Hydrodynamic cavitation crystallization device and process
A device and process for crystallizing a compound using hydrodynamic cavitation comprising the steps of mixing at least one stream of a solution of such compound to be crystallized with at least one stream of an anti-solvent and passing the mixed streams at an elevated pressure through a local constriction of flow to create hydrodynamic cavitation thereby causing nucleation and the direct production of crystals.
1 - 6 . (canceled)
7 . A device for crystallizing a compound using hydrodynamic cavitation:
a flow-through channel having an inlet to permit an anti-solvent solution to enter the flow-through channel;
a port disposed in the flow-through channel for introducing a solvent solution of such compound to be crystallized into the flow-through channel to permit mixing of the anti-solvent and solvent solutions; and
a cavitation generator disposed within the flow-through channel to provide a local constriction of flow thereby causing hydrodynamic cavitation to effectuate nucleation and the direct production of crystals.
8 . The device of claim 7 , wherein said flow-through channel has a substantially circular cross-section.
9 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the port is positioned upstream from the local constriction of flow.
10 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the port is positioned within the local constriction of flow.
11 . The device of claim 7 , further comprising a second port disposed in the flow-through channel for introducing a second solvent solution of such compound to be crystallized.
12 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the second port is positioned upstream from the local constriction of flow.
13 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the second port is positioned within the local constriction of flow.
14 . The device of claim 7 , wherein said cavitation generator comprises a baffle positioned within the flow-through channel, the baffle having a conically-shaped surface that confronts fluid flow and a cylindrically-shaped surface that produces the local constriction of flow with a wall of the flow-through channel.
15 . The device of claim 14 , wherein the local constriction of flow is an annular orifice.
16 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the cavitation generator comprises a disk having at least one orifice disposed therein that provides the local constriction of flow.