in the volume is equal to the sum of the partial pressures of each component gas in the volume according to the law of daltons partial pressures, where the partial pressures of each component gas are calculated using the ideal gas law, the mass of the gas, the available volume of the mixture, and the temperature of the mixture. In other words, the partial pressure is equal to the pressure exerted by the constituent gases to occupy the entire volume of the mixture at the same temperature, in the absence of any other gases present.

Consider the following simplified hypothetical example of a conventional infiltration process. The first and second containers of finite volume and equal size are separated by a semi-permeable membrane configured to allow the first gas species to pass through the semi-permeable membrane from the first container to the second container and vice versa. The semi-permeable membrane is also configured to prevent a second gas from passing through the semi-permeable membrane. In this example, the concentration of the second gas species in the second container, i.e. the number of gas molecules per unit volume of the second container, is not zero, and the concentration of the second gas species in the first container is zero. The concentration of the first gas species is non-zero in both the first and second containers. In the second vessel, the gas mixture may be considered to be a solution comprising the first gas as a solvent and the second gas as a solute.

When the system is in equilibrium, there is no net diffusion of gas molecules of the first gas species through the semi-permeable membrane. In other words, the diffusion rate of gas molecules of the first gas species through the membrane from the first container to the second container is equal in magnitude to the diffusion rate of molecules of the first gas species through the membrane from the second container to the first container. This equilibrium scenario, i.e. the scenario where the molecules of the first gas species do not have a net diffusion through the membrane, can also be described as the above-mentioned static boundary condition. In this example, the osmotic pressure of the gas mixture in the second vessel is approximately equal to the partial pressure of the second gas species in the second vessel. The osmotic pressure of the gas in the first container is zero, because in this example the concentration of molecules of the second gas species in the first container is zero. As mentioned, zero net diffusion of the first gas species through the membrane occurs when the difference in pressure between the gas mixture in the second vessel and the gas mixture in the first vessel is equal to the difference in osmotic pressure of the gas mixture in the second vessel and the first vessel. In other words, the total pressure difference between the second and first vessel is equal to the partial pressure of the second gas species in the second vessel. Thus, in equilibrium, the partial pressure of the first gas species in the second vessel is equal to the partial pressure of the first gas species in the first vessel. Since the temperature in the first and second containers is the same in this example, the number of molecules of the first gas species per unit volume in the first and second containers is the same. In other words, in the equilibrium scenario of a conventional permeation process, the number of molecules of the second gas species per unit volume in the second vessel has no effect on the number of molecules of the first gas species per unit volume in the second vessel. Similarly, the permeability of molecules of the first gas species from the first container to the second container is equal to the permeability of molecules of the first gas species from the second container to the first container. In other words, the permeability of the molecules of the first gas species from the first container to the second container is independent of the number of molecules of the second gas species per unit volume in the second container.

This behavior of the conventional permeation process is due to the following assumptions: the second container has a low concentration of molecules of the second gas species per unit volume and the solution in the second container is treated as an ideal solution or ideal gas mixture. In a subset of embodiments of the present invention, the filtering means is configured to facilitate a departure from the above-described ideal behavior. For example, the concentration or equivalent geometry of FO associated with the filtration device may be configured to be sufficiently large. The resulting non-ideal behavior properties may be used to generate a concentration difference in the second vessel relative to the first vessel OI under static boundary conditions, as described below. The properties may also be used to produce a net diffusion of target objects or "OIs" through the filtering device under dynamic boundary conditions. In some embodiments of the present invention, the net diffused energy, i.e., the energy associated with the bulk flow of the OI being produced, is provided by the thermal energy of the OI. For example, bulk flow of OI may be used for thrust generation in an aircraft propulsion unit. Bulk flow of OI may also be used to convert thermal energy of the fluid into useful work, such as mechanical or electrical energy. For example, a filter device configured according to some embodiments of the present invention may be used to induce bulk flow of OI, and the resulting thrust acting on the filter device may be used to exert a torque on a drive shaft of a generator, which may be configured to convert mechanical power associated with rotation of the drive shaft into electrical energy. For example, the filter device may replace and perform the function of the turbine blades of a conventional wind turbine. In this case, the OI may be air molecules and the fluid may be air.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the average FO fraction in fig. 7 or the average global fraction in fig. 1-10A is sufficiently large that the mixture of FO and the target object may no longer be considered an ideal mixture or ideal solution, as described by dalton's law, or as described by an ideal solution. As a result, the interstitial volume between FO that may approach OI may be modeled as channels with diffusing interior walls, resulting in the concentration of OI within interior region 202 exceeding the concentration or volume number density of OI within first vessel 200, i.e., the concentration predicted by conventional permeation behavior. This also applies to scenarios in which other FO's are employed, as well as scenarios in which the FO's are represented by a bulk material of a porous bulk material (e.g., bulk material 169), as described in the context of fig. 6-10A.

The increase in density over that predicted by conventional permeation behavior can be explained as follows. Due to the large density or concentration of FO, and due to the finite size of OI, the mean free path is reduced to a value less than about 1000 times the OI collision diameter. Due to the finite collision diameter of OI, for example, a collision between OI and FO or another OI will occur about one collision diameter earlier than predicted by conventional scattering models. Additionally, due to the finite collision diameter of OI, there is an increase in the volume amount represented as "collision volume" where it is necessary to place an adjacent OI or FO to cause a collision between the OI and the adjacent OI or FO within an incremental radius "dr" where "r" is the distance of the center of the OI from a reference point, such as, for example, the incremental area of the via opening. The increase in collision volume is due to the fact that: it is necessary to place the centers of adjacent OI or FO so as to cause the radius of the collision with OI to be greater than approximately one collision diameter "r" of OI. Note that this portion of the collision volume is proportional to the square of the radius and may be considered as the longitudinal extension of the OI along radius "r". In addition, due to the finite size of the OI, the collision volume also includes a large portion of the volume outside the volume accessible to the center of the OI, i.e., outside the area of feasible trajectories at the center of the OI. In other words, for a given incremental volume available from the center of OI within "dr", there is an even larger incremental collision volume. The collision volume of this portion may be considered to be the lateral extension of the OI perpendicular to radius "r" and perpendicular to the current trajectory of the OI center. The increase in collision volume contributes to a decrease in the mean free path of the OI and a decrease in the aperture of the channel openings for the portions of the channel openings facing the regions of increased FO or OI concentration or the reduced separation regions between the diffusely reflecting channel walls. At low concentrations of FO, the mean free path decreases by a greater magnitude than in an ideal solution or ideal gas mixture. As discussed, this behavior away from an ideal solution or ideal gas mixture correlates with a decrease in pore size and an increase in the number density of OI within the region of decreased pore size (e.g., interior region 202).

The reduction in pore size can also be considered as an internal "blocking" or "shadowing" effect, where the adjacent FO or OI or diffusion walls of the channel prevent the OI from passing through the channel openings and out of the region of large FO concentration. Note that this internal blocking effect is not counteracted by a corresponding external blocking effect, wherein the diffusion of OI into the region of large FO concentration is prevented due to excessive or premature collisions with FO. This is due in part to the diffusive nature of the collision in a region of large FO concentration. It is believed that this blocking action is functionally similar to a weak spring-loaded ball valve on the side of the filter surface facing the large FO concentration that allows OI to enter the region of large FO concentration but blocks the passage of OI away from the region. For dynamic boundary conditions, the asymmetric blocking effect results in a greater adsorption rate of OI to the region of large FO concentration, resulting in preferential diffusion of OI into the region of large FO concentration. Once the OI concentration in the region of large FO concentration increases by a sufficient amount, i.e. once the pressure in the region of large FO concentration increases to result in (account for) a greater than ideal osmotic pressure in said region, the net diffusion of OI through the filter surface is 0 and a static boundary condition is established. This blocking effect is not considered in an ideal model assuming low concentrations of OI and FO.

Furthermore, a narrower channel opening enhances this reduction in mean free path as compared to a larger channel opening. This is due to the finite diameter of the OI, which limits the range of initial angles or velocities at which the OI can diffuse into the trajectory in the narrower channel. The maximum initial angle relative to the surface normal of the channel opening is called the "aperture angle". As shown in fig. 8, 9, and 10A, this effect may be used to increase the aperture of an equivalent passageway on one side of the interior region (such as the side of interior region 402 facing second container 401) compared to the other side of the interior region (such as the side of interior region 402 facing first container 400). The OI in the inner region preferentially diffuses through the channels within the inner region having the larger effective pore size, i.e., into the second vessel, rather than into the first vessel.

The portion in the inner region 202 where the average FO fraction decreases in the positive Y direction is referred to as a "first gradient section". The portion in the inner region 202 where the average FO fraction decreases in the negative Y direction is referred to as a "second gradient section". The portion of the inner zone 202 where the average FO fraction is substantially uniform or constant in the Y direction is referred to as a "uniform zone". Note that for some embodiments, the extent of the uniform section in the Y direction may be negligibly small. According to some embodiments of the invention, the magnitude of the average spatial gradient in the Y-direction of the average FO fraction of the first gradient section is larger than the second gradient section.

This configuration of the FO within inner zone 202 can be produced in a variety of ways. For example, a potential field may be conceptually or practically generated to manipulate the average FO score as a function of position along the Y direction.

The effect of the increasing potential in the negative Y direction is to repel or decelerate FO diffusing in the negative Y direction and accelerate FO diffusing in the positive Y direction in the vicinity of the second filter device 211. In other words, there is a net acceleration in the positive Y direction of the FO near the second filter device 211. This results in the above described gradual spatial density gradient of FO, wherein the density of FO decreases in the negative Y direction in the vicinity of the second filter device 211.

The effect of the less gradual or steeper increasing potential in the negative Y-direction is to repel or decelerate the FO diffusing in the positive Y-direction and accelerate the FO diffusing in the negative Y-direction in the vicinity of the first filter means 203, as compared to the aforementioned gradually increasing potential in the negative Y-direction in the vicinity of the second filter means. In other words, there is a greater net acceleration in the negative Y direction of FO near the first filter device 203. This results in a less gradual or steeper spatial density gradient of the FO, wherein the density of the FO decreases in the positive Y-direction in the vicinity of the first filter device 203.

Note that since in this case bulk material 206 or bulk material 214 is totally reflective to FO, any surface of the bulk material can be considered a device capable of producing a sharp increase in the potential of FO in the vicinity of the bulk material. Note that the potential need not be electrical in nature. As explained later, this topology of the potential may result from any type of body force per unit mass, such as gravity. The topological or spatial variation of the potential of FO may also be a function of time. For example, the spatial rate of change of the potential in the Y direction may be varied or adjusted over time to adjust the effectiveness of embodiments of the present invention. For example, an increase in potential at an increasing rate in the negative Y-direction may be used to increase the magnitude of the average spatial gradient of the average FO fraction of the second gradient section along the Y-direction. This may be used to reduce the ratio of the density of OI in the second container 201 to the ratio of OI in the first container 200 under static boundary conditions, with other factors remaining unchanged.

In the context of line 231, axis 236 represents the average fraction of free space occupied by OI, also referred to as the "average OI fraction", and axis 237 represents the location along the Y-direction where the average OI fraction is measured. As previously mentioned, "free space" refers to space not occupied by any bulk material, such as bulk material 206, 214, or 221. Dashed line 232 shows the average portion of the free space occupied by OI in first container 200 for reference.

In the uniform section, the movement of FO in this embodiment is substantially linear, as shown in the form of trace 228, which shows a portion of the trace of the path followed by FO 227. In the first gradient section, FO accelerates in the negative Y direction as indicated by trace 230 of FO 229. In the second gradient section, FO is accelerated in the positive Y direction as indicated by the curved trajectory of FO in the second gradient section.

The average OI fraction gradually increases in the negative Y-direction near the second filter means 211 due to the gradual decrease in average FO fraction in the negative Y-direction. The portion of free space occupied by OI does not substantially change in this simplified embodiment due to the less gradual or steeper decrease in the average FO fraction in the positive Y direction. In other embodiments, the average OI fraction may decrease in the negative Y-direction throughout the first gradient segment, wherein the decrease is less than the increase in the negative Y-direction throughout the second gradient segment.

One of the purposes of the second filter device 211 may be considered to be to generate a satellite force in the positive Y direction on the FO in the second gradient section, where the satellite force is configured to counteract or balance the diffusion pressure of the FO occurring due to the concentration gradient of the FO.

For static boundary conditions, for some embodiments, the density of OI in the second vessel 201 is greater than the density of OI in the first vessel 200. For some embodiments, the pressure of OI in second vessel 201 is greater than the pressure of OI in first vessel 200. For some embodiments, the entropy of OI in second container 201 is less than the entropy of OI in first container 200. For some embodiments, the average rate of OI in the second vessel 201 is substantially equal to the average rate of OI in the first vessel 200. For some embodiments, the temperature of OI in second vessel 201 is substantially equal to the temperature of OI in first vessel 200.

