Abstract:
A method and apparatus for applying a magnetic flux to a fluid flowing through a conduit is described. The apparatus comprises a flux driver plate having a plate base and sides extending upwardly from the plate base at angles greater than ninety degrees. A plurality of permanent magnets is affixed longitudinally along the plate base between the driver plate sides to generate the magnetic flux to treat the fluid. The magnetic flux can be enhanced by the addition of a flux recircuiting receiver plate over the magnets and the flux driver plate.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to magnetohydrodynamics and more particularly to the magnetic treatment of fluids flowing through a conduit. 
         [0003]    2. Discussion of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Magnetic fluid conditioning, also referred to as magnetohydro-dynamics MHD) is the interaction of electrically conducting fluids with a magnetic field and is well known in the art. MHD has been studied and is the subject of numerous patents throughout the world. A number of studies indicate that MHD is an effective method to enhance and soften fluids such as water for the purpose of loosening and preventing scale from water pipes and water process equipment such as boilers, heat exchangers, cooling towers, heaters and the like. Studies also suggest that MHD reduces chemical needs in pools and spas as well as reducing biological encrustations and bacterial counts. MHD has also been tested and used by NASA as a method to improve combustion efficiency of fuels and it is suggested that MHD beneficially increases the efficiency of refrigeration systems and fluid transport in transmission lines and wells. 
         [0005]    Numerous magnetic devices of a variety of configurations have been developed to apply a magnetic field to water, fuel or other fluids flowing through a conduit or pipe. All of these devices have met with varying degrees of success and there is little doubt that MHD is a low cost and efficient technology for “conditioning” many types of fluids. Despite its obvious utility, MHD has not reached wide popularity, especially in the United States. This is believed to be because there was an early lack of scientific knowledge of magnetic fluid dynamics and the corresponding magnetic field strength required to condition the fluids. Primarily, the early developed systems did not employ enough magnetic field strength and therefore did not show consistent results. 
         [0006]    Thus what is desired is an improved MHD method and apparatus to beneficially treat fluids such as water, fuel, coolants, biological material and chemical mixtures. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    One embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus for applying a magnetic flux to a fluid flowing through a conduit. The apparatus comprises a ferrous flux driver plate having a plate base and sides extending upwardly from the plate base at angles greater than ninety degrees. A plurality of permanent magnets of the same polar orientation axially directed toward the fluid conduit is affixed longitudinally along the plate base between the driver plate sides to generate the magnetic flux to treat the fluid. The magnetic flux can be enhanced by longitudinally separating the magnets to form a gap between adjacent magnets. The flux can be further enhanced by placing a ferrous flux recircuiting receiver plate over the magnets and the flux driver plate. 
         [0008]    Another embodiment of the present invention for applying a magnetic flux to a fluid flowing through a conduit is an apparatus having a ferrous flux driver plate at least two rows of permanent magnets of the same polar orientation directed axially toward the fluid conduit arranged thereon. The flux driver plate has a plate base and a magnet base extending from each side thereof at a magnet base angle and further having a driver plate side extending from the magnet base at a side angle therefrom. The magnet base angle and the side angle are each greater than ninety degrees. Alternatively, the flux driver plate and magnets can be arcuate in shape. The magnetic flux can be enhanced by longitudinally separating the magnets in each row to form a longitudinal gap between longitudinally adjacent magnets and also by separating the magnet rows to form a lateral gap between laterally adjacent magnets. The flux can be further enhanced by placing a ferrous flux recircuiting receiver plate over the magnets and the flux driver plate. 
         [0009]    Also described is a method for magnetically treating fluids flowing through a conduit by arranging a plurality of permanent magnets of substantially equal flux in a longitudinally aligned row with poles of the same polar orientation directed axially toward the fluid conduit in the same direction. The magnets are then affixed to a base plate of a flux driver plate and forming the sides of the flux driver plate at an angle greater than ninety degrees with respect to the base plate. The combined magnets and flux driver plate are then aligned with the fluid conduit and placed proximate to it. The magnetic flux induced on the fluid can be enhanced by registering a ferrous flux recircuiting receiver plate over the fluid conduit, longitudinally aligned magnets, and flux driver plate and by separating side edges of the recircuiting receiver plate from side edges of the flux driver plate to define a variable gap therebetween. 
         [0010]    These and other advantages of the invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following written specification, claims and appended drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a partially exploded perspective view of an apparatus for treating fluids embodying the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the apparatus show in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a partially exploded perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a partially exploded perspective view of yet another alternate embodiment of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a partially exploded perspective view of an alternate embodiment incorporating an arcuate flux driver plate. 
