A vortex flow apparatus including a cylindrical housing that contains a fluid that flows in a swirling circular path. The apparatus may be utilized as a muffler for a combustion engine, a particle separator, or an energy conversion device that physically or chemically acts upon the fluid flow and particles contained within the apparatus. The housing defines an inlet opening that opens into the first end of the housing proximate a first end wall. An outlet tube defines an outlet opening through a first end wall. A projection is attached to a second end wall of the housing and extends into the housing. The outlet tube and projection are aligned with and centered relative to a central axis.

A diffuser is configured for use on a vehicle having an engine and an exhaust pipe. The diffuser includes a conduit with a first end configured to receive exhaust gases from the engine. A diffusion fitting is coupled to a second end of the conduit to receive exhaust gases discharged from the conduit. The diffusion fitting has an outer wall that includes a curved surface. The curved surface is configured to guide the exhaust gases discharged from the conduit about an axis so that exhaust gases exit a first side of the diffusion fitting rotating about the axis.

A bilayler metamaterial silencer allows substantial fluid through the apparatus, while mitigating the propagation of sound through the apparatus, and while providing a form factor that is significantly more compact than previously-known devices. Moreover, illustrative embodiments allow a designer to specify one or both of the frequency or frequencies at which the apparatus mitigates sound propagation, and/or the bandwidth around the frequency or frequencies at which the apparatus mitigates sound propagation.

A bilayler metamaterial silencer allows substantial fluid through the apparatus, while mitigating the propagation of sound through the apparatus, and while providing a form factor that is significantly more compact than previously-known devices. Moreover, illustrative embodiments allow a designer to specify one or both of the frequency or frequencies at which the apparatus mitigates sound propagation, and/or the bandwidth around the frequency or frequencies at which the apparatus mitigates sound propagation.

A bilayer metamaterial silencer allows substantial fluid through the apparatus, while mitigating the propagation of sound through the apparatus, and while providing a form factor that is significantly more compact than previously-known devices. Moreover, illustrative embodiments allow a designer to specify one or both of the frequency or frequencies at which the apparatus mitigates sound propagation, and/or the bandwidth around the frequency or frequencies at which the apparatus mitigates sound propagation.

A bilayler metamaterial silencer allows substantial fluid through the apparatus, while mitigating the propagation of sound through the apparatus, and while providing a form factor that is significantly more compact than previously-known devices. Moreover, illustrative embodiments allow a designer to specify one or both of the frequency or frequencies at which the apparatus mitigates sound propagation, and/or the bandwidth around the frequency or frequencies at which the apparatus mitigates sound propagation.

A bilayler metamaterial silencer allows substantial fluid through the apparatus, while mitigating the propagation of sound through the apparatus, and while providing a form factor that is significantly more compact than previously-known devices. Moreover, illustrative embodiments allow a designer to specify one or both of the frequency or frequencies at which the apparatus mitigates sound propagation, and/or the bandwidth around the frequency or frequencies at which the apparatus mitigates sound propagation.

A vortex flow catalytic conversion apparatus and a method of vortex flow catalytic conversion of a fluid is provided. The apparatus includes a housing having an interior surface defining a cylindrical chamber. A helical separator is disposed within the chamber and cooperates with the interior side wall of the chamber to define a helical passageway for inducing a vortex flow. A deflector is disposed downstream of the helical separator to redirect the vortex flow exiting the helical passageway to an axial flow. A catalytic converter is disposed in the chamber downstream of the deflector. A catalyst coating is applied to at least one of the interior surface, helical separator, and catalytic converter. The method includes exposing a vortex flow of fluid to a first catalyst coating. The vortex flow is then redirected to an axial flow and exposed to a second catalyst coating.

A diffuser is configured for use on a vehicle having an engine and an exhaust pipe. The diffuser includes a conduit with a first end configured to receive exhaust gases from the engine. A diffusion fitting is coupled to a second end of the conduit to receive exhaust gases discharged from the conduit. The diffusion fitting has an outer wall that includes a curved surface. The curved surface is configured to guide the exhaust gases discharged from the conduit about an axis so that exhaust gases exit a first side of the diffusion fitting rotating about the axis.

A vortex flow apparatus including a cylindrical housing that contains a fluid that flows in a swirling circular path. The apparatus may be utilized as a muffler for a combustion engine, a particle separator, or an energy conversion device that physically or chemically acts upon the fluid flow and particles contained within the apparatus. The housing defines an inlet opening that opens into the first end of the housing proximate a first end wall. An outlet tube defines an outlet opening through a first end wall. A projection is attached to a second end wall of the housing and extends into the housing. The outlet tube and projection are aligned with and centered relative to a central axis.