For dynamic boundary conditions, there is a net diffusion of OI from first container 200 into second container 201. Embodiments of the present invention may therefore also be considered for applications involving pumping. Due to the net diffusion of OI, there is a net force acting in the positive Y direction on embodiments of the present invention. Such forces may be used to do mechanical work. The mechanical work may also be converted to electrical energy using a generator. In the case of OI carrying a charge, embodiments of the present invention may be used to generate electrical work. The electrical work can also be converted into mechanical work using an electric motor. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may be considered for applications involving power generation. Such applications, and related devices and methods, are well known in the art.

As mentioned above, other embodiments of the present invention may include a variety of other configurations and designs for the second filter device 211 and the first filter device 203.

In other embodiments, the second filter device may be configured in a different manner. For example, the second filter device may be configured in a similar manner to the first filter device, with the following differences. For example, the second filtering means may be characterized as having a large number of separate and insulated charge collectors, such as charge collector 210 in the first filtering means 203, wherein each charge collector is offset in the Y-direction, and wherein the charge contained within each charge collector may gradually increase in the negative Y-direction. The channel width of such a second filter device follows the same principles already described in the context of fig. 7.

It is an object of some embodiments of the invention to create or create a density gradient of FO in an inner region, wherein for static boundary conditions the density of FO gradually decreases in the negative Y-direction in the vicinity of a first boundary of the inner region, and wherein the density of FO decreases less gradually or more steeply in the positive Y-direction in the vicinity of a second boundary of the inner region, as illustrated in fig. 7 by 223. The inner zone is defined as the volume of space within which the average density of FO is above a specified threshold. The boundary of the inner region is the surface of the volume. The boundary surface may be split into at least a first boundary and a second boundary, wherein a distinction is made according to the above-mentioned gradient of FO density in the vicinity of the boundary. Note that the interior region need not be enclosed on all sides by a device, such as a first or second filter device. The inner zone can be defined entirely in terms of the number density of FO. Note that FO does not need to move freely, as indicated in the example shown in fig. 6. In some embodiments, the FO may be rigidly attached to embodiments of the present invention, in which case the FO may be more appropriately described as a monolithic material. The internal zone may also be defined in terms of other parameters, such as the mean pressure of FO.

In case FO and OI can be distinguished by the average charge they carry, the first filter means 203 and the second filter means 211 can achieve the above-mentioned object by generating an electric field, wherein the electric field can generate a gradual increase of the potential of the individual FO moving towards the second boundary in the negative Y-direction, and wherein the electric field can generate a less gradual or steeper increase of the potential of the individual FO moving towards the first boundary in the positive Y-direction. The potential that partially or fully constrains the FO and forms the inner region can be considered to form at least a partial potential well of the FO.

For example, in fig. 7, the first boundary is the portion of the channel that first surface 205 and FO can reach before they are repelled by a charge collector (such as charge collector 210). Which is a function of such parameters as the average rate and mass of the FO, such as the charge of the FO and the configuration of the charge collector associated with the first filter device, in fig. 7 the second bounding surface is a plane approximately parallel to the XZ-plane and located near the second filter device 211 where the average density of the FO along the Y-axis reaches zero, as indicated by the approximate location of line 233 and the label "233".

The aforementioned topology of the electrical potential within the inner region can be generated in a number of different ways well known in the art. Generally, the means for generating an electric field may be denoted as "electric field generating device (convergence)" or EFGC.

In fig. 7, the EFGC may be described in terms of a first electric field generating device or "first EFGA" and a second EFGA. The term "first EFGA" refers to another way of referring to the first filter device 203, and the term "second EFGA" is another way of describing the second filter device 211. Note that since bulk material 206 or bulk material 214 is totally reflective to FO in this case, any surface of the bulk material can be considered an electric field generating device, where the electric field is configured to repel FO near the surface.

In some embodiments, a first filter device may filter FO based on the size or shape of the FO, while a second filter device may filter FO having a different or separate potential. For example, FO may be spherical in shape, with a diameter larger than the circular opening of a channel (such as channel 207). Thus, FO is not able to pass through the first filtration device, which in turn results in a steep or less gradual change in the average density of FO in the Y direction. As mentioned, FO may be positively or negatively charged. If the second filter device includes a collector of charge of opposite sign to the charge of FO, the second filter device can be located in the interior region 202 adjacent the first filter device to create a sufficient density of FO at the second surface 205 of the first filter device. Alternatively, the second filter device may be located outside of the second channel opening (such as second channel opening 209) in the positive Y-direction. For example, the second filter device may be embedded in the first filter device. In this case, the collector of charge in the first filter device (such as collector of charge 210) can be conceptually designated or considered as the second filter device, which due to its opposite charge, attracts FO to the second surface 205 of the first filter device 203. With the gradual spatial variation of the potential created by the collector of charge of the second filtering means, the average FO fraction gradually decreases in the negative Y direction in the inner region 202. Note that the potential of the second filter means increases gradually and symmetrically in the negative and positive Y-directions alone. However, due to the presence of the second surface 205 of the first filter means 203, this second surface 205 is impermeable to FO, so FO experiences a steep decrease in density in the positive Y-direction. In other such embodiments, the charge of the charge collector of the second filter device may have the same sign as the charge of FO, in which case the second filter device may be positioned in the negative Y direction of the second surface 205 of the first filter device 203 and configured in a variety of other suitable configurations similar to the first filter device 203 or the second filter device 211.

In fig. 7, the electric field is created by repulsive charges contained within the second EGFA and located in the negative direction of the desired spatial density gradient of FO.

In other embodiments, the electric field may be created by an attractive charge contained within the second EGFA and located in the positive direction of the desired spatial density gradient of FO. Several locations of the second EFGA will accomplish this. For example, the second EFGA may be located in the interior region 202 in close proximity to the second surface 205. In the context of fig. 7, the second EGFA may comprise a negative charge collector and be located in a uniform section of the interior region 202. Note that the first filter means may be regarded as "first electric field generation means" or "first EGFA". Since the electric field has an infinite extent, the aforementioned electric field can also be considered to be generated by a single electric field generating device.

In some embodiments, the second EFGA may even be located within the bulk material 206 of the first filter device 203. The second EFGA may be located in the positive or negative Y direction with respect to the collector of the charge of the first filter device 203. In this case, the charge collector associated with the first filter device 203, such as charge collector 210, would need to be strong enough and localized enough to repel the FO and prevent a sufficient percentage of the FO from entering or interacting with the channels (such as channel 207) from diffusing from the interior region 202 into the first container 200.

In some embodiments, the individual FOs may be electrons, and the individual OIs may be real or virtual photons, and the desired density gradient of the FOs may result from a suitably configured spatial variation of the electrical potential resulting from a suitably arranged collector of insulated positive or negative charges, wherein suitability may be determined according to the principles outlined herein and known methods of producing the desired spatial distribution of electrical potential. As described in the context of fig. 1, the extent of the inventive device in the Y-direction may differ substantially between the case where OI is a real and virtual photon.

The potential may also be conceptually thought of as mechanically generated. For example, the artificial density gradient of FO may be produced by several stages of compressors, where the compressors may be similarly configured as axial or centrifugal compressors in conventional jet engines, and where the compressors are capable of compressing FO to a greater extent than OI. The compressor can be considered to provide the pressure on FO needed to prevent the FO from diffusing into the second vessel. Thus, the compressor balances the diffusion pressure of FO that occurs due to the concentration gradient of FO. The compressor is configured to increase the pressure of FO in the positive Y direction and effectively push or squeeze the FO toward or against the first filter device 203. Note that no net flow of FO is required in either direction through the compressor. In the case of an axial compressor, the stages of the compressor may be counter-rotated. This may reduce the net viscous drag associated with the operation of the compressor. For static boundary conditions and for some embodiments, such as embodiments where the walls of the compressor rotate with the media containing the OI and FO, the viscous drag of the centrifugal compressor is negligible. There are several ways in which FO may be compressed to a greater extent than OI. In some embodiments, the compressor blade may be configured to be permeable or transparent to a greater portion of OI than FO, i.e., the coefficient of transfer of OI interacting with the compressor blade may be greater than the coefficient of transfer of FO. Alternatively, FO may have on average a greater mass than OI. This will result in the axial or centrifugal compressor exerting a greater force on FO alone than on OI. Thus, a greater number density gradient of FO may be produced throughout the compressor than the number density gradient of OI. The effect is similar to a sedimentation effect. In the case where FO and OI may be described as ideal gases, the properties of the gas composed of FO may be configured to be different from the properties of the gas composed of OI. For example, a gas consisting of FO may have a different molecular mass, a different specific heat capacity at constant pressure, or a different ratio of specific heat capacity at constant pressure to specific heat capacity at constant volume than a gas consisting of OI. Suitable differences in the properties of FO and OI may be determined using methods known in the art. In some embodiments, a gas consisting of FO may have a greater molecular mass, a smaller specific heat capacity at constant pressure, or a greater ratio of specific heat capacity at constant pressure to specific heat capacity at constant volume than a gas consisting of OI. Note that the foregoing definition of potential also applies to the case where an axial, centrifugal or any other kind of compressor is used. The work done to move the test FO between two points in the compressor can be modeled or thought to be conceptually related to the potential energy change of the FO.

As mentioned, different mechanisms may be used in other embodiments to create the potential of the aforementioned topology. For example, any type of force producing potential per unit mass may be used. In this case, the potential difference between two points can be considered as the work required to move the particles between the two points, where the work is done against the full force per unit mass. The spatial and temporal distribution of the magnitude and direction of the force per unit mass may be configured to produce the aforementioned topological topography of the force. The force per unit mass may take any form, such as gravitational acceleration, linear or angular inertial acceleration. The penetrating force may also be generated by an electric or magnetic field. Note that any work done against a magnetic field is a subset of the ways in which work can be done against an electric field. Other types of forces may be used to generate a force per unit mass, such as strong force (strong force). Many different ways in which such a thorough force profile per unit mass can be generated and configured in time and space to produce the aforementioned density variations of FO in space are known in the art.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention. Some features of the device shown in fig. 8 and some of the operating principles of the device have similarities with the devices shown in the other figures and will therefore not be described in the same detail in the context of fig. 8 and vice versa.

There is a first vessel 400 and a second vessel 401 in which the medium comprises OI, which is schematically represented by individual particles, such as the schematic representation of OI 425.

In this example, the invention is embodied by a first filter device 403, a second filter device 410 and a third filter device 431.

The first filter means 403 has a first surface 404 and a second surface 405, both of which are planar and parallel to the XZ-plane. In this embodiment, several identical channels, such as channel 407, allow OI to pass through bulk material 406 from first vessel 400 to interior region 402, and vice versa. In this embodiment, the channels are evenly spaced in the XZ-plane, similar to the arrangement of channels of the first filter device 103 shown in fig. 10A.

The monolithic material 406 may be made of any suitable material, such as metal, composite material, or ceramic. In some embodiments, the unitary material 406 may also be described as a fabric.

Each channel has a first opening, such as first opening 408, and a second opening, such as second opening 409. The cross-section of the channel 407 is constant and circular when viewed in the positive Y-direction.

The second filter device 410 comprises several layers, such as a first layer 411 and a second layer 418. Each layer comprises several cylindrical tubes arranged parallel to the Z-axis, such as cylindrical tube 413, cylindrical tube 415, cylindrical tube 420 or cylindrical tube 422. As shown, the tubes are evenly spaced in the X direction and are supported by cylindrical tubes such as cylindrical tubes 417 or cylindrical tubes 424 arranged parallel to the X axis. A passage 416 is formed between tubes 413, 415, 417 and a fourth tube above the plane of the page. Similarly, a channel 423 is formed between the tubes 424, 422, 420 and the fourth tube.

In fig. 8, the monolith of the second filter device 410, such as monolith 412 of layer 411 or monolith 419 of layer 418, is of the same material as monolith 406. In other embodiments, the monolith of the second filter device 410 may be a different material than the monolith 406.

The embodiment shown in fig. 8 may be considered similar to the embodiments shown in fig. 5 and 7. As mentioned, for dynamic boundary conditions, there is a net diffusion of OI from the first vessel into the internal cavity and into the second vessel. In the case where the internal cavity includes a freely moving FO, as is the case with the embodiment shown in fig. 10A, for example, this may result in a greater density of FO in the negative Y direction in the portion of the internal cavity. In other words, the density of FO in the internal cavity may decrease in the positive Y direction due to the diffusion of OI in the negative Y direction and the associated pressure of OI against FO. The increase in the concentration of FO in the negative Y direction may reduce the average diffusion rate of OI in the negative Y direction. The increased concentration of FO may be considered to block the channel openings of the second filter means at the interface with the internal cavity, thus reducing the diffusion rate of the OI from the internal cavity to the second filter means. This effect is undesirable and can be largely avoided by using CFO instead of FO. Since the CFOs are part of the bulk material of the embodiment, they are not displaced to the same extent as the OI is diffused within the inner region or by the same amount as the free mobile FO. Thus, for dynamic boundary conditions, the diffusion rate of OI at steady state for an embodiment employing CFO (such as the embodiment shown in FIG. 8) may be greater than an equivalent embodiment employing FO (such as the embodiment shown in FIG. 10A).

