Patent Publication Number: US-2003234173-A1

Title: Method and apparatus for treating fluid mixtures with ultrasonic energy

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
     [0001] This application is related to the following application assigned to a common assignee (a) “Ozone Generator”, application Ser. No. 10/123,759 filed Apr. 15, 2002; and the following applications filed concurrently herewith (b) Method and Apparatus for Treating Fluid Mixtures with Ultrasonic Energy; (c) Method and Apparatus for Directing Ultrasonic Energy; (d) and Method and Apparatus for Directing Ultrasonic Energy, which are all herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002] 1. Field of Invention  
       [0003] The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses for treating fluid mixtures, such as agricultural or industrial waste streams, with ultrasonic energy to clean or otherwise alter the waste streams.  
       [0004] 2. Background of the Invention  
       [0005] Many industrial, municipal and agricultural processes generate waste matter that is potentially harmful to the environment. Accordingly, a variety of processes have been developed to remove harmful elements from the waste matter before returning the water to lakes, streams and oceans.  
       [0006] Conventional processes include filters, such as reverse osmosis filters that remove solid contaminants from the waste matter. However, because of environmental concerns, it may be difficult to dispose of the solid contaminants removed by the filters. Furthermore, the filters themselves must be periodically back-flushed, which may be a time consuming process.  
       [0007] In an alternate process, microorganisms are disposed in the waste matter to consume or alter harmful elements in the waste matter. However, such systems generally process the waste matter in a batch mode and accordingly may be slow and labor intensive to operate.  
       [0008] Another conventional approach is to sterilize waste matter streams with ultraviolet light. One problem with this approach is that the waste matter must be positioned very close to the light source, which may make ultraviolet systems slow, expensive and inefficient.  
       [0009] Still another method includes exposing the waste matter stream to ozone, which may alter harmful elements in the waste matter stream. One problem with this approach is that the cost of generating effective quantities of ozone is generally so high that the process may not be economically feasible.  
       [0010] Another approach has been to dispose the waste matter in a vessel and apply ultrasonic energy to the waste matter in a batch process. Exposing a fluid mixture, such as a waste matter stream, to ultrasonic energy may cause chemical and/or physical changes to occur in the mixture. For instance, cavitation of a liquid portion of the mixture and generation of heat may occur. Cavitation bubbles formed in the waste matter stream may grow in a cyclic fashion and ultimately collapse. This process creates very high temperatures, pressures, and thermal cycling rates. For example, it is estimated that this process may develop temperatures in a waste matter stream of up to 5,000 degrees Celsius, pressures of up to 1,000 atmospheres, and heating and cooling rates above 10 billion degrees Celsius per second for durations of less than one microsecond.  
       [0011] Apply ultrasonic energy to the waste matter in a batch process suffers from several drawbacks. Batch processing may be relatively slow and the efficiency with which ultrasonic energy is transmitted to waste matter contained in batch may be so low as to leave an unacceptable level of contaminants in the waste matter stream.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012] The present invention is directed toward methods and apparatuses for treating a fluid mixture with ultrasonic energy. One such method includes introducing a flow of a mixture, such as an aqueous mixture, that includes a selected constituent, such as a contaminant, into a treatment apparatus including a treatment vessel. Ultrasonic energy is directed into the mixture as the mixture flows through the treatment vessel.  
       [0013] The invention is also directed toward a fluid waste matter treatment apparatus including a treatment vessel having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet receives a flow of the mixture into the treatment vessel and the outlet expels a flow of the mixture from the treatment vessel. An ultrasonic energy source is operatively coupled to the treatment vessel to transmit ultrasonic energy to the mixture at a selected energy level and selected frequency. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, two or more ultrasonic energy sources may be operatively coupled to the treatment vessel to transmit ultrasonic energy to the mixture at selected energy levels and selected frequencies. The fluid waste matter treatment apparatus may include one or more treatment vessels. Each treatment vessel may include a plurality of fluidly connected channels. In one embodiment, a first ultrasonic energy source is positioned to direct a first ultrasonic energy into the first channel and a second ultrasonic energy source positioned to direct second ultrasonic energy into the second channel. In another embodiment of the invention, an ultrasonic energy source is coupled to each of the plurality of fluidly connected channels.  
