Patent Publication Number: US-6985047-B2

Title: Continuously tunable waveguide attenuator

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Statement of the Technical Field 
   The inventive arrangements relate generally to methods and apparatus for providing increased design flexibility for RF circuits, and more particularly to a waveguide attenuator. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Variable waveguide attenuators are commonly used to attenuate microwave signals propagating within a waveguide, which is a type of transmission line structure commonly used for microwave signals. Waveguides typically consist of a hollow tube made of an electrically conductive material, for example copper, brass, steel, etc. Further, waveguides can be provided in a variety of shapes, but most often are cylindrical or have a rectangular cross section. In operation, waveguides propagate modes above a certain cutoff frequency. 
   Waveguide attenuators are available in a variety of arrangements. In one arrangement, the waveguide attenuator consists of three sections of waveguide in tandem: a middle section and two end sections. In each section a resistive film is placed across an inner diameter of the waveguide (in the case of a waveguide having a circular cross section) or across a width of the waveguide (in the case of a waveguide having a rectangular cross section). In either case, the resistive film collinearly extends the length of each waveguide section. The middle section of the waveguide is free to rotate radially with respect to the waveguide end sections. When the resistive film in the three sections are aligned, the E-field of an applied microwave signal is normal to all films. When this occurs, no current flows in the films and no attenuation occurs. When the center section is rotated at an angle θ with respect to the end section at the input of the waveguide, the E field can be considered to split into two orthogonal components, E sin θ and E cos θ. E sin θ is in the plane of the film and E cos θ is orthogonal to the film. Accordingly, the E sin θ component is absorbed by the film and the E cos θ component is passed unattenuated to the end section at the output of the waveguide. The resistive film in the end section at the output then absorbs the E cos θ sin θ component of the E field and an E cos 2  θ component emerges from the waveguide at the same orientation as the original wave. The accuracy of such an attenuator is dependant on the stability of the resistive films. If the resistive films should degrade over time, performance of the waveguide attenuator will be affected. Further, energy reflections and higher-order mode propagation commonly occur in such a waveguide attenuator design. 
   In another arrangement, a wedge shaped waveguide attenuator having resistive surfaces is provided. Because the waveguide attenuator is wedge shaped, the E field again can be considered to split into two orthogonal components at each surface of the wedge, E sin θ and E cos θ. As with the previous example, the E sin θ component of a microwave signal is absorbed by the film. However, the tapered portion of the waveguide attenuator causes energy reflections to occur. Hence, the wedge shaped waveguide attenuator must be long enough to obtain sufficiently low reflection characteristics. Accordingly, this type of waveguide attenuator is limited to use in relatively long waveguides. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a continuously variable waveguide attenuator. The continuously variable waveguide attenuator includes at least one waveguide attenuator cavity bounded by at least one barrier. A fluid dielectric having a loss tangent, a permittivity and a permeability is at least partially disposed within the waveguide attenuator cavity. The waveguide attenuator cavity can be, for example, wedge shaped. Further, a second waveguide attenuator cavity can be provided. A second fluid dielectric can be at least partially disposed within the second waveguide attenuator cavity. 
   At least one composition processor is included and adapted for dynamically changing a composition of the fluid dielectric to vary an electrical characteristic of the fluid dielectric, for example a loss tangent, a relative permittivity and/or a relative permeability. A controller is provided for controlling the composition processor to selectively vary the electrical characteristic in response to a waveguide attenuator control signal. The composition processor can selectively vary the electrical characteristic to vary the attenuation of the continuously variable waveguide attenuator or to maintain the attenuation constant when a second electrical characteristic of the fluid dielectric is varied. 
   A plurality of component parts can be dynamically mixed together in the composition processor in response to the waveguide attenuator control signal to form the fluid dielectric. The composition processor can include at least one proportional valve, at least one mixing pump, and at least one conduit for selectively mixing and communicating a plurality of the components of the fluid dielectric from respective fluid reservoirs to a waveguide attenuator cavity. The composition processor can further include a component part separator adapted for separating the component parts of the fluid dielectric for subsequent reuse. 