       
    
    
       [0017]    Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in  FIG. 1 . However, one will understand that the invention may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. While the present invention has been shown and described in accordance with preferred and practical embodiments thereof, it is recognized that departures from the instant disclosure are fully contemplated within the spirit and scope of the invention. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
         [0019]    Turning to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows an apparatus  20  for magnetically treating fluids which is one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention and illustrates its various components. The apparatus  20  comprises a magnetic driver  22  and a flux recircuiting receiver plate  50 . Magnetic driver  22  includes a flux driver plate  24  which comprises a driver plate base  26  and driver plate sides  30  affixed to driver plate base  26 . Flux driver plate  24  is fabricated from a ferrous material such as steel. Driver plate base  26  defines a plate base plane  27  wherein driver plate sides  30  define a side angle  36  with respect to plate base plane  27 . The side angle  36  formed by driver plate side  30  and plane  27  is a minimum of five degrees and a maximum of eighty-five degrees. Thus, the angle formed between driver plate base  26  and each driver plate side  30  is between ninety-five and one-hundred-seventy five degrees. Driver plate sides  30  also define side edges  32  at the uppermost part of driver plate sides  30 . 
         [0020]    A plurality of permanent solid state magnets  38  having substantially identical field strengths are longitudinally arranged on and affixed to plate base  26  between driver plate sides  30 . ( FIG. 1  illustrates the positioning of three magnets  38  on plate base  26 ; however, this is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be interpreted as limiting.) Magnets  38  are in a unipolar arrangement such that either all north poles or all south poles of magnets  38  are oriented upwardly with the opposing like poles affixed to plate base  26 . Longitudinally arranged magnets  38  are spaced to define a longitudinal gap  40  of at least one one-thousandth of an inch between each of adjacent ones of magnets  38 . 
         [0021]    A flux recircuiting receiver plate  50 , also fabricated from a ferrous material such as steel, has a center section  52  that defines a plane  53  and also has receiver plate sides  54  that are formed to define a receiver side angle  60  with respect to plane  53 . The angle  60  so formed is not less than ten degrees and not greater than eighty-five degrees. Thus, the angle formed by center section  52  and receiver plate side  54  is between one-hundred and one-hundred-seventy-five degrees. Receiver plate sides  54  further define at their outermost extremities receiver plate side edges  56 . 
         [0022]    The magnetic driver  22  is placed adjacent to a fluid conduit  10  such that the longitudinally arranged magnets  38  are substantially parallel to the flow axis  12  of fluid conduit  10  and such that fluid conduit  10  is most proximate to the segments of the magnets  38  opposite from the driver plate base  26 . Flux recircuiting receiver plate  50  is placed over fluid conduit  10  and substantially in vertical registration with flux driver plate  24 . The assembled apparatus  20  is then clamped in place on the fluid conduit  10 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , when apparatus  20  is clamped to fluid conduit  10 , side edge  32  and receiver plate side edge  57  are substantially parallel one with the other and define therebetween a variable gap  58  of at least one one-thousandth of an inch. 
         [0023]    In operation, the apparatus  20  is clamped to fluid conduit  10  as described above. Fluid is then passed through fluid conduit  10  along longitudinal flow axis  12  to pass through the combined magnetic fields of permanent magnets  38 . Longitudinal gaps  40  between individual magnets  38  and the single angled ferrous flux driver plate  24  cooperate to increase the magnetic field density into the fluid flowing through conduit  10 . Further, flux recircuiting receiver plate  50  increases the magnetic flux field density into the fluid by pulling the magnetic flux lines from the magnetic driver  22  through the fluid. 
         [0024]    Turning now to  FIG. 3 , an alternative apparatus  120  for magnetically treating fluids is illustrated. Apparatus  120  is similar to apparatus  20  and like features are identified with like numbers preceded by the numeral “1.” The apparatus  120  comprises a magnetic driver  122  and a flux recircuiting receiver plate  150 . Magnetic driver  122  includes a flux driver plate  124  which comprises a driver plate base  126 , magnet base  128  affixed to driver plate base  126 , and driver plate sides  130  affixed to magnet base  128 . Flux driver plate  124  is fabricated from a ferrous material such as steel. Driver plate base defines a plate base plane  127  and magnet base  128  defines a magnet base plane  129 . Each magnet base  128  defines a magnet base angle  134  with respect to plate base plane  127 . The magnet base angle  134  is a minimum of five degrees and a maximum of sixty-five degrees. Thus, the angle formed between driver plate base  126  and each magnet base  128  is between one-hundred-fifteen and one-hundred-seventy five degrees. Similarly, Driver plate sides  130  define a side angle  136  with respect to magnet base plane  129 . The side angle  136  formed thereby is a minimum of one degree and a maximum of eighty degrees. Thus, the angle formed between magnet base  128  and each driver plate side  130  is between one-hundred and one-hundred-seventy nine degrees. Driver plate sides  130  also define side edges  132  at the uppermost part of driver plate sides  130 . 
