US20230249104A1 - Disk-Pack Housing - Google Patents
Disk-Pack Housing Download PDFInfo
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- US20230249104A1 US20230249104A1 US18/133,334 US202318133334A US2023249104A1 US 20230249104 A1 US20230249104 A1 US 20230249104A1 US 202318133334 A US202318133334 A US 202318133334A US 2023249104 A1 US2023249104 A1 US 2023249104A1
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- chamber
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- intake
- housing
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Images
Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D21/00—Separation of suspended solid particles from liquids by sedimentation
- B01D21/26—Separation of sediment aided by centrifugal force or centripetal force
- B01D21/265—Separation of sediment aided by centrifugal force or centripetal force by using a vortex inducer or vortex guide, e.g. coil
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D21/00—Separation of suspended solid particles from liquids by sedimentation
- B01D21/24—Feed or discharge mechanisms for settling tanks
- B01D21/2405—Feed mechanisms for settling tanks
- B01D21/2411—Feed mechanisms for settling tanks having a tangential inlet
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D21/00—Separation of suspended solid particles from liquids by sedimentation
- B01D21/26—Separation of sediment aided by centrifugal force or centripetal force
- B01D21/262—Separation of sediment aided by centrifugal force or centripetal force by using a centrifuge
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D21/00—Separation of suspended solid particles from liquids by sedimentation
- B01D21/26—Separation of sediment aided by centrifugal force or centripetal force
- B01D21/267—Separation of sediment aided by centrifugal force or centripetal force by using a cyclone
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B04—CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS OR MACHINES FOR CARRYING-OUT PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES
- B04C—APPARATUS USING FREE VORTEX FLOW, e.g. CYCLONES
- B04C5/00—Apparatus in which the axial direction of the vortex is reversed
- B04C5/08—Vortex chamber constructions
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B04—CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS OR MACHINES FOR CARRYING-OUT PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES
- B04C—APPARATUS USING FREE VORTEX FLOW, e.g. CYCLONES
- B04C5/00—Apparatus in which the axial direction of the vortex is reversed
- B04C5/12—Construction of the overflow ducting, e.g. diffusing or spiral exits
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
- C02F1/38—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by centrifugal separation
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
- F04D5/00—Pumps with circumferential or transverse flow
- F04D5/001—Shear force pumps
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B04—CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS OR MACHINES FOR CARRYING-OUT PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES
- B04C—APPARATUS USING FREE VORTEX FLOW, e.g. CYCLONES
- B04C9/00—Combinations with other devices, e.g. fans, expansion chambers, diffusors, water locks
- B04C2009/002—Combinations with other devices, e.g. fans, expansion chambers, diffusors, water locks with external filters
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B04—CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS OR MACHINES FOR CARRYING-OUT PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES
- B04C—APPARATUS USING FREE VORTEX FLOW, e.g. CYCLONES
- B04C9/00—Combinations with other devices, e.g. fans, expansion chambers, diffusors, water locks
- B04C2009/005—Combinations with other devices, e.g. fans, expansion chambers, diffusors, water locks with external rotors, e.g. impeller, ventilator, fan, blower, pump
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F2301/00—General aspects of water treatment
- C02F2301/02—Fluid flow conditions
- C02F2301/026—Spiral, helicoidal, radial
Definitions
- the invention in at least one embodiment relates to a system and method for use in treating water.
- the invention provides in at least one embodiment a system including a motor module having a base; a disk-pack module having a disk-pack turbine in rotational engagement with the motor module; a vortex module in fluid communication with the disk-pack turbine; an intake module in fluid communication with the vortex module; a plurality of conduits connecting the vortex module to the intake module; and a plurality of support members connected to the disk-pack module, the vortex module, and the intake module such that the intake module is above the vortex module and the disk-pack module.
- the system further includes a housing cover connected to at least one of the plurality of support members, the housing cover including a bottom opening and a cavity in which the intake module and the vortex module reside, and wherein the housing cover and a top surface of the disk-pack module are spaced from each other forming a passageway in fluid communication with the bottom opening, and wherein a fluid pathway runs from the passageway through the opening and the cavity to the intake module.
- the system is installed in a water storage container.
- the invention provides in at least one embodiment a system including a motor module having a base; a disk-pack module having a disk-pack turbine in rotational engagement with the motor module; a vortex module in fluid communication with the disk-pack turbine; an intake module in fluid communication with the vortex module; a plurality of conduits connecting the vortex module to the intake module; and a plurality of support members connected to the disk-pack module and the vortex module, and at least one of the plurality of conduits and the plurality of support members is connected between the vortex module and the intake module such that the intake module is above the vortex module and the disk-pack module.
- the system further includes a housing over at least some of the components or substantially all of the components where the housing can be selected from any of the various housings described and/or illustrated in this disclosure.
- the system further includes any of the means for filtering as described and/or illustrated in this disclosure.
- the intake module includes an intake screen with a plurality of openings, an intake housing defining an intake chamber, and a plurality of intake outlets in fluid communication with the intake chamber with each intake outlet in fluid communication with the vortex module through a respective conduit.
- the vortex module includes a housing defining a vortex chamber with an outlet axially aligned with the disk-pack turbine, and a plurality of inlets in fluid communication with the vortex chamber.
- the motor module includes a motor and a driveshaft connected to the motor and the disk-pack turbine in any of the ways described and/or illustrated in this disclosure.
- the disk-pack module includes a turbine housing defining an accumulation chamber in which the disk-pack turbine resides; and a discharge housing defining a discharge chamber in fluid communication with the accumulation chamber through a discharge channel and a discharge outlet in fluid communication with the discharge chamber.
- the disk-pack module further includes a supplemental inlet in fluid communication with the accumulation chamber.
- the accumulation chamber includes an expanding discharge channel around its periphery from a first point to a discharge passageway leading to the discharge chamber.
- the accumulation chamber is at least one of a modified torus shape or a scarab shape, which may include the golden mean.
- the discharge housing includes at least one of a spiral protrusion running around a wall of the discharge chamber in an upward direction towards said discharge outlet and a spiral protrusion running around a wall of the discharge chamber in a downward direction towards the particulate discharge port.
- the discharge outlet includes a radius flared outwardly wall.
- the disk-pack turbine includes a plurality of non-flat disks.
- the disk-pack turbine includes a plurality of disks each having at least two waveforms present between a center of the disk and a periphery of the disk.
- the waveform is selected from a group consisting of sinusoidal, biaxial sinucircular, a series of interconnected scallop shapes, a series of interconnected arcuate forms, hyperbolic, and/or multi-axial including combinations of these.
- the disk-pack turbine includes a plurality of wing shims connecting the disks.
- the disk-pack turbine includes a top rotor and a lower rotor.
- the top rotor and the lower rotor include cavities.
- the invention provides in at least one embodiment a system including a motor; a disk-pack module having a housing having a cavity, and a disk-pack turbine in rotational engagement with the motor, the disk-pack turbine located within the cavity of the housing, the disk-pack turbine having a plurality of disks spaced apart from each other and each disk having an axially centered opening passing therethrough with the plurality of openings defining at least in part an expansion chamber; a vortex module having a vortex chamber in fluid communication with the expansion chamber of the disk-pack turbine; a plurality of conduits in fluid communication with the vortex chamber of the vortex module; an intake module having a whirlpool chamber in fluid communication with the vortex chamber through the conduits; and a plurality of support members connected to the disk-pack module and the vortex module, and at least one of the plurality of conduits and the plurality of support members is connected between the vortex module and the intake module such that the intake module is above the vortex module and the disk-pack module.
- the system further includes a discharge housing defining a discharge chamber in fluid communication with the disk-pack housing cavity (or accumulation chamber) through a discharge channel and a discharge outlet in fluid communication with the discharge chamber.
- the cavity in the housing includes an expanding discharge channel around its periphery from a first point to a discharge passageway leading to the discharge chamber.
- the cavity of the housing is at least one of a modified torus shape or a scarab shape, which may include the golden mean.
- the disk-pack turbine includes a plurality of non-flat disks.
- the disk-pack turbine includes a plurality of disks each having at least two waveforms present between a center of the disk and a periphery of the disk.
- the waveform is selected from a group consisting of sinusoidal, biaxial sinucircular, a series of interconnected scallop shapes, a series of interconnected arcuate forms, hyperbolic, and/or multi-axial including combinations of these.
- the disk-pack turbine includes a plurality of wing shims connecting the disks.
- the disk-pack turbine includes a top rotor and a lower rotor.
- the top rotor and the lower rotor include cavities.
- the invention provides in at least one embodiment a method of operation for each of the above-described system embodiments.
- the invention provides in at least one embodiment a method including drawing water into a whirlpool chamber for creation of a whirlpool allowing particulate, precipitated matter and/or concentrated solids present in the water to drop from the water as the water enters at least one of a plurality of conduits; forming a vortex flow of the water in a vortex chamber that receives the water from the plurality of conduits, wherein the vortex chamber is located below the whirlpool chamber; discharging the water into an expansion chamber defined in a disk-pack turbine; channeling the water between spaces that exist between disks of the disk-pack turbine to travel from the expansion chamber to an accumulation chamber surrounding the disk-pack turbine; routing the water through the accumulation chamber to a discharge chamber; and forming a vortical flow of the water up through the discharge chamber back into an environment from which the water was drawn and a downward flow of particulate and/or precipitated matter to a particulate discharge port.
- the method further includes drawing water into a housing that encloses the whirlpool chamber and the vortex chamber where the housing draws the water from below a height of the vortex chamber.
- the method further includes removing solids from the whirlpool chamber, which in at least one embodiment causes particulate matter to concentrate at the center and descend and be ejected through a solids port at the bottom of the whirlpool chamber.
- the vortical flow of the water includes a significant volume of vortical solitons that are produced by the system and flow into the environment containing the water.
- FIGS. 1 - 4 illustrate a variety of external views of an embodiment according to the invention.
- FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate different cross-sections of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 - 4 and are taken at 5 - 5 and 6 - 6 , respectively, in FIG. 1 .
- FIGS. 7 - 9 illustrate a variety of views of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 - 4 without a housing module including perspective and side views.
- FIG. 10 illustrates an alternative (without a cover) to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7 - 9 .
- FIGS. 11 A- 11 C illustrate views of an upper disk-pack turbine housing including a top view, a cross-section view, and a bottom view.
- FIGS. 12 A and 12 B illustrate views of a lower disk-pack turbine housing including a top view and a side view.
- FIG. 13 illustrates an alternative embodiment according to the invention.
- FIG. 14 illustrates a top view of a lower cover according to the embodiment of the invention illustrated, for example, in FIG. 13 .
- FIG. 15 illustrates a top view of a bottom plate according to the embodiment of the invention illustrated, for example, in FIG. 13 .
- FIGS. 16 A and 16 B illustrates side and top views of another cover embodiment according to the invention.
- FIG. 17 illustrates a cross-section of a cover according to an embodiment of the invention taken at 17 / 18 - 17 / 18 in FIG. 16 B .
- FIG. 18 illustrates a cross-section of another cover according to an embodiment of the invention taken at 17 / 18 - 17 / 18 in FIG. 16 B .
- FIGS. 19 A- 19 C illustrates an alternative housing module according to an embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 20 illustrates a side view of a system with a cylinder filter according to an embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 21 A illustrates a screen for use in at least one embodiment according to the invention.
- FIGS. 21 B and 21 C illustrate the screen installed in a system according to an embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 22 A illustrates a filter sponge (or other filter medium) for use in at least one embodiment according to the invention.
- FIG. 22 B illustrates the filter sponge installed in a system according to an embodiment of the invention.
- FIGS. 23 A and 23 B illustrate another embodiment according to the invention.
- FIGS. 24 A and 24 B illustrate another embodiment according to the invention.
- FIGS. 25 - 27 illustrate different precipitate collection container embodiments according to the invention.
- FIG. 28 illustrates a further precipitate collection container embodiment according to the invention.
- FIGS. 29 A and 29 B illustrate a further precipitate collection container embodiment according to the invention.
- FIG. 30 A illustrates an alternative wing shim embodiment installed in a partial disk-pack.
- FIG. 30 B illustrates a side view of a support member of the wing shim illustrated in FIG. 30 A .
- FIG. 30 C illustrates a top view of a support member of the wing shim illustrated in FIG. 30 A .
- FIGS. 31 A and 31 B illustrate a waveform disk pack turbine example according to at least one embodiment of the invention.
- FIGS. 32 A- 32 E illustrate a waveform disk pack turbine example according to at least one embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 33 illustrates another embodiment according to the invention.
- FIGS. 34 A and 34 B depict images of the water after it exits the discharge outlet of a prototype built according to at least one embodiment of the invention.
- FIGS. 1 - 12 B illustrate example embodiments according to the invention.
- the illustrated systems in at least one embodiment are for treating water that is relatively free of debris such as water present in water storage containers and systems, pools, industrial process systems, cooling towers and systems, municipal and/or tanker supplied water, and well water that are examples of environments from which water can be drawn.
- there are additional filter structures around the intakes of the water treatment system such as a screen box or ring and/or filter material.
- the illustrated system includes a housing module 500 , an intake module 400 , a vortex module 100 , a disk-pack module 200 , and a motor module 300 .
- the housing module 500 in at least one embodiment further includes additional structure built around the system to cover and hide components of the system from visual inspection as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 13 .
- whirlpool or intake
- a whirlpool or intake
- a vortex flow which in at least one embodiment is a vortex
- the water is channeled away from the expansion chamber into the spaces that exist between disks of the disk-pack turbine to travel to an accumulation chamber surrounding the disk-pack turbine where the water is accumulate and circulated into a discharge channel that leads to a discharge chamber.
- the discharge chamber in at least one embodiment forms a vortical flow of the water up through the discharge chamber back into an environment from which the water was drawn and a downward flow of particulate and/or precipitated matter to a particulate discharge port.
- the mode of operation includes drawing water into a housing that at least substantially encloses the whirlpool chamber and the vortex chamber where the housing draws the water from below a height of the vortex chamber such as around the disk-pack turbine module or from below an elevated base of the motor module.