   The component parts can be selected from the group consisting of (a) a low permittivity, low permeability, low loss component and (b) a low permittivity, low permeability, high loss component. In another arrangement, the component parts can be selected from the group consisting of (a) a low permittivity, low permeability, low loss component, (b) a high permittivity, low permeability, low loss component, and (c) a low permittivity, high permeability, high loss component. In yet another arrangement, the component parts can be selected from (a) a low permittivity, low permeability, low loss component, (b) a high permittivity, low permeability, low loss component, (c) a high permittivity, high permeability, low loss component, and (d) a low permittivity, low permeability, high loss component. 
   The fluid dielectric can include an industrial solvent which can have a suspension of magnetic particles contained therein. The magnetic particles can consist of ferrite, metallic salts, and organo-metallic particles. In one arrangement, the variable waveguide attenuator can contain about 50% to 90% magnetic particles by weight although systems containing little or no magnetic particles can also be envisioned and the examples given herein should not limit the claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram useful for understanding the variable waveguide attenuator of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a waveguide attenuator having an alternate shape in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of a waveguide having multiple waveguide attenuators in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a flow chart that is useful for understanding the process of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The present invention provides the circuit designer with an added level of flexibility by permitting a fluid dielectric to be used in a waveguide attenuator, thereby enabling attenuation and impedance characteristics of the waveguide attenuator to be varied by varying electrical characteristics of the fluid dielectric. For example, either particles or fluids having a high loss tangent can be mixed into a fluid dielectric having a low to moderate loss tangent and the mixture ratio can be adjusted to vary the attenuation. The composition of the fluid dielectric can be adjusted to change the impedance of the waveguide attenuator or to maintain a constant impedance as the loss tangent of the dielectric fluid is adjusted. For example, the impedance of the waveguide attenuator can be precisely matched to the impedance of a waveguide by maintaining a constant ratio of relative permittivity (ε r ) to relative permeability (μ r ) in the fluid dielectric. A precisely matched impedance can minimize energy reflections caused by a transition from an unattenuated portion of the waveguide to the waveguide attenuator. A precisely matched impedance also reduces higher-order mode propagation. 
     FIG. 1  is a conceptual diagram that is useful for understanding the continuously variable waveguide attenuator  104  of the present invention. An attenuator apparatus  100  is provided to vary the characteristics of the waveguide attenuator  102 , which comprises an attenuator cavity region  109  contained within a waveguide  104 . The cavity region  109  is filled with a fluid dielectric  108  to vary attenuation characteristics, permittivity and/or permeability of the waveguide attenuator  102 . The waveguide  104  can be any structure capable of supporting propagation modes. Waveguides are commonly embodied as electrically conductive tubes having circular or rectangular cross sections, but the present invention is not so limited; the present invention can be incorporated into any type of waveguide having any desired shape. For example, the present invention can be incorporated into a waveguide comprising circuit traces on a dielectric substrate and a plurality of rows of conductive vias which cooperatively support propagation modes. In such an example, at least one cavity for containing fluid dielectric can be positioned between adjacent rows of conductive vias. Additional vias having one end which couples to the cavity be provided as a pathway for the flow of fluid dielectric in and out of the cavity. Further, the waveguide attenuator  102  can be located anywhere within the waveguide  104 . For example, the waveguide attenuator  102  can be located in a central location within the waveguide  104  at either end of the waveguide  104 , or anywhere in between. 
   Although the shape of the waveguide attenuator  102  is primarily controlled by the shape of the cavity region  109 , the waveguide attenuator  102  can incorporate other objects which protrude within the cavity  109 . For example, tuning screws can protrude into the cavity region  109  to vary RF propagation characteristics within the cavity. Further, the cavity region  109  can comprise adjustable barriers and/or other objects which can change the RF response of the waveguide attenuator  102 . In particular, changing the dimensions of the cavity region  109  can change the frequency of modes supported within cavity region  109 . 
   Notably, the waveguide attenuator  102  can be provided in a variety of shapes. For example, the waveguide attenuator can be bounded on four sides by the walls  105  of the waveguide  104  and bounded on two sides by barriers  106 . Preferably, the barriers are made of a dielectric material so as not to disrupt waveguide performance. In one arrangement, the waveguide attenuator  102  can be bounded by four dielectric barriers. In such an arrangement the waveguide attenuator  102  can be modular component that can be inserted into a waveguide. 
