Classifications

• • 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
  • C02F1/48—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage with magnetic or electric fields
  • C02F1/481—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage with magnetic or electric fields using permanent magnets
  • C02F1/482—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage with magnetic or electric fields using permanent magnets located on the outer wall of the treatment device, i.e. not in contact with the liquid to be treated, e.g. detachable

Definitions

• This invention relates generally to apparatus and methods of conditioning fluid flow in a conduit so as to prevent and reduce the build up of mineral deposits on the inner walls of the conduit. More particularly, the invention improves upon those devices which condition by impression of alternating magnetic fields upon the fluid.
• scale reduction effic ⁇ iency can drop significantly, typically by more than 50%, when the flow rate increases or decreases by half from the narrow optimum treatment range. Some drop is also observed when mineral content and structure of the liquid changes. In cer ⁇ tain Metropolitan water districts, for instance, water mineral characteristics change due to seasons. Mineral content also changes with man-made blending of available water, from well, river and reservoir sources, each of which can change with seasonal rain water content. Thus magnetic treatment range, even when optimized for onevelocity can be too narrow to ac- comodate normal variations of flow velocities within the fluid conduit and to changes in fluid structure and mineral content. In addition, early devices were physically constructed such that magnetic field spacing could not be readily varied to accomodate these changes once a system had been installed.
• the invention disclosed here overcomes the above limita ⁇ tions by combining a. series of individual magnetic treatment sections, called frequency modules, each of which has been separately optimized in accordance with the above principles.
• frequency modules each of which has been separately optimized in accordance with the above principles.
• indi-vidual sections which have had their magnetic ele ⁇ ments spaced so as to optimize conditioning at a particular
• My invention is arranged so that the group of individual frequency modules are physically combined axially into a unit, which for convenience, is referred to as a generator pack.
• a generator pack will contain an even number of frequency modules, each set for maximum efficiency at a particular spacial frequency or fluid velocity. The number of modules cascaded will depend upon the broadness of the range of fre ⁇ quencies or fluid velocities expected to be treated.
• the genera ⁇ tor pack will be covered and supported adjacent the outside of a fluid conduit by means of an attachment chassis.
• This ar- rangment provides the advantages of minimum fluid flow obstruc ⁇ tion and maximum ease of installation and replacement.
• the vel ⁇ ocity range may be quickly tailored by insertion of a new generator pack.
• my device Although my device is not designed to be a magnetic par ⁇ ticle separator, it will attract such particles over a period of time. The particles will collect on the inside of the con ⁇ duit wall and will tend to shunt the magnets. With my portable outside attachment means, the device may be easily and rapidly loosened and slid upstream on the conduit.
• the magnetic treatment sections of the generator pack may be arranged co- axially about the fluid conduit. Since such configurations can result in increased flux density with given volumn constraints,
• Figure 1 is an isometric view of the cover used to protect the generator pack.
• Figure 2 is an isometric view of the generator pack re ⁇ moved from the cover of Figure 1.
• Figure 3 is an isometric view of the mounting chassis structure with attached strap type fasteners, positioned over the enclosed generator pack.
• Figure 4 is an end cross section of our assembled inven ⁇ tion in working engagement with a fluid conduit work piece.
• Figure 5 is an end cross section of one unit attached to a cluster of three pipes by means of a strap-type fastener.
• Figure 6 presents graphical data showing the variation in magnetic field strength under a set of variable spaced poles.
• Figure 7 presents graphical data showing the variation in water conditioning efficiency with velocity in the conduit.
• Figure 8 shows a seri.es of partial side cross-sectioned views of alternate generator pack embodiments. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
• each individual module contains a bar magnet 1, side face magnetized and made preferrably of a true permanent magnet material such as strontium ferrite.
• Adjacent to each side face of magnet 1 are flux collector plates 2. These plates make close contact with each pole face, and can typically be made of milled steel.
