Alternating Field Fluidity Enhancement for Crude Oil
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods fail to effectively and sustainably increase the fluidity of liquids, such as crude oil and diesel fuel, which is crucial for efficient transportation and combustion, as they often require chemical additives, varying temperature, or pressure, and the benefits are short-lived due to particle aggregation and Brownian motion.
Innovation Solution
A fluidity enhancement system that applies a sequence of alternating electric and/or magnetic fields to increase the freedom of suspended particles, aggregating them into larger entities, thereby enhancing fluidity without additives and maintaining the increase over time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If chemical additives are used to increase fluidity, then fluidity is improved, but device complexity and environmental harm increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical additives with an electromagnetic field-based system. The fluidity enhancement device uses alternating electric and magnetic fields to aggregate particles in the liquid suspension, thereby increasing fluidity without requiring chemical substances. This substitution eliminates the need for chemical handling, storage, and disposal infrastructure, reducing system complexity and environmental impact.
2Productivity
If temperature or pressure is varied to increase fluidity, then fluidity is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes physical parameters (electromagnetic field intensity, frequency, and duration) instead of using thermal or pressure parameters. By applying controlled electromagnetic fields that aggregate particles, the system increases fluidity through non-thermal means, avoiding the high energy consumption associated with heating or pressurizing the fluid.
3Productivity
If a single field is applied to increase fluidity, then fluidity is temporarily improved, but the effect fades over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic application of alternating electric and magnetic fields. The controller applies fields in sequences with varying intensities and directions, creating sustained particle aggregation. This periodic action prevents the effect from fading by continuously reinforcing the aggregation state, thereby extending the duration of fluidity enhancement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts field parameters (intensity, frequency, duration, and direction) based on the fluid's response. The controller modifies the electromagnetic field characteristics in real-time to maintain optimal aggregation conditions, ensuring sustained fluidity enhancement rather than temporary improvement.
4Productivity
If field interaction is too strong to overcome Brownian motion, then particles aggregate and fluidity increases, but particles jam the flow and fluidity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamic field adjustment to optimize aggregation. The controller varies field intensity and duration to achieve optimal particle aggregation without excessive clumping. By controlling the field parameters within specific ranges, the system maintains particle aggregation that enhances fluidity while preventing macroscopic chain formation that would cause flow jamming.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves a meaningful increase in fluidity, up to 20% for crude oil and less for diesel, leading to improved flow rates and combustion efficiency, with sustained benefits without the need for chemical additives or significant changes in temperature or pressure.
Implementation Method 1
the flowing fluid is exposed to a series of fields, each field having a direction different from a direction of a field next previous in the series
Implementation Method 2
A fluidity enhancement system that applies a sequence of alternating electric and/or magnetic fields to increase the aggregation of particles
Implementation Method 3
It is believed that the specific field causes particles in the crude oil to aggregate, and therefore increase the volume fraction available to the suspended particles
Implementation Method 4
Fluidity in gases arises principally from the molecular diffusion that transports momentum between layers of flow
Data Source
AI summary
There is disclosed apparatus and processes for increasing fluidity of a flowing fluid. The apparatus may have a number of treatment chambers adapted to receive and pass the flowing fluid. In each treatment chamber a field is applied to the fluid. The fields may be parallel to the fluid's direction of flow, and may alternate in sequence. The fluidity of the fluid is increased through exposure to the fields.