   The cavity  109  also can be arranged in complex shapes, for example a wedge shape. A wedge shape, as shown in  FIG. 2A , can be particularly useful to minimize reflection of an RF signal  220  due to the waveguide attenuator  202 , for example, when there is an impedance mismatch between the waveguide attenuator  202  and the remaining dielectric  222  within a waveguide  204 . Such an impedance mismatch can occur when the waveguide attenuator  202  has a different characteristic impedance than the remaining dielectric  222 . The waveguide attenuator  202  can be positioned with a narrow end  208  oriented towards an end  212  of the waveguide  204  receiving RF input  220  and a wide end  210  of the waveguide attenuator  202  towards an output end  214  of the waveguide  204 . Since there is a large angle of incidence between the RF signal  220  and a diagonal barrier  216 , very little signal energy will be reflected towards the input end  212 . Further, since the depth of the waveguide cavity  206  varies along the length of the waveguide attenuator  202 , the amount of lossy fluid dielectric  230  between opposing waveguide walls  224  and  226  will vary. Accordingly, the attenuation of the waveguide attenuator  202  will vary over its length. The change in attenuation should be taken into consideration when computing the overall net attenuation of the waveguide attenuator  202 . 
   Further, multiple waveguide attenuators  250 ,  252  can be included in a single waveguide, for instance, to provide a greater range of attenuation adjustment. Referring to  FIG. 2B , one arrangement can be provided wherein a waveguide  270  is provided with cascaded waveguide attenuator cavities  254 ,  256 . The waveguide attenuator cavities  254 ,  256  can be separately filled with fluid dielectric to achieve wider ranges of attenuation adjustment than might be achieved by merely varying the fluid dielectric in a single cavity. For instance, a first waveguide attenuator cavity  254  can be at least partially filled with a fluid dielectric  260  to provide a first range of attenuation levels, for example 0–10 dB. If greater attenuation is required, then a second waveguide attenuator cavity  256  can be at least partially filled with a second fluid dielectric  262 . A valve (not shown) can be used to fill and evacuate the fluid dielectric  260 ,  262  from the waveguide attenuator cavities  254 ,  256  as required. If each waveguide attenuator provides an attenuation range of 0–10 dB and 18 dB of attenuation is needed, the first waveguide attenuator cavity can be filled with a first fluid dielectric  260  and adjusted to provide 10 dB of attenuation while the second waveguide attenuator cavity is filled with a second fluid dielectric  262  and adjusted to provide 8 dB of attenuation. In this arrangement, additional fluid composition processors can be provided to individually adjust the fluid dielectric for each waveguide attenuator cavity  254 ,  256 . Alternatively, each of the waveguide attenuator cavities  254 ,  256  can be adjusted to have an equal attenuation, for example 9 dB each. In such an arrangement the waveguide attenuator cavities can share a fluid dielectric from a common fluid composition processor. Still, a myriad of combinations of waveguide attenuator cavities and attenuation levels can be used, any of which are within the scope of the present invention. In particular, each waveguide attenuator can provide greater or smaller attenuation ranges. For example, each waveguide attenuator can provide 0–5 dB, 0–20 db, 0–50 dB or 0–100 dB of attenuation. Further, any number of waveguide attenuators can be cascade. 
   Referring again to  FIG. 1 , a composition processor  101  is provided for changing a composition of the fluid dielectric  108  to vary the attenuation characteristics of the fluid dielectric. Further, it is preferable that the composition processor  101  also change the composition of the fluid dielectric  108  to vary permittivity and/or permeability in order to maintain control over the characteristic impedance of the waveguide attenuator  102 . A controller  136  controls the composition processor for selectively varying the attenuation, permittivity and/or permeability of the fluid dielectric  108  in response to a waveguide attenuator control signal  137 . By selectively varying the attenuation, permittivity and/or permeability of the fluid dielectric, the controller  136  can control attenuation of an RF signal, for example a microwave signal, through the waveguide  104  as well as group velocity of the RF signal. Further, the controller  136  can control the impedance of the waveguide  104  within the cavity region  109 . 
   Composition of Fluid Dielectric 
   The fluid dielectric can be comprised of several component parts that can be mixed together to produce a desired attenuation, permittivity and permeability required for particular waveguide attenuator characteristics. In this regard, it will be readily appreciated that fluid miscibility and particle suspension are key considerations to ensure proper mixing. Another key consideration is the relative ease by which the component parts can be subsequently separated from one another. The ability to separate the component parts is important when the attenuation or impedance requirements change. Specifically, this feature ensures that the component parts can be subsequently re-mixed in a different proportion to form a new fluid dielectric. 