- the method further includes removing solids from the whirlpool chamber, which in at least one embodiment causes particulate matter to concentrate at the center and descend and be ejected through a solids port at the bottom of the whirlpool chamber.
- the vortical flow of the water includes a significant volume of vortical solitons that are produced by the system and flow into the environment containing the water.
- FIGS. 1 - 6 illustrate an example of a housing module 500 including a cover 520 that covers the intake module 400 and the vortex module 100 .
- the housing module 500 as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 5 includes a plurality of support members 524 and 526 that align and support the vortex module 100 , the intake module 400 , and the cover 520 .
- the support members (or bosses) 524 in at least one embodiment are incorporated into a top of the disk-pack housing 220 and spaced around it forming a substantially circular pattern (although other arrangements could be used) as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 11 A .
- the support members 526 attach to the support members 524 and extend up through connection points such as mounting ears and/or holes 119 (see, e.g., FIG.
- the support members 524 are connected to at least one housing/cover with bolts, screws, adhesive, interlocking engagement such as threaded or keyed sections, and the like as illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 5 and 6 .
- the support members 526 do not all extend up to the cover 520 .
- the support members 526 are multi-part. In a further embodiment as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 10 , the support members do not run between the vortex housing 120 and the intake housing 420 , but instead the conduits 490 provides the support between these housings.
- the support members 526 are omitted from above the intake housing 420 and the cover 520 is supported by posts extending up from the disk pack housing 220 or it rests on the disk pack housing 220 or another housing structure.
- the support members 526 act as guide rails for lowering the vortex module 100 as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 9 and the intake module 400 onto the disk-pack module 100 and in a further embodiment the cover 520 is attached to the top or proximate to the top of the support members 526 .
- the cover 520 includes a recessed area around the discharge outlet (or discharge manifold) 232 to allow for the flow of water up and away from the discharge outlet 232 .
- the discharge outlet 232 could be spaced further from the cover 520 resulting in the recessed area being smaller or omitted entirely.
- the discharge outlet 232 extends further up along the cover 520 .
- the discharge outlet 232 extends above the cover 520 .
- the cover 520 of the housing module 500 and the top of the disk-pack module 200 define the inlet (or opening) 522 for water to be pulled into the system as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 1 .
- the cover 520 is fitted against the disk pack turbine module 200 or a further housing as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 13 to draw water from a lower area in the container (e.g., below the intake module and/or the vortex module) in which the system is operating where water is drawn up from below the system through a plurality of openings 532 present in the top of a lower cover 530 illustrated, for example, in FIG. 14 and a plurality of openings 542 present in a bottom plate 540 illustrated, for example, in FIG. 15 .
- the cover 520 may take a variety of other shapes to that illustrated in the Figures such as a substantially box shape, a fulcrum shape, and a substantially spherical shape. In at least one embodiment, the cover 520 allows for operation of the system in shallower water than the height of the intake catch 425 . In at least one embodiment, the larger and heavier solids that are present in the water that make it past, for example, the inlet 522 or the openings 542 will drop out of the upward flow of the water within the cover 520 .
- the water flows in at the inlet 522 (or through the openings 542 ) and up to an intake catch 425 as illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 5 and 6 .
- the water after entering the intake catch 425 enters into the intake chamber 430 through the intake screen 426 , which forms a substantial portion of the bottom of the intake catch 425 as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 7 .
- the screen blocks material and other debris above a certain size based on the size of the openings in the screen 426 .
- the intake chamber 430 includes a substantially parabaloid shape upper section that narrows into a solids outlet 438 to collect particulate, precipitated solids, and/or concentrated solids from the intake chamber 430 .
- the chamber shape encourages rotational movement in the water to form a whirlpool in the intake chamber 430 with a funnel shape from the negative pressure in the disk pack turbine 250 pulling through the vortex chamber 130 and the conduits 490 , and the resulting whirlpool precipitates solids present in the water into the solids outlet 438 .
- the solids outlet 438 in at least one embodiment connects to a hose (or conduit) 590 that is routed out through an opening 528 in the cover 520 (see, e.g., FIGS. 2 and 3 ).
- the precipitated solids are deposited external to the system.
- the conduit 590 travels to a point external to the environment in which the system is installed, while in other embodiments a catch (or precipitated collection) container 600 (see, e.g., FIGS. 23 A- 27 ) or other type of catch container (see, e.g., FIGS. 28 - 29 B ) is used to collect the precipitated solids for later removal.
- An alternative example of the conduit 590 A is illustrated in FIG. 10 where the conduit also acts as a support between the intake chamber 430 and the vortex chamber 130 .
- outlets 432 connected to the conduits 490 .
- the outlets 432 in at least one embodiment extend tangentially away from the intake chamber 430 in a counterclockwise direction as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 7 .
- the conduits 490 are illustrated as pipes, based on this disclosure it should be appreciated that the conduits can take a variety of forms while still providing a passageway connecting the outlets 432 to the vortex chamber inlets 132 .
- One alternative for the illustrated conduits 490 is the use of flexible conduit.
- the conduits 490 could spiral around to one of the other vortex inlets instead of as illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 7 - 10 .
- the vortex induction chamber 130 is a cavity formed inside a housing 120 of the vortex module 100 to shape the in-flowing water into a through-flowing vortex that is fed into the disk-pack module 200 .
- the illustrated vortex chamber 130 includes a structure that funnels the water into a vortex upper section 134 having a bowl (or modified concave hyperbolic) shape for receiving the water that opens into a lower section 136 having a conical-like (or funnel) shape with a steep vertical angle of change that opens into the disk-pack module 200 .
- the vortex chamber 130 in at least one embodiment serves to accumulate, accelerate, stimulate and concentrate the water as it is drawn into the disk-pack module 200 via centrifugal suction.
- the vortex chamber 130 is formed by a wall 137 .
- the sides of the wall 137 follow a long radial path in the vertical descending direction from a top to an opening 138 that reduces the horizontal area defined by the sides of the wall 137 as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 5 .
- the illustrated housing 120 of the vortex module 100 includes a two-part configuration with a cap 122 and a main body 124 .
- the cap 122 and the main body 124 can be attached in a variety of ways including, for example, with screws, bolts, adhesive, interlocking engagement such as threaded or keyed sections, the support members 526 , etc.
- the cap 122 and the main body 124 form the vortex inlets 132 when assembled together.
- the cap 122 is illustrated as having the top portion of the vortex chamber 130 formed by a concentric concave depression 1222 on the inside face of the cap 122 .
- the cap 122 and the main body 124 together form the plurality of vortex inlets 132 .
- the vortex housing could have different configurations of housing components while still providing a vortex chamber in which a vortex flow can be established.
- the main body 124 is illustrated as having a passageway passing vertically through it to form the lower portion 136 of the vortex chamber 130 .
- the main body 124 in at least one embodiment is attached to the disk-pack housing 220 with the same support members 526 used to attach the cap 122 to the main body 124 as illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 5 - 9 .
- Other examples for attaching the main body 124 to the disk-pack module 200 include adhesive, screws, and interlocking engagement such as threaded or keyed sections, and friction engagement.
- the main body 124 sits in and/or on the disk pack turbine module 200 .
- the disk-pack module 200 includes (or forms) the revolving expansion chamber 252 that is illustrated as having an oval/elliptical/egg-shape chamber that includes a curved bottom portion provided by a rigid feature 2522 incorporated into the bottom rotor 268 of the disk-pack turbine 250 in at least one embodiment.
- the volumetric area for the expansion chamber 252 is formed by the center holes in the separated stacked disks 260 which serve as water inlet and distribution ports for the stacked disk chambers 262 where each chamber is formed between two neighboring disks.
- the top portion of the expansion chamber 252 roughly mirrors the bottom with the addition of an opening passing through an upper rotor 264 that is bordered by a curved structure.
- the opening is centered axially with the vortex induction chamber outlet 138 above it as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 5 , providing a pathway through which the water can pass between the two respective chambers.
- the expansion chamber 252 has a substantially egg shape.
- FIGS. 5 and 6 An example of a disk-pack turbine 250 is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 .
- the illustrated disk-pack turbine 250 includes the top rotor 264 , a plurality of stacked disks 260 , and the bottom rotor 268 having a concave radial depression 2522 that provides a bottom for the expansion chamber 252 .
- the illustrated bottom rotor 268 includes a motor hub 269 , which in some embodiments may be integrally formed with the bottom rotor 268 .
- the motor hub 269 provides the interface to couple the disk-pack turbine 250 to the drive shaft 314 extending from the motor module 300 as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 5 .
- top rotor 264 , the bottom rotor 268 , and/or the motor hub 269 are coupled to the housing 220 with a bearing element (or a bushing) 280 or have a bearing incorporated into the piece to allow for substantially reduced rotational friction of the disk-pack turbine 250 relative to the housing as driven by the drive shaft 314 and the motor 310 .
- the viscous molecular boundary layer present on the rotating disk surfaces provides mechanical advantage relative to impelling water through and out of the disk-pack turbine 250 .
- the disk-pack turbine includes a plurality of wing-shims 270 (illustrated in FIG. 6 ) spaced near (or at) the outer edge of the individual disks 260 .
- wing-shims are provided in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/213,614 published as U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2012/0048813, which is hereby incorporated by reference in connection with the disclosed wing-shims 270 et seq.
- the wing-shims provide structure and support for the disks 260 in the disk-pack turbine 250 and in at least one embodiment are responsible for maintaining disk positions and separation tolerances.
- the disk separation provides space (or disk chambers) 262 through which water travels from the expansion chamber 252 to the accumulation chamber 230 .
- the wing shims are located around and proximate to the expansion chamber 252 .
- the wing shims assist the creation of a negative pressure without sheering of or forming cavitations in the water and assist the movement of the water into the accumulation chamber.
- the disk-pack turbine 250 is held in place by the housing 220 of the disk-pack module 200 as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 5 .
- the housing 220 includes an accumulation chamber 230 in which the disk-pack turbine 250 rotates.
- the accumulation chamber 230 is illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 5 , 6 , and 11 A- 12 B as having a modified torus shape or scarab shape, which may include the golden mean, (or in an alternative embodiment a hyperbolic paraboloid cross-section) that leads to a discharge outlet 232 on the outside periphery of the housing 220 .
- there is one discharge outlet 232 but one or more discharge outlets 232 may be added and, in at least one embodiment, the discharge outlets 232 are equally spaced around the housing periphery.
- the accumulation chamber 230 is an ample, over-sized chamber within the disk-pack module 200 as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 5 .
- the accumulation chamber 230 gathers the fluid after it has passed through the disk-pack turbine 250 .
- the highly energetic water with concentrated mixed motion smoothly transitions to be discharged at low pressure and low linear velocity (with a large velocity in at least one embodiment within the motion including micro-vortices) through the discharge outlet 232 back into the environment from which the water was taken. As illustrated, for example, in FIGS.
- the shape of the accumulation chamber 230 is designed to provide its shortest height proximate to the perimeter of the disk-pack turbine 250 . Beyond the shortest height there is a discharge channel 231 that directs the water around to the discharge outlet 232 and also in at least one embodiment provides for the space to augment the water in the accumulation chamber 230 through an optional supplemental inlet 290 .
- the discharge channel 231 has a substantially elliptical cross-section (although other cross-sections are possible) as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 5 .
- the accumulation chamber wall in at least one embodiment closes up to the perimeter of the disk pack turbine 250 at a point proximate to the discharge channel 231 exits the accumulation chamber 230 to provide a passageway that travels towards a discharge chamber 2324 .
- the illustrated housing 220 includes a top section 2202 and a bottom section 2204 that together form the housing and the illustrated accumulation chamber 230 with a discharge channel 231 extending substantially around the periphery of the accumulation chamber 230 .
- FIGS. 11 A- 11 C illustrate the top section 2202
- FIGS. 12 A and 12 B illustrate the bottom section 2204 .
- the bottom section 2204 includes a particulate discharge port 2326 that in at least one embodiment includes a spiraling protrusion 2327 illustrated, for example, in FIG. 12 A .
- FIGS. 11 A- 12 B illustrate the presence of the supplemental inlet 290 into the accumulation chamber 230 to augment the water present in the accumulation chamber 230 .
- the supplemental inlet 290 enters the accumulation chamber 230 at a point just after the discharge channel 231 extends away from the accumulation chamber 230 to route fluid towards the discharge chamber 2324 .
- the supplemental inlet 290 includes a curved bottom 2922 that extends out from an inlet feed chamber 292 into the start of the discharge channel 231 as it expands and travels in a counter-clockwise direction away from the accumulation chamber 230 and the supplemental inlet 290 .
- the inlet feed chamber 292 shapes the incoming flow of water from the supplemental inlet 290 to augment the counter-clockwise flow of water in the accumulation chamber 230 and the discharge channel 231 . In at least one embodiment, this is accomplished by the creation of a vortical flow in the inlet feed chamber 292 .
- the supplemental inlet 290 includes an optional valve 294 to control the level of augmentation as illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 2 and 3 . Although the value 294 is illustrated as being a manual valve, it should be understood based on this disclosure that the valve could be electronically controlled in at least one embodiment. In a further embodiment the supplemental inlet 290 is omitted as it is being an optional component to the illustrated system.
- the discharge outlet 232 includes a housing 2322 having a discharge chamber 2324 that further augments the spin and rotation of the water being discharged as the water moves upwards in an approximately egg-shaped compartment.
- the output of the discharge outlet 232 is routed to another location other than from where the water was drawn into the system from.
- the housing 2322 includes an upper housing 2322 ′, which can be a separate piece or integrally formed with housing 2322 that defines an expanding diameter cavity for discharging the water from the system.
- the discharge chamber 2324 includes a particulate discharge port 2326 that connects to a conduit 592 to remove from the system, for example, particulate, precipitated matter and/or concentrated solids that have precipitated out of the water during processing and to route it away from the system in at least one embodiment.