       [0014] Exposing a fluid mixture, such as a waste matter stream, to ultrasonic energy may cause chemical and/or physical changes to occur in the mixture. Temperatures and pressures developed by the collapsing cavitation bubbles may have several effects on the constituents of a waste matter stream. For example, the collapsing bubbles may form radicals, such as OH radicals which are unstable and may chemically interact with adjacent constituents in the waste matter stream to change the chemical composition of the adjacent constituents. In one such process, an OH radical reacts with nitrates in the waste matter stream to produce gases such as nitrogen dioxide. The following are sample steps in such a reaction:  
       [0015] [1] NO 3   − +.OH_.NO 3 +OH −   
       [0016] [2] .NO 3   − +.OH_H 2 O.+.NO 2    
       [0017] [3] .NO 2 +.NO 2 — .NO+.NO 3    
       [0018] [4] .NO 2 +.NO 2— .NO+.NO+O 2    
       [0019] [5].NO 2 +.H_.NO+.OH  
       [0020] [6].NO 2 +.OH_.NO+O 2 .  
       [0021] [7].NO 2 +.O._.NO 2 +O 2    
       [0022] In another embodiment, the reaction may continue, for example, in the presence of additional constituents to produce nitrites. In yet another embodiment, the cavitating bubble may alter trichloroethylene, for example, in accordance with the following simplified reaction:  
       [0023] [1] (Cl) 2 C═CHCl+2H 2 O_ . . . _Cl 2 +HCl+2H 2 +2CO  
       [0024] In other embodiments, the collapsing cavitation bubbles may have effects on other molecules that change a chemical composition of the molecules and/or change a phase of the molecules from a liquid or solid phase to a gaseous phase.  
       [0025] In still further embodiments, the collapsing cavitation bubbles may have effects on other constituents of the waste matter stream. For example, the combination of increased pressure and cavitation bubbles may disrupt a molecular structure of an organism and accordingly kill pathogenic organisms, such as bacteria. Temperatures and pressures observed in the presence of collapsing cavitation bubbles may serve to alter structure of living cells and combust or oxidize constituents of the waste matter stream. For example, the high temperature produced by the collapsing cavitation bubble may oxidize constituents of the waste matter stream, producing by-products such as carbon dioxide and ash. The carbon dioxide may evolve from the waste matter stream and the ash may be filtered from the waste matter stream, as will be described in greater detail below. In still another embodiment, the collapsing cavitation bubbles may separate constituents of the waste matter stream. For example, when the waste matter stream includes a mixture of oil, water, and an emulsifier, the collapsing cavitation bubbles may alter the molecular characteristics of the emulsifier and cause the emulsifier to lose its effectiveness.  
       [0026] Accordingly, oil and water may separate from each other and one or the other may be removed from the stream. Collapsing cavitation bubbles may have other effects on the waste matter stream that alter the characteristics of the constituents of the stream in a manner that makes the constituents more benign and/or allows the constituents to be more easily removed from the waste matter stream. In an alternate aspect of the invention, a chemical composition including a selected constituent may be oxidized to produce an ash and a gas. The mixture may be contained under pressure while it is exposed to ultrasonic energy. The treatment vessel may be pneumatically coupled to a vacuum source after being exposed to the ultrasonic energy to remove gas from the mixture. In still a further aspect of the invention, the mixture may be exposed to a first ultrasonic energy having a first energy and a first frequency and the mixture may be exposed to a second ultrasonic energy having a second energy and a second frequency. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0027]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a fluid mixture treatment apparatus;  
     [0028]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a waste matter treatment apparatus;  
     [0029]FIG. 3 is a partially schematic, isometric view of fluid mixture treatment assembly that forms a portion of the fluid mixture treatment apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;  
     [0030]FIG. 4 is a cutaway top view of a channel assembly that forms a portion of the waste matter treatment assembly shown in FIG. 3; and  
     [0031] FIGS.  5 A- 5 C are schematic illustrations of alternate waste matter treatment assemblies. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     [0032] Specific details of certain embodiments of apparatuses and methods for treating a fluid mixture, such as an aqueous streams including waste matter, are set forth in the following description and in FIGS.  1 - 5 . One skilled in the art, however, will understand that the present invention may have several additional embodiments, or that the invention may be practiced without several of the details described below.  