   It may be desirable in many instances to select component mixtures that produce a fluid dielectric that has a relatively constant response over a broad range of frequencies. If the fluid dielectric is not relatively constant over a broad range of frequencies, the characteristics of the fluid at various frequencies can be accounted for when the fluid dielectric is mixed. For example, a table of loss tangent, permittivity and permeability values vs. frequency can be stored in the controller  136  for reference during the mixing process. 
   Aside from the foregoing constraints, there are relatively few limits on the range of component parts that can be used to form the fluid dielectric. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will recognize that the examples of component parts, mixing methods and separation methods as shall be disclosed herein are merely by way of example and are not intended to limit in any way the scope of the invention. Also, the component materials are described herein as being mixed in order to produce the fluid dielectric. However, it should be noted that the invention is not so limited. Instead, it should be recognized that the composition of the fluid dielectric could be modified in other ways. For example, the component parts could be selected to chemically react with one another in such a way as to produce the fluid dielectric with the desired values of permittivity and/or permeability. All such techniques will be understood to be included to the extent that it is stated that the composition of the fluid dielectric is changed. 
   A nominal value of permittivity (ε r ) for fluids is approximately 2.0. However, the component parts for the fluid dielectric can include fluids with extreme values of permittivity. Consequently, a mixture of such component parts can be used to produce a wide range of intermediate permittivity values. For example, component fluids could be selected with permittivity values of approximately 2.0 and about 58 to produce a fluid dielectric with a permittivity anywhere within that range after mixing. Dielectric particle suspensions can also be used to increase permittivity and loss tangent. 
   According to a preferred embodiment, the component parts of the fluid dielectric can be selected to include (a) a low permittivity, low permeability, low loss component and (b) a low permittivity, low permeability, high loss component. These two components can be mixed as needed for increasing the loss tangent while maintaining a relatively constant ratio of permittivity to permeability. Still, a myriad of other component mixtures can be used. For example, the component parts of the fluid dielectric can be selected to include (a) a low permittivity, low permeability, low loss component and (b) a high permittivity, high permeability, high loss component. A third component part of the fluid dielectric can include (c) a high permittivity, low permeability, low loss component for allowing adjustment of the permittivity of the fluid dielectric independent of the permeability. Another possible list of fluid dielectric component parts can include (a) a low permittivity, low permeability, low loss component, (b) a high permittivity, low permeability, low loss component, (c) a high permittivity, high permeability low loss component, and (d) a low permittivity, low permeability, high loss component. 
   In yet another example, the following fluid dielectric components can be provided: (a) a low permittivity, low permeability, low loss component, (b) a high permittivity, low permeability, low loss component, and (c) a low permittivity, high permeability, high loss component. An example of a set of component parts that could be used to produce such a fluid dielectric could include oil (low permittivity, low permeability and low loss), a solvent (high permittivity, low permeability and low loss), and a magnetic fluid, such as combination of an oil and a ferrite (low permittivity, high permeability and high loss). Further, certain ferrofluids also can be used to introduce a high loss tangent into the fluid dielectric, for example those commercially available from FerroTec Corporation of Nashua, N.H. 03060. In particular, Ferrotec part numbers EMG0805, EMG0807, and EMG1111 can be used. These fluids each exhibit a loss tangent approximately 10 to 100 times that of air. MRF-132AD is another fluid that can be used to introduce a loss tangent. MRF-132AD is commercially available from Lord Corporation of Cary, N.C. and has loss tangent approximately several times that of a low loss fluid. Further, the fluid has a dielectric constant between 5 and 6. 
   Lossy particles, for example magnetic metals such as ferrite (Fe) powder or cobalt (Co) powder, also can be mixed into the fluid dielectric to increase the loss tangent of the fluid dielectric. Both Fe and Co are available as micron-sized particles suitable for use in suspensions. Particles sizes in the range of 1 nm to 20 μm are common. Solid alloys of these materials can exhibit levels of μ r  in excess of one thousand. Accordingly, high permeability can be achieved in a fluid by introducing metal particles/elements to the fluid. For example, ferro-magnetic particles can be mixed in a conventional industrial solvent such as water, toluene, mineral oil, silicone, and or any other suitable fluid to create a particle suspension within the fluid. Other types of magnetic particles which can be used to create a particle suspension within a fluid include metallic salts, organo-metallic compounds, and other derivatives, although Fe and Co particles are most common. The composition of particles can be varied as necessary to achieve the required range of permeability in the final mixed fluid dielectric after mixing. However, magnetic fluid compositions are typically between about 50% to 90% particles by weight. Increasing the number of particles will generally increase the permeability. 
