US 12,013,198 B2
Method and system for cleaning a device holding fluid
Petro Moilanen, Kinkomaa (FI); Timo Rauhala, Helsinki (FI); Kasper Peterzens, Espoo (FI); Ari Salmi, Helsinki (FI); and Edward Haeggström, Helsinki (FI)
Assigned to ALTUM TECHNOLOGIES OY, Helsinki (FI)
Appl. No. 17/428,752
Filed by ALTUM TECHNOLOGIES OY, Helsinki (FI)
PCT Filed Jan. 10, 2020, PCT No. PCT/FI2020/050016
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Aug. 5, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/161382, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 13, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 20195083 (FI), filed on Feb. 6, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0107147 A1, Apr. 7, 2022
Int. Cl. F28G 7/00 (2006.01); B06B 3/00 (2006.01); F28G 9/00 (2006.01)
CPC F28G 7/00 (2013.01) [B06B 3/00 (2013.01); F28G 9/00 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for cleaning a device holding fluid, the device including a wall including an outer surface and an inner surface, the method comprising following steps:
providing a system comprising
a mechanical wave generator, and
a first end comprising one of:
(i) at least one pair of protrusions configured to act as a pair of point-like pressure sources, the at least one pair of protrusions comprising a first member and a second member, a phase difference between mechanical waves emitted via the first member and mechanical waves emitted via the second member being an even multiple of π, and
(ii) at least one substantially circular protrusion configured to act as a substantially circular point-like pressure source;
contacting the at least one pair of protrusions or the at least one circular protrusion with the outer surface;
emitting, by the mechanical wave generator, via the at least one pair of protrusions or via the at least one substantially circular protrusion contacting the outer surface, a succession of the mechanical waves comprising an antinode at the first end, towards the inner surface, the mechanical waves interfering on the inner surface and producing a vibrating inner surface; and
producing, via the vibrating inner surface, a pressure pulse into the fluid.