     [0033] Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic diagram of fluid mixture treatment apparatus  100  is shown including preprocessing assembly  105 . Preprocessing assembly  105  includes waste matter source  103 , solids separator  104 , holding vessel  107  and solids dump  109 . Waste matter flow may proceed from solids separator  104  to holding vessel  107  fluidly coupled to fluid mixture treatment assembly  110 . Fluid mixture treatment apparatus  100  may also include solids separator  104 , shown located between waste matter source  103  and fluid mixture treatment assembly  110 . Solids separator  104  may remove a selected quantity of solids suspended in the waste matter and direct the removed solids to solids dump  109 . Fluid mixture treatment assembly  110  is also fluidly coupled to degassing assembly  130  where gaseous constituents are removed from the flow. Fluid mixture treatment apparatus  100  may also include separation assembly  140  where solid components which may have been generated in fluid mixture treatment assembly  110  are removed from the flow. Processed fluid is discharged from separation assembly  140  at discharge  108 . Fluid mixture treatment apparatus  100  may be automatically controlled by controller  170 . Controller  170  is operatively coupled to a pneumatic source  171  to direct and regulate flows of pressurized air to pneumatically controlled elements of fluid mixture treatment apparatus  100 .  
     [0034] Referring to FIG. 2, fluid mixture treatment apparatus  100  will be described in further detail. Waste matter source  103  is fluidly coupled by process piping  180  to fluid mixture treatment assembly  110 . Fluid mixture treatment assembly  110  may include one or more channel assemblies  120  having ultrasonic energy sources  150  that direct ultrasonic energy into the waste matter flow to gasify and/or alter a chemical structure of constituents in the flow. The flow proceeds from fluid mixture treatment assembly  110  via process piping  180  to degassing assembly  130  where gaseous components are removed from the flow. The degassed stream then proceeds to a separation assembly  140  where solid components which may have been generated in fluid mixture treatment assembly  110  are removed from the flow. The flow exits fluid mixture treatment apparatus  100  through discharge  108  and may then be reused or returned to the environment. In one aspect of this embodiment, the waste matter stream proceeds in a continuous manner from the waste matter source  103  to the discharge  108 . Alternatively, fluid mixture treatment apparatus  100  may operate in a batch mode, as will be described in greater detail below with reference to FIGS.  5 B- 5 C.  
     [0035] In one embodiment, fluid mixture treatment apparatus  100  also includes solids separator  104 , shown located between waste matter source  103  and fluid mixture treatment assembly  110 . Solids separator  104  may remove a selected quantity of solids suspended in the waste matter and direct the removed solids to a solids dump  109 . Removing at least a portion of the solids from the waste matter stream at preprocessing assembly  105  upstream of fluid mixture treatment assembly  110  may improve the efficiency with which fluid mixture treatment apparatus  100  operates, as will be described in greater detail below.  
     [0036] The waste matter flow may proceed from solids separator  104  to holding vessel  107 . Pump  106   a  withdraws waste matter from holding vessel  107 , pressurizes the waste matter, and directs the waste matter to fluid mixture treatment assembly  110  via process piping  180 . In one embodiment, the pressure of waste matter entering fluid mixture treatment assembly  110  may be from about 5 psi to about 40 psi, but in other embodiments the pressure of waste matter entering fluid mixture treatment assembly  110  may be outside of this range.  
     [0037] In one embodiment, fluid mixture treatment assembly  110  may include inlet  111  that receives a continuous flow of waste matter and outlet  112  through which a continuous flow of treated fluid mixture exits fluid mixture treatment assembly  110 . In one aspect of this embodiment, fluid mixture treatment assembly  110  may be configured to divide the waste matter stream into several components that are processed in parallel in the channel assemblies  120  and recombined before exiting fluid mixture treatment assembly  110  through outlet  112 . Accordingly, fluid mixture treatment assembly  110  may include intake manifold  113  for dividing incoming flow upstream of channel assemblies  120  and output manifold  114  for collecting the flow downstream of channel assemblies  120 . Intake manifold  113  may further include a plurality of assembly intakes  115   a , each of which directs a portion of the incoming waste matter into one of the channel assemblies  120 . Assembly outlets  115   b  collect flows from the channel assemblies  120  upstream of outlet  112 .  
