Apparatus and method for treating fluids with ultrasound

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for treating fluids with ultrasound are provided. In order to achieve a desired effect of the treatment as efficiently as possible, the apparatus has a plurality of inlet openings for the fluids and the fluids to be brought into contact with one another while being exposed to ultrasound.

Claims

1. An apparatus for treating fluids with ultrasound comprising: a container to receive the fluids; an ultrasonic emitter which is arranged in the container and which is configured to emit ultrasound to the fluids contained in the container during an operation of the apparatus; and a plurality of inlet openings to introduce at least two different fluids into the container, wherein at least one of the inlet openings is arranged inside the container, wherein the at least one inlet opening arranged inside the container is arranged in a cavitation zone of the container during the operation of the apparatus, wherein a fluid flowing into the container through the at least one inlet opening arranged in the cavitation zone has velocity vectors that are directed almost completely toward the ultrasonic emitter, and wherein components of the velocity vectors of the fluid flowing into the container through the at least one inlet opening arranged in the cavitation zone are oriented transversely to the ultrasonic emitter.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least three inlet openings.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the inlet openings is arranged inside another one of the inlet openings.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least two of the inlet openings are arranged substantially concentrically in relation to each other.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one inlet opening arranged in the container is an opening of a hollow profile protruding into the container.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic emitter is configured to emit the ultrasound to the fluids contained in the container to generate cavitation in the fluids in the cavitation zone.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Exemplary embodiments will now be described with reference to the drawings. The different features of the exemplary embodiments may be combined independent of one another, as has already been stated for the individual advantageous embodiments.

(2) FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an apparatus for treating fluids with ultrasound according to an exemplary embodiment,

(3) FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment, and

(4) FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method for treating fluids with ultrasound according to a further exemplary embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

(5) First, the structure and function of an apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment are described with reference to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

(6) FIG. 1 shows the apparatus 1 for the treatment of fluids with ultrasound with a container 2, into which the fluids can be introduced for the treatment. The container 2 can also be referred to as a reactor, and may be an open container. However, the container 2 shown in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 is a closed container. In a container 2 designed as a closed container, the fluids can be treated at an internal pressure in the container 2 that is different from ambient pressure.

(7) Furthermore, the apparatus 1 is illustrated as having an ultrasonic emitter 3, which is at least partially arranged in the container 2 and in particular protrudes into the container 2. The ultrasonic emitter 3 is formed so as to be able to emit ultrasound into the fluids disposed in the container 2 during the operation of the apparatus 1.

(8) Moreover, the apparatus 1 has two inlet openings 4, 5, though which fluids can flow into the container 2. The fluids that entered the container 2 through the inlet openings 4, 5 are able to exit the container 2 again through an outlet opening 6.

(9) The inlet openings 4, 5 may be openings arranged in the walls and, for example, in an upper wall 7 which may be a lid or a base of the container 2. However, in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, the inlet openings 4, 5 are openings of hollow bodies 8, 9. The hollow bodies 8, 9 are embodied by way of example as tubes protruding into the container 2 and opening into the interior of the container 2.

(10) At least the inlet opening 4 formed by the hollow body 8 protrudes in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 into a cavitation zone 10, which is formed in the fluid mixture disposed in the container 2 during the operation of the apparatus 1. The inlet opening 5 formed in the container 2 by the hollow body 9 is spaced from the cavitation zone 10. Alternatively, the inlet opening 5 may also be arranged in the cavitation zone 10. An inlet opening 4, 5 that is arranged in the cavitation zone 10 can be easily identified following the operation of the apparatus 1 because a structure forming the inlet opening 4, 5, for example the hollow body 8, 9, is superficially damaged by the cavitation.

(11) In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, the hollow bodies 8, 9 are concentrically arranged so that the hollow body 8 extends through the hollow body 9 into the container 2. Free ends 11, 12 of the hollow body 8, 9 arranged in the container 2 have a mutual spacing along the longitudinal direction. Alternatively, the free ends 11, 12 may also be arranged in the container 2 at the same height along the longitudinal direction of the hollow bodies 8, 9. In particular, the hollow bodies 8, 9 can protrude into the container 2 and can be movable in their longitudinal direction, so that depending on the desired treatment of the fluids, one or both of the inlet openings 4, 5 may be arranged inside or outside the cavitation zone 10.

(12) FIG. 2 schematically shows the apparatus 1 according to another exemplary embodiment. Elements corresponding in function and/or structure to the elements of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 are denoted with the same reference symbols. For sake of brevity, only the differences to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 will be discussed below.

(13) In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, both inlet openings 4, 5 are arranged in the cavitation zone 10, wherein the inlet opening 4 is located closer to the ultrasonic emitter 3 than the inlet opening 5. Furthermore, the inlet opening 5 is arranged in a region of the cavitation zone 10 that is most distal from the ultrasonic emitter 3.

(14) The arrangement of the inlet opening 5 in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2 corresponds essentially to the arrangement of the inlet opening 5 of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1. However, the inlet opening 4 in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2 is positioned differently from the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1. A fluid flowing into the container 2 through the inlet opening 5 has velocity vectors that are directed almost completely toward the ultrasonic emitter 3. However, components of the velocity vectors of the fluid flowing into the container 2 through the inlet opening 4 are oriented transversely to the ultrasonic emitter 3.

(15) To be able to arrange the inlet opening 4 like in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, the hollow body 8 may enter the container 2 through a wall 7a of the container 2 that is adjacent to the wall 7. A fluid mixture, which exits from the container 2 through the outlet opening 6, can flow through the wall 7a. The wall 7a may be a side wall of the container. Another outlet opening 6a my additionally be provide, that may allow the fluid mixture to exit from the container 2 through a wall opposite the wall 7a.

(16) FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of a method according to an exemplary embodiment. The same reference symbols are used for elements of the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2, which will used below to illustrate the method.

(17) The exemplary method 20 illustrated in FIG. 3 begins with a first step 21. For example, the apparatus 1 may be started at step 21.

(18) In an optional step 22, a process region provided in the container 2 in which the fluids are to be treated can be filled with one of the fluids or with the fluids or with another fluid. In particular, the process region may be located inside the container 2 so that the ultrasonic emitter 3 is completely covered with the fluid or the fluid mixture. The process region may also take up the entire volume of the container 2. When the process region is sufficiently and, for example, completely filled, the fluid mixture can flow through the container 2 and in particular drain from the at least one outlet opening 6, whereby fluids can be continuously replenished through the inlet openings 4, 5. As soon as a sufficient quantity of the fluids is disposed inside the container 2, the ultrasonic emitter 3 may sonicate this fluid mixture with ultrasound.

(19) In the following method step 23, the at least two fluids are brought into contact with one another and thereby intermixed while applying ultrasound. In particular, the fluids may be intermixed through the action of ultrasound-induced cavitation. This makes it possible to achieve the desired high-quality treatment of the fluids.