The third filter 431 has a first surface 432 and a second surface 433, both planar and parallel to the XZ-plane. In this embodiment, several identical channels, such as channel 435, allow OI to pass through bulk material 434 from second container 401 to interior region 402, and vice versa. In this embodiment, the channels are evenly spaced in the XZ-plane, similar to the arrangement of channels of the third filter apparatus 103 shown in fig. 10A.

For illustrative purposes, the separation distance between adjacent channels in the XZ-plane of the third filter arrangement 431 is the same as the separation distance between adjacent channels in the XZ-plane of the first filter arrangement 403. Note that the diameter of the channels of the third filter 431 (such as channel 407) is larger than the size of the channels of the first filter 403 (such as channel 435). Therefore, the diameter of the reference channel of the first filter device 403 in the first container 400 is smaller than the diameter of the reference channel of the third filter device 431 in the second container 401. For static boundary conditions, the density of OI in the second container 401 is greater than the density of OI in the first container 400.

The bulk material 434 may be made of any suitable material, such as a metal, composite, or ceramic. In some embodiments, monolithic material 434 can also be described as a fabric. In some embodiments, bulk material 434 may include graphene.

Each channel of the third filter arrangement 431 has a first opening, such as first opening 436, and a second opening, such as second opening 437. The cross-section of the channel 435 is constant and circular when viewed in the Y-direction.

In the context of line 428, axis 429 represents the average portion of space occupied by the bulk material of an embodiment of the present invention, denoted as the "average bulk fraction," and axis 430 corresponds to the position of the quantity expressed along the Y-axis measurement line 428. The monolithic material may be any monolithic material, such as monolithic material 406 of first filter apparatus 403, monolithic material of second filter apparatus 410, or monolithic material 434 of third filter apparatus 431.

In the context of line 426, an axis 429 parallel to the X-axis represents the average fraction of free space occupied by OI, also referred to as the "average OI fraction," and an axis 430 parallel to the Y-axis represents the location along the Y-direction at which the average OI fraction is measured. The dashed line 427 shows the value of the average OI score in the first vessel 400 for reference.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention. Some features of the device shown in fig. 9 and some of the operating principles of the device have similarities with the devices shown in the other figures and will therefore not be described in the same detail in the context of fig. 9 and vice versa.

There is a first vessel 450 and a second vessel 451 wherein the medium comprises OI, which is schematically represented by individual particles, such as the schematic representation of OI 475.

In this example, the invention is embodied by a first filtering device 453 and a second filtering device 460.

The first filter means 453 has a first surface 454 and a second surface 455, both planar and parallel to the XZ-plane. In this embodiment, several identical channels, such as channel 457, allow OI to pass through bulk material 456 from first container 450 to interior region 452, and vice versa. In this embodiment, the channels are evenly spaced in the XZ-plane, similar to the arrangement of channels of the first filter device 103 shown in fig. 10A.

The bulk material 456 may be made of any suitable material, such as a metal, composite, or ceramic. In some embodiments, the bulk material 456 can also be described as a fabric.

Each channel has a first opening, such as first opening 458, and a second opening, such as second opening 459. The cross-section of the channel 457 is constant and circular when viewed in the positive Y-direction.

The second filter device 460 includes several layers, such as a first layer 461, a second layer 468, and a third layer 481. Each layer includes several cylindrical tubes, such as cylindrical tube 463, cylindrical tube 465, cylindrical tube 470, or cylindrical tube 472, arranged parallel to the Z-axis. As shown, the tubes are evenly spaced in the X direction and are supported by cylindrical tubes such as cylindrical tube 467 or cylindrical tube 474 that are aligned parallel to the X axis. A channel 466 is formed between the tubes 463, 465, 467 and the fourth tube above the plane of the page. Similarly, a channel 473 is formed between the tubes 474, 472, 470 and the fourth tube. Similarly, a passage 486 is formed between tubes 487, 483, 485 and the fourth tube.

In fig. 9, the bulk material of the second filter device 460, such as the bulk material 462 of layer 461, or the bulk material 469 of layer 468, or the bulk material 482 of layer 481, possesses the same material as the bulk material 456. In other embodiments, the monolith of the second filter device 460 may be a different material than the monolith 456.

The third marked layer 481 may be considered equivalent to the third filter arrangement 431 mentioned in the context of fig. 8. Note that the cross-sectional area of the passage 486 is greater than the cross-sectional area of the passage 457. It is further noted that the separation distance of adjacent channels in the XZ-plane in layer 481 is less than the separation distance of adjacent channels in the first filter means 453. Therefore, the diameter of the reference channel of the first filtering device 453 in the first container 450 is smaller than the diameter of the reference channel of the second filtering device 460 in the second container 451. For static boundary conditions, the density of OI in the second vessel 451 is greater than the density of OI in the first vessel 450.

In the context of line 478, axis 479 represents the average portion of the space occupied by the bulk material of an embodiment of the present invention, expressed as the "average bulk fraction," and axis 480 corresponds to the location of the quantity expressed along Y-axis measurement line 478. The monolith may be any monolith, such as the monolith 456 of the first filter 453 or the monolith 460 of the second filter.

In the context of line 476, an axis 479 parallel to the X-axis represents the average fraction of free space occupied by OI, also referred to as the "average OI fraction," or concentration of OI, and an axis 480 parallel to the Y-axis represents the location along the Y-direction at which the average OI fraction is measured. The dashed line 427 shows the value of the average OI score in the first vessel 450 for reference.

In other embodiments, the filtration device may comprise a first filter surface (filter surface), a filtration membrane, or a filter plate, or a filtration device, such as first filtration device 453, wherein the first filter surface comprises a first surface directed toward the first vessel and a second surface directed toward the second vessel. The filter device may further comprise at least a second filter surface, wherein the second filter surface may further comprise a first surface directed towards the first receptacle, and a second surface directed towards the second receptacle, wherein the second surface of the first filter surface and the first surface of the second filter surface face each other, thereby forming an interior volume. According to the invention, the separation distance between the two filter surfaces is less than 1000 times the mean free path of the target object at that location. For example, the first filter surface may be planar and comprise several parallel channels of constant characteristic width along the length of the channels, similar to the filter device 403. Similarly, the second filter surface may be planar and comprise several parallel channels of constant characteristic width along the length of the channels, similar to the filter device 434. The channels of the first and second filter surfaces and the inner volume form a channel system.

In some such embodiments, the interaction between the target object and the filter surface comprises diffuse reflection.

In other words, a subset of the embodiments described in this paragraph may be considered similar to the embodiment shown in fig. 8, except that the interior region 402 need not include any additional monolith or filtered object, such as monolith 419. In such embodiments, the first surface of the second filter device and the second surface of the first filter device are positioned sufficiently close to each other such that at least a portion of the internal volume can be considered to be a channel running perpendicular to the length of the channel in the first filter surface or the channel in the second filter surface. The local shortest distance between the first surface of the second filter means and the second surface of the first filter means is denoted as "separation distance".

According to the invention, the width of the channels of the second filter surface is greater than the width of the channels in the first filter surface, so that the aperture angle of the channels in the second filter surface is greater than the aperture angle of the channels in the first filter surface. Thus, the second gradient section is formed by a transition from the interior volume through the channel in the second filter surface and into the second receptacle.

In some such embodiments, the separation distance between the second surface of the first filter surface and the first surface of the second filter surface is greater than the characteristic width of the channel in the first filter surface, the transition from the channel in the first filter surface to the internal volume thereby forming the second gradient section.

In some embodiments, several filtering surfaces, such as first or second filtering surfaces, may be arranged in series, wherein the separation distance between the filtering surfaces gradually increases, and wherein the aperture angle or the characteristic width of the channels in successive filtering surfaces gradually increases. Thus, a single second gradient section may extend throughout several filter surfaces.

In some such embodiments, the separation distance between the second surface of the first filter surface and the first surface of the second filter surface is less than the width of the channels in the second filter surface, the transition from the interior volume to the channels in the second filter surface thereby forming a second gradient section.

In some such embodiments, and in some embodiments that include a filter surface (such as filter surface 403 or 431), such as the embodiments shown in fig. 6-10A, the cross-sectional area of the channel along the length of the channel may also increase in the direction of the second receptacle, thereby forming a second gradient section within the filter surface. In other words, the filter device 153, 203, 403, 431, 453, 103, 110 may comprise a second gradient section. For example, these filtering means may be configured in a similar manner to the embodiments shown in fig. 1 or fig. 2.

Fig. 10A is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 10A, the medium comprises a target object, or "OI", that is schematically represented by individual particles, such as the schematic representation of particle 135. For simplicity, the medium may be considered to be an ideal gas comprising monatomic molecules. In other embodiments, the medium may be composed of other types of objects, such as water molecules. The medium may also contain several different types of objects, such as free electrons found in an atomic lattice in a metal conductor. In this simplified embodiment, the shape of the OI is presented as a sphere. In other embodiments, the OI need not be spherical, but may take any shape. For example, OI may be a diatomic molecule, or a polyatomic molecule, or an aerosol particle like a dust particle or pollen, which may take a variety of shapes. OI may also be a subatomic particle such as an electron, positron, or photon. OI may also be a virtual particle or a virtual object, such as a virtual photon, a virtual electron, or a virtual positron. For example, in the case where OI is a virtual photon, FO may be an electron. OI may also be a charged molecule, such as a positively or negatively charged ion.

There is a first container 100 and a second container 101. In this example, the invention is embodied by a first filter device 103, a second filter device 110, and an internal cavity 102 that includes a filtered object or "FO" (such as a filtered object 136).

In this embodiment, the interface between the internal cavity 102 and the first container 100 is formed by the first filter means 103 or an insulating material (which is not shown), but is configured such that FO and OI are impermeable and totally reflected. The insulating material may be configured to enclose the interior cavity 102 in a direction perpendicular to the Y-direction. For example, the cross-section of the insulating material may be a cylindrical shell when viewed in the Y-direction. In other embodiments, the cross-section of the insulating material may be any shape, such as rectangular or polygonal. Similarly, the interface between the internal cavity 102 and the second container 101 is formed by the second filter device 110 or said insulating material.

The first filter means 103 has a first surface 104 and a second surface 105. In this embodiment, several identical channels, such as channel 107, allow diffusion of OI from first container 100 through bulk material 106 to internal cavity 102, and vice versa. Each channel has a first opening, such as first opening 108, and a second opening, such as second opening 109. The cross-section of the channel 107 is constant and circular when viewed in the positive Y-direction. In other embodiments, the cross-sectional geometry of the channel 107 need not be circular, but may be any arbitrary shape, such as square, rectangular, or polygonal.

Fig. 10B is a cross-sectional view in the positive Y direction of the first filter device 103 of the embodiment shown in fig. 10A. The periodic arrangement of channels (such as channel 107) within the monolith 106 is evident. In other embodiments, the arrangement need not be periodic. The circle 137 schematically represents the projection of the largest outer circumference of the FO onto the cross section of the channel. FO cannot pass through the first filter means 103 because the surface of the monolith 106 facing the internal cavity 102 is totally reflective to FO.

The cross-sectional geometry and dimensions of the channels are configured to allow diffusion of OI from the interior region 202 through the channels and into the first vessel 100, and vice versa. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 10A, the circular cross-sectional area of the channels 107 is greater than the largest circular cross-sectional area of OI and less than the smallest circular cross-sectional area of FO. In other embodiments, the cross-sectional area or geometry may not be constant along the Y-direction. In other embodiments, the portion of FO interacting with the first filter device 103 or the second filter device 110 may also be able to diffuse through the first filter device 103 or the second filter device 110, provided that the operating principles of embodiments of the present invention are still employed. According to some embodiments of the present invention, for a static boundary condition, a diffusion rate of OI in either direction through a reference channel of a second filtering means associated with the internal cavity is greater than a diffusion rate of OI in either direction through a reference channel of a first filtering means associated with the internal cavity. In some embodiments, for static boundary conditions, this principle may require the condition that the number density of the FO in the internal cavity 102 is greater than the number density of the FO in the first container 100, and greater than the number density of the FO in the second container 101.

In the case where the target object may be described as a particle, such as a molecule, the bulk material 106 may be any solid material, such as a metal, ceramic, or composite material. All accessible surfaces of material 106 are configured to totally reflect all OI and FO. In other embodiments, the reflectivity may be any value greater than zero. Those skilled in the art will be able to select suitable materials for a given application.