   A hydrocarbon dielectric oil such as Vacuum Pump Oil MSDS-12602 could be used to realize a low permittivity, low permeability, and low loss tangent fluid. A low permittivity, high permeability fluid may be realized by mixing the hydrocarbon fluid with magnetic particles or metal powders which are designed for use in ferrofluids and magnetoresrictive (MR) fluids. For example magnetite magnetic particles can be used. Magnetite is also commercially available from FerroTec Corporation. An exemplary metal powder that can be used is iron-nickel, which can be provided by Lord Corporation of Cary, N.C. Fluids containing electrically conductive magnetic particles require a mix ratio low enough to ensure that no electrical path can be created in the mixture. Additional ingredients such as surfactants can be included to promote uniform dispersion of the particles. High permittivity can be achieved by incorporating solvents such as formamide, which inherently posses a relatively high permittivity. Fluid permittivity also can be increased by adding high permittivity powders such as Barium Titanate manufactured by Ferro Corporation of Cleveland, Ohio. For broadband applications, the fluids would not have significant resonances over the frequency band of interest. 
   Processing of Fluid Dielectric For Mixing/Unmixing of Components 
   The composition processor  101  can be comprised of a plurality of fluid reservoirs containing component parts of fluid dielectric  108 . These can include: a first fluid reservoir  122  for a low permittivity, low permeability component of the fluid dielectric; a second fluid reservoir  124  for a high permittivity, low permeability component of the fluid dielectric; a third fluid reservoir  126  for a low permittivity, high permeability, high loss component of the fluid dielectric. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other combinations of component parts may also be suitable and the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific combination of component parts described herein. For example, the third fluid reservoir  126  can contain a low permittivity, high permeability, low loss component of the fluid dielectric and a fourth fluid reservoir can be provided to contain a component of the fluid dielectric having a high loss tangent. 
   A cooperating set of proportional valves  134 , mixing pumps  120 , 121 , and connecting conduits  135  can be provided as shown in  FIG. 1  for selectively mixing and communicating the components of the fluid dielectric  108  from the fluid reservoirs  122 ,  124 ,  126  to cavity  109 . The composition processor also serves to separate out the component parts of fluid dielectric  108  so that they can be subsequently re-used to form the fluid dielectric with different attenuation, permittivity and/or permeability values. All of the various operating functions of the composition processor can be controlled by controller  136 . The operation of the composition processor shall now be described in greater detail with reference to  FIG. 1  and the flowchart shown in  FIG. 3 . 
   The process can begin in step  302  of  FIG. 3 , with controller  136  checking to see if an updated waveguide attenuator control signal  137  has been received on an attenuator input line  138 . If so, then the controller  136  continues on to step  304  to determine an updated loss tangent value for producing the attenuation indicated by the waveguide attenuator control signal  137 . The updated loss tangent value necessary for achieving the indicated attenuation can be determined using a look-up table. 
   In step  306 , the controller can determine an updated permittivity value for matching the characteristic impedance indicated by the waveguide attenuator control signal  137 . For example, the controller  136  can determine the permeability of the fluid components based upon the fluid component mix ratios and determine an amount of permittivity that is necessary to achieve the indicated impedance for the determined permeability. 
   Referring to step  308 , the controller  136  causes the composition processor  101  to begin mixing two or more component parts in a proportion to form fluid dielectric that has the updated loss tangent and permittivity values determined earlier. In the case that the high loss component part also provides a substantial portion of the permeability in the fluid dielectric, the permeability will be a function of the amount of high loss component part that is required to achieve a specific attenuation. However, in the case that a separate high permeability fluid is provided as a high permeability component part, the permeability can be determined independently of the loss tangent. This mixing process can be accomplished by any suitable means. For example, in  FIG. 1  a set of proportional valves  134  and mixing pump  120  are used to mix component parts from reservoirs  122 ,  124 ,  126  appropriate to achieve the desired updated loss tangent, permittivity and permeability values. 
