ELECTROMAGNETIC FLUID CONDITIONER

Abstract: A fluid treatment device including a length of pipe (7) having an inlet (60) and an outlet (70), said length of pipe (7) being straight, a shaft (127) centrally within the pipe (7), bearing means (151, 153) of dielectric material supporting the shaft (127) for rotation within the pipe (7), said shaft (127) including an agitating structure responsive to flow through the pipe (7) to agitate fluid while in the pipe (7), and a coil (8) annularly arranged about the pipe (7) and agitator structure including structure to connect to a source of electrical energy, said coil (8) providing means to provide a magnetic field of between 500 and 800 oersted.

Description: Description Electromagnetic Fluid Conditioner Technical Field: This invention relates to an improvement in prior art devices to be applied to a section of pipe through which an aqueous solution or water flows for the purpose of reducing corrosion, etc. of the section of pipe during an extended time period of use. 0 Background of the Invention: It has been known that an aqueous solution, aqueous mixture or plain water, flowing through a pipe during an extended period of time results in c corrosion and other deleterious effects and, ulti¬ mately, failure of the pipe. In the past, efforts have been made'to reduce these effects. One prior art method and apparatus applies a direct current to a coil annularly arranged about a section of the pipe 0 and in which pipe section there is arranged a fixed sleeve carrying a rotor which is free to spin within the pipe under the influence of the water flowing through the pipe section. It has come to be recog¬ nized that the swirling of water caused by the rotor 5 and the application of the current reduces the dele¬ terious effects of the flow upon the pipe structure. An example of this type of prior art is U.S. Letters Patent 4,151,090 and U.S. Letters Patent 408,798, issued-by the Government of Spain. 0 Summary of the Present Invention: This invention provides an improvement in such prior art devices and more particularly a structure to be attached to a pipe. More specifically, the c improved structure includes a rotor which is free spinning within a length of pipe and is journaled by bearings of dielectric material and, exteriorly about the rotor and the pipe, a coil which is connected to ^ \ 3 ?.k c:._?ι a d.c. power source, preferably, is arranged to cause a magnetic field of predetermined characteristic when power is supplied to the coil. The structure of the section through which the water passes is improved to accommodate the foregoing, as is more fully described 5 more fully hereinafter. Description of the Drawing: Figure 1 is a view in cross section taken on a vertical center plane of the device. 10 Description of the Preferred Embodiment: Referring to the drawing, it is seen that there is a section of pipe 9 which is part of the housing of the device generally designated by the numeral 10. ■■c The pipe has a first and second end 12 and 14 both of which are open and threaded. It is of a predetermined length between the ends 12 and 14 around the predeter¬ mined length of pipe 9, a coil 8 of a predetermined number of turns is provided. The coil is substanti- 2 Q ally around the length of pipe 9 in the illustrated preferred embodiment. Confronting end caps 15 and 17 are provided for the housing. The caps include inwardly projecting lengths 18 and 20 and may be screw- hreaded as at 51 and 55. One of the caps is 25 provided on a pipe cross 6 and the other is provided on a pipe cross 7. The pipe crosses are in screw- threaded engagement with the respective ends of the pipe 9. The pipe cross 7 has the inlet 60 of the device and the pipe cross 6 has the outlet 70 of the 30 device. The inlet accommodates the upstream or in-flow indicated by the arrowed line 71; and the downstream outlet accommodates the downstream or out-flow indicated by the numeral 72. The respective faces 101 and 103 of the inwardly projecting lengths 35 18 and 20 of the caps 15 and 17 respectively are pro¬ vided with a recess, such as 106 and a cup-shaped bearing in the form of the plug 121 and 123 seen in the drawing is seated in the respective recesses, ... O such as 106. Each of the cup-shaped plugs are in confronting relation and each are of dielectric or electrically non-conductive material, such as Teflon, a commercially available product, Teflon being a registered trademark of the E.I. duPont de Nemenours 5 Company of Wilmington, Delaware. Spanning the plugs 121 and 123 is a shaft 127 with one of its ends in each of the plugs or bearing means for rotation in the pipe. On the shaft and in the pipe 9 a helical rotor 129 is keyed or fixed for rotation with the - |Q shaft. It will be seen that between each of the shaft ends 131 and 133 and within the cup-shaped plugs there is a spherical anti-friction ball bear¬ ing, the same being designated by the numerals 151 and 153. In use, water or an aqueous solution or -, 5 mixture flowing into the inlet will be agitated as it moves through the pipe 9. About the pipe length and rotor the annular coil 8 is provided. The flow will exit as indicated by the arrowed line 72. While it is within the pipe 9, in addition to being agitated, 2 Q a magnetic field is applied to it by energizing the coil using a suitable source, such as that indicated by the battery 201. The battery is connected such that the upstream side of the coil is positive or is the South Pole of the field created by the electrical 2 energy flow. There is thus described a method of treating flowing fluid which includes the steps of conducting the flow from an upstream source through a device which includes a pipe length of predetermined di en- 3 Q sion for a given installation to a downstream exit. While the fluid is flowing through the pipe, a mag¬ netic field is applied to a length of the pipe by means of a coil energized by a d.c. source, pre¬ ferably, arranged about the pipe. Also, while the 35 flow takes place through the pipe, it is agitated by the rotor as it passes through the magnetic field. Preferably, the rotor is of low carbon iron as is the pipe length. Magnetic lines of force are cut by the rotor within the field. This magnetomotive force is the force cause of a flux of induction and acts upon the flowing fluids so that it serves as brushes or collectors it is believed. In any event, deleterious effects upon the wear of a pipe system in which the c device is provided are reduced. It is believed that the use of the device lowers the viscosity, surface tension and increases the conductivity of the flow which accounts for the reduction in scaling and the corrosive properties of the fluid flowing in a system. - jQ In chemical plants, the use of the device seems to accelerate the chemical reaction capability of the fluid in downstream operations. While the complete explanation is not perfectly understood at this point, the results of the structure and its method of -,ς use are undeniable in practice. In the preferred embodiment the helical coil is shown; however, it will be apparent that the same comprises an agitating means for the water within the pipe of the housing and over which the water is 20 constrained to flow. This it is believed causes a secondary magnetic field between the turning iron rotor and the iron pipe 9 within which it is rotat¬ ing. There is a clearance preferably of about 1/8" between the outer circumference of the helical coil 25 and the inside circumference of the pipe. This secondary magnetic field may be considered as a transversal magnetic field created by the rotation of the rotor relative to the wall of the pipe which also cuts diametrical lines of force between the rotor and 0 the pipe in addition to the lines of force between the North and South Pole of the electromagnet when the coil is energized. Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the cup-shaped plugs of dielectric material insulate 5 the rotor shaft 127 from contact with the metal caps and also provide for bearing support for journaling the rotor. Teflon is a preferred dielectric material for this purpose; however, any suitable bearing material of low friction characteristic may be utili¬ zed so long as it is of dielectric material.. With respect to the source, 201, a battery may be used or, alternatively, a transformer connected to an a.c. source or any other type of d.c. power supply may be 5 used. The coil is of a sufficient amperage turns to provide a magnetic field of between 500 and 800 oersted. The preferred axial length of the treatment zone, that is the approximate length of the pipe, -, Q coil and rotor, is between 6 inches and 24 inches, varying according to the size of the device and the water flow to be treated. Preferably the rotor extends substantially the length of the coil; how¬ ever, it may be somewhat longer or somewhat shorter. 15 In the preferred embodiment the upstream side is always positive while the downstream side is nega¬ tive. Referring to the end sections, it is seen that there is one inlet 60 and one outlet 70 shown in the 20 drawings. The upwardly extending pipe cross portions, designated by the numerals 4 and 5, are capped, as at 2 and 3, in the drawings; however, they may be utilized as an additional inlet and outlet so that, there are two inlets and two outlets to the housing. 2 Supplementary means may be utilized to increase the RPM's of the rotor for increased agitation. For example, although not shown, the end 131 of the shaft may be extended through the cap 15 and be provided with a gear exteriorly of the housing in driving 30 relation with a gear connected to the drive shaft of a motor. Additionally, at the junction of the inlet and the pipe 9, as at 14, some type of additional agitating means may be provided such as a deflector plate. In other words, agitating means independant 35 of the water flow may be used in small diameter units or where there is a very slow flow. The pipe crosses are preferably of steel while the pipe 10 is preferably of low carbon iron about which the solenoidal coil is arranged. The numeral 201 may be considered to designate an electric junc¬ tion box to connect to a battery represented by the conventional symbol. While the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be a practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention which is, therefore, not to be limited except as set forth in the claims which follow and under the doctrine of equivalents.

