Fluid pressure reduction device

1. A fluid pressure reduction device comprising:

a plurality of stacked disks having a perimeter and a hollow center aligned along a longitudinal axis; and

each disk having at least a first and a second flow path, each flow path having a generally spiral shape and continuously extending between the hollow center and the perimeter wherein at least the first and second flow paths spiral in generally opposite directions and the opposing walls of each flow path gradually diverge, each flow path being further comprised of an inlet section, an outlet section, and an intermediate section extending between the inlet and outlet sections;

wherein each flow path crosses at least one other flow path at at least one intersection; and

wherein each of the flow path intermediate sections includes a recovery zone downstream of the intersection.

2. The fluid pressure reduction device of claim 1 , in which the flow paths are directed toward the intersection at substantially the same plane, so that fluid flowing through each flow path undergoes an abrupt direction change at the intersection.

3. The fluid pressure reduction device of claim 1 , in which at least the first flow path includes a first ramp upstream of the intersection directed to a first plane and the second flow path includes a second ramp upstream of the intersection directed to a second plane, so that fluid flowing through at least the first and second flow paths creates shear forces at the intersection.

4. The fluid pressure reduction device of claim 1 , in which a common inlet section provides fluid entry for at least the first flow path and second flow path.

5. The fluid pressure reduction device of claim 4 , in which the common inlet section is aligned along a radial disk reference line extending from the axis to the common inlet section so that substantially equal volumes of fluid enter the first and second flow paths.

6. A fluid pressure reduction device comprising:

a plurality of stacked disks having a perimeter and a hollow center aligned along a longitudinal axis; and

the plurality of stacked disks defining at least one flow path extending between the hollow center and the perimeter, the flow path including an inlet section, an outlet section, and an intermediate section having a generally spiral shape and extending between the inlet and outlet sections, the flow path including a pressure reducing structure and a recovery zone positioned immediately downstream of the pressure reducing structure;

wherein a first disk of the plurality of stacked disks includes the inlet section and an upstream portion of the intermediate section, and a second disk of the plurality of stacked disks located adjacent the first disk includes the outlet section and a downstream portion of the intermediate section, the intermediate section upstream portion fluidly communicating with the intermediate section downstream portion.