         [0025]    A plurality of permanent solid state magnets  138  having substantially identical field strengths are arranged in two longitudinally parallel rows, each row being affixed to one of the magnet bases  128  and between driver plate sides  130 . ( FIG. 3  illustrates the positioning of six magnets  138  on magnet bases  128 ; however, this is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be interpreted as limiting.) Magnets  138  are in a unipolar arrangement such that either all north poles or all south poles of magnets  138  are oriented upwardly with the opposing like poles affixed to magnet bases  128 . Longitudinally arranged magnets  138  are spaced to define a longitudinal gap  140  of at least one one-thousandth of an inch between each of longitudinally adjacent magnets  138 , and adjacent rows of magnets  138  are spaced to define a lateral gap  142  of at least one one-thousandth of an inch between laterally adjacent magnets  138 . 
         [0026]    Similar to apparatus  20 , a flux recircuiting receiver plate  150 , also fabricated from a ferrous material such as steel, has a center section  152  that defines a plane  153  and also has receiver plate sides  154  that are formed to define a receiver side angle  160  with respect to plane  153 . The angle  160  so formed is not less than ten degrees and not greater than eighty-five degrees. Thus, the angle formed by center section  152  and receiver plate side  154  is between one-hundred and one-hundred-seventy-five degrees. Receiver plate sides  154  further define at their outermost extremities receiver plate side edges  156 . 
         [0027]    In use, apparatus  120  is affixed to fluid conduit  10  in the same manner as apparatus  20  with magnetic driver  122  placed below fluid conduit  10  such that the rows of magnets  138  are parallel to flow axis  12  of conduit  10 , and such that fluid conduit  10  is most proximate to the segments of the magnets  138  opposite from the magnet base  128 . Flux recircuiting receiver plate  150  is placed over fluid conduit  10  and substantially in vertical registration with flux driver plate  124 . The assembled apparatus  120  is then clamped in place on the fluid conduit  10 . Similar to apparatus  20  shown in  FIG. 2 , when apparatus  120  is clamped to fluid conduit  10 , side edge  132  and receiver plate side edge  157  are substantially parallel one with the other and define therebetween a variable gap of at least one one-thousandth of an inch similar to variable gap  58 . 
         [0028]    In operation, apparatus  120  is clamped to fluid conduit  10  as described above. Fluid is then passed through fluid conduit  10  along longitudinal flow axis  12  to pass through the combined magnetic fields of permanent magnets  138 , wherein the combined magnetic fields of magnets  138  cooperate with flux driver plate  124  and flux recircuiting receiver plate  150  to provide an advantageous magnetic flux to the fluid. 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  illustrates yet another embodiment of apparatus  220 . Apparatus  220  is similar to apparatus  20  and like features are identified with like numbers preceded by the numeral “2.” The apparatus  220  comprises a magnetic driver  222  and a flux recircuiting receiver plate  250 . Magnetic driver  222  includes a flux driver plate  224  which comprises a driver plate base  226  and driver plate sides  230  affixed to driver plate base  226 . However, driver plate base  226  is substantially wider than driver plate base  26  of apparatus  20 . Flux driver plate  224  is fabricated from a ferrous material such as steel. Driver plate base  226  defines a plate base plane  227  wherein driver plate sides  230  define a side angle  236  with respect to plate base plane  227 . The side angle  236  formed by driver plate side  230  and plane  227  is a minimum of five degrees and a maximum of eighty-five degrees. Driver plate sides  230  also define side edges  232  at the uppermost part of driver plate sides  230 . 
         [0030]    A plurality of permanent solid state magnets  238  having substantially identical field strengths are arranged in a plurality of longitudinally parallel rows, each row being affixed to plate base  226  between driver plate sides  230 . ( FIG. 3  illustrates the positioning of nine magnets  138  in three rows on plate base  226 ; however, this is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be interpreted as limiting.) Magnets  238  are in a unipolar arrangement such that either all north poles or all south poles of magnets  238  are oriented upwardly with the opposing like poles affixed to plate base  226 . Longitudinally arranged magnets  238  are spaced to define a longitudinal gap  240  of at least one one-thousandth of an inch between each of longitudinally adjacent magnets  238 , and adjacent rows of magnets  238  are spaced to define a lateral gap  242  of at least one one-thousandth of an inch between laterally adjacent magnets  238 . 