Claims: Claims 1. A fluid treatment device comprising a length of pipe having an inlet and an outlet, said length of pipe being straight, a shaft centrally within the pipe, bearing means of dielectric material supporting the shaft for rotation within the pipe, said shaft including an agitating means responsive to flow through the pipe to agitate fluid while in the pipe, 0 and a coil annularly arranged about the pipe and agitator means including means to connect to a source of electrical energy, said coil providing means to provide a magnetic field of between 500 and 800 oersted. 2. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said agitating means comprises a helical fin on said shaft, said helical fin being of a length about equal o "to the length of said coil and said pipe. 3. The device as set forth in claim 2 wherein means are provided on the ends of the pipe in the form of a member defining an inlet and an outlet and 5 including cap means in confronting relation and seat means for said bearing means. 4. The device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said seat means comprises a recess in the confronting 0 caps and a cup-shaped bearing of dielectric material in the recess and said shaft having a first end in the recess of one of the cup-shaped members and said shaft having another end in the recess of the other of said cup-shaped members and an anti-friction ball bearing member is captivated in each of the recesses between the associated end of the shaft and the cup-shaped member. Λ v, as set forth ±n claim 1 wherein " Th !an ar e o ided o each end of said pipe cross means are P^ shaft. 0 35

Inventors: ROCH R
Applicants: ROCH R
Application year: 1980
Main classification: B01D35
IPC codes: C02F1