Thus, the first filter device 103 is configured to allow OI to pass through a channel (such as channel 107) of the first filter device 103 in the positive or negative Y direction, but to prevent FO from passing from the internal cavity 102 into the first container 100. In this simplified embodiment, the size difference between spherical FO and spherical OI is used to filter or prevent FO from diffusing through the first filter means 103, while OI is allowed to diffuse through the first filter means 103. In other embodiments, other properties of FO may be used to allow the first filter device 103 to distinguish between FO and OI. For example, the charge difference between FO and OI may be used to filter FO while allowing OI to pass through the filtering device. In this case, the filtering means may employ electrostatic repulsion, thereby preventing FO of a particular charge from passing through the filtering means. In another example, the difference in geometry between FO and OI may be used to filter FO while allowing OI to pass through the first filter device 103. For example, the volumes of FO and OI may be the same, but the shape of OI may be spherical, while the shape of FO may be triangular or rectangular. The smallest cross section of FO is thus larger than the smallest cross section of OI, which allows the channels with circular cross section to be dimensioned in such a way that OI is allowed to pass through the channels while FO is prevented from passing through the channels.

Various other filtration devices and methods are known in the art for allowing objects of a particular set of properties to pass through a filtration device while impeding, reducing, or preventing objects having a different set of properties from passing through the filtration device, or reducing the flow rate or diffusion rate thereof through the filtration device.

In the simplified example depicted in fig. 10A, the filtered object may be considered a spherical particle, such as an atom found in a monatomic gas. As shown, FO has a larger diameter than OI. In other embodiments, the shape of FO need not be spherical, nor need it be larger than OI in all dimensions. For example, an individual FO may also be a collection of atoms, such as fullerene molecules, which may be spherical, elliptical, or tubular in shape.

The second filter means 110 comprises a number of internal thin rods (pin), such as internal thin rod 111 or internal thin rod 112. The second filter device 110 may also include an external pin, such as external pin 116 or external pin 115. Each interior shaft defines a first surface, such as first surface 120 of interior shaft 112 or first surface 119 of interior shaft 111. Each outer shaft defines a second surface, such as second surface 122 of outer shaft 115 or second surface 123 of outer shaft 116. The inner and outer struts are rigidly connected to the support means 125. The internal pin is located in the positive Y-direction of the support means 125, i.e. on the side of the support means 125 facing the internal cavity 102. The outer pin is located in the negative Y-direction of the support means 125, i.e. on the side of the support means 125 not facing the inner cavity but facing the second container 101. In this embodiment, the inner wand may be considered to be a mirror image of the outer wand, where the mirror plane is parallel to the XZ-plane and is located at the center of the support means 125 in the Y-direction, i.e. near the marker 125 of FIG. 10A. This mirror plane will be referred to as the mirror plane of the second filter device 110.

In this embodiment, each thin rod is cylindrical in shape, having a long axis parallel to the Y-axis. The thin rod is circular in cross section when viewed in the Y direction, and is uniform in shape and size. In other embodiments, the cross-section may be any geometric shape, such as rectangular, square, or polygonal. In other embodiments, the long axis of the wand need not be parallel to the Y-axis. For example, the long axis of the wand may form an angle with the Y-axis, wherein the angle is less than 45 degrees. In other embodiments, the angle may be less than 90 degrees. In still other embodiments, the channels of the second filter device 110 may have any suitable geometry, provided that the principles of the present invention are employed. The principles of the present invention may constrain parameters such as the size of each channel of the second filter device 110, or the arrangement of the channels of the second filter device 110 relative to each other, or the geometry of the channels of the second filter device 110. These parameters determine the performance of embodiments of the present invention. For example, the shape and size of the cross-section of the thin rod may vary along the Y-axis. In some such embodiments, the geometry of the second filter device may be symmetrical on average about a mirror plane parallel to the XZ-plane and located halfway between a first surface of the second filter device (such as first surface 120) and a second surface of the second filter device (such as second surface 123) along the Y-direction. In this case, the average is a spatial and temporal average calculated over the range of the second filter means. In other such embodiments, the geometry of the second filter device need not be symmetrical. For example, the second filter device may include only a support device, such as support device 125, and an external pin, such as external pin 115 or 116. In some such cases, the presence of the first filter means 103 or the internal chamber 102 comprising FO is not necessary.

Each pin may have any length in the Y direction provided that other constraints, such as structural and manufacturing constraints, are met.

In this embodiment, the diameter of the cylindrical pin is as small as possible. In some embodiments, the cross-sectional area of the thin rod when viewed in the Y-direction is on the order of the size of the cross-sectional area of the OI. In some embodiments, the cross-sectional area of the wand, when viewed in the Y-direction, is on the order of the size of the cross-sectional area of the FO. In other embodiments, the cross-sectional area of the wand, when viewed in the Y-direction, may take any other suitable value.

In the illustrated embodiment, adjacent inner filaments, such as inner filament 111 and inner filament 112, are arranged in a manner wherein FO cannot pass from inner chamber 102 through second filter device 110 into second container 101. The first plane of the second filter device 110 may be defined as a plane parallel to the XZ-plane and coincident with the first surface 120 of the inner pin 112. The first intermediate plane of the second filter device 110 can be defined as the plane parallel to the XZ-plane and coinciding with the first surface 130 of the internal pin of the rigid element 132. The second intermediate plane of the second filter device 110 can be defined as a plane parallel to the XZ-plane and coinciding with the second surface 131 of the internal thin bar of the rigid element 132. The second plane of the second filter device 110 may be defined as a plane parallel to the XZ-plane and coincident with the second surface 123 of the outer pin 116. The volume of space between the first plane and the first intermediate plane not occupied by the monolith 126 is the first channel portion 127 of the second filter device 110. The volume of space between the second intermediate plane and the second plane not occupied by the monolith 126 is the second channel portion 129 of the second filter device 110. The volume of space between the first and second intermediate planes not occupied by the monolith 126 includes intermediate channels, such as the intermediate channel 128 of the second filter device 110. First channel portion 127, intermediate channels (such as intermediate channel 128), and second channel portion 129 allow OI to pass through second filter apparatus 110 from internal cavity 102 to second vessel 101, and vice versa. The portion of the first plane that is not coincident with a first surface of the wand, such as first surface 120 or first surface 119, is denoted as the first passage opening of the second filter device 110. The portion of the second plane that does not coincide with a second surface of the wand, such as second surface 122 or second surface 123, is represented as a second channel opening of the second filter device 110.

The support device 125 includes several rigid elements, such as rigid element 132 or rigid element 133 shown in fig. 10C. Each rigid element is rigidly connected to a subset of the inner and outer struts, as shown in fig. 10A and 10C. There may also be a rigid connection between the rigid element and an adjacent rigid element, or between the rigid element and any device supporting the second filter device. Such rigid connections are not shown in the drawings. Between adjacent individual rigid elements, there are intermediate channels, such as intermediate channel 128, through which OI can diffuse from internal cavity 102 into second container 101, or vice versa. Each rigid element has a first surface, such as first surface 130 of rigid element 132, and a second surface, such as second surface 131 of rigid element 132.

In other embodiments, second filter device 110 may be configured in a similar manner as first filter device 103, with the characteristic width of the channels in second filter device 110 being greater than the characteristic width of the channels in first filter device 103, provided that the second filter device is still capable of at least partially preventing or hindering diffusion of FO from interior region 102 into second container 101. In such embodiments, the filtration device can be considered to be configured in a similar manner to the filtration device shown in fig. 8, where FO in fig. 10A is replaced by a CFO, i.e., by the monolith in fig. 8.

Fig. 10C is a cross-sectional view along the negative Y direction of the second filter device 110 of the embodiment shown in fig. 10A. The periodic arrangement of filaments, such as internal filament channels 112 or internal filaments 111, is evident. In other embodiments, the arrangement need not be periodic. The circle 138 schematically represents the projection of the smallest outer circumference of FO on the cross section of the first channel part 127. Note that the outer perimeter always intersects the monolith 126 at least once. The FO cannot pass through the second filter device 110 because the surface of the monolith 126 facing the internal cavity 102 is totally reflective of the FO.

Note that the thin rods and the support means may deflect or deform under stress and may therefore also be considered flexible in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the first or second filter device may be described as a fabric, cloth, or textile. In some embodiments, the first or second filter device may be described as a porous plug.

The rationale and considerations for selecting a suitable material for the monolith 106 of the first filter means 103 also apply to the monolith 126 of the second filter means 110. For example, the bulk material 126 may be a metal, ceramic, or composite material. In some embodiments, the bulk material 126 may include carbon or graphene. In some embodiments, the thin rods of the second filter device 110 may comprise carbon nanotubes. In this embodiment, the surface of bulk material 126 is totally reflective to OI and FO. In other embodiments, the reflectivity may be any value greater than zero for the bulk material 106. With respect to objects of a given type, such as FO and OI, the range of suitable values for the overall material reflectivity of a given device (such as the first filter device or the second filter device) depends on the geometry and dimensions of the channels of the filter devices of embodiments of the invention, as well as the desired purpose or desired effectiveness of the embodiments, among other parameters.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the diameter of the reference channel of the second filter device 110 associated with the second receptacle 101 is greater than the diameter of the reference channel of the first filter device 103 associated with the first receptacle 100. Note that due to the symmetry of the filter devices in the Y-direction, the reference channel of a given filter device associated with the first or second container is the same as the reference channel of the same filter device associated with the internal cavity 102 instead. This difference in the size of the reference channel between the first and second filter means is achieved by: the larger cross-sectional area associated with the passage opening of the second filter device 110 to the internal cavity 102, such as the passage opening described by the interface between the passage portion 127 and the internal cavity 102, and the shorter separation distance between adjacent passages, as compared to the diameter and separation distance of the passages of the first filter device 103, such as passage 107.

The operation of the device shown in fig. 10A is remote from the principles of operation of the device similar to that shown in fig. 8 and discussed in the context of fig. 7.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10A, for static boundary conditions, the length of the inner thin rods (such as inner thin rod 111) in the Y direction is large enough so that the geometry and dimensions of the intermediate channels (such as intermediate channel 128) do not substantially affect the diffusion rate of OI through the first plane in either direction. In other embodiments, this need not be the case. In the depicted embodiment, the symmetry of the second filter arrangement 110 with respect to the mirror plane of the second filter arrangement 110 ensures that the average density of OI in the inner portion of the individual channels of the second filter arrangement 110 is equal to the average density of OI in the outer portion of the individual channels of the second filter arrangement 110.

For static boundary conditions, for some embodiments, the density of OI in the second container 101 is greater than the density of OI in the first container 100. For some embodiments, the pressure of OI in second vessel 101 is greater than the pressure of OI in first vessel 100. For some embodiments, the entropy of OI in second container 101 is less than the entropy of OI in first container 100. For some embodiments, the average rate of OI in the second vessel 101 is substantially equal to the average rate of OI in the first vessel 100. For some embodiments, the temperature of OI in second vessel 101 is substantially equal to the temperature of OI in first vessel 100.

For dynamic boundary conditions, there is a net diffusion of OI from the first container 100 into the second container 101. Embodiments of the present invention may therefore also be considered for applications involving pumping. Due to the net diffusion of OI, there is a net force acting in the positive Y direction on embodiments of the present invention. Such forces may be used to do mechanical work. The mechanical work may also be converted to electrical energy using a generator. In the case of OI carrying a charge, embodiments of the present invention may be used to generate electrical work. The electrical work can also be converted into mechanical work using an electric motor. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may be considered for applications involving power generation. Such applications, and related devices and methods, are well known in the art.

In other embodiments, the function or purpose of the FO shown in fig. 10A may optionally be accomplished by a suitable arrangement of the monolithic material within the internal cavity 102.

The manner in which the filter device is manufactured depends on the scale or characteristic length of the filter device. For example, consider an application example in which the mean free path of a target object in a medium is about one millimeter. In an example of a filter system for such an application, the characteristic width of the region of reduced cross-sectional area of a channel (such as channel 276) may be about one centimeter. Structures of this scale can be easily manufactured and mass produced using conventional mechanical manufacturing techniques, such as Computer Numerical Control (CNC) mills, Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), photolithography and etching, additive printing processes, and the like.

Embodiments of filter devices having characteristic lengths on the order of nanometers may be fabricated using semiconductor fabrication equipment and procedures. For example, grayscale electron beam or ion beam lithography can be used to fabricate large arrays of molds with repeating patterns of complex geometries on a nanometer scale. These molds can be used to imprint desired surface features on a substrate using nanoimprint lithography. For example, the method may be used to manufacture the filter plate embodiment, or filter surface, or filter membrane, or filter plate, shown in the examples of fig. 1-5 or fig. 11, such as filter surface 203 in fig. 7, or filter surface 153 in fig. 6. In another example, the filter plate embodiments may be fabricated using nano-scale additive manufacturing techniques, such as electron beam induced deposition. These and other fabrication techniques may benefit from interference effects to fabricate large arrays of the above-described complex structures. These methods are known, for example, in the field of interference lithography. For example, subtractive manufacturing techniques (such as deep reactive ion etching) may be used to fabricate the channels of a filter device of the type shown in fig. 6-10A. For example, the channel diameter may be on the order of tens of nanometers.

