Patent ID: 7455504

Claim:
A device for transferring momentum to a fluid comprising: a cylindrical rotor having a largest dimension of less than 100 mm and axial length less than radial diameter; wherein said rotor defines a fluid inlet area A 1 and a fluid outlet area A 2 , wherein A 1 and A 2 are both equal to or less than 5000 mm 2 , said rotor comprising a defined array of radially or axially stacked passages formed in said rotor for transferring momentum into the fluid as said fluid passes through said passages in response to rotation of said rotor, said passages having a maximum cross sectional dimension of between 0.5 and 5 mm and an aspect ratio of between 1:1 and 1:3; and a motor configured to drive said rotor to cause fluid to flow through said passages at a flow rate characterized by a Reynolds number of between 200 and 2300.