• the edges of each plate 2 are partial ⁇ ly beveled to reduce the edge thickness by approximately two- thirds so as to better concentrate the magnetic flux lines into increased flux density for communicating across the fluid conduit.
• the magnets are spaced .apart by a series of non-magnetic
• OMPI flux separators shown as 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 in Figure 2. These are depicted as increasing in width from 3 to 7. When so spaced, lower velocity fluid will be more effectively treated at the smaller spaced end of the device.
• each magnet 1 is shown in Figure 2 as being of equal width, they may also be arranged in staggered thickness or field strength fashion as a further aid to obtaining the desired spacial frequencies.
• the above set of frequency modules are assembled into a thin walled non-ferrous case 10, shown in Figure 1.
• the as ⁇ sembly may be rigidly sealed with end cap 9, into a permanent unit, or fitted with a removable seal for field replacement or cleaning .
• FIG 3 shows chassis structure 11 which is used to support the case 10 of the generator pack firmly against the fluid conduit. Attachment means, such as the strap 12, is used to wrap around and secure both the case and the conduit.
• Figure 4 shows generator pack 10, so held in place within chassis 11.
• a hook and eye attachment 12, such as Velcro, is used to hold the chasis and the generator firmly against the conduit 13 containing fluid 14.
• Figure 5 presents an alternate arrangement in which a plurality of conduits can be serviced by one magnetic conditio ⁇ ner.
• Three conduits 13 are maintained in direct contact with case 10 without the chassis by attachment strap 12. The number of conduits so serviced is thus limited only by the number sides placed on the magnetic modules and the case.
• the conditioning efficiency of the device is indicated by measurement of the percent reduction in calcite crystals re ⁇ maining in a drop sample of water.
• the independent variable in Figure 7 is the velocity of water flow through the conduit. It will be noted that the efficiency curve tends to follow the broadened composite curve of the individual units in keeping with the flux-distance variation of Figure 6. Pro ⁇ per selection of spacing between the magnetic modules therefore has improved the efficiency of mineral removal over a broad range of fluid velocities.
• Figure 8 A through F present a series of cross-sections of alternate coaxial embodiments arranged for comparison con ⁇ venience with a top half cross-section of the external embodi ⁇ ment, 8G.
• Figure 8A shows a basic harmonic treatment device composed of six magnetic circuit elements (1,2) separated by five sep ⁇ arators (3), all placed concentrically around a cylindrical tube which contains in its center a coaxial concentrator core (15). All magnetic units have similar dimensions, and all separators are of approximate equal length. The unit is maxi ⁇ mally effective at one specific flow rate, but its effectivity can be improved by changing the length and number of magnetic units.
• Figure 8B shows a combination of two of the basic devices of figure 8A separated by a spacing element called a harmonic bridge, 16.
• a plurality of such frequency or impact sections can be arranged to maintain high treatment effectively over a wide range of variable flow rates.
• the embodiment utilizes similar sized magne ⁇ tic units but with different sized spacers.
• the variable flow range can thus be covered with fewer magnets where space con ⁇ servation is important.
• Figure 8D shows a device with equally sized separators but differenly dimensioned magnetic circuit elements. This pro ⁇ vides for a variation of magnetic flux densities which can be useful in cases where the specific mineral content of the liquid presents unusual conditions.
• figure 8F is especially useful with smaller flow rates through more narrow conduits.
• the smaller diameters involved permit sufficient magnetic field strength without the aid of the concentrator core, 15 of Figure 8A.
• This invention has utility in any liquid consuming indus ⁇ try, and has special application to those industries that use water as a motive power.
• older plants with internal water line corrosion often find that replacement of pipe sections is impossible since wrenching of the pipe produces further deterioration.
• the externally placed device in accordance with the best mode of our invention can thus be used to reduce the internal scale build-up without physical pipe line disturbance.
• water chamber devices such as boilers and heat exchangers will benefit from less frequent fouling .

Landscapes

• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
• Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Water Treatment By Electricity Or Magnetism (AREA)

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• 1984
  • 1984-02-21 EP EP19840901461 patent/EP0174307A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1984-02-21 WO PCT/US1984/000255 patent/WO1985003649A1/en unknown

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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