Manuel G Lumbreras

US Patent:

62997351, Oct 9, 2001

Filed:

Aug 5, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/369067

Inventors:

Manuel G. Lumbreras - Albuquerque NM

Assignee:

U.S. Aquasonics Corp. - Albuquerque NM

International Classification:

B01D 118
B01D 300
C02F 104

US Classification:

203 10

Abstract:

An array of sonic hydraulic nozzles for injecting a mixture of water with dissolved or suspended particulate into a chamber to form a continuous spray of spherical droplets. Low pressure areas form in the wakes of the droplets which promotes a phase change and evaporation upon being submerged in heat vortices created along the edges of the sonic shock waves. All dissolved and/or suspended solid particles in the mixture precipitate from the spray upon the vaporization of the water. Shortly thereafter, the particle-free vapor re-condenses into a dense water mist of substantially pure water, while releasing the excess heat captured in the evaporation vortices. The water mist then is absorbed by nucleating screens located above the nozzles. The screens concentrate the dense mist into water streams through a channel running out of the apparatus. The invention makes efficient use of the latent heat present in ambient air to supply all phase change energy requirements to affect a very low cost solid-liquid separation.