In fig. 11, the initial directional distribution of the OI interacting with the filter apparatus 900 (i.e., the initial velocity directional distribution) is uniformly distributed over all angles (i.e., 360 degrees). In the simplified scenario shown in fig. 11, the distribution of the initial direction of OI entering the channel from the first container 2036 is uniform. This is indicated by the uniformly distributed incident flux 2059 from the first vessel, wherein the distribution is uniform over a range of possible directions indicated by the arrows within the curved profile of the incident flux 2059. Incident flux 2059 is measured relative to a reference line 2056. For dynamic boundary conditions, the properties of the first container 2036 and the second container 2037 are assumed to be instantaneously the same. Thus, the distribution of incident flux 2060 of OI from the second vessel 2037 is also uniform in all directions as a function of the direction of the incident velocity, as indicated by the constant magnitude of flux 2060 relative to the reference line 2057.

Such distributions of incident flux occur in a variety of applications of embodiments of the present invention. For example, in a typical stationary medium, i.e., a medium in which the average velocity of the OI is zero, i.e., a medium in which the bulk flow is zero, the OI velocity profile is uniformly distributed over all angles. This applies to atoms or molecules in a gas, or electrons in the conduction band of a semiconductor. A filter device placed in such a stationary medium will thus experience a uniform distribution of initial directions, i.e. the probability of an OI having an initial velocity in a given direction interacting with the channel or outer surface of the filter device is approximately equal for all directions.

For the simplified embodiment shown in fig. 11, all OI entering a channel (such as channel 2039) from first container 2036 are transferred to the second container. Note that for simplicity, it is assumed that there are no random scattering events throughout the movement of the OI through the filter. In other embodiments, there may be scattering events such as OI collisions with OI or diffuse reflections from internal surfaces of the channel (such as internal surface 2047) provided there is still a net diffusion to dynamic boundary conditions, or a net concentration, pressure or density difference to static boundary conditions. When OI diffuses from first vessel 2036 to second vessel 2037 through channel 2039, OI may collide with the interior walls 2047 of the channel. The component of the OI in the direction of motion in the Y direction increases due to the angle of the walls relative to the XZ-plane. This effect is illustrated in FIG. 11 by an example trace of OI (such as trace 2035 of OI 2052). As shown, the component of the motion or velocity of OI 2052 in the negative Y direction increases in magnitude with each collision with interior surface 2047. As a result, the initial uniform distribution of velocity in first vessel 2036, indicated by flux magnitude 2059, as a function of direction is not uniform when OI reaches second vessel 2037. The initial hemispherical uniform distribution of directions has been focused into a converging beam 2064 of outflow velocity. Due to the high first transmittance and the geometric nature of the interior surface 2047 of the channel 2039, the entire inflow flux (infilux) 2059, i.e., the inflow flux 2059 integrated over all angles, has been focused into a reduced set of angles, i.e., the converging beam 2064.

Conversely, any inflow flux 2060 entering the channel 2039 from the second vessel 2037 at an initial angle within the limited range of the beam 2064 spreads out over the entire range of possible inflow flux angles, resulting in a decrease in the outflow flux (outflux) magnitude 2061 measured relative to the same reference line 2056. Any incoming flux 2060 entering the channel 2039 at an initial angle outside the limited range of the beam 2064 is reflected back into the second vessel 2037 as indicated by the portion 2063 of the outgoing flux 2062 lying outside the beam 2064. Outflow flux 2062 is also measured relative to reference line 2057. The scene in which OI from the second container 2037 is reflected back to the second container 2037 is illustrated by the trace 2055 of OI 2054.

Therefore, the first transmittance is greater than the second transmittance. In some embodiments, the ratio of the first transmittance to the second transmittance is sufficiently large such that the ratio of the product of the first transmittance and the first capture area (i.e., the area of the first opening 2041 in the XZ-plane) to the product of the second transmittance and the second capture area (i.e., the area of the second opening 2042) is greater than one, although the first capture area is less than the second capture area. Thus, in some such embodiments, there is a net diffusion of OI from first vessel 2036 to second vessel 2037 for dynamic boundary conditions, or the concentration, density, or pressure of OI is greater in second vessel 2037 relative to first vessel 2036.

For dynamic boundary conditions, there is a net flow 1040 of the target object from the first vessel 2036 through the filter apparatus 900 or 1000 into the second vessel 2037. Filter device 900 includes a unitary material 2065, a first surface 2046, a number of channels (such as channels 2039, each channel including a first opening 2041 or 1006 and a second opening 2042 or 1008), and an interior surface 2047. In the depicted embodiment, most of the interaction between the target object and the channel boundary (i.e., interior surface 2047) may be described as specular reflection. In some such embodiments, greater than 50% of the interactions may be described as specular reflection. In some such embodiments, greater than 90% of the interactions may be described as specular reflection. In some such embodiments, greater than 30% of the interactions may be described as specular reflection.

Note that the effective aperture of the first opening 2041 to the second vessel 2037 is depicted by its cross-sectional area along the length of the beam 2064, which in this example is tapered. The effective aperture of the first opening 2041 to the first vessel 2036 is depicted by the cross-sectional area of the outflow flux 2061, which in this example is almost hemispherical. Thus, for dynamic boundary conditions, the pore size in the second vessel is smaller than the pore size in the first vessel, which results in a net diffusion of OI from the first vessel to the second vessel.

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view of an application of an embodiment of the invention in a scramjet supersonic engine.

For example, the engine 3000 may be used to generate thrust by interacting with gas molecules (such as air molecules). The engine 300 includes a first inlet 3003, a first constricted portion 3004, a first expanded portion 3005, a filter device 3006, also referred to as filter device 900, a second constricted portion 3007, a second expanded portion 3008, and an outlet 3009. During nominal supersonic flight, inflow and outflow flow tubes 3018 and 3019 are incident on or emitted from stagnation points of leading and trailing edges 3010 and 3011, respectively.

The engine 3000 includes a passageway 3002, the passageway 3002 being defined by a unitary material 3001 and located between an inlet 3003 and an outlet 3009. For example, engine 3000 may be configured to operate with air. Outer surface 3020 and inner surface 3021 of the engine depict axisymmetric and concentric surfaces in this simplified embodiment, where the axis of symmetry is parallel to the X-axis and is referred to as the "center axis".

A translating centerbody (spike)3022 having an outer surface 3025 is configured to regulate the flow rate through the engine 3000 and thus the amount of thrust generated. The translating centerbody 3022 may be moved by a hydraulic or electric actuator along the central axis in a continuously variable manner from an open position to a closed position to increase or decrease the cross-sectional area of the passage 3002. Support struts, such as support strut 3023, provide structural support for translating the centerbody of the scoop. Arrow 1040 indicates the direction of flow during nominal operation.

The filter device 3006 is configured in accordance with the present invention. For example, the filter device 3006 may include several layers of filter devices arranged in series, such as layer 3031, where each of the filter devices in the layers is arranged in a similar manner as the filter device shown in fig. 11. In other embodiments, the filtering devices in a layer (such as layer 3031) may be configured in a manner similar to the filtering devices shown in fig. 1-10. Thus, the pressure of the media containing the target object (e.g., air) increases across the filter apparatus such that the pressure at measurement point (station)3042 is greater than the pressure at measurement point 3014, and the pressure at measurement point 3043 is greater than the pressure at measurement point 3042, and the pressure at measurement point 3015 is greater than the pressure at measurement point 3043. There is a net diffusion of OI (e.g., air molecules) through the filter 3006 in the direction indicated by arrow 1040. Each channel system in the filter apparatus includes a first opening (such as first opening 3032) and a monolithic material (such as monolithic material 3041), as shown in enlarged view 3030.

In other respects, engine 3000 may be considered to operate in a similar manner to a conventional ramjet engine. Between the free flow measurement point 3012 and the throat 3013, the supersonic flow is decelerated and the air is compressed, preferably isentropically, i.e. without generating a shock wave. Between the throat 3013 and the measurement point 3014, the flow is compressed and further slowed to a subsonic flow rate. This compression between measurement points 3012 and 3014 in an ideal ramjet engine is adiabatic, but in actual practice there is a weak shock wave that is stable between throat 3013 and measurement point 3014, preferably close to the throat to reduce losses. The flow rate at the measurement point 3014 is reduced, thereby reducing the resistance associated with the filter device 3006.

The filtering device is configured to increase the pressure of the gas. Due to the collision of the OI with the downstream surface of the filter, there is a cooling effect of the OI containing medium as the momentum of the OI is transferred to the filter.

After the pressure at the measurement point 3015 is increased, the gas is preferably adiabatically expanded through converging and diverging nozzles. In this expansion, the temperature of the gas is further decreased so that the temperature at the measurement point 3017 is lower than the temperature at the measurement point 3012, while the pressure at both measurement points is atmospheric pressure.

In some embodiments, the characteristic width of the channels in the filtration device may decrease in a downstream direction through the combined filtration device corresponding to a decrease in mean free path associated with an increase in density and pressure across the filtration device. Alternatively, the flow velocity may be increased and the density of the media may be decreased, thereby maintaining the length of the mean free path above the dimensional constraints provided by the configuration or manufacturability of the filtration device.

Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in fig. 12 in a closed or zero-thrust configuration. In this configuration, translating centerbody 3022 is in a fully retracted position, resulting in closing of passage 3002 and zero thrust. In this configuration, the filtering device 3006 can be considered to operate under static boundary conditions, where a greater pressure is generated in the second container 1004 than in the first container 1002.

In some embodiments of the invention, the target object is a virtual particle, as described by quantum field theory. A quantum vacuum may be considered to be a medium comprising a virtual object representing fluctuations in the quantum vacuum that temporarily exhibit some or all of the properties of a corresponding conventional or real object. Examples of virtual objects are virtual photons, or virtual particle-anti-particle pairs, such as electrons and positrons. A quantum vacuum may instantaneously exhibit any property of a particle or wave, such as mass or momentum. In the context of embodiments of the present invention, there is no distinction between a conventional object (e.g., a photon) and a virtual object (e.g., a virtual photon). For simplicity, the term "vacuum" is used to refer to a quantum vacuum described by quantum field theory. These virtual particles can produce zero energy and related effects, such as the Casimir effect.

Embodiments of the present invention that interact with a quantum vacuum may be configured as follows. The characteristic dimension of the filter device, the characteristic length of the channel and the characteristic width are configured to be less than 1000 times the length of the mean free path of the virtual particle. In other words, the characteristic dimensions of the filter device are configured in such a way that the cassimel force between the parts of the invention (e.g. between the opposite walls of the channel) is non-negligible. In other words, the characteristic dimensions of the filter device are configured in such a way that the zero point between the parts of the invention (i.e. between the opposite walls of the channel) can vary from the undisturbed vacuum level of the zero point energy by a non-negligible amount.

The vacuum may be thought of as being composed of virtual particles (e.g., virtual photons) that travel a distance or exist for a period of time before annihilating with another virtual particle. As discussed herein, an annihilation event may be considered a scattering event of an OI. As discussed herein, the mean path traveled by a virtual particle (e.g., a virtual photon) between annihilation or extinction events may be considered the mean free path of the virtual particle. The mean free path of the virtual particle is within several orders of magnitude of one nanometer. For example, the cassimel pressure between two opposing perfectly conductive plates is approximately equal to one atmosphere at a separation of approximately 10 nanometers.

The geometry of the filter device that interacts with the quantum vacuum may be any suitable geometry discussed herein. For example, the filtering device may be configured in the manner described in the context of fig. 1-11. Note that for static boundary conditions, the distribution of the initial directions of the virtual particles is uniform over all angles, as described in the context of fig. 11. Note that the interaction between the virtual particle and the boundary of the channel system (such as interior surface 2047) may include specular reflection, as described in the context of fig. 11. Note that as described in the context of fig. 1-10, the interaction between the virtual particle and the boundary of the channel system (such as bulk material 245 in channel system 242 or bulk material 270 in channel system 267, or bulk material 156 or 162 in fig. 6), or the filtered object (such as filtered object 227 in fig. 7, or filtered object 136 of fig. 10A) may also include diffuse reflections or may be described as a scattering event. In the following paragraphs, for convenience and clarity of description, example embodiments will be discussed as embodiments configured in a similar manner to the embodiment in fig. 11.

In this embodiment, all surfaces of the monolith of the filtration device (such as monolith 2065 or monolith 270) are perfectly conductive. In other embodiments, this need not be the case. Bulk material 270 may be a superconducting material, or a conventional conductive material such as a metal, a semiconductor such as silicon, or an insulator such as glass. In other embodiments, the surface of the monolith may be coated with a different material having the desired properties. If minimization of the target is advantageous for high conductivity, a coating material such as copper, silver, or graphene may be used. In this simplified embodiment, the bulk material is neutrally charged. In the case where the bulk material 207 is a metal, a metal having a large plasma frequency, such as aluminum, may be used. This ensures that the frequency range over which the reflectivity of the bulk material is greater than zero is maximised, which ensures that the filter device can interact with virtual particles (such as virtual photons) of a wide range of frequencies, so that the thrust or axial pressure is maximised.

