Patent Application
20100229955
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. This patent document may show and/or describe matter which is or may become trade dress of the owner. The copyright and trade dress owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright and trade dress rights whatsoever.
1. Field
This disclosure relates to increasing fluidity of a flowing fluid.
2. Description of the Related Art
Fluidity is a measure of the resistance of a fluid which is being deformed by either shear stress or extensional stress. In everyday terms (and for liquids only), fluidity is “pourability”. Thus, water is usually considered “thin”, having a higher fluidity, whereas pitch is “thick” having a fluidity about 100 billion times lower than water. Fluidity describes a fluid's internal resistance to flow and may be thought of as a measure of fluid friction. For example, low-fluidity lava will create a tall, steep stratovolcano, because it cannot flow far before it cools, while high-fluidity lava will create a wide, shallow-sloped shield volcano. All real fluids (except superfluids) have some resistance to stress.
Fluidity in gases arises principally from the molecular diffusion that transports momentum between layers of flow. The kinetic theory of gases allows accurate prediction of the behavior of gaseous fluidity. In general, fluidity of a gas is independent of pressure and varies inversely with temperature.
In liquids, the additional forces between molecules become important. This leads to an additional contribution to the shear stress. In general, fluidity of a liquid is independent of pressure (except at very high pressure), and tends to vary directly with temperature. The dynamic fluidities of liquids are typically several orders of magnitude lower than the dynamic fluidities of gases.
Fluidity of fluids is important in many areas of science, engineering, industry and medicine. In many cases it is desirable to increase fluidity. For example, increasing fluidity of crude oil is important to transporting offshore oil via undersea pipelines. Increasing the fluidity of gasoline or diesel can improve the fuel atomization, which can lead to more efficient combustion and less pollution. Increasing blood fluidity can improve circulation and prevent cardiovascular events.
For liquid suspensions such as crude oil, it has been shown that the fluidity can be increased through exposure to a specific field, having a specific type, power and duration. 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.
For liquid mixtures such as diesel fuel, there has been some theorization that the fluidity can be increased through exposure to a field. According to these theories, an applied field effects a liquid mixture similarly to a liquid suspension, causing larger molecules in the liquid mixture to aggregate, and therefore increasing the volume fraction available to the molecules.
Generally, the effective fluidity of a liquid suspension depends on how much freedom the suspended particles have in the suspension. Lower fluidity translates into less freedom for the suspended particles, and higher fluidity translates into more freedom for the suspended particles. Theory predicts that by aggregating small particles into larger ones in a liquid suspension, the effective fluidity will increase even though the volume fraction of the particles remains the same.
According to one theory, if the applied field is strong enough to overcome Brownian motion, the particles aggregate and align in the field direction. If the field interaction is too strong, though, the particles can quickly aggregate into macroscopic chains or columns and jam the liquid flow, decreasing fluidity. If the field interaction is too weak, though, the clumps are too small to increase effective fluidity.
Some experiments found that the fluidity increases can remain even after the field is no longer present. However, over time the fluidity increase faded as the aggregated particles dissemble under Brownian motion. Experiments on crude oil found that the fluidity increase faded after about two hours at room temperature.
Throughout this description, elements appearing in figures are assigned three-digit reference designators, where the most significant digit is the figure number and the two least significant digits are specific to the element. An element that is not described in conjunction with a figure may be presumed to have the same characteristics and function as a previously-described element having a reference designator with the same least significant digits.
Referring now to
By fluid it is meant material which, within the fluidity enhancement system 115, is either a liquid, liquid mixture, liquid suspension or emulsion, such that the material can flow through the device at an acceptable rate. Since the state of matter depends on temperature and pressure, these factors may impact whether and when a material is a fluid. The flow rate is considered acceptable based upon the particular needs of the situation.
Fluids well-suited to fluidity enhancement as described herein include asphalt-based crude oil, diesel fuel and gasoline.
The fluidity enhancement system 115 may be sealed such that the fluid may not leave except through the outlet pipe 195, and such that the fluid and other materials may not enter except through the inlet pipe 105. There may be a tolerance for leakage in or out of the section 110, and this may apply specifically to the fluidity enhancement system 115 depending on the circumstances. Furthermore, the fluidity enhancement system 115 may include components through which the fluid and other materials are intended to enter or leave.
The fluidity enhancement system 115 treats the flowing fluid with a sequence of electric and/or magnetic fields. In sequence, the directions of the fields change. It has been found that this arrangement can provide increased fluidity over having multiple fields in the same direction.
The fluidity enhancement system 115 may include a controller 160 for controlling the fields. The fluidity enhancement system 115 may have a single housing which contains the controller 160, or the controller 160 may be entirely separate from the fluidity enhancement system 115, or some other arrangement by which the controller 160 can control the fields.