     [0038]FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a single channel assembly  120 . In the embodiment shown, channel assembly  120  includes inlet manifold  121  that directs waste matter flow from assembly intake  115   a  into a plurality of channels  122   a - 122   e  which are serially and hydraulically connected by conduits  123   a - 123   d . In the embodiment shown, each channel  122  is configured as a pipe having a first end  125   a  and a second end  125   b . Each of the plurality of channels  122   a - 122   e  may be supported relative to adjacent channels by a plurality of braces  124 . The waste matter stream proceeds generally from first end  125   a  of each of the plurality of channels  122   a - 122   e  to the second end  125   b , then through conduit  123   a - 123   d  to the first end  125   a  of the next of the plurality of channels  122   a - 122   e . The waste matter stream passes from the last serially and hydraulically connected channel  122   e  into assembly outlet  115   b , and then to outlet port  112  of fluid mixture treatment assembly  110 , shown in FIG. 2.  
     [0039] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, ultrasonic energy source  150 , such as a piezoelectric source or another ultrasonic energy emitter or generator, is positioned within each of the plurality of channels  122   a - 122   e  in or near second end  125   b . Accordingly, the waste matter may flow toward ultrasonic energy source  150  as it moves through the plurality of channels  122   a - 122   e . Alternatively, ultrasonic energy source  150  may be positioned toward first end  125   a  of the plurality of channels  122   a - 122   e  with the flow of waste matter flowing away from ultrasonic energy source  150 . In either embodiment, the end of each of the plurality of channels  122   a - 122   e , opposite ultrasonic energy source  150  may include a reflector  151  positioned to reflect at least a portion of the ultrasonic energy generated by ultrasonic energy source  150 . Accordingly, reflector  151  may direct ultrasonic energy and/or the products produced by the ultrasonic energy back toward the ultrasonic energy source  150 . Whether or not channel assembly  120  includes reflectors  151 , ultrasonic energy source  150  may be selected to emit ultrasonic energy at a selected energy level and a selected frequency that causes a liquid or aqueous portion of the waste matter stream to cavitate.  
     [0040] Referring to FIG. 4, a cutaway top view of a channel  122   d  is shown to advantage. Ultrasonic energy source  150  is positioned within channel  122   d  near second end  125   b . Reflector  151  is positioned within channel  122   d  near first end  125   a . As waste matter flows towards ultrasonic energy source  150  ultrasonic energy source  150  transmits ultrasonic energy through waste matter and towards first end  125   a  as indicated by the arrow E. At least a portion of the ultrasonic energy is reflected through the waste matter and towards second end  125   b  as indicated by the arrow R.  
     [0041] Characteristics of both channel assembly  120  and ultrasonic energy source  150  may be selected to have desired effects on the waste matter stream. For example, the frequency of the ultrasonic energy transmitted by the ultrasonic energy source  150  into the waste matter stream may be selected based on the resonant frequencies of constituents in the waste matter stream. In one particular embodiment, the frequency of ultrasonic energy source  150  may be selected to be at or above a natural resonant frequency of molecules of constituents in the stream. In one further specific example, when the flow includes farm animal fecal waste in an aqueous solution, along with pathogens such as  e - coli , ultrasonic energy source  150  may be selected to produce a distribution of ultrasonic waves having an energy peak at approximately 980 kilohertz. In other embodiments, the peak energy of the ultrasonic energy sources  150  may be selected to occur at other frequencies, depending for example on the types, relative quantities, and/or relative potential harmful effects of constituents in the stream. Accordingly, individual ultrasonic energy sources  150  may be selected to have a particular, and potentially unique, effect on selected constituents of the waste matter stream.  
     [0042] In another embodiment, adjacent ultrasonic energy sources within one or more channel assemblies  120  may produce different frequencies. For example, the ultrasonic energy source  150  in the uppermost channel  122   a  of FIG. 3 may emit energy at a higher frequency than that emitted by ultrasonic energy source  150  in the next downstream channel  122   b.    
     [0043] An advantage of this arrangement for waste matter streams having multiple constituents, each of which is best affected by ultrasonic energy at a different frequency, is that the waste matter streams may be subjected to a plurality of ultrasonic energy sources each having selected frequencies and energy levels, with each frequency and energy level selected to affect a particular constituent of the waste matter stream. Such an arrangement may be more effective than some conventional arrangements for removing constituents from the waste matter stream in a single apparatus.  