For dynamic boundary conditions, the virtual object may interact with the filtering means in the following way: where there is a net spread of virtual objects in the negative Y-direction of the embodiment shown in fig. 11. This may result in a net force on the filter device in the positive Y-direction. The value per unit of force in the XZ-plane represents the axial pressure. For example, when the virtual particle is a virtual photon, the origin of the axial pressure is the radiation pressure of the virtual photon redirected or focused by the filtering means within the mean free path of the virtual photons, as illustrated by traces 2053 and 2055 in fig. 11. The radiation pressure of a virtual object acting on a surface of the filtering device, such as surface 2047, may result in a net force or a net axial pressure in the Y-direction. The value of the null energy may be considered to be greater in channel 2039 than in the baseline undisturbed vacuum, which results in a pressure on interior surface 2047 that is greater than the pressure on surface 2046 due to the lower baseline undisturbed vacuum level of the null energy. The zero energy may be considered the energy associated with the virtual object. The size and shape of the channel, as well as other parameters, such as the conductivity of the bulk material, affect the magnitude of this axial compressive force.

Embodiments of the present invention may be configured to generate a net axial pressure when all portions of the finite surface are subjected to an unaltered vacuum. In other embodiments, other portions of the surface of the finite volume need not be subjected to an unaltered vacuum, as defined by the vacuum of the default boundary conditions. In general, monolithic materials can be configured in the following manner: wherein the zero energy of the medium near one incremental surface element of the bulk material is not equal to the zero energy of the medium near another incremental surface element of the bulk material. This difference in zero energy can result in a difference in stress on the surface. According to the invention, such a difference in stress, when integrated over the entire surface of the monolithic material, can generate a net force on the volume of the monolithic material enclosed by said surface.

The magnitude and direction of the axial pressure for a particular geometry and size of the device unit may be calculated using methods known in the art. For example, such a method has been developed to calculate the casimir interaction between arbitrary geometries. These algorithms may be adapted to the type of geometry provided in or within the scope of the present invention. Suitable geometries and dimensions for embodiments of a particular application may be found using standard optimization techniques.

There are a variety of applications for such devices. For example, the axial pressure may be used to do mechanical work, which may be converted to electrical energy by a generator. Embodiments of the present invention may also be considered for applications involving zero energy pumping. Consider a scenario in which the depicted apparatus forms an interface between two otherwise separate containers. In such cases, embodiments of the present invention may be used to reduce the zero energy in the first vessel and correspondingly increase the zero energy in the second vessel. The first and second containers are assumed to be finite in size and to be initially under default boundary conditions, i.e., the zero energy in the first and second containers is initially substantially equal to the zero energy of free space. Over time, embodiments of the present invention will reduce the zero energy in the first container and correspondingly increase the zero energy in the second container. Eventually, a new steady state configuration is reached, where the zero point in any vessel can be approximately constant in time.

Filtration devices configured to interact with quantum vacuum have a variety of applications. For example, such a filtering device may be configured to generate a thrust by interacting with and inducing a bulk flow of dummy particles. For example, such embodiments may be configured in a similar manner to the embodiments shown in fig. 12 and 13, where the medium 1046 is a vacuum, rather than a gas. Thus, such engines may be configured to produce thrust in a space vacuum. Embodiments of the invention may therefore be used to power or propel a spacecraft or rocket. For example, in such applications, a filtration device may be installed in place of a conventional chemical rocket on a spacecraft or rocket. As discussed in the context of FIG. 12, translating the centerbody, such as translating the centerbody 3022, may be used to adjust the flow rate of the dummy particles through the engine. The monolith 3001 may be configured in a similar manner to the monolith of the filter device interacting with the dummy particles discussed. In other embodiments, different types of valves or flow regulators may be used to regulate the flow rate or diffusion rate of the dummy particles or gas molecules through the channel 3002. For example, the outlet 3009 may comprise a movable nozzle that may limit the cross-sectional area when viewed along a central axis.

It is also possible to mount a filter device that interacts with a quantum vacuum or any other type of medium on the rotating shaft of the generator and apply a torque to the shaft. Thus, the filter device may be used to rotate the shaft and apply power to the generator, which may convert the power to electricity. In such configurations, the filter device may perform the same function as and may be arranged similarly to turbine blades on a wind turbine. The normal or Y-axis of the filtering means may be configured to be perpendicular to the local flow of the OI with respect to the filtering means. Note that the filtering device may generate thrust or deliver power to the generator even when there is no net bulk flow or no wind.

The filter device interacting with the quantum vacuum may also be enclosed in a protective enclosure. For example, the housing may close the inlet 3003 and the outlet 3009. The housing is configured to be more transparent to the dummy particles than the bulk material 3001 so that the dummy particles can still move through the protective housing. The housing may be configured to prevent or reduce contamination or clogging of individual channels of the filter device by other objects, such as air molecules, dust particles or aerosols. The housing material may be any material having the properties described above. For example, the housing material may be fiberglass or any other material having a high transmittance for electromagnetic radiation. The housing material may also be a metal, provided that the transmission rate of the dummy particles through the metal of the housing is greater than the transmission rate of the dummy particles through the bulk material of the filter apparatus (such as bulk material 3041).

Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view of an application of an embodiment of the present invention in a power supply.

The filtering means 3153 is embedded within the conductor 3151 and is configured to interact with electrons as a target object. The bulk material 3178 of the filter arrangement may be a material with a lower electrical conductivity, i.e. a medium in which mainly electrons move, than the bulk material 3152 of the conductor 3151. As shown in enlarged view 3167, the filtration device includes several layers of filtration devices arranged in series, such as layer 3171 or layer 3168, where each layer includes filtration devices configured in a similar manner to the filtration device shown in fig. 11, where each layer includes channels, such as channel 1028. In other embodiments, the filtering means in a layer (such as layer 3171) may be configured in the manner described in the context of fig. 1-10. For example, in such a layer, the first filter device or the second container of the filter system may be identical to the first container of the second filter device located downstream of the first filter device for dynamic boundary conditions. In some embodiments, electrical conductor 3151 may include a liquid, such as an electrolyte, which may include impurities, such as electrically insulating particles, where the impurities correspond to a filtered object, such as filtered object 136 in fig. 10A. In some embodiments, the charge carriers may further include ions, such as lithium or sodium ions, configured to diffuse through a gaseous, liquid or solid medium and through the filtration device. For dynamic boundary conditions, the bulk flow 1040 of electrons is in the positive X direction, toward the right side of the page.

The filtering means 3150 may be considered a current source and the electrical contacts 3154 and 3157 may be considered to form terminals of the current source. The filtering means 3150 may also be considered as a battery. The energy of the current source, i.e., for the flow of electrons or the collection of electrons at the terminals of the current source, is provided by the thermal energy of the electrons and any material in thermal contact with the electrons, such as bulk material 3152 of conductor 3151. Note that bulk material 3152 is in thermal contact with electrons contained within bulk material 3152 through phonon-electron collisions (i.e., collisions between electrons and atoms of the crystal lattice of bulk material 3152). The electrical contacts are connected to conductors, such as electrical conductors 3158, 3159, and contacts 3155 and 3156, by electrical conductors.

In the particular application shown, for example, there is a switch 3161, which may also use pulse width modulation for regulating the current flow of the current source. In some embodiments, switch 3161 comprises a transistor or other electronic device suitable for modulating or regulating current or voltage.

Under static boundary conditions, i.e. when the switch 3161 is in the open position, a greater concentration of electrons is present at the measurement point 3184 and the contact 3156 than at the measurement point 3181 and the contact 3155, due to the action of the filtering means. Within the filter device, the concentration of electrons at measurement point 3183 is greater than the concentration at measurement point 3182. This is due to the high permeability of the electrons diffusing from the measurement point 3182 to the measurement point 3183 through the passage of the filter arrangement in the positive X-direction, and the relatively low permeability of the electrons diffusing from the measurement point 3183 to the measurement point 3182, as discussed in the context of fig. 14. Thus, a voltage difference "V" exists across the open terminals.

Under dynamic boundary conditions, the circuit is closed and electrons are allowed to pass through a flow load 3162. For example, the load 3162 may be a resistor, a computer, a smart phone, or other device that nominally consumes power. In the illustrated embodiment, the load 3162 is an electric motor 3165 configured to perform mechanical work. Since the energy associated with the bulk flow of electrons through the conductor is provided by the thermal energy of the electrons, supplemental thermal energy is required for continuous steady state operation. Since in the load 3162 the electrons do external work, i.e. do work on the environment, the temperature of the electrons that have flowed through the load 3162 is lower than the nominal temperature at the measurement point 3181 corresponding to the static boundary condition. The replenishment of the electron thermal energy may be enhanced by a heat exchanger 3163, which in the depicted embodiment, 3163 includes several metal plates 3166 configured to extract heat from the environment (such as the atmosphere or the room in which the heat exchanger 3163 is located). For example, the heat exchanger 3163 may recover thermal energy from the environment via conduction, forced or natural convection, or thermal radiation.

In some embodiments, the load 3162 and the heat exchanger 3163 are the same. For example, consider a simplified scenario in which electrons do not do work on the environment and no energy is transferred from the environment to the circuit, and vice versa. For example, in this example, the load resistance may be thermally insulating. The electronics within the circuit may be considered a stand-alone system. In this system, electrons that diffuse from measurement point 3181 to measurement point 3184 will experience a decrease in temperature and an increase in electrical potential energy. The higher potential at measurement point 3184 is due to a higher electron concentration at measurement point 3184 than at measurement point 3181. In other words, the thermal energy of the electrons is converted into electrical potential energy. When the electrons then flow from measurement point 3184 to measurement point 3181 through the load resistance, the potential energy is converted to thermal energy due to joule heating. This thermal energy is returned to the electrons in the load resistance and at the measurement point 3181 via thermal conduction. In this simplified example, in the steady state, the potential energy per unit time transferred by the electrons to the load resistance in the form of joule heating is all returned to the electrons via thermal conduction. In this simplified example, therefore, the circuit including the filtering means 3151 will include a finite current, which will continue to flow continuously in a steady state.

Note that in some embodiments, the diffusion of electrons from measurement point 3181 to measurement point 3184 for greater electron concentrations and greater electrical potential energy is not adiabatic, and thermal energy will be conducted to the electrons from other parts of the circuit (such as the load resistance) at measurement point 3184. For example, thermal energy may be conducted via conductor 3159 or conductor 3154. In some embodiments, the increase in electron concentration at measurement point 3184 as compared to measurement point 3181 is an isothermal process, rather than the adiabatic process discussed in the foregoing simplified example. However, the general principle remains unchanged.

FIG. 15 is a plot of pressure value 3302 versus specific volume 3301 for air passing through an example embodiment of the present invention, such as the example embodiment shown in FIG. 12.

The thermodynamic cycle in curve 3300 shows first point 3303, second point 3304, third point 3305, and fourth point 3306. The fifth point coincides with the first point. After adiabatic compression 3307, the gas under free-flow conditions 3303 encounters a filter apparatus configured in accordance with the present invention, where the gas is isothermally compressed, as shown by dashed line 3308. Note that in this particular example, the isothermal compression occurs passively, and does not extract or deliver work to the gas from it. The gas is then expanded adiabatically 3309. At measurement point 3306, the gas is discharged into the freestream under freestream pressure. In free flow, the gas is isobaric heated 3310. The gas is cooler at measurement point 3306 than at measurement point 3303, and the net mechanical work produced by cooling the gas is the difference in work of adiabatic expansion 3309 and adiabatic compression 3307.

For a subset of embodiments, measurement points 3303, 3304, 3305, and 3306 may be considered to correspond to measurement points 3012, 3014, 3015, and 3017, respectively, in fig. 12.

One of ordinary skill in the art can readily construct other thermodynamic cycles, such as closed cycles or cycles involving isochoric or isothermal compression or expansion rather than adiabatic compression or expansion, that employ a filtration device configured in accordance with the present invention. The pressure value of the cycle is arbitrary and is chosen for illustrative purposes and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Aspects of the invention

The invention is further defined by the following aspects.

Aspect 1. a filtration device, wherein the filtration device comprises: a channel system, wherein the channel system is configured to interact with a target object in the medium in such a way that a component of the transmittance of the target object in a first direction is larger than a component of the transmittance of the same target object in a second direction, wherein a smaller effective aperture on the side of the filter surface facing the first direction provides a difference in transmittance compared to an effective aperture on the side of the filter surface facing the second direction, wherein the difference in effective aperture is provided by the geometry of the channel system within the filter device.

Aspect 2. the filtration device of aspect 1, wherein the medium may be a solid or a fluid, such as a gas, a liquid or a plasma.

Aspect 3 the filtration apparatus of aspect 1, wherein the set of target objects comprises atoms, molecules, dust particles, aerosols, charged particles, such as protons, electrons, or positively or negatively charged ions.

Aspect 4. the filtering apparatus according to aspect 1, wherein the set of objects may comprise waves or wavy particles, such as photons, phonons, electrons or sound waves.