The controller 160 may include software and/or hardware for providing functionality and features described herein. The controller 160 therefore may include one or more of: logic arrays, memories, analog circuits, digital circuits, software, firmware, and processors such as microprocessors, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), programmable logic devices (PLDs) and programmable logic arrays (PLAs). The hardware and firmware components of the controller 160 may include various specialized units, circuits, software and interfaces for providing the functionality and features described here. The processes, functionality and features may be embodied in whole or in part in software that operates on a computer and may be in the form of firmware, an application program, an applet (e.g., a Java applet), a browser plug-in, a COM object, a dynamic linked library (DLL), a script, one or more subroutines, or an operating system component or service. The hardware and software and their functions may be distributed such that some components are performed by the controller 160 and others by other devices.
Although the term pipe is used, other fluid conductors may be used, depending on the fluid and needs. For example, hoses may be used. The materials of the pipes and the fluidity enhancement system may be selected based upon the nature of the fluid to be treated, environmental conditions, and other factors.
Referring now to
The various sections 210, 220, 230 may be directly connected or may have other components between them, with the fluid flowing from the inlet pipe 205 to the outlet pipe 295. Furthermore, there may be intermediate points within the pipeline 200 at which fluid and other materials enter or leave the pipeline.
A controller 260 may be included for controlling the fields of the fluidity enhancement systems 215, 225, 235. The controller 260 may be external to the fluidity enhancement systems 215, 225, 235, may be integrated into one, or may have distributed components. For example, there may be a master controller and slaves in one or more of the fluidity enhancement systems 215, 225, 235. Alternatively, each of the fluidity enhancement systems 215, 225, 235 may have a separate controller.
Referring now to
The treatment chambers 310, 320, 330 are each oriented to receive and pass the flowing fluid in turn. That is, the fluid flows through the first treatment chamber 310, then the second treatment chamber 320, then the third treatment chamber 330. In the fluidity enhancement device 300 of
The treatment chambers 310, 320, 330 have respective fields, and the fields each have a direction. The direction of the field in each treatment chamber 310, 320, 330 is different from the direction of the fields in each of the next adjacent chambers. Thus, the direction of the field in the second treatment chamber 320 is different from the direction of the field in the first treatment chamber 310. Likewise, the direction of the field in the third treatment chamber 330 is different from the direction of the field in the second treatment chamber 320. For example, the direction of the second field can be opposite the direction of the first field, and the direction of the third field can be the same as the direction of the first field. There can be additional fields in the sequence, with differing and possible alternating directions.
The fields may all be parallel to the direction of fluid flow, which may provide better effect than if the fields are not parallel. It is believed that in liquid suspensions the aggregated particles have a shape similar to ellipsoids with their long axis parallel to the field. Thus, if the field and the flow align, the fluidity is higher. If the ellipsoids rotate, then fluidity may decrease, but it is believed that the ellipsoids typically do not rotate.
As the fluid flows through the treatment chambers 310, 320, 330, the fluidity of the fluid increases. Any increase can be meaningful and the materiality of the increase depends on the fluid and the circumstances. For crude oil in a pipeline, it is believed that the increase is close to 20% and this is meaningful. For diesel the increase is believed to be less than 10%, which still is meaningful. There is no target or meaningful amount other than the cost-benefit from the effect. For example, if a 3% reduction of diesel fluidity yields 7% more mpg there is a real cost benefit. Thus, the type of fields and their strength, duration, and direction are selected to achieve a meaningful increase from a cost-benefit standpoint.
In the past, fluidity enhancement might be obtained through chemical means or by varying temperature or pressure. However, good results from the fluidity enhancement device 300 may be obtained with a substantially constant temperature and pressure in all treatment chambers and without the addition of additives.
The fluidity enhancement device 300 may further include electrodes 315, 325, 335, 385 which may be respectively energized to carry a charge and thereby create the fields. By using electrodes in this manner, the created fields are electric. Depending on the nature of the electric fields, magnetic fields may also be induced.
To achieve alternating, opposite field directions, the electrodes 315, 325, 335, 345 may be anodes or cathodes in alternate fashion. That is, the charge of each electrode may be opposite to that of the electrodes next adjacent, such that the charges of the electrodes in the series alternate from positive to negative in the series. This results in a series of electric fields of alternate directions within the fluidity treatment device 300. In such an arrangement, each sequential pair of electrodes, 315 and 325, 325 and 335, 335 and 345 define the treatment chambers 310, 325, 335, respectively. With additional electrodes, additional treatment chambers with respective fields may be obtained.
When energized, fields are created between paired electrodes 315 and 325, 325 and 335, 335 and 345. The fluid passes through the first field, then the second field, then the third field. With additional pairs of electrodes, there can be additional series of fields with differing directions. As many electrodes as are required to achieve the desired fluidity enhancement may be used.
The factors to consider when selecting the number of fields and their qualities include: fluid flow rate, desired fluidity enhancement, field intensity, desired exposure time, device complexity and cost, ease of maintenance and repair, and available power. For example, the applied fields may be constant or a pulse, with one or more fields being static and one or more being pulsed. These qualities may collectively or individually be changed over time.