     [0044] The geometry of channel assembly  120  may be selected to define the time during which any given constituent of the waste matter stream is subjected to the energy emitted by the ultrasonic energy sources  150 . For example, the overall length of the flow path through each channel assembly  120  and the rate at which the waste matter stream passes through the channel assembly  120  may be selected according to the amount of suspended solids in the waste matter stream, with the overall residence time within the channel assembly  120  being lower for waste matter streams having relatively few suspended solids and higher for waste matter streams having more suspended solids. Accordingly, each channel assembly  120  may be made smaller by reducing the number of channels  122   a - 122   e  in each channel assembly  120  and/or faster by increasing the flow rate of the waste matter through the channel assembly  120  when solids separator  104 , shown in FIG. 2, filters out a greater fraction of the suspended solids.  
     [0045] Referring again to FIG. 2, fluid mixture treatment apparatus  100  may include features that increase the number of radicals and/or other chemically reactive constituents in the waste matter stream. For example, the apparatus may include an ozone generator  160  fluidly coupled to fluid waste matter treatment assembly  110  to introduce ozone into the waste matter stream while the ultrasonic energy sources  150  are energized.  
     [0046] In other embodiments, the ozone generator  160  may be replaced with, or supplemented by, sources of other chemically reactive species. In any of these embodiments, gas generated by the chemical reactions in fluid waste matter treatment assembly  110  may be removed from the waste matter stream, as will be described in greater detail below. The non-gas molecules remaining in the waste matter stream after the gas is formed may either be removed from the waste matter stream or may remain in the waste matter stream depending, for example, on the potential hazard to the quality of the waste matter presented by the remaining molecules.  
     [0047] In one embodiment, the waste matter stream may proceed from fluid waste matter treatment assembly  110  toward the degassing assembly  130  via the process piping  180 . In one aspect of this embodiment, fluid mixture treatment apparatus  100  may include a valve  102   a , such as a throttling valve, that allows the portion of the waste matter stream upstream of valve  102   a  to have a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, while the portion of the waste matter stream downstream of the valve  102   a  may be subjected to a pressure less than atmospheric pressure. Accordingly, the pressure within degassing assembly  130  may be reduced to increase the rate at which gas evolves from the mixture, without reducing the pressure of the mixture within fluid waste matter treatment assembly  110 .  
     [0048] Degassing assembly  130  may include two gas release chambers shown as a first chamber  131   a  and a second chamber  131   b  hydraulically connected to process piping  180  with a selector valve  102   b . Selector valve  102   b  may be configured to alternate between a first setting with the waste matter stream directed into the first gas release chamber  131   a  and a second setting with the waste matter stream directed into the second gas release chamber  131   b . The waste matter stream exiting fluid waste matter treatment assembly  110  may accordingly be directed into the first gas release chamber  131   a  until first chamber  131   a  is filled to a desired level, and then directed in the second gas release chamber  131   b.    
     [0049] While the second gas release chamber  131   b  is filling, the filled first gas release chamber  113   a  may be subjected to a vacuum pressure generated by a vacuum source  132  fluidly coupled to gas release chambers  131   a  and  131   b  with valve  102   e . After the waste matter has resided in the first gas release chamber  131   a  under vacuum for a time sufficient to remove a selected amount of gas from the waste matter stream, the stream exits the first chamber  131   a  and first chamber  131   a  is re-filled while a vacuum is applied to the waste matter in second chamber  131   b . Accordingly, the continuous flow of waste matter from fluid waste matter treatment assembly  110  may be sequentially directed into either the first or second gas release chamber  131   a  or  131   b  without interrupting flow. In one embodiment, vacuum source  132  may remain in fluid communication with both gas release chambers  131   a  and  131   b  during both the transient “fill” and the steady state “filled” portions of the cycle for each chamber. Alternatively, vacuum source  132  may be fluidly coupled to each gas release chamber  131   a  and  131   b  only after that gas release chamber  131   a  or  131   b  has been filled. In either embodiment, vacuum source  132  may increase the speed with which gas in the waste matter is removed.  
