Patent ID: 8616239

Claim:
Apparatus for increasing fluidity of a fluid flowing in a first direction through a conduit, the apparatus comprising: a housing in fluid communication with the conduit; a first treatment chamber in the housing, the first treatment chamber defined by a first electrode and a second electrode separated by a first spacer ring, wherein the first and second electrodes are each positioned perpendicularly to the first direction, the first and second electrodes each comprising a plate with a plurality of apertures adapted to permit a smooth flow of the fluid there through, the first treatment chamber having a first electric field in the first direction created by the first electrode and the second electrode; a second treatment chamber in the housing, the second treatment chamber defined by the second electrode and a third electrode separated by a second spacer ring, wherein the third electrode is positioned perpendicularly to the first direction, the third electrode comprising a plate with a plurality of apertures adapted to permit a smooth flow of the fluid there through, the second treatment chamber having a second electric field in a second direction which is different from the first direction, the second electric field created by the second and third electrodes; and wherein the first and second electric fields are effective in combination to cause a second fluidity of the fluid upon leaving the apparatus to be temporarily greater than a first fluidity of the fluid upon entering the apparatus.