For a magnetic field, pulse duration τ should be on the order of
where n is the particle number density, ν is the average particle velocity, v is the fluidity of the base liquid, μp is the magnetic permeability of the particles, μf is the magnetic permeability of the base liquid, a is the particle radius, and H is the minimum magnetic field required to firm clusters of particles.
For an electric field, magnetic permeability is replaced with the respective dielectric constant.
The pulse duration in most cases may be seconds in duration, such as one to one hundred seconds. If the pulse duration is much shorter than τ, there is insufficient time for particle aggregation, and if the pulse duration is much longer than τ, macroscopic chains can form and jam the flow. For example, if a field pulse is too short, the dipolar interaction does not have enough time to affect distant particles, and the particles fail to aggregate sufficiently to have a meaningful increase in fluidity.
The electrodes 315, 325, 335, 345 may be formed of a conductive material and have a form that the fluid may pass at an acceptable rate and provide a uniform field. For example, the electrode may be a mesh of copper or other conductive metal, or a solid metal electrode with holes. The electrodes 315, 325, 335, 345 may be identical or different. The electrodes 315, 325, 335, 345 may be plates or plate-like.
One or more power supplies (not shown) charge the electrodes 315, 325, 335, 345 and may be controlled by a controller as described above. The charges have respective strengths to create fields of sufficient strength to increase the fluidity of the fluid. This increase may be by at least 10% from the inlet port 385 to the outlet port 395.
The parts of the fluidity enhancement device 300 may be made from the same kinds of materials as the pipes and pipelines to which it is connected. Crude oil pipelines are typically made from steel or plastic tubes. Natural gas pipelines are typically constructed of carbon steel. These materials and the shapes of the parts may also be selected based upon their positive or negative impact on the fields.
Referring now to
The fluidity enhancement device 400 has a main housing 405, an inlet housing member 480 and an outlet housing member 490, as described with respect to
The inlet housing member 480 includes a fitting 482, and the outlet housing member may include a comparable fitting (hidden from view). These fittings are adapted to fit into the main housing 405 and to snugly hold the main housing 405 to the inlet housing member 480 and the outlet housing member 490 with tolerable leakage.
The fluidity enhancement device 400 includes a number of spaced electrodes 415, 425, 435 as in
Referring now to
The inlet port 445 may be circular and have a diameter 510 selected to mate to surrounding pipe. In crude oil pipelines, trunk lines typically measure from 8 to 24 inches in diameter, and gathering lines typically measure from 2 to 8 inches in diameter. Pipelines for refined petroleum products typically vary in size from relatively small 8 to 12 inch diameter lines up to 42 inches in diameter. For natural gas, pipelines typically measure from 2 inches to 56 inches in diameter.
Referring now to
The spacer 600 may have a non-circular cross section, and may have a cross section with varying area in space and/or time. For example, instead of being cylindrical, the spacer may be conical. The spacer 600 may include bellows to reduce its cross-sectional area. Some or all of these features may be integrated into the main housing 405.
The spacer 600 has an outer diameter 610 or other external dimension that allows the spacer 600 to fit snugly within the main housing 405. The spacer 600 may stay in place through an interference fit, welding, adhesive, screws, rivets, or otherwise.
Referring now to
The fluidity enhancement systems and devices described herein have numerous applications. An internal combustion engine with such a fluidity enhancement system may have increased fluidity of the fuel, which may cause better atomization of the fuel. Better atomization may result in more complete combustion which in turn may yield more horsepower. Additionally, emissions may be reduced. In pipelines, such as crude oil pipelines, increasing the fluidity of the fluid being piped may facilitate pumping the fluid. In oil burners, increasing the fluidity of the fuel may cause better atomization. Better atomization may result in more complete combustion which in turn will yield more BTUs. In filters, increasing the fluidity of the fluid to be filtered may allow finer filters to be used.
Description of Processes
Referring now to
Closing Comments
Throughout this description, the embodiments and examples shown should be considered as exemplars, rather than limitations on the apparatus and procedures disclosed or claimed. Although many of the examples presented herein involve specific combinations of method acts or system elements, it should be understood that those acts and those elements may be combined in other ways to accomplish the same objectives. With regard to flowcharts, additional and fewer steps may be taken, and the steps as shown may be combined or further refined to achieve the methods described herein. Acts, elements and features discussed only in connection with one embodiment are not intended to be excluded from a similar role in other embodiments.
For means-plus-function limitations recited in the claims, the means are not intended to be limited to the means disclosed herein for performing the recited function, but are intended to cover in scope any means, known now or later developed, for performing the recited function.
As used herein, “plurality” means two or more.
As used herein, a “set” of items may include one or more of such items.
As used herein, whether in the written description or the claims, the terms “comprising”, “including”, “carrying”, “having”, “containing”, “involving”, and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of”, respectively, are closed or semi-closed transitional phrases with respect to claims.
Use of ordinal terms such as “first”, “second”, “third”, etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed, but are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term) to distinguish the claim elements.
As used herein, “and/or” means that the listed items are alternatives, but the alternatives also include any combination of the listed items.