Aspect 5. the filtering apparatus according to aspect 1, wherein the set of target objects may include virtual particles, such as virtual photons, virtual electrons, or virtual positrons.

Aspect 6. the filtering apparatus according to any one of aspects 1 to 5, for preferentially delivering a target object, wherein the filtering apparatus comprises: a channel system comprising at least one channel; a channel disposed within the channel system, extending from the at least one first opening at the first receptacle to the at least one second opening at the second receptacle, and facilitating diffusion of the target object from the first receptacle to the second receptacle through the channel; a region of reduced cross-sectional area disposed within the channel, wherein the cross-sectional area is viewed along the length of the channel; and wherein a minimum feature width of the reduced cross-sectional area is measured perpendicular to the length of the channel and is less than 1000 times the mean free path of the target object at that location; a first gradient section disposed within the channel, wherein the first gradient section extends from a region of decreasing cross-sectional area to a region of increasing cross-sectional area in a direction of the first vessel; and a second gradient section disposed within the channel, wherein the second gradient section extends in a direction of the second vessel from a region of decreasing cross-sectional area to a region of increasing cross-sectional area, and wherein an increase in channel cross-sectional area per unit length of the channel in the second gradient section is less than an increase in channel cross-sectional area per unit length of the channel in the first gradient section.

Aspect 7. the filter device according to aspect 6, wherein at least part of the interaction between the target object and the internal boundary surface of the channel system or force field of the filter device comprises or may be described as a diffuse reflection or scattering event.

Aspect 8. the filter device according to aspect 7, wherein a majority of the interactions between the target object and the internal boundary surface of the channel system or force field of the filter device include or may be described as diffuse reflection or scattering events.

Aspect 9. the filter device according to aspect 6, wherein at least part of the interaction between the target object and the internal boundary surface of the channel system or force field of the filter device comprises or may be described as specular reflection.

Aspect 10 the filter device according to aspect 9, wherein a majority of the interaction between the target object and the internal boundary surface of the channel system or force field of the filter device comprises or may be described as specular reflection.

Aspect 11 the filtration device of aspect 6, wherein the region of reduced cross-sectional area comprises a channel of constant cross-sectional area.

Aspect 12. the filtration device of aspect 6, wherein the increase in channel cross-sectional area per unit length of the channel in the first gradient section is infinite.

Aspect 13. the filtration device of aspect 6, wherein the increase in channel cross-sectional area per unit length of the channel in the first gradient section is limited.

Aspect 14. the filtration device of aspect 6, wherein the length of the second gradient section along the length of the channel is greater than one thousandth of the mean free path of the target object in an adjacent container.

Aspect 15 the filtration apparatus of aspect 14, wherein the length of the second gradient section along the length of the channel is greater than 1000 times the mean free path of the target object in an adjacent vessel.

Aspect 16 the filter apparatus of aspect 6, wherein a surface normal of a surface of the filter apparatus facing the first receptacle adjacent the first opening points away from the first opening.

Aspect 17 the filter apparatus of aspect 6, wherein the width of the reduced cross-sectional area is less than 100 times the collision diameter of the target object.

Aspect 18 the filter apparatus of aspect 17, wherein the width of the reduced cross-sectional area is less than 5 times the collision diameter of the target object.

Aspect 19 the filter apparatus of aspect 17, wherein the width of the reduced cross-sectional area is less than 2 times the collision diameter of the target object.

Aspect 20. the filtration device of aspect 6, wherein the second gradient section may comprise a section of constant cross-sectional area along the length of the channel, wherein the width of at least one section of constant cross-sectional area along the length of the channel is less than 1000 times the mean free path of the target object within the channel.

Aspect 21 the filter apparatus of aspect 21, wherein the length of the section of constant cross-sectional area along the length of the channel is less than 1000 times the mean free path of the target object within the channel.

Aspect 22. the filtration device of aspect 6, wherein the first gradient section may comprise a section of constant cross-sectional area along the length of the channel.

Aspect 23. the filtration device of aspect 6, wherein the first and second vessels are identical.

Aspect 24. the filtration device according to aspect 6, wherein adjacent channels in the system of channels are arranged in parallel and in a planar array, the filtration device thereby comprising a filtration surface.

Aspect 25. the filtration device of aspect 24, wherein adjacent filtration surfaces are arranged in series, the filtration device thereby comprising a layer of filtration surfaces, wherein the layer is positioned sequentially between the first and second vessels.

Aspect 226. the filtration apparatus of aspect 25, wherein adjacent channels in the system of channels are arranged in series.

Aspect 26. the filtration device of any one of aspects 6 to 25 and 226, wherein the filtration device comprises a porous monolithic material, wherein the regions within the porous material accessible to the target objects provide the interconnected network, and wherein the individual channels describe shortest paths through the filtration device for the target objects between the first and second receptacles for a given location within the filtration device, the channels thereby forming a channel system.

Aspect 27. the filtration apparatus according to aspect 26, wherein a filtration surface, such as a filter plate or membrane, is located between the porous monolith and the first vessel.

Aspect 28. the filtration device of aspect 27, wherein the width of the channels of the filtration surface is less than the average width of the channels in the porous monolith, the transition from the filtration surface to the porous monolith thereby forming a second gradient section.

Aspect 29. the filtration device of aspect 27, wherein the filtration surface comprises a plurality of channels arranged in parallel in a planar manner.

Aspect 30. the filter apparatus of aspect 29, wherein the channel has a substantially constant cross-sectional area along the length of the channel.

Aspect 31 the filtration device of aspect 29, wherein the cross-sectional area of the channel along the length of the channel increases in the direction of the second receptacle, thereby forming a second gradient section within the filtration surface.

Aspect 32. the filtration device of aspect 27, wherein the average width of the channels in the porous monolith is constant throughout the porous monolith.

Aspect 33. the filtration device of aspect 26, wherein the filtration surface is located between the porous monolithic material and the second container.

Aspect 34. the filtration device of aspect 33, wherein the width of the channels of the filtration surface is greater than the average width of the channels in the porous monolith, the transition from the porous monolith to the filtration surface thereby forming a second gradient section.

Aspect 35. the filtration apparatus of aspect 33, wherein the filtration surface comprises a plurality of channels arranged in parallel in a planar manner.

Aspect 36. the filter apparatus of aspect 35, wherein the channel has a substantially constant cross-sectional area along the length of the channel.

Aspect 37 the filtration device of aspect 35, wherein the cross-sectional area of the channel along the length of the channel increases in the direction of the second receptacle, thereby forming a second gradient section within the filtration surface.

Aspect 38. the filtration device of aspect 33, wherein the average width of the channels in the porous monolith is approximately constant throughout the porous monolith.

Aspect 39. the filtration device of aspect 26, wherein the average width of the channels in the porous monolith increases throughout at least a portion of the porous monolith in the direction of the second vessel, thereby forming a second gradient section within the porous monolith.

Aspect 40. the filtration device of any one of aspects 6 to 25 and 226, wherein the filtration device comprises an interior region containing the filtered objects, wherein a portion of the volume within the interior region accessible to the target objects provides a system of passageways, and wherein a single passageway describes a shortest path through the interior region for the target objects between the first and second receptacles for a given location within the interior region.

Aspect 41. the filtering apparatus according to aspect 40, wherein the filtered object is at least partially contained by a satellite force generating system, wherein the satellite force generating system is configured to generate a field within which a force acts on the filtered object.

Aspect 42. the filtration apparatus according to aspect 41, wherein the force per unit mass acting on the filtered object is electrical in nature.

Aspect 43 the filtration apparatus of aspect 42, wherein the means for generating a physical force per unit mass comprises a collector of electrical charge.

Aspect 44. the filtration apparatus of aspect 42, wherein the filtered objects carry a net charge.

Aspect 45. the filtration device of aspect 42, wherein the filtered object carries an inductive or permanent electric dipole. Aspect 46. the filtration apparatus according to aspect 41, wherein the force per unit mass acting on the filtered object is magnetic in nature.

Aspect 47. the filtration apparatus of aspect 46, wherein the force generating means comprises a permanent magnet per unit mass.

Aspect 48 the filtration apparatus of aspect 46, wherein the per unit mass force generating means comprises a current carrying conductor configured to generate a magnetic field and a magnetic force acting on the object being filtered.

Aspect 49 the filtration apparatus of aspect 48, wherein the conductor is superconducting.

Aspect 50. the filtration apparatus of aspect 46, wherein the filtered objects carry permanent or induced magnetic dipoles.

Aspect 51. the filtration apparatus of aspect 41, wherein the force per unit mass acting on the filtered object is gravitational or inertial in nature.

Aspect 52 the filtration apparatus of aspect 51, wherein the specific heat capacity of the filtered object at constant pressure is different from the specific heat capacity of the target object at constant pressure.

Aspect 53. the filtration apparatus according to aspect 40, wherein the filtered objects are at least partially contained by a filtration membrane, filtration surface or filter plate.

Aspect 54 the filtration device of aspect 53, wherein the filtration surface is located between the interior region and the first receptacle and is configured to reduce passage of filtered objects from the interior region into the first receptacle.

Aspect 55. the filtration device of aspect 54, wherein the width of the channels of the filtration surface is less than the average width of the channels in the interior region, the transition from the filtration surface to the interior region thereby forming a second gradient section.

Aspect 56. the filtration apparatus of aspect 54, wherein the filtration surface comprises a plurality of channels arranged in parallel in a planar manner.

Aspect 57 the filtration device of aspect 56, wherein the channel has a substantially constant cross-sectional area along the length of the channel.

Aspect 58. the filtration device of aspect 56, wherein the cross-sectional area of the channel along the length of the channel increases in the direction of the second receptacle, thereby forming a second gradient section within the filtration surface.

Aspect 59. the filtration apparatus of aspect 54, wherein the average width of the channels in the inner vessel is constant throughout the interior region.

Aspect 60 the filtration apparatus of aspect 53, wherein the filtration surface is located between the interior region and the second receptacle and is configured to reduce passage of filtered objects from the interior region into the second receptacle.

Aspect 61 the filtration device of aspect 60, wherein the width of the channels of the filtration surface is greater than the average width of the channels in the interior region, the transition from the interior region to the filtration surface thereby forming a second gradient section.

Aspect 62. the filtration apparatus of aspect 61, wherein the filtration surface comprises a plurality of protrusions directed toward the interior region, wherein spaces between the protrusions are configured to reduce a flow rate of the filtered objects from the interior region to the second receptacle.

Aspect 63. the filtration device of aspect 60, wherein the filtration surface comprises a plurality of channels arranged in parallel in a planar manner.

Aspect 64 the filter device of aspect 63, wherein the channel has a substantially constant cross-sectional area along the length of the channel.

Aspect 65. the filtration device of aspect 63, wherein the cross-sectional area of the channel along the length of the channel increases in the direction of the second vessel, thereby forming a second gradient section within the filtration surface.

Aspect 66. the filter apparatus of aspect 60, wherein the average width of the channels in the interior region is constant throughout the interior region.

Aspect 67. the filtration device of aspect 40, wherein the average width of the channels in the interior region increases throughout at least a portion of the interior region in the direction of the second receptacle, thereby forming a second gradient section within the interior region.

Aspect 68. the filtration device of any one of aspects 6 to 25 and 226, wherein the first channel opening and the second channel opening are exclusively diffusively connected by a single continuous channel.

Aspect 69. the filter apparatus of aspect 68, wherein the channels are disposed within a monolithic material.

Aspect 70 the filtration device according to any one of aspects 6 to 25 and 226, wherein the filtration device comprises a first filter surface, a filtration membrane or a filtration plate and at least a second filter surface, wherein the first filter surface comprises a first surface directed towards the first container and a second surface directed towards the second container, and wherein the second filter surface comprises a first surface directed towards the first container and a second surface directed towards the second container, wherein the second surface of the first filter surface and the first surface of the second filter surface face each other, thereby forming an internal volume, and wherein the separation distance between the two surfaces is less than 1000 times the mean free path of the target object at that location, wherein the channels within the filtration surface and the internal volume form a channel system.

Aspect 71. the filtration device of aspect 70, wherein the width of the channels of the second filtration surface is greater than the width of the channels in the first filtration surface, the transition from the interior volume through the channels in the second filtration surface and into the adjacent volume or vessel thereby forming a second gradient section.

Aspect 72 the filtration device of aspect 70, wherein a separation distance between the second surface of the first filter surface and the first surface of the second filter surface is greater than a width of the channel in the first filter surface, the transition from the channel in the first filter surface to the interior volume thereby forming a second gradient section.

Aspect 73. the filtration device of aspect 70, wherein a separation distance between the second surface of the first filter surface and the first surface of the second filter surface is less than a width of the channel in the second filter surface, the transition from the interior volume to the channel in the second filter surface thereby forming a second gradient section.

Aspect 74. the filtration apparatus of aspect 70, wherein the first or second filtration surface comprises a plurality of channels arranged in parallel in a planar manner.