- the shape of the discharge chamber 2324 facilitates the creation of a vortex exit flow for material out through the particulate discharge port 2326 and a vortex exit flow for the water out through the discharge outlet 232 forming multiple vortical solitons that float up and away from the discharge outlet 232 spinning and in many cases maintaining a relative minimum distance amongst themselves as illustrated in FIGS. 34 A and 34 B .
- the vortical solitons in this embodiment continue in motion in the container in which they are discharged until they are interrupted by another object.
- the discharge chamber 2324 includes at least one spiraling protrusion 2325 (illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 5 and 11 C ) that extends from just above (or proximate) the intake (or discharge port or junction between the passageway coming from the accumulation chamber 230 and the discharge chamber 2324 ) 2321 (see FIG. 11 C ) into the discharge chamber 2324 up through or at least to the discharge outlet 232 (and/or upper housing 2322 ′ illustrated in, for example, FIG. 5 ) to encourage additional rotation in the water prior to discharge.
- the spiraling protrusion 2325 extends up through the discharge outlet 232 .
- the spiraling protrusion 2325 in at least one embodiment spirals upward in a counterclockwise direction when viewed from above; however, based on this disclosure it should be appreciated that the direction of the spiral could be clockwise, for example, if these system were used in the southern hemisphere.
- the discharge chamber 2324 includes at least one (second or particulate) spiraling protrusion 2327 that extends from just below and/or proximate to the intake 2321 down through the discharge chamber 2324 towards the particulate discharge port 2326 as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 12 A .
- the spiraling protrusion 2327 spirals in a counter-clockwise direction; however, based on this disclosure it should be appreciated that the direction of the spiral could be clockwise, for example, if the system were used in the southern hemisphere. Based on this disclosure, it should be understood that one or both of the spiraling protrusions 2325 , 2327 could be used in at least one embodiment.
- the protrusions are replaced by grooves formed in the discharge chamber wall.
- the long radii begins proximate to the intake 2321 in the discharge chamber 2324 . This structure in at least one embodiment provides for a convergence of flow of water prior to a divergence back out of the flow of water.
- the base of the systems illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 1 - 10 B is the motor module 300 that includes a housing 320 with an outwardly extending base 324 having a plurality of feet 322 spaced around the periphery of the base 324 to provide support and distribute the weight of the system out further to provide stability in at least one embodiment.
- the motor housing 320 substantially encloses the motor 310 ; however, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 , 2 , 10 , and 13 , there may be multiple openings 326 through which water can pass and cool the motor in at least one embodiment.
- the motor housing 320 provides the base on which the disk-pack module 200 rests and is connected to by bolts or the like connection members.
- FIGS. 16 A- 18 C illustrate additional housing module embodiments according to the invention.
- FIGS. 16 A and 16 B illustrate a side and top view of a cover configuration embodiment that would cover the examples illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18 .
- the cover is separated into a base cover 520 A and an upper cover 521 A that are joined on a horizontal plane such as proximate to the top of the discharge port recess in the cover 520 A.
- FIG. 16 A also provides an illustration of the base cover 520 A attached to, connected to or abutting the lower cover 530 .
- FIG. 17 illustrates an example of where the upper cover 521 A includes a lip (or flange) that fits over the top of the base cover 520 A.
- FIG. 18 illustrates a base cover 520 B that includes around its top a channel 5206 B for receiving a bottom of the upper cover 521 B and an optional O-ring 5218 B.
- These illustrated covers allow for the upper cover to be removed in order to gain access to the intake module and vortex module that are housed within the base cover and the lower cover. As discussed previously, this access in some embodiments would allow for removal of these components from the cover, for example, for inspection, replacement, and/or repair.
- FIGS. 19 A- 19 C illustrate another approach for the cover 520 C that includes two halves 5202 C, 5204 C that are substantially mirrors of each other except for the inclusion of an optional opening 298 for the optional supplemental inlet to pass.
- the illustrated cover includes what previously has been illustrated as a cover, a lower cover, and a lower plate (see, e.g., FIGS. 13 - 15 ).
- An alternative embodiment would be to omit the lower plate 540 C from the other components in the cover 520 C.
- the cover 5202 C, 5204 C includes a flange (or alternatively a plurality of attachment ears) 5206 C with a plurality of mounting holes to attach and secure the two covers 5202 C, 5204 C together.
- FIGS. 19 A- 19 C also illustrate the presence of optional mounting bosses 5212 C for securing to any support members that are present and the illustrated mounting bosses 5212 C provide an example of how these might be arranged if present.
- the cover may be configured for assembly and manufacturing.
- FIGS. 20 - 22 B illustrate optional filter/screen alternative embodiments for blocking debris that may be present in the water from entering the system.
- FIG. 20 illustrates a substantially cylindrical screen 550 fitted between the cover 520 D and the lower cover 530 (i.e., over opening 522 ) to allow water to be drawn through it for processing by the system while blocking debris larger than the openings (or slots) present in the screen 550 .
- the screen 550 includes a plurality of evenly spaced vertical slots.
- FIGS. 21 A- 21 C illustrate a different screen 560 that is substantially flat and is illustrated as being U-shaped to fit around the motor housing 320 .
- Either the lower plate 540 E (illustrated in FIGS. 21 B and 21 C ) or the lower cover 530 (not illustrated) includes a flange member (or bracket) 548 on either side to receive the screen 560 and hold it in place.
- the screen 560 includes a handle 562 that allows for easier insertion and removal of the screen 560 from the system.
- FIG. 21 C also illustrates how in at least one embodiment, the lower plate 540 E does not include openings passing through it outside the area over which the screen 560 covers.
- FIGS. 22 A and 22 B illustrate another embodiment that uses a filter material 570 that is porous and allows for water to pass through it.
- a filter material 570 that is porous and allows for water to pass through it. Examples of such material include swamp (or evaporative) cooler wetting material and/or a filter-sponge.
- the filter material 570 includes interweaved wire or other support structure to improve the integrity of the material.
- the filter material 570 includes a slit (or cut) 572 that improves the ability to insert the filter material 570 into the space defined by the lower plate 540 and the lower cover 530 while fitting around the motor housing 320 that houses motor 310 .
- the filter material 570 includes a cut-out to fit around the discharge chamber 2324 that extends into the lower cover 530 .
- the above screens and filter material are collectively examples of means for filtering.
- the means for filtering includes the various openings and inlets present in the housing modules 500 discussed above.
- FIGS. 23 A- 24 B illustrate two different examples of how to connect the conduits 590 , 592 to the precipitate collection module 600 .
- FIGS. 23 A and 23 B illustrate a Y-connection between the conduits with just one conduit running into the precipitate collection container 600 .
- FIGS. 24 A and 24 B illustrate conduits 590 , 592 running individually into the precipitate collection module 600 .
- the conduits would have their own dedicated precipitate collection containers.
- FIGS. 25 - 27 illustrate different optional precipitate collection modules 600 having a precipitate collection container 620 according to the invention.
- FIGS. 23 A- 24 B illustrate an example of a precipitate collection container 620 connected to an embodiment of the system; however, based on this disclosure it should be appreciated that the different precipitate collection modules 600 could be attached to the various embodiments for the system discussed in this disclosure along with other water treatment systems having a precipitated discharge.
- the precipitate collection container 620 can take a variety of shapes and forms beyond that illustrated in FIGS.
- the raised portion is a taller pipe structure (or riser) 626 C extending up from the rest of the precipitate collection container 620 C illustrated, for example, in FIG. 28 .
- a screen 624 is included to allow for water to pass through while preventing the material from passing back out into the water being processed.
- FIGS. 25 - 27 illustrate cross-sections of example embodiments for the precipitate collection container 620 where the cross-section taken along their lengths.
- FIGS. 25 - 27 illustrate an inlet 621 at the end of the precipitate collection container 620 opposite where the screen 624 and/or exit port 626 are located. Based on this disclosure, it should be appreciated that the exit port 626 extending above the cover 628 may be omitted.
- FIG. 25 - 27 illustrate cross-sections of example embodiments for the precipitate collection container 620 where the cross-section taken along their lengths.
- FIGS. 25 - 27 illustrate an inlet 621 at the end of the precipitate collection container 620 opposite where the screen 624 and/or exit port 626 are located. Based on this disclosure, it should be appreciated that the exit port 626 extending above the cover 628 may be omitted.
- FIG. 25 illustrates the precipitate collection container 620 having an inlet 621 through which the conduit 592 attaches to provide a fluid pathway into the cavity 622 to allow for the accumulation of material in the bottom of the precipitate collection container 620 while water is allowed to exit from the precipitate collection container 620 through, for example, the screen 624 (illustrated as part of the exit port 626 ).
- the conduit 592 may instead have a connection point external to the cavity 622 such as through a hose connecter or other mechanical engagement.
- FIG. 25 also illustrates a further optional embodiment for the precipitate collection container 620 where it includes a lid 628 that can be removed so that the collected material can be removed from the precipitate collection container 620 .
- FIG. 20 illustrates another embodiment of the precipitate collection container 620 A having a bottom 6222 A of the cavity 622 A with a slight gradient from the inlet 621 down towards the exit port 626 .
- FIG. 27 illustrates the embodiment from FIG. 26 where the precipitate collection container 620 B includes the addition of a screen projection (or wall) 623 extending from the wall opposite of the inlet 621 into the cavity 622 B.
- the screen projection 623 although illustrated as extending at an angle, could instead be substantially horizontal.
- the screen projection 623 acts as a further barrier to the material escaping from the precipitate collection container 620 .
- FIG. 28 illustrates an alternative precipitate collection container 620 C that includes an inlet 621 that can take the forms discussed above for the inlet. It should be appreciated that additional inlets could be added to accommodate additional conduits or alternatively the inlet could include a manifold attachment for connection to multiple conduits.
- the illustrated precipitate collection container 620 C further includes a lid 628 C on which is a riser 626 C, which is an example of an exit port, with a screen 624 C along its top surface to allow for the flow of water through the precipitate collection container 620 C up through the riser 626 C while the material is collected inside the device.
- the various internal configurations discussed for FIGS. 25 - 27 could also be present within the precipitate collection container 620 C.
- FIGS. 29 A and 29 B illustrate a funnel shaped precipitate collection container 620 D with a whirlpool chamber 622 D present within it.
- the precipitate collection container 620 D includes an inlet 621 D for connection to a conduit. It should be appreciated that additional inlets could be added to accommodate additional conduits or alternatively the inlet could include a manifold attachment for connection to multiple conduit.
- the illustrated precipitate collection container 620 D includes a lid 628 D on which a riser 626 D extends up from to allow for the flow of water through the precipitate collection container 620 D while the material is collected inside the device.
- the funnel shape of the cavity 622 D with a particulate port 629 D extending from the bottom of the cavity 6222 D encourages the formation of a whirlpool, which will pull any material present in the cavity 6222 D into a downward flow to drain out the particulate port into another cavity or out of the environment in which the system is running.
- the particulate port 629 D includes a valve that can be open to drain any material that has collected in the cavity 6222 D as part of a flush operation using the water present in the system to flush the material out of the particulate port 629 D.
- FIG. 33 illustrates an example of the precipitate collection container 620 D installed in a water storage tank with the particulate port 629 D passing out through the bottom of the tank.
- FIGS. 29 A, 29 B , and 33 also illustrate an alternative embodiment of the precipitate collection container 620 D having a plurality of legs 627 D to in part stabilize the precipitate collection container 620 D against a surface.
- a diffuser in fluid communication with the conduit is present within the cavity to spread the water and material coming into the cavity out from any direct stream of water and/or material that might otherwise exist.
- a diffuser are a structure that expands out from its input side to its output side, mesh or other large opening screen, and steel wool or other similar material with large pores.
- the precipitate collection container would be replaced by a low flow zone formed in the environment from which the water is being pulled, for example a water tank.
- FIG. 13 illustrates an optional embodiment that adds an air release valve 528 proximate the top of the housing 520 .
- the air release valve 528 is used to allow air to escape from the system upon it first being placed in the water.
- the air release valve 528 is an optional add-on for the above-described embodiments.
- the air release valve provides an easy and controllable way for air to be purged from the system during installation and/or refilling of the environment in which it is placed. In a further embodiment it assists in priming the system for operation.
- FIG. 13 illustrates an optional embodiment that adds an air release valve 528 proximate the top of the housing 520 .
- the air release valve 528 is used to allow air to escape from the system upon it first being placed in the water.
- the air release valve 528 is an optional add-on for the above-described embodiments.
- the air release valve provides an easy and controllable way for air to be purged from the system during installation and/or refilling of the environment in which it
- FIG. 13 also illustrates an embodiment where the housing 520 attaches, connects, or abuts a lower cover 530 to establish a flow path from below the lower cover through the openings 542 of the lower plate 540 illustrated in FIG. 15 up through the top of the lower cover 530 illustrated in FIG. 14 and up through the housing 520 .
- the openings 542 , 532 in the lower plate 540 and top of the lower cover 530 provide additionally filtering/screening of debris that is larger than the openings preventing the debris from flowing into the system and reducing the likelihood of clogging the system during operation.
- Both the lower cover 530 and the lower plate 540 include examples of mounting holes 534 , 544 present in them as illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 14 and 15 , respectively.
- a variety of mounting holes may be present to facilitate connection with other components in the system such as the support members 524 , 526 , the disk pack housing 220 and as discussed above supplemental screening and/or filter material.
- Both the lower cover 530 and the lower plate 540 include an opening 536 , 546 passing through at least one surface to fit around the discharge outlet 232 as illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 14 and 15 , respectively. In at least one embodiment, these openings 536 , 546 facilitate fitting these housing components around the discharge outlet.
- the housing cover 520 is omitted as illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 7 - 9 .
- One adjustment to the system depicted in these figures is that the support members 526 would be shortened to provide a flush surface on the top for the intake catch 425 and/or the intake screen 426 .
- the support members 526 would stop at the vortex housing 120 and conduits 490 would at least partially support the intake housing 420 as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 10 .
- FIGS. 30 A- 30 C provide an illustration of an alternative wing shim a plurality of spacers 272 N and a hexagonal support member 276 M connecting them and providing alignment of the spacers 272 N relative to the support member 276 M and the disk 260 N.
