Counter-Rotating Disc Cavitation for Cleaner Nanoparticle Production

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing nanoparticle production systems are inefficient, producing only about 5% of nanoparticles from input material and suffer from blade damage and contamination due to material collisions, leading to impurities.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus with a core comprising a first and second disc, each with concentric rings and channels, rotating in opposite directions to create cavitation and water hammer effects, producing nanoparticles in a working liquid, and including a separator and collector system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a mechanical mill with rotating blades is used to produce nanoparticles, then material is broken down into particles, but blade damage and abrasion occur which reduce system efficiency and produce impurities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenanoparticle production efficiencyVSAvoidblade durability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical blade-based milling system with a fluid dynamic system using a liquid jet. The high-velocity liquid jet creates cavitation bubbles that collapse to generate shock waves, fragmenting particles without mechanical contact. This substitution eliminates blade wear and abrasion while maintaining particle size reduction capability, directly resolving the contradiction between productivity and blade durability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a liquid medium (water or other liquids) as an intermediary between the energy source and the material to be milled. The liquid jet carries the energy to fragment particles through cavitation and shock waves, preventing direct contact between solid blades and material. This intermediary approach maintains high productivity while eliminating blade damage and impurity generation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If rotating blades are used to break down material, then particles are produced, but material removed from blades contaminates the environment and produces impurities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparticle production rateVSAvoidimpurity contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By replacing mechanical blade contact with liquid jet-mediated cavitation, the system eliminates the source of blade material contamination. Particles are fragmented through fluid dynamic forces rather than mechanical abrasion, preventing blade material from mixing with the product and creating impurities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs hydraulic principles using a high-velocity liquid jet to transfer energy for particle fragmentation. The liquid medium creates cavitation bubbles whose collapse generates focused shock waves that break particles without mechanical contact, eliminating contamination from blade material removal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Productivity

If traditional mechanical milling is used, then only about 5% of input material is converted to nanoparticles, but the system design limits conversion efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenanoparticle yield from input materialVSAvoidsystem design constraints

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental operating parameters from mechanical rotation speeds and blade geometry to liquid jet velocity, pressure, and flow rate. By controlling these fluid dynamic parameters, the system achieves superior particle size reduction efficiency with higher conversion rates, overcoming the 5% limitation of traditional mills while maintaining manageable system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent exploits the phase transition of the liquid medium during cavitation - the liquid forms vapor bubbles under low pressure that rapidly collapse back to liquid, generating intense shock waves. This phase transition mechanism enables highly efficient particle fragmentation without mechanical contact, significantly improving nanoparticle yield from input material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

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

Efficient production of nanoparticles with minimal impurities and reduced system damage, capable of handling a broader range of materials and sizes, including oxidizable metals and liquids like sea water.

Implementation Method 1

rotating the first disc, the second disc, or a combination thereof; accelerating the working liquid to cause a cavitation effect

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCavitation: Cavitation

Implementation Method 2

changing a flow direction of the working liquid to cause a water hammer effect

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWater hammer effect: Fluid Hammer

Data Source

PatentUS12479026B2Apparatuses and methods for producing nanoparticles from material in working liquid

Publication Date: 2025.11.25 LICITAR ANTONIJO

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to apparatuses for producing nanoparticles from a material in a working liquid and optionally to produce hydrogen, and to top-down methods for producing nanoparticles and optionally hydrogen using such apparatuses. A core of such an apparatus can include a first disc and a second disc including holes arranged in concentric rings and channel portions between those rings. The first disc and the second disc are arranged such that the channels of each disc face the rings of the other disc.