Aspect 75. the filter apparatus of aspect 74, wherein the channel has a substantially constant cross-sectional area along the length of the channel.

Aspect 76. the filtration device of aspect 74, wherein the cross-sectional area of the channel along the length of the channel increases in the direction of the second receptacle, thereby forming a second gradient section within the filtration surface.

Aspect 77 the filtration device of any one of aspects 70 to 76, wherein the interaction between the target object and the filtration surface comprises diffuse reflection.

Aspect 78. a force generation system, comprising a filter device, such as the filter device of any of aspects 1-77, wherein the filter device is configured to induce bulk flow of a target object, wherein the resulting force acts on the filter device.

Aspect 79 the force generation system of aspect 78, wherein the force generation system is mechanically coupled to the spacecraft.

Aspect 80 the force generation system of aspect 80, wherein the target object is a virtual particle, such as a virtual photon, a virtual electron, or a virtual positron.

Aspect 81 the force generation system of aspect 78, wherein the force generation system is mechanically coupled to the aircraft.

Aspect 82 the force generation system of aspect 81, wherein the target object is an air molecule.

The force generation system of aspect 82, wherein the target object is a virtual particle, such as a virtual photon, a virtual electron, or a virtual positron.

Aspect 84. the force generation system of aspect 78, wherein the force generation system is mechanically connected to the vessel.

Aspect 85 the force generation system of aspect 84, wherein the target object is a water molecule.

Aspect 86. the force generation system of aspect 84, wherein the target object is an air molecule.

Aspect 87 the force generation system of aspect 84, wherein the target object is a virtual particle, such as a virtual photon, a virtual electron, or a virtual positron.

Aspect 88. the force generation system of aspect 78, wherein the force generation system is mechanically coupled to the land vehicle.

Aspect 89 the force generation system of aspect 88, wherein the target object is an air molecule.

Aspect 90 the force generation system of aspect 88, wherein the target object is a virtual particle, such as a virtual photon, a virtual electron, or a virtual positron.

Aspect 91 the force generation system of aspect 78, wherein the force generation system is mechanically connected to a drive shaft of a generator, wherein the generator is configured to convert mechanical work of the motion of the force generation system into electrical power.

Aspect 92. the force generation system of aspect 78, wherein the force generation system further comprises a housing device and a valve, wherein the housing device encloses a volume between the valve and the filter device, wherein the valve is configured to regulate an overall flow rate of the target object through the filter device, and thereby regulate the net force acting on the filter device.

Aspect 93 the force generation system of aspect 78, wherein at least a portion of the motive force applied to the bulk flow due to the force acting on the bulk flow and the motion of the bulk flow is provided by thermal energy of the target object.

Aspect 94. the force generation system according to aspects 78 and 93, wherein the target object is an electron, wherein the force generation system applies a force to the electron, and wherein the bulk flow of the electron forms a current, and wherein the force generation system is part of a current source.

Aspect 95 the force generation system of aspect 94, wherein the current source further comprises a heat exchanger.

Aspect 96 the force generation system of aspect 95, wherein the heat exchanger is configured to absorb heat from the environment and transfer the heat to electrons interacting with the filtration device.

Aspect 97 the force generating system of aspect 94, wherein the current source further comprises a voltage or current regulator, such as a switch or a variable resistance, wherein the voltage or current regulator may be used to regulate the current flow rate.

Aspect 98. concentration modification system, comprising: a filtration device, such as the filtration device of any one of aspects 1 to 97; and a housing arrangement, wherein the housing arrangement is configured to contain at least a portion of the target object in the interior volume on at least one side of the filter arrangement, and wherein the filter arrangement is configured to induce a difference in concentration of the target object in the interior volume relative to the concentration of the target object on the other side of the filter arrangement.

Aspect 99. the concentration modification system according to aspect 98, wherein the target object is a virtual particle, such as a virtual photon, a virtual electron, or a virtual positron.

Aspect 100. the concentration modification system of aspect 99, wherein the concentration difference is associated with a difference in zero energy of the quantum vacuum.

Aspect 101. the concentration modification system according to aspect 98, wherein the target object is an electron.

Aspect 102 the concentration modification system of aspect 101, wherein the concentration difference is associated with a voltage difference.

Aspect 103. the concentration modification system according to aspect 98, wherein the target object is an atom of a fluid, such as a liquid, a gas, or a plasma.

Aspect 104. the concentration modification system of aspect 103, wherein the concentration difference is associated with a pressure differential.

Aspect 105. a method of transferring a target object from a first container to a second container, comprising: there is provided the filter device according to any one of aspects 1 to 77, wherein the target object is capable of diffusing from the first receptacle to the second receptacle through the filter device.

Aspect 106. the method of transferring a target object from a first receptacle to a second receptacle according to aspect 105, comprising creating a bulk flow of the target object through a filtration device.

Aspect 107. the method of transferring a target object from a first container to a second container according to aspect 106, wherein the bulk flow passes from the first container into the second container.

Aspect 108 the method of transferring a target object from a first container to a second container according to aspect 105, comprising creating a concentration differential of the target object between the first container and the second container.

Aspect 109. the method of transferring a target object from a first container to a second container according to aspect 108, wherein the concentration of the target object in the second container is greater than the concentration in the first container.

Aspect 110. a system comprising two or more filtration devices according to any one of aspects 1 to 77.

Aspect 111. the system of aspect 110, wherein the system comprises a planar array of filtration devices according to any one of aspects 1 to 77.

Aspect 112 the system of aspect 111, wherein the system comprises a plurality of planar arrays, wherein at least one of the planar arrays is disposed in a direction orthogonal to another planar array.

Aspect 113 the system of any of aspects 110-112, further comprising two or more filtration devices connected in series.

Aspect 114. the system of any of aspects 110 to 113, wherein the second opening of the first filtration device is diffusively connected to the separation volume, wherein the separation volume is diffusively connected to the first opening of the second filtration device.

Aspect 115 a method of transferring a target object from a first container to a second container, comprising providing a system according to any of aspects 110 to 114.

Aspect 116 the method of transferring a target object from a first receptacle to a second receptacle according to aspect 115, comprising creating a bulk flow of the target object through a filter device.

Aspect 117 the method of transferring a target object from a first container to a second container of aspect 116, wherein the bulk flow enters the second container from the first container.

Aspect 118 the method of transferring a target object from a first container to a second container according to aspect 115, comprising creating a concentration differential of the target object between the first container and the second container.

Aspect 119. the method of transferring a target object from a first container to a second container according to aspect 118, wherein the concentration of the target object in the second container is greater than the concentration in the first container.

Aspect 120. generating a bulk flow of a target object and generating a resulting force, comprising: the force generation system of any one of aspects 78 to 97 is provided.

Aspect 121. a method of concentrating a target object, comprising providing the concentration modification system of any one of aspects 98 to 104.

Aspect 122. the filtration apparatus of any of aspects 1 to 5, wherein the channel system comprises at least one channel configured to facilitate diffusion of the target object from the first receptacle to the second receptacle, wherein the channel comprises: a first opening to a first container; a second opening to a second container; and a region of reduced cross-sectional area measured along the length of the channel, wherein the region of reduced cross-sectional area diffusively connects a first gradient section facing the first receptacle with a second gradient section facing the second receptacle, and wherein the increase in channel cross-sectional area per unit length of the channel relative to the region of reduced cross-sectional area in the second gradient section is less than the corresponding increase in channel cross-sectional area per unit length of the channel relative to the same region of reduced cross-sectional area in the first gradient section, and wherein the minimum feature width of the reduced cross-sectional area is less than 1000 times the mean free path of the target object in the adjacent receptacle.

Aspect 123. the filtering apparatus of any one of aspects 6 to 25 and 226, wherein at least a portion of the interaction between the target object and the boundary of the pathway system comprises a diffuse reflection or scattering event.

Aspect 124. the filtering apparatus of aspect 123, wherein a majority of interactions between the target object and the boundary of the channel system comprise diffuse reflection or scattering events.

Aspect 125. the filtering apparatus of any one of aspects 6 to 25 and 226, wherein a majority of interactions between the target object and the boundary of the channel system include specular reflection or no scattering events.

Aspect 126. the filtration device of any one of aspects 6 to 25 and 226, wherein the increase in channel cross-sectional area per unit length of the channel in the first gradient section is infinite.

Aspect 127. the filtration device of any one of aspects 6 to 25 and 226, wherein the first or second gradient section may comprise a section of constant cross-sectional area along the length of the channel, wherein at least one section of constant cross-sectional area along the length of the channel has a characteristic width that is less than 1000 times a mean free path of a target object within the channel.

Aspect 128. the filtration device of any one of aspects 6 to 25 and 226, wherein the channel is disposed within the monolithic material and exclusively diffusively connects a first opening to a second opening.

Aspect 129 the filtration device of any one of aspects 6 to 25 and 226, wherein at least a portion of the pathway is disposed within an interior region comprising the filtered objects, wherein the pathway describes a shortest path through the filtration device for the target objects between the first and second receptacles at a given location within the filtration device, and wherein the pathway comprises a region within the interior region accessible to the target objects, and wherein a concentration of the filtered objects within the interior region is greater than a concentration of the filtered objects outside of the interior region.

Aspect 130. the filter apparatus of aspect 129, wherein the filter surface is located between the interior region and the first receptacle.

Aspect 131 the filtration device of aspect 130, wherein the characteristic width of the channels in the filtration surface is less than the average characteristic width of the channels in the interior region, the transition from the filtration surface to the interior region thereby forming a second gradient section.

Aspect 132. the filtration device of aspect 130, wherein the cross-sectional area of the channel in the filtration surface increases in the direction of the second receptacle along the length of the channel, thereby forming a second gradient section within the filtration surface.

Aspect 133. the filter apparatus of aspect 129, wherein the filter surface is located between the interior region and the second receptacle.

Aspect 134 the filtration device of aspect 133, wherein the characteristic width of the channels in the filtration surface is greater than the average characteristic width of the channels in the interior region, the transition from the interior region to the filtration surface thereby forming a second gradient segment.

Aspect 135 the filtration device of aspect 133, wherein the cross-sectional area of the channel in the filtration surface increases in the direction of the second receptacle along the length of the channel, thereby forming a second gradient section within the filtration surface.

Aspect 136 the filtration device of aspect 129, wherein the average width of the channels in the interior region increases throughout at least a portion of the interior region in the direction of the second receptacle, thereby forming a second gradient section within the interior region.

Aspect 137. the filtering apparatus according to aspect 129, wherein the filtered object is at least partially contained by a force field, wherein a through force per unit mass acts on at least part of the filtered object, and wherein the force field is provided by a through force generating means per unit mass.

Aspect 138. the filtration apparatus of aspect 137, wherein the force per unit mass is electromagnetic in nature.

Aspect 139 the filtration apparatus of aspect 137, wherein the force per unit mass is gravitational or inertial in nature.

Aspect 140 the filtration device according to aspect 129, wherein at least a portion of the filtered objects experience an attractive force between adjacent filtered objects, the filtered objects thereby contributing to the integrity of the porous monolith, and wherein the channels comprise an area within the porous monolith accessible to the target objects.

Aspect 141. the filtration device of any one of aspects 6 to 25 and 226, wherein a portion of the length of a channel is perpendicular to another portion of the length of the same channel.

Aspect 142. the filter apparatus of any of aspects 6 to 25 and 226, wherein the target object comprises an atom, a molecule, a dust particle, an aerosol, a proton, an electron, or a positively or negatively charged ion, a photon, a phonon, or a sonic wave, or any combination of the foregoing.

Aspect 143. the filtering apparatus of any of aspects 6 to 25 and 226, wherein the target object comprises a virtual particle, a virtual photon, a virtual electron or a virtual positron, or a variation thereof, or any combination of the foregoing.

Aspect 144. the filtration device of any one of aspects 6 to 25 and 226, wherein the channel system comprises a planar array of channels.

Aspect 145. a system comprising two or more filtration devices according to any one of aspects 6 to 25 and 226.

Aspect 146 the system of aspect 145, wherein at least one of the filtration devices is connected in series with another filtration device.

Aspect 147 a method of preferentially transferring a target object from a first container to a second container, comprising: providing a filtration device according to any one of aspects 6 to 25 and 226, wherein the first opening of the channel is diffusively connected to the first receptacle and the second opening of the channel is diffusively connected to the second receptacle; and thereby preferentially transferring the target object from the first container to the second container.

The term "or" is herein equivalent to "and/or" unless specifically stated otherwise or clear from the context.

The embodiments and methods described herein are merely intended to illustrate and illustrate the principles of the invention. The invention may be carried out in a number of different ways and is not limited to the examples, embodiments, arrangements, configurations or methods of operation described herein or depicted in the drawings. This also applies to the case where only one embodiment is described or depicted. Those skilled in the art will be able to devise many alternative examples, embodiments, arrangements, configurations, or methods of operation which, although not shown or described herein, embody the principles of the invention and are thus within its spirit and scope.