- the spacers 272 N include a hexagonal opening passing through it to allow it to slide over the support member 276 N.
- the disks 260 N include a plurality of hexagonal openings 2602 N.
- the support members 276 N extend between the top and lower rotors and in at least one embodiment are attached to the rotors using screws or bolts. Based on this disclosure, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the cross-section of the support members may take different forms while still providing for alignment of the spacers 272 N relative to the disks 260 N.
- the disk-pack turbine includes a plurality of disks having waveforms present on them as illustrated in FIGS. 31 A- 32 E .
- the illustrated waveforms are either concentric circles ( FIGS. 31 A and 31 B ) or biaxial ( FIGS. 32 A- 32 E ), it should be understood that the waveforms could also be sinusoidal, biaxial sinucircular, a series of interconnected scallop shapes, a series of interconnected arcuate forms, hyperbolic, and/or multi-axial including combinations of these that when rotated provide progressive, disk channels with the waveforms being substantially centered about an expansion chamber.
- the shape of the individual disks defines the waveform, and one approach to creating these waveforms is to stamp the metal used to manufacture the disks to provide the desired shapes.
- Other examples of manufacture include machining, casting (cold or hot), injection molding, molded and centered, and/or electroplating of plastic disks of the individual disks.
- the illustrated waveform disks include a flange 2608 , which may be omitted depending on the presence and/or the location of the wings, around their perimeter to provide a point of connection for wing shims 270 used to construct the particular disk-pack turbine.
- the wing shims 270 are located around and proximate to the expansion chamber in the disk turbine.
- the wing shims are omitted and replaced by, for example, stamped (or manufactured, molded or casted) features that provide a profile axially and/or peripherally for attachment to a neighboring disk or rotor.
- the disks have a thickness less than five millimeters, less than four millimeters, less than three millimeters, less than and/or equal to two millimeters, and less than and/or equal to one millimeter with the height of the disk chambers depending on the embodiment having approximately 1.3 mm, between 1.3 mm to 2.5 mm, of less than or at least 1.7 mm, between 1.0 mm and 1.8 mm, between 2.0 mm and 2.7 mm, approximately 2.3 mm, above 2.5 mm, and above at least 2.7 mm.
- the height of the disk chambers is not uniform between two neighboring nested waveform disks.
- the disk chamber height is variable during operation when the wing shims are located proximate to the center openings.
- FIGS. 31 A- 32 E illustrate respective disk-pack turbines 250 X, 250 Y that include an upper rotor 264 X and a lower rotor 268 X that have a substantially flat engagement surface (other than the expansion chamber elements) facing the area where the disks 260 X, 260 Y are present.
- FIG. 31 A- 32 E illustrate respective disk-pack turbines 250 X, 250 Y that include an upper rotor 264 X and a lower rotor 268 X that have a substantially flat engagement surface (other than the expansion chamber elements) facing the area where the disks 260 X, 260 Y are present.
- the disk-pack turbine includes an upper rotor 264 Y and a lower rotor 268 Y with open areas between their periphery and the expansion chamber features to allow the waveforms to flow into the rotor cavity and thus allow for more disks to be stacked resulting in a higher density of waveform disks for the disk-pack turbine height with the omission of substantially flat disks 260 Y′ that are illustrated as being covers over the open areas of the rotors 264 Y, 268 Y.
- FIG. 32 E also illustrates an alternative embodiment where there is a mixture of substantially flat disks 260 Y′ and nested waveform disks 260 Y.
- FIGS. 31 A- 32 E illustrate how the waveforms include descending thickness waves in each lower disk. In at least one embodiment, the waveforms are shallow enough to allow substantially the same sized waveforms on neighboring disks.
- FIG. 31 A illustrates a side view of an example of the circular waveform disk-pack turbine 250 X.
- FIG. 31 B illustrates a cross-section taken along a diameter of the disk-pack turbine 250 X and shows a view of the disks 260 X.
- Each circle waveform is centered about the expansion chamber 252 X.
- the illustrated circle waveforms include two ridges 2603 X and three valleys 2604 X. Based on this disclosure, it should be appreciated that the number of ridges and valleys could be reversed along with be any number greater than one limited by their radial depth and the distance between the expansion chamber 250 X and the flange 2608 .
- FIG. 32 A illustrates a top view of a disk-pack turbine 250 Y without the top rotor 264 X to illustrate the biaxial waveform 2602 Y
- FIGS. 32 B- 32 E provide additional views of the disk-pack turbine 250 Y
- FIGS. 32 A- 32 E provide an illustration of the waveforms rising above the disk while not dropping below the surface (or vice versa in an alternative embodiment).
- the illustrated biaxial waveform 2602 Y that is illustrated as including two ridges 2603 Y and one valley 2604 Y centered about the expansion chamber 252 Y.
- FIG. 32 B illustrates a side view of three waveform disks 260 Y stacked together without the presence of wing shims 270 or the rotors 264 X, 268 X.
- FIG. 32 C illustrates a partial cross-section of the disk-pack turbine 250 Y.
- FIG. 32 D illustrates a side view of the assembled disk-pack turbine 250 Y.
- FIG. 32 E illustrates a cross-section taken along a diameter of the disk-pack turbine 250 X and shows a view of the disks 260 Y.
- the components are rearranged/reconfigured to change the rotation provided by the system in the opposite direction, for example, for use in the Southern Hemisphere.
- FIG. 33 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the system installed in a water storage tank 910 , which is partially cut-away to show what is present inside the storage tank.
- the illustrated system includes the housing module 500 , the intake module 400 (not shown), the disk-pack module 200 , and the vortex module 100 (not shown) of the previous embodiments.
- the illustrated system includes an external NC motor 210 A driving the disk-pack turbine through a drive system such as indirect drive linkage including, for example but not limited to, one or more belts (e.g., O-rings) or a transmission linkage that is present in a belt housing 330 that passes through the water storage wall 912 and provides a compartment connecting the driveshaft connected to the disk-pack turbine, which is present in the base 324 A, and the motor driveshaft.
- a drive system such as indirect drive linkage including, for example but not limited to, one or more belts (e.g., O-rings) or a transmission linkage that is present in a belt housing 330 that passes through the water storage
- the illustrated base 324 A is representative of a variety of shapes that may be used while providing a cavity in which the disk-pack turbine driveshaft is present and capable of engagement with a belt.
- the illustrated embodiment places the motor housing 320 A external to a storage tank so that the motor does not need to be a submersible motor. If multiple belts are included with the system and the driveshaft from the motor includes a plurality of gears, then the size of the belt is selected to drive the disk-pack turbine at a predetermined set speed.
- the driveshaft engaging the disk-pack turbine may include the gears in addition or instead of the external driveshaft.
- the belt housing 330 is sealed and held in place by a gasket 340 that fits snugly around it and engages a cutout (or other opening) created in the water storage tank wall 912 .
- the gasket connection provides an advantageous anchoring point for the system within the water storage tank.
- conduits 590 and 592 are routed into the belt housing 330 through holes with gaskets at a point inside the water storage tank and exiting out from the belt housing 330 at a point external to the water storage tank.
- FIG. 33 illustrates how the particulate port 629 D will pass through the bottom 914 of the tank 910 , which in at least one embodiment includes a gasket or other seal around the particulate port 629 D.
- the system includes a controller that controls the operation of the system.
- the above-described motor modules may be provided with a variety of operation, control, and process monitoring features. Examples include a switch (binary and variable), computer controlled, or built-in controller resident in the motor module. Examples of a built-in controller include an application specific integrated circuit, an analog circuit, a processor or a combination of these.
- the controller in at least one embodiment provides control of the motor via a signal or direct control of the power provided to the motor.
- the controller in at least one embodiment is programmed to control the RPM of the motor over a predetermined time based on time of day/week/month/year or length of time since process start, and in other embodiments the controller responds to the one or more characteristics to determine the speed at which the motor is operated. In a further embodiment, the controller runs for a predetermined length of time after water has been added to the storage tank. In a further embodiment, the controller also controls operation of the supplemental valve 294 when present in an embodiment with a controller.
- the controller monitors at least one of the voltage, amperage, watts, hours of run time (current operation period and/or total run time) and speed (rotations per minute (RPM)) of the motor to determine the appropriate level of power to provide to the motor for operation and/or adjust the speed of the motor.
- Other examples of input parameters include chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD), pH, ORP, dissolved oxygen (DO), bound oxygen and other concentrations of elements and/or lack thereof and have the controller respond accordingly by automatically adjusting operational speeds and run times.
- FIG. 34 A shows the relative size of the vortical solitons that were discharged from the discharge outlet relative in size to an adult male's fingers.
- the vortical solitons spin and rotate about their centers as they move up and down within the water.
- the vortical solitons appear to be substantially flat vortex disc that are spinning and moving based on the captured video as represented in the images depicted in FIGS. 34 A and 34 B .
- the images include countless pairs of vortical solitons that upon discharge from the discharge outlet 232 wholly saturate the water within a contained environment with each soliton persisting until its energy is discharged via contact with a solid boundary or an obstruction. Although the water is saturated with these vortical packets of rotating energy, each maintains a relative distance of separation from its other soliton in the pair without collision with the other soliton. From review of the video, it appears that the soliton pairs move in complete lockstep with each other as they progress through the water environment while turning and spinning. It is believed that this restructuring of the water allows in part for it to impact the larger volume of water in which the system runs, because these vortical solitons will continue on their respective paths until interfered with by another object such as the wall of the container or other structural feature.
- substantially As used above “substantially,” “generally,” and other words of degree are relative modifiers intended to indicate permissible variation from the characteristic so modified. It is not intended to be limited to the absolute value or characteristic which it modifies but rather possessing more of the physical or functional characteristic than its opposite, and preferably, approaching or approximating such a physical or functional characteristic. “Substantially” also is used to reflect the existence of manufacturing tolerances that exist for manufacturing components.
- “In fluid communication” includes the ability for fluid to travel from one component/chamber to another component/chamber.
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- Centrifugal Separators (AREA)
Abstract
The invention in at least one embodiment includes a system for treating water having an intake module, a vortex module, a disk-pack module, and a motor module where the intake module is above the vortex module, which is above the disk-pack module and the motor module. In a further embodiment, a housing is provided over at least the intake module and the vortex module and sits above the disk-pack module. In at least one further embodiment, the disk-pack module includes a disk-pack turbine having a plurality of disks having at least one waveform present on at least one of the disks.
Description
- This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/498,349, filed on Oct. 11, 2021 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,628,384, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/672,474, filed on Nov. 3, 2019 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,141,684, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/651,090, filed on Jul. 17, 2017 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,463,993, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/983,339, filed on Dec. 29, 2015 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,707,495, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/240,396, filed on Feb. 23, 2014, now abandoned, which is a national stage entry of PCT Application No. PCT/US12/52336, filed on Aug. 24, 2012, which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional Application Ser. No. 61/526,834, filed on Aug. 24, 2011 entitled “Water Treatment System and Method for Use in Storage Containers” and U.S. provisional Application Ser. No. 61/604,484, filed on Feb. 28, 2012 entitled “Water Treatment System and Method for Use in Storage Containers”. All of these of applications are hereby incorporated by reference.
- The invention in at least one embodiment relates to a system and method for use in treating water.
- The invention provides in at least one embodiment a system including a motor module having a base; a disk-pack module having a disk-pack turbine in rotational engagement with the motor module; a vortex module in fluid communication with the disk-pack turbine; an intake module in fluid communication with the vortex module; a plurality of conduits connecting the vortex module to the intake module; and a plurality of support members connected to the disk-pack module, the vortex module, and the intake module such that the intake module is above the vortex module and the disk-pack module. In a further embodiment, the system further includes a housing cover connected to at least one of the plurality of support members, the housing cover including a bottom opening and a cavity in which the intake module and the vortex module reside, and wherein the housing cover and a top surface of the disk-pack module are spaced from each other forming a passageway in fluid communication with the bottom opening, and wherein a fluid pathway runs from the passageway through the opening and the cavity to the intake module. In either of the above embodiments, the system is installed in a water storage container.
- The invention provides in at least one embodiment a system including a motor module having a base; a disk-pack module having a disk-pack turbine in rotational engagement with the motor module; a vortex module in fluid communication with the disk-pack turbine; an intake module in fluid communication with the vortex module; a plurality of conduits connecting the vortex module to the intake module; and a plurality of support members connected to the disk-pack module and the vortex module, and at least one of the plurality of conduits and the plurality of support members is connected between the vortex module and the intake module such that the intake module is above the vortex module and the disk-pack module. In a further embodiment, the system further includes a housing over at least some of the components or substantially all of the components where the housing can be selected from any of the various housings described and/or illustrated in this disclosure. In a further embodiment to any of the previous embodiments, the system further includes any of the means for filtering as described and/or illustrated in this disclosure. In a further embodiment to any of the previous embodiments, the intake module includes an intake screen with a plurality of openings, an intake housing defining an intake chamber, and a plurality of intake outlets in fluid communication with the intake chamber with each intake outlet in fluid communication with the vortex module through a respective conduit. In a further embodiment to any of the previous embodiments, the vortex module includes a housing defining a vortex chamber with an outlet axially aligned with the disk-pack turbine, and a plurality of inlets in fluid communication with the vortex chamber. In a further embodiment to any of the previous embodiments, the motor module includes a motor and a driveshaft connected to the motor and the disk-pack turbine in any of the ways described and/or illustrated in this disclosure. In a further embodiment to any of the previous embodiments, the disk-pack module includes a turbine housing defining an accumulation chamber in which the disk-pack turbine resides; and a discharge housing defining a discharge chamber in fluid communication with the accumulation chamber through a discharge channel and a discharge outlet in fluid communication with the discharge chamber. In a further embodiment to any of the previous embodiments, the disk-pack module further includes a supplemental inlet in fluid communication with the accumulation chamber. In a further embodiment to the previous two embodiments, the accumulation chamber includes an expanding discharge channel around its periphery from a first point to a discharge passageway leading to the discharge chamber. In a further embodiment to any of the previous three embodiments, the accumulation chamber is at least one of a modified torus shape or a scarab shape, which may include the golden mean. In a further embodiment to the previous five embodiments, the discharge housing includes at least one of a spiral protrusion running around a wall of the discharge chamber in an upward direction towards said discharge outlet and a spiral protrusion running around a wall of the discharge chamber in a downward direction towards the particulate discharge port. In a further embodiment to the prior embodiment, the discharge outlet includes a radius flared outwardly wall. In a further embodiment to any of the previous embodiments, the disk-pack turbine includes a plurality of non-flat disks. In a further embodiment to any of the previous embodiments in this paragraph, the disk-pack turbine includes a plurality of disks each having at least two waveforms present between a center of the disk and a periphery of the disk. In a further embodiment to any of the previous two embodiments, the waveform is selected from a group consisting of sinusoidal, biaxial sinucircular, a series of interconnected scallop shapes, a series of interconnected arcuate forms, hyperbolic, and/or multi-axial including combinations of these. In a further embodiment to any of the previous three embodiments, the disk-pack turbine includes a plurality of wing shims connecting the disks. In a further embodiment to any of the previous embodiments in this paragraph, the disk-pack turbine includes a top rotor and a lower rotor. In a further embodiment to the previous embodiment, the top rotor and the lower rotor include cavities.
