System and method for changing a concentration of particles in a fluid
Inventors
GACHELIN, Jérémie • BERTIN, Nicolas • Vincent, Emmanuel
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12186685-B2
Publication Date
2025-01-07
Expiration Date
Abstract
A system for changing a concentration of at least one group of particles in a fluid, which includes a first container and a second container; a first transfer device and a second transfer device, and an element for keeping the volume of fluid in the first and second containers constant. The first container is fluidly connected to an inlet of the first transfer device, and the second container is fluidly connected to an inlet of the second transfer device. The first and second transfer devices include a chamber associated with at least one acoustic wave generator for generating acoustic waves within the chamber; at least two outlets including a first outlet for fluid enriched with the particles and a second outlet for fluid depleted of the particles; the first outlet being fluidly connected to the first container and the second outlet being fluidly connected to the second container.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a system for changing a concentration of at least one given group of particles comprised in a fluid. The system includes a first container and a second container, and a first transfer device and a second transfer device. Each transfer device comprises a chamber configured to be associated with at least one acoustic wave generator for generating at least one acoustic wave within the chamber, and each transfer device has at least two outlets comprising a first outlet for fluid enriched with the given group of particles and a second outlet for fluid depleted of the given group of particles.
The first container is fluidly connected to the inlet of the first transfer device, and the second container is fluidly connected to the inlet of the second transfer device. The first outlet is fluidly connected to the first container and the second outlet is fluidly connected to the second container. This arrangement maintains a functional separation of particle-enriched and particle-depleted fluids using acoustic-wave associated chambers while linking the outlets back to the respective containers.
A further core aspect is the inclusion of means for keeping the volume of fluid in each of the first and second containers constant. In the method, the approach introduces a volume of fluid in each container, applies an acoustic field by generating acoustic waves in the chambers of both transfer devices, and then simultaneously transfers fluid into the chambers and simultaneously transfers enriched and depleted fluids back into the respective containers. The volumes in the first and second containers are kept constant during the simultaneous transfer steps.
The method further supports changing particle concentration by iteratively repeating the simultaneous transfer steps until particles in the fluid in the second container reaches a predefined concentration. The disclosed framework also includes, as refinements, continuously circulating fluid between containers via the first and/or second transfer devices, measuring at least one of fluid volume, container weights, or fluid flow rate, and regulating fluid flow rate based on the measured fluid volume.
Claims Coverage
The document provides two independent claims (a system claim and a method claim). The inventive features center on using two acoustic-wave chambered transfer devices to generate particle-enriched and particle-depleted outlets, while maintaining constant container fluid volumes and coordinating simultaneous transfer (optionally with continuous circulation, measurement, regulation, and repeat-until operation).
Two-container acoustic-wave particle concentration system with enriched and depleted outlets
A system comprising a first container and a second container; a first transfer device and a second transfer device, wherein the first container is fluidly connected to an inlet of the first transfer device and the second container is fluidly connected to an inlet of the second transfer device; each transfer device includes a chamber configured to be associated with at least one acoustic wave generator for generating at least one acoustic wave within the chamber; at least two outlets comprising a first outlet for fluid enriched with said given group of particles and a second outlet for fluid depleted of said given group of particles; the first outlet fluidly connected to the first container and the second outlet fluidly connected to the second container; and means for keeping the volume of fluid in each of the first and second containers constant.
Simultaneous acoustic-field transfer changing particle concentration under constant container volumes
A method for changing a concentration of at least one given group of particles comprised in a fluid, using a system comprising a first container and a second container, and a first transfer device and a second transfer device each comprising a chamber associated with at least one acoustic wave generator for generating acoustic waves; an inlet and at least two outlets comprising a first outlet for fluid enriched with said given group of particles and a second outlet for fluid depleted; preliminary steps introducing fluid volumes in the first and second containers and applying an acoustic field inside the chambers; followed by simultaneously transferring fluid from the first container into the chamber of the first transfer device and from the second container into the chamber of the second transfer device; and simultaneously transferring fluid enriched with said given group of particles collected from the first outlet(s) into the first container and transferring fluid depleted collected from the second outlet(s) into the second container; wherein the respective volumes of fluid in the first and second containers are kept constant during the simultaneous transfer steps.
Across the independent claims, the inventive coverage is anchored to two-container operation with two acoustic-wave generator-associated chambers producing enriched and depleted outlets, and coordinated simultaneous transfer of fluids while keeping respective container volumes constant. The method claim further supports repeat-until concentration, and includes refinements for continuous circulation plus measurement and regulation of flow based on measured container fluid volume.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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