US 12,214,328 B2
Method for disruption of solid materials in a fluid medium
James William Masten, Jr., Everett, WA (US)
Filed by James William Masten, Jr., Everett, WA (US)
Filed on May 26, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/331,514.
Application 17/331,514 is a continuation of application No. 17/017,073, filed on Sep. 10, 2020, granted, now 11,045,781.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/898,488, filed on Sep. 10, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0283566 A1, Sep. 16, 2021
Int. Cl. B01J 19/00 (2006.01); B01D 11/02 (2006.01); B01J 19/10 (2006.01); B06B 1/06 (2006.01); H04R 17/10 (2006.01)
CPC B01J 19/008 (2013.01) [B01D 11/0261 (2013.01); B01J 19/10 (2013.01); B06B 1/0633 (2013.01); B06B 1/0655 (2013.01); H04R 17/10 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
introducing a fluid comprising solid materials dispersed in a fluid medium into a fluid duct;
flowing the fluid through an asymmetric annular space between a cylindrical wall of the fluid duct and an outer surface of a cylindrical acoustic projector that is concentric with the cylindrical wall, the asymmetric annular space having a first gap at a proximal side, a second gap that is smaller than the first gap at a distal side, and a transition between the first gap and the second gap, the acoustic projector comprising a plurality of hammer elements spaced apart from one another by a plurality of slots in the acoustic projector;
supplying electrical energy to a transducer coupled to the acoustic projector to cause the acoustic projector to vibrate, thereby causing cavitations in the fluid; and
flowing the fluid through an outlet of the fluid duct after the fluid has been exposed to the cavitations.