- The invention provides in at least one embodiment a system including a motor; a disk-pack module having a housing having a cavity, and a disk-pack turbine in rotational engagement with the motor, the disk-pack turbine located within the cavity of the housing, the disk-pack turbine having a plurality of disks spaced apart from each other and each disk having an axially centered opening passing therethrough with the plurality of openings defining at least in part an expansion chamber; a vortex module having a vortex chamber in fluid communication with the expansion chamber of the disk-pack turbine; a plurality of conduits in fluid communication with the vortex chamber of the vortex module; an intake module having a whirlpool chamber in fluid communication with the vortex chamber through the conduits; and a plurality of support members connected to the disk-pack module and the vortex module, and at least one of the plurality of conduits and the plurality of support members is connected between the vortex module and the intake module such that the intake module is above the vortex module and the disk-pack module. In a further embodiment, the system further includes a discharge housing defining a discharge chamber in fluid communication with the disk-pack housing cavity (or accumulation chamber) through a discharge channel and a discharge outlet in fluid communication with the discharge chamber. In a further embodiment to any of the previous embodiments, the cavity in the housing includes an expanding discharge channel around its periphery from a first point to a discharge passageway leading to the discharge chamber. In a further embodiment to any of the previous embodiments, the cavity of the housing is at least one of a modified torus shape or a scarab shape, which may include the golden mean. In a further embodiment to any of the previous embodiments, the disk-pack turbine includes a plurality of non-flat disks. In a further embodiment to any of the previous embodiments in this paragraph, the disk-pack turbine includes a plurality of disks each having at least two waveforms present between a center of the disk and a periphery of the disk. In a further embodiment to any of the previous two embodiments, the waveform is selected from a group consisting of sinusoidal, biaxial sinucircular, a series of interconnected scallop shapes, a series of interconnected arcuate forms, hyperbolic, and/or multi-axial including combinations of these. In a further embodiment to any of the previous three embodiments, the disk-pack turbine includes a plurality of wing shims connecting the disks. In a further embodiment to any of the previous embodiments in this paragraph, the disk-pack turbine includes a top rotor and a lower rotor. In a further embodiment to the previous embodiment, the top rotor and the lower rotor include cavities.
- The invention provides in at least one embodiment a method of operation for each of the above-described system embodiments.
- The invention provides in at least one embodiment a method including drawing water into a whirlpool chamber for creation of a whirlpool allowing particulate, precipitated matter and/or concentrated solids present in the water to drop from the water as the water enters at least one of a plurality of conduits; forming a vortex flow of the water in a vortex chamber that receives the water from the plurality of conduits, wherein the vortex chamber is located below the whirlpool chamber; discharging the water into an expansion chamber defined in a disk-pack turbine; channeling the water between spaces that exist between disks of the disk-pack turbine to travel from the expansion chamber to an accumulation chamber surrounding the disk-pack turbine; routing the water through the accumulation chamber to a discharge chamber; and forming a vortical flow of the water up through the discharge chamber back into an environment from which the water was drawn and a downward flow of particulate and/or precipitated matter to a particulate discharge port. In a further embodiment, the method further includes drawing water into a housing that encloses the whirlpool chamber and the vortex chamber where the housing draws the water from below a height of the vortex chamber. In a further embodiment to any of the previous embodiments, the method further includes removing solids from the whirlpool chamber, which in at least one embodiment causes particulate matter to concentrate at the center and descend and be ejected through a solids port at the bottom of the whirlpool chamber. In a further embodiment to any of the previous embodiments, the vortical flow of the water includes a significant volume of vortical solitons that are produced by the system and flow into the environment containing the water.
- Given the following enabling description of the drawings, the system should become evident to a person of ordinary skill in the art.
- The present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. The use of cross-hatching (or lack thereof) and shading within the drawings is not intended as limiting the type of materials that may be used to manufacture the invention.
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FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a variety of external views of an embodiment according to the invention. -
FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate different cross-sections of the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 1-4 and are taken at 5-5 and 6-6, respectively, inFIG. 1 . -
FIGS. 7-9 illustrate a variety of views of the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 1-4 without a housing module including perspective and side views. -
FIG. 10 illustrates an alternative (without a cover) to the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 7-9 . -
FIGS. 11A-11C illustrate views of an upper disk-pack turbine housing including a top view, a cross-section view, and a bottom view. -
FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate views of a lower disk-pack turbine housing including a top view and a side view. -
FIG. 13 illustrates an alternative embodiment according to the invention. -
FIG. 14 illustrates a top view of a lower cover according to the embodiment of the invention illustrated, for example, inFIG. 13 . -
FIG. 15 illustrates a top view of a bottom plate according to the embodiment of the invention illustrated, for example, inFIG. 13 . -
FIGS. 16A and 16B illustrates side and top views of another cover embodiment according to the invention. -
FIG. 17 illustrates a cross-section of a cover according to an embodiment of the invention taken at 17/18-17/18 inFIG. 16B . -
FIG. 18 illustrates a cross-section of another cover according to an embodiment of the invention taken at 17/18-17/18 inFIG. 16B . -
FIGS. 19A-19C illustrates an alternative housing module according to an embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 20 illustrates a side view of a system with a cylinder filter according to an embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 21A illustrates a screen for use in at least one embodiment according to the invention.FIGS. 21B and 21C illustrate the screen installed in a system according to an embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 22A illustrates a filter sponge (or other filter medium) for use in at least one embodiment according to the invention.FIG. 22B illustrates the filter sponge installed in a system according to an embodiment of the invention. -
FIGS. 23A and 23B illustrate another embodiment according to the invention. -
FIGS. 24A and 24B illustrate another embodiment according to the invention. -
FIGS. 25-27 illustrate different precipitate collection container embodiments according to the invention. -
FIG. 28 illustrates a further precipitate collection container embodiment according to the invention. -
FIGS. 29A and 29B illustrate a further precipitate collection container embodiment according to the invention. -
FIG. 30A illustrates an alternative wing shim embodiment installed in a partial disk-pack.FIG. 30B illustrates a side view of a support member of the wing shim illustrated inFIG. 30A .FIG. 30C illustrates a top view of a support member of the wing shim illustrated inFIG. 30A . -
FIGS. 31A and 31B illustrate a waveform disk pack turbine example according to at least one embodiment of the invention. -
FIGS. 32A-32E illustrate a waveform disk pack turbine example according to at least one embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 33 illustrates another embodiment according to the invention. -
FIGS. 34A and 34B depict images of the water after it exits the discharge outlet of a prototype built according to at least one embodiment of the invention. -
FIGS. 1-12B illustrate example embodiments according to the invention. The illustrated systems in at least one embodiment are for treating water that is relatively free of debris such as water present in water storage containers and systems, pools, industrial process systems, cooling towers and systems, municipal and/or tanker supplied water, and well water that are examples of environments from which water can be drawn. In further embodiments, there are additional filter structures around the intakes of the water treatment system such as a screen box or ring and/or filter material. Although the non-limiting embodiments described herein are directed at water, water should be understood as an example of a fluid, which covers both liquids and gases capable of flowing through a system. The illustrated system includes ahousing module 500, anintake module 400, avortex module 100, a disk-pack module 200, and amotor module 300. Although not illustrated, thehousing module 500 in at least one embodiment further includes additional structure built around the system to cover and hide components of the system from visual inspection as illustrated, for example, inFIG. 13 . - Most of the illustrated and discussed systems have similar modes of operation that include drawing water into a whirlpool (or intake) chamber for creation of a whirlpool allowing particulate, precipitated matter and/or concentrated solids present in the water to drop from the water as the water enters at least one of a plurality of conduits that connect to a vortex chamber where a vortex flow, which in at least one embodiment is a vortex, of the water is formed prior to being discharged into an expansion chamber present in a disk-pack turbine. The water is channeled away from the expansion chamber into the spaces that exist between disks of the disk-pack turbine to travel to an accumulation chamber surrounding the disk-pack turbine where the water is accumulate and circulated into a discharge channel that leads to a discharge chamber. The discharge chamber in at least one embodiment forms a vortical flow of the water up through the discharge chamber back into an environment from which the water was drawn and a downward flow of particulate and/or precipitated matter to a particulate discharge port. In some further embodiments, the mode of operation includes drawing water into a housing that at least substantially encloses the whirlpool chamber and the vortex chamber where the housing draws the water from below a height of the vortex chamber such as around the disk-pack turbine module or from below an elevated base of the motor module. In a further embodiment to any of the previous embodiments, the method further includes removing solids from the whirlpool chamber, which in at least one embodiment causes particulate matter to concentrate at the center and descend and be ejected through a solids port at the bottom of the whirlpool chamber. In a further embodiment to any of the previous embodiments, the vortical flow of the water includes a significant volume of vortical solitons that are produced by the system and flow into the environment containing the water.
