Nanofluid Production Apparatus and Method

Abstract

The object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and a method for generating a large amount of nanofluid continuously and stably with a relatively simple, inexpensive and easy-to-use structure, and for efficiently performing an intra-apparatus cleaning operation to substantially reduce the nanofluid manufacturing cost.A nanofluid generating apparatus 1 for generating nanofluid containing nanobubbles, wherein the nanobubbles are gas bubbles with diameter less than 1 μm, comprises a gas-liquid mixing chamber 7, comprising a turbulence generating mechanism for forcibly mixing supplied gas and liquid by generating turbulence, and a nano-outlet 20 for discharging the gas-liquid mixture fluid to outside of the gas-liquid mixing chamber to generate nanofluid; a gas-liquid supply apparatus 21, 23, . . . for supplying gas and liquid to the gas-liquid mixing chamber 7; a pressurization pump for applying pressure to the gas and liquid; and a control unit CR for controlling operations of the pressurization pump 4 and the gas-liquid supply apparatus. The control unit CR controls the gas-liquid supply apparatus and the pressurization pump 4 to switch between a nanofluid generation mode and a cleaning mode for cleaning the inside of the gas-liquid mixing chamber 7.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 based upon U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 719,937, filed on Sep. 23, 2005 and the International Patent Application No. PCT / JP2006 / 301736, filed on Feb. 2, 2006. The entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.THE FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for generating nanofluid containing nanobubbles, which are gas bubbles with diameter less than 1 μm; an apparatus and a method for generating beverages containing nanofluid; an apparatus and a method for treating dermatosis using nanofluid; and an apparatus and a method for assisting the growth of organisms using nanofluid.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]In general, submicroscopic gas bubbles with diameter less than 1 μm (1000 nm) are called “nanobubbles,” whereas microscopic gas bubbles with diameter equal to or greater than 1 μm are called “microbubbles.” The nanobu...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The apparatus enables the efficient and cost-effective production of nanofluids with high nanobubble content, maintaining quality over time and facilitating applications like beverage production and dermatosis treatment, while ensuring easy and frequent cleaning to maintain hygiene.

Problems solved by technology

It has been verified that the nanobubbles described above are generated instantaneously when microbubbles collapse in the water, and are known for their extremely unstable physical characteristics.

Therefore it is difficult to put nanobubbles to practical use by stably producing and retaining them for an extended period of time.

However, ultrasonic generators are expensive, large-sized and difficult to use and perform matching, prohibiting their wide use.

However, this apparatus only generates microbubbles, and does not stably produce nanobubbles with smaller diameter.

Similarly, applying the technology disclosed in the Patent Document 6 does not achieve stable and low-cost generation of nanofluid containing nanoscale bubbles.

Such cleaning work is generally carried out by immersing each disassembled part of the apparatus separately from other parts in a cleaning solution, or applying the cleaning solution to the parts, during which work the nanofluid production needs to be deactivated, resulting in higher manufacturing costs.

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