     [0050] In an alternate embodiment, gas release chambers  131  may be open to the atmosphere to release gas from the waste matter stream under atmosphere pressure Whether the waste matter is subject to atmospheric pressure or less than atmospheric pressure, the fluid within chambers  131   a  and  131   b  may be agitated, for example, with agitation device  133 . In one aspect of this embodiment, agitation device  133  may include a piezoelectric energy source that generates ultrasonic energy in the gas release chambers  131   a  and  131   b . Alternatively, agitation device  133  may generate pressure waves at other frequencies. In other embodiments, agitation device  133  may include other devices, such as strainers or other mechanical implements.  
     [0051] After exiting the degassing assembly  130 , the waste matter stream proceeds to the separation assembly  140  via process piping  180 . Valve  102   c  may be selectively adjusted to drain flow from whichever gas release chamber  131   a  or  131   b  has completed its cycle. Pump  106   b  pressurizes the waste matter stream to direct the stream through a check valve  102   g  and into first, second and third filter stages  141 ,  142  and  143  in separation assembly  140 . In one embodiment, first filter stage  141  includes multi-media micron filter elements, the second filter stage  142  may include two micron filter elements and third filter stage  143  may include activated charcoal. In another embodiment, separation assembly  140  may include other separation arrangements. Back pressure valve  102   f  controls back pressure through separation assembly  140 , and flow meter  172  monitors a rate of flow through fluid mixture treatment apparatus  100 . When flow meter  172  is positioned adjacent to the discharge  108 , as shown in FIG. 2, the flow rate determined by flow meter  172  may be less than a flow rate measured at waste matter source  103  because gas may be removed from the flow at degassing assembly  130  and solids may be removed from the flow in the separation assembly  140 .  
     [0052] In one embodiment, the operation of fluid mixture treatment apparatus  100  may be automatically controlled by controller  170 . In one aspect of this embodiment, controller  170  is operatively coupled to a pneumatic source  171  to direct and regulate flows of pressurized air to the controlled elements via pneumatic lines  173 . Fluid mixture treatment apparatus  100  may include other automatic control features, such as failure sensing devices in valves  102   b  and  102   d  that close these valves automatically in the event of a power failure to direct the waste matter stream back to the waste matter holding vessel  107 . Surge suppression tanks  181   a  and  181   b  may be positioned along the flow path between the waste matter source  103  and the discharge  108  to absorb fluctuations in the flow volume and pressure throughout fluid mixture treatment apparatus  100 .  
     [0053] One feature of an embodiment of fluid mixture treatment apparatus  100  described above with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 is that the waste matter stream flows in a continuous fashion from waste matter source  103  to outlet  108 .  
     [0054] An advantage of this feature is that the treatment of the waste matter throughout fluid mixture treatment apparatus  100  may be more consistent and faster than conventional batch systems. Another feature of an embodiment of fluid mixture treatment apparatus  100  is that the channel assemblies  120  may have a modular construction. Accordingly, channel assemblies  120  may be configured having as long or as short a flow path as is appropriate for the type of flow directed into the assemblies.  
     [0055] Still a further advantage is that fluid waste matter treatment assembly  110  may include channel assemblies  120  having different flow path lengths. For example, each channel assembly  120  may have a different flow path length, and instead of directing equal portions of the waste matter stream through each channel assembly  120 , the entire waste matter stream may be directed through the channel assembly  120  having the length corresponding to the desired residence time appropriate for the amount of solids suspended in that waste matter stream. Accordingly, an embodiment of fluid mixture treatment apparatus  100  may be suitable for treating a variety of different waste matter streams. Still another feature of the embodiment of fluid mixture treatment apparatus  100  described above with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 is that fluid waste matter treatment assembly  110  may include a plurality of ultrasonic energy sources  150 , each emitting ultrasonic energy at a different frequency. Accordingly, each ultrasonic energy source  150  may be selected to have a desired effect on a particular constituent of the waste matter.  
     [0056] In one aspect of this embodiment, a plurality of ultrasonic energy sources  150  having different frequencies may be disposed in each channel assembly  120 . Alternatively, all the ultrasonic energy sources  150  in a particular channel assembly  120  may emit ultrasonic energy at the same frequency, but the frequency selected for each channel assembly  120  may be different. Accordingly, fluid mixture treatment apparatus  100  may be compatible with a variety of different waste matter streams by directing a selected waste matter stream through the channel assembly  120  having ultrasonic energy sources  150  that emit energy at the frequency most appropriate for the constituents in that waste matter stream.  