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FIGS. 1-6 illustrate an example of ahousing module 500 including acover 520 that covers theintake module 400 and thevortex module 100. Thehousing module 500 as illustrated, for example, inFIG. 5 includes a plurality ofsupport members vortex module 100, theintake module 400, and thecover 520. The support members (or bosses) 524 in at least one embodiment are incorporated into a top of the disk-pack housing 220 and spaced around it forming a substantially circular pattern (although other arrangements could be used) as illustrated, for example, inFIG. 11A . Thesupport members 526 attach to thesupport members 524 and extend up through connection points such as mounting ears and/or holes 119 (see, e.g.,FIG. 7 ) on thevortex housing 120, theintake housing 420 and thecover 520 and stop at either thevortex housing 120 or theintake housing 420. In at least one embodiment thesupport members 524 are connected to at least one housing/cover with bolts, screws, adhesive, interlocking engagement such as threaded or keyed sections, and the like as illustrated, for example, inFIGS. 5 and 6 . In at least one embodiment, thesupport members 526 do not all extend up to thecover 520. In further embodiments, thesupport members 526 are multi-part. In a further embodiment as illustrated, for example, inFIG. 10 , the support members do not run between thevortex housing 120 and theintake housing 420, but instead theconduits 490 provides the support between these housings. In a still further embodiment, thesupport members 526 are omitted from above theintake housing 420 and thecover 520 is supported by posts extending up from thedisk pack housing 220 or it rests on thedisk pack housing 220 or another housing structure. In a still further embodiment, thesupport members 526 act as guide rails for lowering thevortex module 100 as illustrated, for example, inFIG. 9 and theintake module 400 onto the disk-pack module 100 and in a further embodiment thecover 520 is attached to the top or proximate to the top of thesupport members 526. - In the illustrated embodiment in
FIG. 1 , thecover 520 includes a recessed area around the discharge outlet (or discharge manifold) 232 to allow for the flow of water up and away from thedischarge outlet 232. Based on this disclosure, it should be appreciated that thedischarge outlet 232 could be spaced further from thecover 520 resulting in the recessed area being smaller or omitted entirely. In a further embodiment, thedischarge outlet 232 extends further up along thecover 520. In a still further embodiment, thedischarge outlet 232 extends above thecover 520. - In addition, the
cover 520 of thehousing module 500 and the top of the disk-pack module 200 define the inlet (or opening) 522 for water to be pulled into the system as illustrated, for example, inFIG. 1 . In a further embodiment, thecover 520 is fitted against the diskpack turbine module 200 or a further housing as illustrated, for example, inFIG. 13 to draw water from a lower area in the container (e.g., below the intake module and/or the vortex module) in which the system is operating where water is drawn up from below the system through a plurality ofopenings 532 present in the top of alower cover 530 illustrated, for example, inFIG. 14 and a plurality ofopenings 542 present in abottom plate 540 illustrated, for example, inFIG. 15 . In yet further embodiments, thecover 520 may take a variety of other shapes to that illustrated in the Figures such as a substantially box shape, a fulcrum shape, and a substantially spherical shape. In at least one embodiment, thecover 520 allows for operation of the system in shallower water than the height of theintake catch 425. In at least one embodiment, the larger and heavier solids that are present in the water that make it past, for example, theinlet 522 or theopenings 542 will drop out of the upward flow of the water within thecover 520. - The water flows in at the inlet 522 (or through the openings 542) and up to an
intake catch 425 as illustrated, for example, inFIGS. 5 and 6 . The water after entering theintake catch 425 enters into theintake chamber 430 through theintake screen 426, which forms a substantial portion of the bottom of theintake catch 425 as illustrated, for example, inFIG. 7 . The screen blocks material and other debris above a certain size based on the size of the openings in thescreen 426. - As illustrated, for example, in
FIG. 5 , theintake chamber 430 includes a substantially parabaloid shape upper section that narrows into asolids outlet 438 to collect particulate, precipitated solids, and/or concentrated solids from theintake chamber 430. In at least one embodiment, the chamber shape encourages rotational movement in the water to form a whirlpool in theintake chamber 430 with a funnel shape from the negative pressure in thedisk pack turbine 250 pulling through thevortex chamber 130 and theconduits 490, and the resulting whirlpool precipitates solids present in the water into thesolids outlet 438. Thesolids outlet 438 in at least one embodiment connects to a hose (or conduit) 590 that is routed out through anopening 528 in the cover 520 (see, e.g.,FIGS. 2 and 3 ). In at least one embodiment, the precipitated solids are deposited external to the system. In a further embodiment, theconduit 590 travels to a point external to the environment in which the system is installed, while in other embodiments a catch (or precipitated collection) container 600 (see, e.g.,FIGS. 23A-27 ) or other type of catch container (see, e.g.,FIGS. 28-29B ) is used to collect the precipitated solids for later removal. An alternative example of theconduit 590A is illustrated inFIG. 10 where the conduit also acts as a support between theintake chamber 430 and thevortex chamber 130. - As illustrated, for example, in
FIG. 5 , near the top of theintake chamber 430, there are a plurality ofoutlets 432 connected to theconduits 490. Theoutlets 432 in at least one embodiment extend tangentially away from theintake chamber 430 in a counterclockwise direction as illustrated, for example, inFIG. 7 . Although theconduits 490 are illustrated as pipes, based on this disclosure it should be appreciated that the conduits can take a variety of forms while still providing a passageway connecting theoutlets 432 to the vortex chamber inlets 132. One alternative for the illustratedconduits 490 is the use of flexible conduit. In a still further embodiment, theconduits 490 could spiral around to one of the other vortex inlets instead of as illustrated, for example, inFIGS. 7-10 . - As illustrated, for example, in
FIGS. 5 and 6 , thevortex induction chamber 130 is a cavity formed inside ahousing 120 of thevortex module 100 to shape the in-flowing water into a through-flowing vortex that is fed into the disk-pack module 200. The illustratedvortex chamber 130 includes a structure that funnels the water into a vortexupper section 134 having a bowl (or modified concave hyperbolic) shape for receiving the water that opens into alower section 136 having a conical-like (or funnel) shape with a steep vertical angle of change that opens into the disk-pack module 200. Thevortex chamber 130 in at least one embodiment serves to accumulate, accelerate, stimulate and concentrate the water as it is drawn into the disk-pack module 200 via centrifugal suction. In at least one embodiment, thevortex chamber 130 is formed by awall 137. The sides of thewall 137 follow a long radial path in the vertical descending direction from a top to anopening 138 that reduces the horizontal area defined by the sides of thewall 137 as illustrated, for example, inFIG. 5 . - As illustrated, for example, in
FIGS. 5 and 6 , the illustratedhousing 120 of thevortex module 100 includes a two-part configuration with acap 122 and amain body 124. Thecap 122 and themain body 124 can be attached in a variety of ways including, for example, with screws, bolts, adhesive, interlocking engagement such as threaded or keyed sections, thesupport members 526, etc. In at least one embodiment, thecap 122 and themain body 124 form the vortex inlets 132 when assembled together. In an alternative embodiment, thecap 122 is illustrated as having the top portion of thevortex chamber 130 formed by a concentricconcave depression 1222 on the inside face of thecap 122. Thecap 122 and themain body 124 together form the plurality of vortex inlets 132. Based on this disclosure, one of ordinary skill in the art should understand that the vortex housing could have different configurations of housing components while still providing a vortex chamber in which a vortex flow can be established. - The
main body 124 is illustrated as having a passageway passing vertically through it to form thelower portion 136 of thevortex chamber 130. Themain body 124 in at least one embodiment is attached to the disk-pack housing 220 with thesame support members 526 used to attach thecap 122 to themain body 124 as illustrated, for example, inFIGS. 5-9 . Other examples for attaching themain body 124 to the disk-pack module 200 include adhesive, screws, and interlocking engagement such as threaded or keyed sections, and friction engagement. In at least one embodiment, themain body 124 sits in and/or on the diskpack turbine module 200. - In at least one embodiment illustrated, for example, in
FIG. 5 , as the rotating, charging water passes through the base discharge opening 138 of thevortex induction chamber 130 it is exposed to a depressive/vacuum condition as it enters into the revolving expansion and distribution chamber (or expansion chamber) 252 in the disk-pack module 200 as illustrated, for example, inFIGS. 5 and 6 . The disk-pack module 200 includes (or forms) the revolving expansion chamber 252 that is illustrated as having an oval/elliptical/egg-shape chamber that includes a curved bottom portion provided by arigid feature 2522 incorporated into thebottom rotor 268 of the disk-pack turbine 250 in at least one embodiment. Most of the volumetric area for the expansion chamber 252 is formed by the center holes in the separatedstacked disks 260 which serve as water inlet and distribution ports for the stacked disk chambers 262 where each chamber is formed between two neighboring disks. The top portion of the expansion chamber 252 roughly mirrors the bottom with the addition of an opening passing through anupper rotor 264 that is bordered by a curved structure. The opening is centered axially with the vortexinduction chamber outlet 138 above it as illustrated, for example, inFIG. 5 , providing a pathway through which the water can pass between the two respective chambers. In at least one embodiment, the expansion chamber 252 has a substantially egg shape. - An example of a disk-
pack turbine 250 is illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 6 . The illustrated disk-pack turbine 250 includes thetop rotor 264, a plurality of stackeddisks 260, and thebottom rotor 268 having a concaveradial depression 2522 that provides a bottom for the expansion chamber 252. The illustratedbottom rotor 268 includes amotor hub 269, which in some embodiments may be integrally formed with thebottom rotor 268. Themotor hub 269 provides the interface to couple the disk-pack turbine 250 to thedrive shaft 314 extending from themotor module 300 as illustrated, for example, inFIG. 5 . Thetop rotor 264, thebottom rotor 268, and/or themotor hub 269 are coupled to thehousing 220 with a bearing element (or a bushing) 280 or have a bearing incorporated into the piece to allow for substantially reduced rotational friction of the disk-pack turbine 250 relative to the housing as driven by thedrive shaft 314 and themotor 310. - Centrifugal suction created by water progressing from the inner disk-pack chamber openings, which are the holes in the center of the
disks 260 illustrated, for example, inFIG. 5 , toward the periphery of the disk chambers 262 establishes the primary dynamics that draw, progress, pressurize and discharge fluid from the disk-pack turbine 250. The viscous molecular boundary layer present on the rotating disk surfaces provides mechanical advantage relative to impelling water through and out of the disk-pack turbine 250. - In at least one embodiment, the disk-pack turbine includes a plurality of wing-shims 270 (illustrated in
FIG. 6 ) spaced near (or at) the outer edge of theindividual disks 260. Examples of wing-shims are provided in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/213,614 published as U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2012/0048813, which is hereby incorporated by reference in connection with the disclosed wing-shims 270 et seq. The wing-shims provide structure and support for thedisks 260 in the disk-pack turbine 250 and in at least one embodiment are responsible for maintaining disk positions and separation tolerances. The disk separation provides space (or disk chambers) 262 through which water travels from the expansion chamber 252 to theaccumulation chamber 230. In an alternative embodiment, the wing shims are located around and proximate to the expansion chamber 252. In at least one embodiment, the wing shims assist the creation of a negative pressure without sheering of or forming cavitations in the water and assist the movement of the water into the accumulation chamber. - The disk-
pack turbine 250 is held in place by thehousing 220 of the disk-pack module 200 as illustrated, for example, inFIG. 5 . Thehousing 220 includes anaccumulation chamber 230 in which the disk-pack turbine 250 rotates. Theaccumulation chamber 230 is illustrated, for example, inFIGS. 5, 6, and 11A-12B as having a modified torus shape or scarab shape, which may include the golden mean, (or in an alternative embodiment a hyperbolic paraboloid cross-section) that leads to adischarge outlet 232 on the outside periphery of thehousing 220. In this illustrated embodiment, there is onedischarge outlet 232, but one ormore discharge outlets 232 may be added and, in at least one embodiment, thedischarge outlets 232 are equally spaced around the housing periphery. - Once the fluid passes through the disk-
pack turbine 250, it enters theaccumulation chamber 230 in which the disk-pack turbine 250 rotates. Theaccumulation chamber 230 is an ample, over-sized chamber within the disk-pack module 200 as illustrated, for example, inFIG. 5 . Theaccumulation chamber 230 gathers the fluid after it has passed through the disk-pack turbine 250. The highly energetic water with concentrated mixed motion smoothly transitions to be discharged at low pressure and low linear velocity (with a large velocity in at least one embodiment within the motion including micro-vortices) through thedischarge outlet 232 back into the environment from which the water was taken. As illustrated, for example, inFIGS. 5 and 6 , the shape of theaccumulation chamber 230 is designed to provide its shortest height proximate to the perimeter of the disk-pack turbine 250. Beyond the shortest height there is adischarge channel 231 that directs the water around to thedischarge outlet 232 and also in at least one embodiment provides for the space to augment the water in theaccumulation chamber 230 through an optionalsupplemental inlet 290. Thedischarge channel 231 has a substantially elliptical cross-section (although other cross-sections are possible) as illustrated, for example, inFIG. 5 . The accumulation chamber wall in at least one embodiment closes up to the perimeter of thedisk pack turbine 250 at a point proximate to thedischarge channel 231 exits theaccumulation chamber 230 to provide a passageway that travels towards adischarge chamber 2324. - The illustrated
housing 220 includes atop section 2202 and abottom section 2204 that together form the housing and the illustratedaccumulation chamber 230 with adischarge channel 231 extending substantially around the periphery of theaccumulation chamber 230.FIGS. 11A-11C illustrate thetop section 2202, whileFIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate thebottom section 2204. As illustrated inFIG. 12B , thebottom section 2204 includes aparticulate discharge port 2326 that in at least one embodiment includes a spiralingprotrusion 2327 illustrated, for example, inFIG. 12A . -
FIGS. 11A-12B illustrate the presence of thesupplemental inlet 290 into theaccumulation chamber 230 to augment the water present in theaccumulation chamber 230. As illustrated, thesupplemental inlet 290 enters theaccumulation chamber 230 at a point just after thedischarge channel 231 extends away from theaccumulation chamber 230 to route fluid towards thedischarge chamber 2324. As illustrated inFIG. 12A , thesupplemental inlet 290 includes acurved bottom 2922 that extends out from aninlet feed chamber 292 into the start of thedischarge channel 231 as it expands and travels in a counter-clockwise direction away from theaccumulation chamber 230 and thesupplemental inlet 290. In at least one embodiment, theinlet feed chamber 292 shapes the incoming flow of water from thesupplemental inlet 290 to augment the counter-clockwise flow of water in theaccumulation chamber 230 and thedischarge channel 231. In at least one embodiment, this is accomplished by the creation of a vortical flow in theinlet feed chamber 292. In at least one embodiment, thesupplemental inlet 290 includes anoptional valve 294 to control the level of augmentation as illustrated, for example, inFIGS. 2 and 3 . Although thevalue 294 is illustrated as being a manual valve, it should be understood based on this disclosure that the valve could be electronically controlled in at least one embodiment. In a further embodiment thesupplemental inlet 290 is omitted as it is being an optional component to the illustrated system. - As illustrated, for example, in
FIG. 5 , thedischarge outlet 232 includes ahousing 2322 having adischarge chamber 2324 that further augments the spin and rotation of the water being discharged as the water moves upwards in an approximately egg-shaped compartment. In an alternative embodiment, the output of thedischarge outlet 232 is routed to another location other than from where the water was drawn into the system from. In at least one embodiment as illustrated, for example, inFIGS. 4 and 5 , thehousing 2322 includes anupper housing 2322′, which can be a separate piece or integrally formed withhousing 2322 that defines an expanding diameter cavity for discharging the water from the system. Thedischarge chamber 2324 includes aparticulate discharge port 2326 that connects to aconduit 592 to remove from the system, for example, particulate, precipitated matter and/or concentrated solids that have precipitated out of the water during processing and to route it away from the system in at least one embodiment. In at least one embodiment, the shape of thedischarge chamber 2324 facilitates the creation of a vortex exit flow for material out through theparticulate discharge port 2326 and a vortex exit flow for the water out through thedischarge outlet 232 forming multiple vortical solitons that float up and away from thedischarge outlet 232 spinning and in many cases maintaining a relative minimum distance amongst themselves as illustrated inFIGS. 34A and 34B . The vortical solitons in this embodiment continue in motion in the container in which they are discharged until they are interrupted by another object. - In at least one embodiment, the
discharge chamber 2324 includes at least one spiraling protrusion 2325 (illustrated, for example, inFIGS. 5 and 11C ) that extends from just above (or proximate) the intake (or discharge port or junction between the passageway coming from theaccumulation chamber 230 and the discharge chamber 2324) 2321 (seeFIG. 11C ) into thedischarge chamber 2324 up through or at least to the discharge outlet 232 (and/orupper housing 2322′ illustrated in, for example,FIG. 5 ) to encourage additional rotation in the water prior to discharge. In at least one embodiment, the spiralingprotrusion 2325 extends up through thedischarge outlet 232. The spiralingprotrusion 2325 in at least one embodiment spirals upward in a counterclockwise direction when viewed from above; however, based on this disclosure it should be appreciated that the direction of the spiral could be clockwise, for example, if these system were used in the southern hemisphere. - In at least one embodiment, the
discharge chamber 2324 includes at least one (second or particulate) spiralingprotrusion 2327 that extends from just below and/or proximate to theintake 2321 down through thedischarge chamber 2324 towards theparticulate discharge port 2326 as illustrated, for example, inFIG. 12A . When viewed from above inFIG. 12A , the spiralingprotrusion 2327 spirals in a counter-clockwise direction; however, based on this disclosure it should be appreciated that the direction of the spiral could be clockwise, for example, if the system were used in the southern hemisphere. Based on this disclosure, it should be understood that one or both of the spiralingprotrusions - As illustrated in
FIG. 5 , the discharge chamber's diameter shrinks as it approaches theupper housing 2322′, which as illustrated includes a long radii expanding back out to decompress the discharged water for return to the storage tank or other water source. In an alternative embodiment, the long radii begins proximate to theintake 2321 in thedischarge chamber 2324. This structure in at least one embodiment provides for a convergence of flow of water prior to a divergence back out of the flow of water. - The base of the systems illustrated, for example, in
FIGS. 1-10B is themotor module 300 that includes ahousing 320 with an outwardly extendingbase 324 having a plurality offeet 322 spaced around the periphery of the base 324 to provide support and distribute the weight of the system out further to provide stability in at least one embodiment. Themotor housing 320 substantially encloses themotor 310; however, as illustrated inFIGS. 1, 2, 10, and 13 , there may bemultiple openings 326 through which water can pass and cool the motor in at least one embodiment. Themotor housing 320 provides the base on which the disk-pack module 200 rests and is connected to by bolts or the like connection members. -
FIGS. 16A-18C illustrate additional housing module embodiments according to the invention.FIGS. 16A and 16B illustrate a side and top view of a cover configuration embodiment that would cover the examples illustrated inFIGS. 17 and 18 . The cover is separated into abase cover 520A and anupper cover 521A that are joined on a horizontal plane such as proximate to the top of the discharge port recess in thecover 520A. There are a variety of ways to hold thebase cover 520A and theupper cover 521A together including, for example, frictional fit; adhesives or sealants; a plurality of screws, bolts, and/or rivets spaced around the perimeter of the joining area between the components; and/or downward pressure provided by the attachment of theupper cover 521A to support members present within the cover atoptional bosses 5212A with these examples including or not including a O-ring or other gasket.FIG. 16A also provides an illustration of thebase cover 520A attached to, connected to or abutting thelower cover 530.FIG. 17 illustrates an example of where theupper cover 521A includes a lip (or flange) that fits over the top of thebase cover 520A. Although an O-ring is not illustrated, an O-ring could be added to the engagement area to further seal the cover.FIG. 18 illustrates abase cover 520B that includes around its top achannel 5206B for receiving a bottom of theupper cover 521B and an optional O-ring 5218B. These illustrated covers allow for the upper cover to be removed in order to gain access to the intake module and vortex module that are housed within the base cover and the lower cover. As discussed previously, this access in some embodiments would allow for removal of these components from the cover, for example, for inspection, replacement, and/or repair. -
FIGS. 19A-19C illustrate another approach for thecover 520C that includes twohalves optional opening 298 for the optional supplemental inlet to pass. The illustrated cover includes what previously has been illustrated as a cover, a lower cover, and a lower plate (see, e.g.,FIGS. 13-15 ). An alternative embodiment would be to omit thelower plate 540C from the other components in thecover 520C. In at least one embodiment, thecover covers FIGS. 19A-19C also illustrate the presence of optional mountingbosses 5212C for securing to any support members that are present and the illustrated mountingbosses 5212C provide an example of how these might be arranged if present. - Based on this disclosure, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that there are a variety of ways that the cover may be configured for assembly and manufacturing.