         [0031]    Flux recircuiting receiver plate  250 , also fabricated from a ferrous material such as steel, is configured as a flat plate. Receiver plate  250  further defines at its outermost extremities receiver plate side edges  156 . 
         [0032]    In use, apparatus  220  is clamped to fluid conduit in a manner similar to apparatus  120  such that longitudinal rows of magnets  238  are substantially parallel to flow axis  12  of conduit  10 . Flux recircuiting receiver plate is above fluid conduit  10  and in substantial vertical registration with flux driver plate  224 . 
         [0033]    Turning now to  FIG. 5 , an alternate embodiment for magnetically treating fluids is illustrated as apparatus  320 . Apparatus  320  is similar to apparatus  20  and like features are identified with like numbers preceded by the numeral “3.” The apparatus  320  comprises a magnetic driver  322  and a flux recircuiting receiver plate  350 . Magnetic driver  322  includes a flux driver plate  324  which comprises an arcuate driver plate base  326  and driver plate sides  330  extending from arcuate driver plate base  326 . arcuate driver plate base  326  is formed in an elongate semicircular fashion about longitudinal axis  312 . Flux driver plate  324  is fabricated from a ferrous material such as steel. Driver plate sides  330  also define side edges  332  at the uppermost part of driver plate sides  330 . 
         [0034]    A plurality of permanent solid state magnets  338  having substantially identical field strengths are arranged in longitudinal rows, each row being affixed to the arcuate interior of driver plate base  326 . Magnets  338  are also formed in an arcuate shape and have magnet sides  339 . Magnet sides  339  are positioned below side edges  332  such that driver plate sides  330  extend from magnet sides  339  to side edges  332  and are defined by side dimension  331 . Side dimension  331  is a minimum of one tenth of an inch. ( FIG. 5  illustrates the positioning of four magnets  338  on driver plate base  326  in two parallel rows; however, this is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be interpreted as limiting.) Magnets  338  are formed with their respective north and south poles located at the arcuate surfaces. Magnets  338  are in a unipolar arrangement such that either all north poles or all south poles of magnets  338  are oriented axially toward longitudinal axis  312  with the opposing like poles affixed to driver plate base  326 . Longitudinally arranged magnets  338  are spaced to define a longitudinal gap  340  between each of longitudinally adjacent magnets  338 , and adjacent rows of magnets  338  are spaced to define a lateral gap  342  between laterally adjacent magnets  338 . 
         [0035]    Similar to apparatus  20 , a flux recircuiting receiver plate  350 , also fabricated from a ferrous material such as steel, has a center section  352  that defines a plane  353  and also has receiver plate sides  354  that are formed to define a receiver side angle  360  with respect to plane  353 . The angle  360  so formed is not less than ten degrees and not greater than eighty-five degrees. Thus, the angle formed by center section  352  and receiver plate side  354  is between one-hundred and one-hundred-seventy-five degrees. Receiver plate sides  354  further define at their outermost extremities receiver plate side edges  356 . 
         [0036]    In use, apparatus  320  is affixed to fluid conduit  10  in the same manner as apparatus  20  with magnetic driver  322  placed below fluid conduit  10  such that the rows of magnets  338  with longitudinal axis  312  are substantially coaxial with conduit  10 , and such that fluid conduit  10  is most proximate to the segments of the magnets  338  opposite from the magnet base  328 . Flux recircuiting receiver plate  350  is placed over fluid conduit  10  and substantially in vertical registration with flux driver plate  324 . The assembled apparatus  120  is then clamped in place on the fluid conduit  10 . Similar to apparatus  20  shown in  FIG. 2 , when apparatus  320  is clamped to fluid conduit  10 , side edge  332  and receiver plate side edge  357  are substantially parallel one with the other and define therebetween a variable gap of at least one one-thousandth of an inch similar to variable gap  58 . 
         [0037]    In operation, apparatus  320  is clamped to fluid conduit  10  as described above. Fluid is then passed through fluid conduit  10  along axis  312  to pass through the combined magnetic fields of permanent magnets  338 , wherein the combined magnetic fields of magnets  338  cooperate with flux driver plate  324  and flux recircuiting receiver plate  350  to provide an advantageous magnetic flux to the fluid. 
         [0038]    In the foregoing description those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the concepts disclosed herein. Such modifications are to be considered as included in the following claims, unless these claims expressly state otherwise.