Cavitation Flow Body with Curved Widening Section for Microbiology Destruction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for treating liquids using hydromechanical cavitation and negative pressure are not optimized for efficient microbiology destruction and biofilm breakdown, particularly in water and cooling lubricant emulsions, due to limitations in generating effective frequency ranges for cavitation.

Innovation Solution

A device with a turbulence chamber and a flow body featuring a section that narrows and then widens in cross-section, with the widening section designed along a curve or multiple steps, generating pronounced vibrations and frequency ranges that enhance cavitation and negative pressure, effectively breaking open bacterial cell membranes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the flow body has a simple narrowing section without widening, then the device structure is simpler, but cavitation effect and negative pressure generation are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflow body structureVSAvoidmicrobiology destruction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The flow body incorporates a widening section with curved surfaces instead of sharp angles, creating smooth transitions that enhance flow turbulence and cavitation bubble formation. The curved geometry promotes rotational flow patterns and increases the effectiveness of microbiology destruction through optimized cavitation dynamics

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The flow body is divided into distinct functional sections: a narrowing section for pressure increase and a widening section for cavitation generation. This segmentation allows each section to perform its specific function optimally, with the narrowing section building pressure and the widening section releasing it to create effective cavitation for reliable microbiology destruction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If the liquid flows straight through without deflection, then the device structure is simpler, but cavitation bubble formation and oscillation frequency are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflow path configurationVSAvoidtreatment efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The flow path is designed with asymmetric deflection angles in the narrowing and widening sections, creating unequal pressure gradients that enhance turbulence and cavitation bubble formation. The asymmetric geometry generates rotational flow components that increase oscillation frequency and improve treatment efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

Curved flow paths with controlled deflection angles replace straight-line flow configurations. The curved geometry promotes centrifugal forces and rotational motion, enhancing cavitation bubble dynamics and oscillation frequency to achieve superior treatment efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Reliability

If high rotational speeds are generated in the vortex chamber, then cavitation effect is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemicrobiology destruction efficiencyVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The narrowing section pre-compresses the liquid before it enters the widening section, storing potential energy that is converted to kinetic energy and cavitation during the subsequent expansion. This preliminary compression reduces the energy demand on the vortex chamber while maintaining effective cavitation for microbiology destruction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The flow body utilizes pressure parameter changes through the narrowing and widening sections to generate cavitation. By transforming pressure energy to kinetic energy and back, the system achieves effective cavitation with reduced rotational speed requirements, thereby lowering energy consumption while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 device achieves highly efficient treatment of liquids by creating turbulent flow, effectively destroying microbiology and breaking down biofilms, with the design allowing for optimized cavitation and extended service life of cooling lubricant emulsions.

Implementation Method 1

Water at a defined pre-pressure is pumped into the vortex chamber, similar to a centrifuge, by means of an upstream high-pressure pump. Due to its design, high rotational speeds, particularly greater than 30 m/s, as well as cavitation and negative pressure, are generated within the vortex chamber.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

In the flow body immediately following the vortex chamber, the rotating water is subjected to controlled pressure release. This creates a negative pressure of approximately -1.0 bar. The cavitation and negative pressure mechanically destroy all microorganisms and Legionella bacteria

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCavitation: Cavitation

Implementation Method 3

In addition, the cavitation process produces so-called hydroxyl radicals, which naturally oxidize the microbiology without leaving any residue.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Implementation Method 4

Using such a device, it is also possible to reduce the surface tension and viscosity of water and all aqueous fluids

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydromechanical cavitation: Hydrodynamic Cavitation

Data Source

PatentEP3659977B1Device for the treatment of liquids by means of hydromechanical cavitation and vacuum
Publication Date: 2021.12.15 STEINHARDT
  • EP3659977B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP3659977B1 patent drawingFigure 5~8
  • EP3659977B1 patent drawingFigure 9~12

AI summary

The invention proposes a device (1) for treating liquids by means of hydromechanical cavitation and negative pressure, wherein the device comprises a vortex chamber (2) for the rotating passage of the pressurized liquid in an inlet of the vortex chamber (2) and a flow body (4) adjoining the vortex chamber (2) in the flow direction (5) of the liquid, the flow body having a passage channel (3) for generating cavitation and negative pressure. The flow body has a section (6) that tapers in cross-section in the flow direction of the liquid through the flow body and a section (7) adjoining this section that widens in cross-section. In such a device, it is provided that the widening of the widening section (7) occurs along a curve (20) or along at least one step.