     [0057] FIGS.  5 A- 5 C are schematic illustrations of portions of treatment apparatuses in accordance with other embodiments of the invention. For purposes of illustration, only portions of the apparatuses are shown in FIGS.  5 A- 5 C, and it will be understood that the apparatuses may include additional elements that are generally similar to those described above with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.  
     [0058]FIG. 5A illustrates a portion of fluid mixture treatment vessel  200  that includes a waste matter source  203 , an outflow port  208  and treatment vessel  210  between the source  203  and the outflow port  208 . In one aspect of this embodiment, treatment vessel  210  may include two channels  222 , (shown as first channel  222   a  and a second channel  222   b ), hydraulically connected together in a series arrangement. First channel  222   a  includes first ultrasonic energy source  250   a  that emits ultrasonic energy at a first frequency, and second channel  222   b  may include second ultrasonic energy source  250   b  that emits ultrasonic energy at a second frequency. Accordingly, fluid mixture treatment vessel  200  may direct ultrasonic energy at different frequencies into the same waste matter stream to selectively affect different constituents within the waste matter stream, as described above with reference to FIGS.  2 - 3 . Alternatively, first and second energy sources  250   a  and  250   b  may emit ultrasonic energy at the same frequency. In either embodiment, each channel  222  can include a single length of a tube, a series of channel segments that double back on each other, similar to those shown in FIG. 3, a non-tubular chamber, or any liquid-tight container.  
     [0059]FIG. 5B illustrates fluid mixture treatment vessel  300  that operates in a batch mode and includes treatment vessel  310  having port  311  which serves both as an inlet and an outlet for the waste matter to be treated. Fluid mixture treatment vessel  300  also includes first and second ultrasonic energy sources  350   a  and  350   b . As was generally described above with reference to FIGS.  1 - 5 A, the first ultrasonic energy source  350   a  may emit ultrasonic energy at a first frequency, and the second ultrasonic energy source  350   b  may emit ultrasonic energy at a second frequency different than the first frequency. Ultrasonic energy sources  350   a  and  350   b  may be placed at any position within treatment vessel  310  for which the ultrasonic energy may be efficiently transmitted to the waste matter stream. For example, both ultrasonic energy sources  350   a  and  350   b  may be positioned at one end of treatment vessel  310  and, in one embodiment, an ultrasonic reflector (not shown) may be positioned at the opposite end. In any of the embodiments described above with reference to FIG. 5B, one feature of fluid mixture treatment vessel  300  is that it can be used in situations where a batch operation is preferred to a continuous flow operation.  
     [0060]FIG. 5C illustrates an fluid mixture treatment vessel  400  including treatment vessel  410  with inlet  411  and two ultrasonic energy sources, first source  450   a  and second source  450   b  at opposite ends of treatment vessel  410 . Accordingly, the energy sources  450  may be operated either simultaneously or sequentially to create cavitation bubbles in a volume of waste matter within treatment vessel  410 . In one aspect of this embodiment, each of the energy sources  450  may be configured and positioned to reduce potential wear caused by energy emitted by the other energy source  450 .  
     [0061] From the foregoing it will be appreciated that specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, several embodiments of the invention have been described in the context of an aqueous mixture or waste matter stream, and in other embodiments, the mixture may not include water. In still another embodiment, the mixture may include a gaseous component. In still another embodiment, the apparatus may include first and second treatment vessels and may receive a continuous flow of waste matter that is alternately directed into each treatment vessel. The first treatment vessel may be filled first, after which the continuous flow is directed into the second treatment vessel. While the second treatment vessel is filling, ultrasonic energy may be directed into the mixture in the first treatment vessel. Alternately, while the first treatment vessel is filling, ultrasonic energy may be directed into the mixture in the second treatment vessel. Accordingly, the apparatus may take in a continuous flow of waste matter that is divided and exposed to ultrasonic energy in separate batch processes. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims. Various modifications to the described embodiments as well as the inclusion or exclusion of additional embodiments will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to this description. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover any such modifications or embodiments as fall within the true scope of the invention