Device and method for creating hydrodynamic cavitation in fluids

1. A device for creating hydrodynamic cavitation in fluid, the device comprising:

a flow-through chamber having an upstream portion and a downstream portion, the upstream and downstream portions being substantially cylindrical in shape and having different diameters wherein the diameter of the upstream portion is less than the diameter of the downstream portion; and

a plurality of baffles provided within the downstream portion of the flow-through chamber wherein the diameters of the baffles are substantially equal,

wherein one or more of the plurality of baffles are configured to be selectively movable into the upstream portion of the flow-through chamber to generate a hydrodynamic cavitation field downstream from each baffle moved into the upstream portion of the flow-through chamber.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the upstream portion is defined by a first inner surface and the downstream portion is defined by a second inner surface,

wherein a first gap is defined between the first inner surface and the perimeter of one of the baffles and a second gap is defined between the second inner surface and the perimeter of one of the baffles, wherein the size of the first gap is sufficiently less than the size of the second gap such that hydrodynamic cavitation is generated as fluid passes through the first gap, while hydrodynamic cavitation is not generated as fluid passes through the second gap.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of baffles are connected to a shaft in a fixed position relative to one another along the length of the shaft.

4. The device of claim 3 further comprising a mechanism to axially move the shaft within the flow-through chamber.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of baffles are movable along the axial center of the flow-through chamber.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of baffles is conically-shaped having a tapered portion that confronts fluid flow.

7. A device for dynamically generating multiple stages of hydrodynamic cavitation in fluid, the device comprising:

a housing having an inlet, an outlet, and internal chambers, the internal chambers including:

a first substantially cylindrical chamber having a first diameter, the first chamber in fluid communication with the inlet; and

a second substantially cylindrical chamber having a second diameter that is, greater than the first diameter, the second chamber in fluid communication with the first chamber and with the outlet; and

a plurality of baffles contained in the housing and connected in a fixed position relative to one another along the length of a shaft, the baffles having substantially the same diameter, the baffles configured to be movable between the first and second chambers by positioning of the shaft to provide for one or more hydrodynamic cavitation stages in the fluid when a corresponding number of baffles are located in the first chamber.

8. A method of generating one or more stages of hydrodynamic cavitation in a fluid, the flow-through chamber having a substantially cylindrical upstream portion, a substantially cylindrical downstream portion, and a plurality of baffles having substantially equal diameters, the baffles being contained in the downstream portion of the flow-through chamber, the method comprising:

passing fluid through the flow-through chamber; and

selectively moving one or more baffles into the upstream portion of the flow-through chamber to generate a hydrodynamic cavitation field in the fluid downstream from each baffle moved into the upstream portion of the flow-through chamber.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein each baffle moved into the upstream portion of the flow-through chamber defines a cavitation stage such that multiple cavitation stages are generated when multiple baffles are moved into the upstream portion of the flow-through chamber.

10. The device of claim 7 wherein the first chamber is defined by a first inner surface and the second chamber is defined by a second inner surface, wherein a first gap is defined between the first inner surface and the perimeter of one of the baffles and a second gap is defined between the second inner surface and the perimeter of one of the baffles, wherein the size of the first gap is sufficiently less than the size of the second gap such that hydrodynamic cavitation is generated as fluid passes through the first gap, while hydrodynamic cavitation is not generated as fluid passes through the second gap.

11. The device of claim 7 further comprising a mechanism to axially move the shaft within the housing.

12. The device of claim 7 wherein the plurality of baffles are movable along the axial center of the flow-through chamber.

13. The device of claim 7 wherein at least one of the plurality of baffles is conically-shaped having a tapered portion that confronts fluid flow.

14. A device for dynamically generating multiple stages of hydrodynamic cavitation in fluid, the device comprising:

a housing having an inlet, an outlet, and internal chambers, the internal chambers including:

a first chamber having a first cross-sectional area, the first chamber in fluid communication with the inlet; and

a second chamber having a second cross-sectional area that is greater than the first cross-sectional area, the second chamber in fluid communication with the first chamber and with the outlet; and

a plurality of baffles contained in the housing and connected in a fixed position relative to one another along the length of a shaft, the baffles having substantially the same diameter, the baffles configured to be movable between the first and second chambers by positioning of the shaft to provide for one or more hydrodynamic cavitation stages in the fluid when a corresponding number of baffles are located in the first chamber,

wherein the first chamber is defined by a first inner surface and the second chamber is defined by a second inner surface,

wherein a gap is defined between the first inner surface and the perimeter of one of the baffles,

wherein the size of the gap for one baffle located in the first chamber is substantially the same as the size of the gap for other baffles located in the first chamber.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein a gap is defined between the second inner surface and the perimeter of one of the baffles, wherein the size of the gap for one baffle located in the second chamber is substantially the same as the size of the gap for other baffles located in the second chamber.

16. The device of claim 14 further comprising a mechanism to axially move the shaft within the housing.

17. The device of claim 14 wherein the plurality of baffles are movable along the axial center of the flow-through chamber.

18. The device of claim 14 wherein at least one of the plurality of baffles is conically-shaped having a tapered portion that confronts fluid flow.