   In step  310 , the controller causes the newly mixed fluid dielectric  108  to be circulated into the cavity  109  through a second mixing pump  121 . In step  312 , the controller checks one or more sensors  116 ,  118  to determine if the fluid dielectric being circulated through the cavity  109  has the proper values of loss tangent, permittivity and permeability. Sensors  116  are preferably inductive type sensors capable of measuring permeability. Sensors  118  are preferably capacitive type sensors capable of measuring permittivity. Further, sensors  116  and  118  can be used in conjunction to measure loss tangent since the loss tangent is the ratio between the real and imaginary parts of an impedance measurement. The impedance can be determined from resistance (R), conductance (G), inductance (L) and capacitance (C) measurements. Additionally, the loss tangent can be easily calculated using a separate resonator device, such as a dielectric ring resonator. Such resonator devices are commonly used to compute the quality factor, Q, from which loss tangent can be easily extracted. 
   The sensors can be located as shown, at the input to mixing pump  121 . Sensors  116 ,  118  are also preferably positioned to measure the loss tangent, permittivity and permeability of the fluid dielectric passing through input conduit  113  and output conduit  114 . Note that it is desirable to have a second set of sensors  116 ,  118  at or near the cavity  109  so that the controller can determine when the fluid dielectric with updated loss tangent, permittivity and permeability values has completely replaced any previously used fluid dielectric that may have been present in the cavity  109 . 
   In step  314 , the controller  136  compares the measured loss tangent to the desired updated loss tangent value determined in step  304 . If the fluid dielectric does not have the proper updated loss tangent value, the controller  136  can cause additional amounts of high loss tangent component part to be added to the mix from reservoir  126 , as shown in step  315 . 
   If the fluid dielectric is determined to have the proper level of loss in step  314 , then the process continues on to step  316  where the measured permittivity from step  312  is compared to the desired updated permittivity value determined in step  306 . If the updated permittivity value has not been achieved, then high or low permittivity component parts are added as necessary, as shown in step  317 . The system can continue circulating the fluid dielectric through the cavity  109  until both the loss tangent and permittivity passing into and out of the cavity  109  are the proper value, as shown in step  318 . Once the loss tangent and permittivity are the proper value, the process can continue to step  302  to wait for the next updated waveguide attenuator control signal. 
   Significantly, when updated fluid dielectric is required, any existing fluid dielectric must be circulated out of the cavity  109 . Any existing fluid dielectric not having the proper loss tangent and/or permittivity can be deposited in a collection reservoir  128 . The fluid dielectric deposited in the collection reservoir can thereafter be re-used directly as a fourth fluid by mixing with the first, second and third fluids or separated out into its component parts so that it may be re-used at a later time to produce additional fluid dielectric. The aforementioned approach includes a method for sensing the properties of the collected fluid mixture to allow the fluid processor to appropriately mix the desired composition, and thereby, allowing a reduced volume of separation processing to be required. For example, the component parts can be selected to include a first fluid made of a high permittivity solvent completely miscible with a second fluid made of a low permittivity oil that has a significantly different boiling point. A third fluid component can be comprised of a ferrite particle suspension in a low permittivity oil identical to the first fluid such that the first and second fluids do not form azeotropes. Given the foregoing, the following process may be used to separate the component parts. 
   A first stage separation process would utilize distillation system  130  to selectively remove the first fluid from the mixture by the controlled application of heat thereby evaporating the first fluid, transporting the gas phase to a physically separate condensing surface whose temperature is maintained below the boiling point of the first fluid, and collecting the liquid condensate for transfer to the first fluid reservoir. A second stage process would introduce the mixture, free of the first fluid, into a chamber  132  that includes an electromagnet that can be selectively energized to attract and hold the paramagnetic particles while allowing the pure second fluid to pass which is then diverted to the second fluid reservoir. Upon de-energizing the electromagnet, the third fluid would be recovered by allowing the previously trapped magnetic particles to combine with the fluid exiting the first stage which is then diverted to the third fluid reservoir. 
   Those skilled in the art will recognize that the specific process used to separate the component parts from one another will depend largely upon the properties of materials that are selected and the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular process outlined above. 
   While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be clear that the invention is not so limited. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as described in the claims.