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FIGS. 20-22B illustrate optional filter/screen alternative embodiments for blocking debris that may be present in the water from entering the system.FIG. 20 illustrates a substantiallycylindrical screen 550 fitted between thecover 520D and the lower cover 530 (i.e., over opening 522) to allow water to be drawn through it for processing by the system while blocking debris larger than the openings (or slots) present in thescreen 550. In at least one embodiment, thescreen 550 includes a plurality of evenly spaced vertical slots. -
FIGS. 21A-21C illustrate adifferent screen 560 that is substantially flat and is illustrated as being U-shaped to fit around themotor housing 320. Either thelower plate 540E (illustrated inFIGS. 21B and 21C ) or the lower cover 530 (not illustrated) includes a flange member (or bracket) 548 on either side to receive thescreen 560 and hold it in place. In at least one embodiment, thescreen 560 includes ahandle 562 that allows for easier insertion and removal of thescreen 560 from the system.FIG. 21C also illustrates how in at least one embodiment, thelower plate 540E does not include openings passing through it outside the area over which thescreen 560 covers. -
FIGS. 22A and 22B illustrate another embodiment that uses afilter material 570 that is porous and allows for water to pass through it. Examples of such material include swamp (or evaporative) cooler wetting material and/or a filter-sponge. In a further embodiment, thefilter material 570 includes interweaved wire or other support structure to improve the integrity of the material. In at least one embodiment, thefilter material 570 includes a slit (or cut) 572 that improves the ability to insert thefilter material 570 into the space defined by thelower plate 540 and thelower cover 530 while fitting around themotor housing 320 that housesmotor 310. In a further embodiment, thefilter material 570 includes a cut-out to fit around thedischarge chamber 2324 that extends into thelower cover 530. - The above screens and filter material are collectively examples of means for filtering. In further embodiment, the means for filtering includes the various openings and inlets present in the
housing modules 500 discussed above. -
FIGS. 23A-24B illustrate two different examples of how to connect theconduits collection module 600.FIGS. 23A and 23B illustrate a Y-connection between the conduits with just one conduit running into the precipitatecollection container 600. In contrast,FIGS. 24A and 24B illustrateconduits collection module 600. In at least one embodiment, the conduits would have their own dedicated precipitate collection containers. -
FIGS. 25-27 illustrate different optional precipitatecollection modules 600 having a precipitatecollection container 620 according to the invention.FIGS. 23A-24B illustrate an example of a precipitatecollection container 620 connected to an embodiment of the system; however, based on this disclosure it should be appreciated that the different precipitatecollection modules 600 could be attached to the various embodiments for the system discussed in this disclosure along with other water treatment systems having a precipitated discharge. One of ordinary skill in the art should realize that the precipitatecollection container 620 can take a variety of shapes and forms beyond that illustrated inFIGS. 25-27 while still providing acavity 622 to receive, for example, particulate, precipitated matter and/or concentrated solids or similar material and a screened discharge (or screen) 624 such as that illustrated on anexit port 626. In an alternative embodiment, the raised portion is a taller pipe structure (or riser) 626C extending up from the rest of the precipitatecollection container 620C illustrated, for example, inFIG. 28 . In the illustrated embodiments ofFIGS. 23A-27 , ascreen 624 is included to allow for water to pass through while preventing the material from passing back out into the water being processed. -
FIGS. 25-27 illustrate cross-sections of example embodiments for the precipitatecollection container 620 where the cross-section taken along their lengths.FIGS. 25-27 illustrate aninlet 621 at the end of the precipitatecollection container 620 opposite where thescreen 624 and/orexit port 626 are located. Based on this disclosure, it should be appreciated that theexit port 626 extending above thecover 628 may be omitted.FIG. 25 illustrates the precipitatecollection container 620 having aninlet 621 through which theconduit 592 attaches to provide a fluid pathway into thecavity 622 to allow for the accumulation of material in the bottom of the precipitatecollection container 620 while water is allowed to exit from the precipitatecollection container 620 through, for example, the screen 624 (illustrated as part of the exit port 626). Based on this disclosure, it should be understood that the conduit 592 (although shown as extending into the cavity 622) may instead have a connection point external to thecavity 622 such as through a hose connecter or other mechanical engagement.FIG. 25 also illustrates a further optional embodiment for the precipitatecollection container 620 where it includes alid 628 that can be removed so that the collected material can be removed from the precipitatecollection container 620.FIG. 20 illustrates another embodiment of the precipitatecollection container 620A having a bottom 6222A of thecavity 622A with a slight gradient from theinlet 621 down towards theexit port 626.FIG. 27 illustrates the embodiment fromFIG. 26 where the precipitate collection container 620B includes the addition of a screen projection (or wall) 623 extending from the wall opposite of theinlet 621 into thecavity 622B. Thescreen projection 623 although illustrated as extending at an angle, could instead be substantially horizontal. Thescreen projection 623 acts as a further barrier to the material escaping from the precipitatecollection container 620. -
FIG. 28 illustrates an alternative precipitatecollection container 620C that includes aninlet 621 that can take the forms discussed above for the inlet. It should be appreciated that additional inlets could be added to accommodate additional conduits or alternatively the inlet could include a manifold attachment for connection to multiple conduits. The illustrated precipitatecollection container 620C further includes alid 628C on which is ariser 626C, which is an example of an exit port, with ascreen 624C along its top surface to allow for the flow of water through the precipitatecollection container 620C up through theriser 626C while the material is collected inside the device. The various internal configurations discussed forFIGS. 25-27 could also be present within the precipitatecollection container 620C. -
FIGS. 29A and 29B illustrate a funnel shaped precipitatecollection container 620D with awhirlpool chamber 622D present within it. Like the previous embodiments, the precipitatecollection container 620D includes aninlet 621D for connection to a conduit. It should be appreciated that additional inlets could be added to accommodate additional conduits or alternatively the inlet could include a manifold attachment for connection to multiple conduit. The illustrated precipitatecollection container 620D includes alid 628D on which ariser 626D extends up from to allow for the flow of water through the precipitatecollection container 620D while the material is collected inside the device. The funnel shape of thecavity 622D with aparticulate port 629D extending from the bottom of the cavity 6222D encourages the formation of a whirlpool, which will pull any material present in the cavity 6222D into a downward flow to drain out the particulate port into another cavity or out of the environment in which the system is running. In a further embodiment, theparticulate port 629D includes a valve that can be open to drain any material that has collected in the cavity 6222D as part of a flush operation using the water present in the system to flush the material out of theparticulate port 629D.FIG. 33 illustrates an example of the precipitatecollection container 620D installed in a water storage tank with theparticulate port 629D passing out through the bottom of the tank. In a further embodiment, there are multiple inlets and risers evenly spaced about the cover in an alternating pattern. In a still further embodiment, the inlets and/or risers are angled relative to the cover.FIGS. 29A, 29B , and 33 also illustrate an alternative embodiment of the precipitatecollection container 620D having a plurality oflegs 627D to in part stabilize the precipitatecollection container 620D against a surface. - In a further embodiment to the above precipitate collection container embodiments, a diffuser in fluid communication with the conduit is present within the cavity to spread the water and material coming into the cavity out from any direct stream of water and/or material that might otherwise exist. Examples of a diffuser are a structure that expands out from its input side to its output side, mesh or other large opening screen, and steel wool or other similar material with large pores.
- In a further embodiment, the precipitate collection container would be replaced by a low flow zone formed in the environment from which the water is being pulled, for example a water tank.
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FIG. 13 illustrates an optional embodiment that adds anair release valve 528 proximate the top of thehousing 520. In at least one embodiment, theair release valve 528 is used to allow air to escape from the system upon it first being placed in the water. Theair release valve 528 is an optional add-on for the above-described embodiments. In at least one embodiment, the air release valve provides an easy and controllable way for air to be purged from the system during installation and/or refilling of the environment in which it is placed. In a further embodiment it assists in priming the system for operation.FIG. 13 also illustrates an embodiment where thehousing 520 attaches, connects, or abuts alower cover 530 to establish a flow path from below the lower cover through theopenings 542 of thelower plate 540 illustrated inFIG. 15 up through the top of thelower cover 530 illustrated inFIG. 14 and up through thehousing 520. Theopenings lower plate 540 and top of thelower cover 530 provide additionally filtering/screening of debris that is larger than the openings preventing the debris from flowing into the system and reducing the likelihood of clogging the system during operation. - Both the
lower cover 530 and thelower plate 540 include examples of mountingholes FIGS. 14 and 15 , respectively. A variety of mounting holes may be present to facilitate connection with other components in the system such as thesupport members disk pack housing 220 and as discussed above supplemental screening and/or filter material. Both thelower cover 530 and thelower plate 540 include anopening discharge outlet 232 as illustrated, for example, inFIGS. 14 and 15 , respectively. In at least one embodiment, theseopenings - In a further embodiment to the above-described embodiments, the
housing cover 520 is omitted as illustrated, for example, inFIGS. 7-9 . One adjustment to the system depicted in these figures is that thesupport members 526 would be shortened to provide a flush surface on the top for theintake catch 425 and/or theintake screen 426. In a further embodiment, thesupport members 526 would stop at thevortex housing 120 andconduits 490 would at least partially support theintake housing 420 as illustrated, for example, inFIG. 10 . -
FIGS. 30A-30C provide an illustration of an alternative wing shim a plurality of spacers 272N and ahexagonal support member 276M connecting them and providing alignment of the spacers 272N relative to thesupport member 276M and thedisk 260N. The spacers 272N include a hexagonal opening passing through it to allow it to slide over the support member 276N. Thedisks 260N include a plurality ofhexagonal openings 2602N. The support members 276N extend between the top and lower rotors and in at least one embodiment are attached to the rotors using screws or bolts. Based on this disclosure, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the cross-section of the support members may take different forms while still providing for alignment of the spacers 272N relative to thedisks 260N. - In a further embodiment to at least one of the previously described embodiments, the disk-pack turbine includes a plurality of disks having waveforms present on them as illustrated in
FIGS. 31A-32E . Although the illustrated waveforms are either concentric circles (FIGS. 31A and 31B ) or biaxial (FIGS. 32A-32E ), it should be understood that the waveforms could also be sinusoidal, biaxial sinucircular, a series of interconnected scallop shapes, a series of interconnected arcuate forms, hyperbolic, and/or multi-axial including combinations of these that when rotated provide progressive, disk channels with the waveforms being substantially centered about an expansion chamber. The shape of the individual disks defines the waveform, and one approach to creating these waveforms is to stamp the metal used to manufacture the disks to provide the desired shapes. Other examples of manufacture include machining, casting (cold or hot), injection molding, molded and centered, and/or electroplating of plastic disks of the individual disks. The illustrated waveform disks include aflange 2608, which may be omitted depending on the presence and/or the location of the wings, around their perimeter to provide a point of connection forwing shims 270 used to construct the particular disk-pack turbine. In a further embodiment, the wing shims 270 are located around and proximate to the expansion chamber in the disk turbine. In a further embodiment, the wing shims are omitted and replaced by, for example, stamped (or manufactured, molded or casted) features that provide a profile axially and/or peripherally for attachment to a neighboring disk or rotor. - In a variety of embodiments the disks have a thickness less than five millimeters, less than four millimeters, less than three millimeters, less than and/or equal to two millimeters, and less than and/or equal to one millimeter with the height of the disk chambers depending on the embodiment having approximately 1.3 mm, between 1.3 mm to 2.5 mm, of less than or at least 1.7 mm, between 1.0 mm and 1.8 mm, between 2.0 mm and 2.7 mm, approximately 2.3 mm, above 2.5 mm, and above at least 2.7 mm. Based on this disclosure it should be understood that a variety of other disk thickness and/or disk chamber heights are possible while still allowing for assembly of a disk-pack turbine for use in the illustrated systems and disk-pack turbines. In at least one embodiment, the height of the disk chambers is not uniform between two neighboring nested waveform disks. In a still further embodiment, the disk chamber height is variable during operation when the wing shims are located proximate to the center openings.
-
FIGS. 31A-32E illustrate respective disk-pack turbines upper rotor 264X and alower rotor 268X that have a substantially flat engagement surface (other than the expansion chamber elements) facing the area where thedisks FIG. 32E , the disk-pack turbine includes anupper rotor 264Y and alower rotor 268Y with open areas between their periphery and the expansion chamber features to allow the waveforms to flow into the rotor cavity and thus allow for more disks to be stacked resulting in a higher density of waveform disks for the disk-pack turbine height with the omission of substantiallyflat disks 260Y′ that are illustrated as being covers over the open areas of therotors FIG. 32E also illustrates an alternative embodiment where there is a mixture of substantiallyflat disks 260Y′ and nestedwaveform disks 260Y.FIGS. 31A-32E illustrate how the waveforms include descending thickness waves in each lower disk. In at least one embodiment, the waveforms are shallow enough to allow substantially the same sized waveforms on neighboring disks. -
FIG. 31A illustrates a side view of an example of the circular waveform disk-pack turbine 250X.FIG. 31B illustrates a cross-section taken along a diameter of the disk-pack turbine 250X and shows a view of thedisks 260X. Each circle waveform is centered about theexpansion chamber 252X. The illustrated circle waveforms include tworidges 2603X and threevalleys 2604X. Based on this disclosure, it should be appreciated that the number of ridges and valleys could be reversed along with be any number greater than one limited by their radial depth and the distance between theexpansion chamber 250X and theflange 2608. -
FIG. 32A illustrates a top view of a disk-pack turbine 250Y without thetop rotor 264X to illustrate thebiaxial waveform 2602Y, whileFIGS. 32B-32E provide additional views of the disk-pack turbine 250Y.FIGS. 32A-32E provide an illustration of the waveforms rising above the disk while not dropping below the surface (or vice versa in an alternative embodiment). The illustratedbiaxial waveform 2602Y that is illustrated as including tworidges 2603Y and onevalley 2604Y centered about theexpansion chamber 252Y. Based on this disclosure, it should be appreciated that the number of ridges and valleys could be reversed along with be any number greater than one limited by their radial depth and the distance between theexpansion chamber 252Y and theflange 2608.FIG. 32B illustrates a side view of threewaveform disks 260Y stacked together without the presence of wing shims 270 or therotors FIG. 32C illustrates a partial cross-section of the disk-pack turbine 250Y.FIG. 32D illustrates a side view of the assembled disk-pack turbine 250Y.FIG. 32E illustrates a cross-section taken along a diameter of the disk-pack turbine 250X and shows a view of thedisks 260Y. - In a further embodiment to any one of the previously described embodiments, the components are rearranged/reconfigured to change the rotation provided by the system in the opposite direction, for example, for use in the Southern Hemisphere.
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FIG. 33 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the system installed in awater storage tank 910, which is partially cut-away to show what is present inside the storage tank. The illustrated system includes thehousing module 500, the intake module 400 (not shown), the disk-pack module 200, and the vortex module 100 (not shown) of the previous embodiments. The illustrated system includes an external NC motor 210A driving the disk-pack turbine through a drive system such as indirect drive linkage including, for example but not limited to, one or more belts (e.g., O-rings) or a transmission linkage that is present in abelt housing 330 that passes through thewater storage wall 912 and provides a compartment connecting the driveshaft connected to the disk-pack turbine, which is present in thebase 324A, and the motor driveshaft. The illustratedbase 324A is representative of a variety of shapes that may be used while providing a cavity in which the disk-pack turbine driveshaft is present and capable of engagement with a belt. The illustrated embodiment places the motor housing 320A external to a storage tank so that the motor does not need to be a submersible motor. If multiple belts are included with the system and the driveshaft from the motor includes a plurality of gears, then the size of the belt is selected to drive the disk-pack turbine at a predetermined set speed. Alternatively, the driveshaft engaging the disk-pack turbine may include the gears in addition or instead of the external driveshaft. - In at least one embodiment the
belt housing 330 is sealed and held in place by agasket 340 that fits snugly around it and engages a cutout (or other opening) created in the waterstorage tank wall 912. The gasket connection provides an advantageous anchoring point for the system within the water storage tank. - In a further embodiment, the
conduits belt housing 330 through holes with gaskets at a point inside the water storage tank and exiting out from thebelt housing 330 at a point external to the water storage tank. - Also illustrated in
FIG. 33 is an example of aparticulate collection container 620D that was previously discussed in connection withFIGS. 29A and 29B .FIG. 33 illustrates how theparticulate port 629D will pass through thebottom 914 of thetank 910, which in at least one embodiment includes a gasket or other seal around theparticulate port 629D. - In a further embodiment, the system includes a controller that controls the operation of the system. The above-described motor modules may be provided with a variety of operation, control, and process monitoring features. Examples include a switch (binary and variable), computer controlled, or built-in controller resident in the motor module. Examples of a built-in controller include an application specific integrated circuit, an analog circuit, a processor or a combination of these. The controller in at least one embodiment provides control of the motor via a signal or direct control of the power provided to the motor. The controller in at least one embodiment is programmed to control the RPM of the motor over a predetermined time based on time of day/week/month/year or length of time since process start, and in other embodiments the controller responds to the one or more characteristics to determine the speed at which the motor is operated. In a further embodiment, the controller runs for a predetermined length of time after water has been added to the storage tank. In a further embodiment, the controller also controls operation of the
supplemental valve 294 when present in an embodiment with a controller. - In at least one embodiment, the controller monitors at least one of the voltage, amperage, watts, hours of run time (current operation period and/or total run time) and speed (rotations per minute (RPM)) of the motor to determine the appropriate level of power to provide to the motor for operation and/or adjust the speed of the motor. Other examples of input parameters include chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD), pH, ORP, dissolved oxygen (DO), bound oxygen and other concentrations of elements and/or lack thereof and have the controller respond accordingly by automatically adjusting operational speeds and run times.
- A prototype built according to at least one embodiment of the invention was placed into a tank having a capacity of at least 100 gallons and substantially filled to capacity with water, which caused the system to be completely submerged in water. The system was started up with submerged lights placed around and aimed at the discharge port to capture the images depicted in
FIGS. 34A and 34B , which are both enlarged to the same amount and have light coming from the right side of the image. These images were captured from a slow-motion video taken with a macro lens.FIG. 34A shows the relative size of the vortical solitons that were discharged from the discharge outlet relative in size to an adult male's fingers. The vortical solitons spin and rotate about their centers as they move up and down within the water. The vortical solitons appear to be substantially flat vortex disc that are spinning and moving based on the captured video as represented in the images depicted inFIGS. 34A and 34B . The images include countless pairs of vortical solitons that upon discharge from thedischarge outlet 232 wholly saturate the water within a contained environment with each soliton persisting until its energy is discharged via contact with a solid boundary or an obstruction. Although the water is saturated with these vortical packets of rotating energy, each maintains a relative distance of separation from its other soliton in the pair without collision with the other soliton. From review of the video, it appears that the soliton pairs move in complete lockstep with each other as they progress through the water environment while turning and spinning. It is believed that this restructuring of the water allows in part for it to impact the larger volume of water in which the system runs, because these vortical solitons will continue on their respective paths until interfered with by another object such as the wall of the container or other structural feature. - It should be noted that the present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments and prototype examples set forth herein; rather, the embodiments set forth herein are provided so that the disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. The accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments according to the invention.
- As used above “substantially,” “generally,” and other words of degree are relative modifiers intended to indicate permissible variation from the characteristic so modified. It is not intended to be limited to the absolute value or characteristic which it modifies but rather possessing more of the physical or functional characteristic than its opposite, and preferably, approaching or approximating such a physical or functional characteristic. “Substantially” also is used to reflect the existence of manufacturing tolerances that exist for manufacturing components.
- The foregoing description describes different components of embodiments being “in fluid communication” to other components. “In fluid communication” includes the ability for fluid to travel from one component/chamber to another component/chamber.
- Based on this disclosure, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the use of “same”, “identical” and other similar words are inclusive of differences that would arise during manufacturing to reflect typical tolerances for goods of this type.
- Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the exemplary and alternative embodiments described above can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.
Claims (18)
1. A disk-pack housing for use in a water treatment system, said disk-pack housing comprising:
an accumulation chamber having its shortest height configured to be proximate a perimeter of a disk-pack turbine to be inserted into said accumulation chamber, said accumulation chamber having an opening passing through its bottom configured to receive a bottom of the disk-pack turbine;
a discharge channel extending substantially around a periphery of said accumulation chamber and away from said accumulation chamber, said discharge channel having a substantially elliptical cross-section; and
a discharge chamber in fluid communication with said discharge channel.
2. The disk-pack housing according to claim 1 , further comprising a supplemental inlet in fluid communication with said accumulation chamber.
3. The disk-pack housing according to claim 2 , wherein said supplemental inlet includes an inlet port and an inlet feed chamber such that a fluid pathway is capable of running from said inlet port through said inlet feed chamber into at least one of said accumulation chamber and said discharge channel.
4. The disk-pack housing according to claim 1 , wherein said discharge chamber includes
a discharge outlet,
a wall, and
a spiral protrusion running along said wall in an upward direction towards said discharge outlet.
5. The disk-pack housing according to claim 4 , further comprising a particulate discharge port extending from a bottom of said discharge chamber.
6. The disk-pack housing according to claim 5 , wherein said discharge housing includes a wall and a spiral protrusion running along said wall of the discharge chamber in a downward direction towards said particulate discharge port.
7. The disk-pack housing according to claim 6 , further comprising a structural interface at a top of said discharge chamber configured to attach to a discharge housing.
8. The disk-pack housing according to claim 1 , further comprising a particulate discharge port extending from a bottom of said discharge chamber.
9. The disk-pack housing according to claim 8 , wherein said discharge housing includes a wall and a spiral protrusion running along said wall of the discharge chamber in a downward direction towards said particulate discharge port.
10. The disk-pack housing according to claim 9 , further comprising a structural interface at a top of said discharge chamber configured to attach to a discharge housing.
11. The disk-pack housing according to claim 1 , further comprising a structural interface at a top of said discharge chamber configured to attach to a discharge housing.
12. The disk-pack housing according to claim 1 , further including a top section and a bottom section that together form said housing and define said accumulation chamber, said discharge channel, and said discharge chamber.
13. An intake module for use in a water treatment system, the intake module comprising:
an intake catch having a wall and a bottom with an intake screen with a plurality of openings,
an intake housing defining an intake chamber, said intake chamber having a substantially paraboloid shape upper section narrowing to its bottom, and
a plurality of intake outlets in fluid communication with the intake chamber; and
a solids outlet in fluid communication with said bottom of said intake chamber
14. The intake module according to claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of conduits where each conduit is connected to a respective intake outlet.
15. The intake module according to claim 14 , wherein the intake housing includes mounting ears configured to connect to support members.
16. The intake module according to claim 14 , wherein each conduit spiral down from said intake outlets and/or each conduit is flexible.
17. The intake module according to claim 16 , wherein the intake housing includes mounting ears configured to connect to support members.
18. The intake module according to claim 13 , wherein the intake housing includes mounting ears configured to connect to support members.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US18/133,334 US20230249104A1 (en) | 2011-08-24 | 2023-04-11 | Disk-Pack Housing |
Applications Claiming Priority (9)
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US15/651,090 Active 2033-05-05 US10463993B2 (en) | 2011-08-24 | 2017-07-17 | Water treatment system and water |
US16/672,474 Active 2033-01-23 US11141684B2 (en) | 2011-08-24 | 2019-11-03 | Water treatment system and method |
US17/498,349 Active US11628384B2 (en) | 2011-08-24 | 2021-10-11 | Water processing system and arrangement |
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US (6) | US20140183144A1 (en) |
KR (1) | KR20140079379A (en) |
CN (1) | CN104023809B (en) |
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EA (1) | EA031451B1 (en) |
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TW (1) | TW201328762A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2013029001A1 (en) |
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AR093196A1 (en) * | 2012-02-28 | 2015-05-27 | Qwtip Llc | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DESALINATION AND / OR GAS PRODUCTION |
AR093197A1 (en) | 2012-02-29 | 2015-05-27 | Qwtip Llc | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF LEVITATION AND DISTRIBUTION |
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2012
- 2012-08-24 TW TW101130817A patent/TW201328762A/en unknown
- 2012-08-24 EA EA201490494A patent/EA031451B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
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US20220040601A1 (en) | 2022-02-10 |
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TW201328762A (en) | 2013-07-16 |
US20200188816A1 (en) | 2020-06-18 |
AU2012298623A1 (en) | 2014-04-10 |
KR20140079379A (en) | 2014-06-26 |
AR088430A1 (en) | 2014-06-11 |
MX352753B (en) | 2017-12-07 |
US11628384B2 (en) | 2023-04-18 |
CN104023809B (en) | 2017-09-22 |
ZA201402092B (en) | 2015-03-25 |
EA201490494A1 (en) | 2015-01-30 |
CN104023809A (en) | 2014-09-03 |
US20180126300A1 (en) | 2018-05-10 |
WO2013029001A1 (en) | 2013-02-28 |
US20140183144A1 (en) | 2014-07-03 |
US20160228797A1 (en) | 2016-08-11 |
EA031451B1 (en) | 2019-01-31 |
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