Cavitation pump
A cavitation device is supplied by a disc pump with fluids for mixing. A cavitation rotor, having an array of cavities on its cylindrical surface, is fixed to a shaft for rotation by a motor. The disc pump and the cavitation device are beneficially in the same housing. At least one disc is spaced from and attached to the rotor near the inlet end of the cylindrical housing, so it will rotate with the rotor. A central hole in the (at least one) disc permits fluid to enter the space between the disc and the rotor; it is flung toward the peripheral space between the rotor and the cylindrical housing, where it is subjected to cavitation, and then passed to an outlet. The shaft may pass through one or both of the end walls of the cylindrical housing. The cavitation pump is especially useful for mixing oil field fluids.
1. A cavitation pump comprising (a) a substantially cylindrical cavitation rotor having a plurality of cavities on its cylindrical surface, said cavities defining empty spaces for causing cavitation and whose only opening is on said cylindrical surface, (b) a housing defining an enclosed chamber having a fluid inlet on an inlet end and a fluid outlet on an outlet end, said housing having a substantially cylindrical internal surface including an end wall adapted to receive a shaft bearing, the diameter of said substantially cylindrical internal surface being slightly larger than said cavitation rotor (c) said cavitation rotor being fixed to a rotation shaft so as to fit closely within said substantially cylindrical internal surface, said rotation shaft passing through a shaft bearing mounted in said end wall of said housing, and (d) at least one disc spaced from and disposed substantially parallel to said cavitation rotor, said at least one disc being fixed to said cavitation rotor so as to rotate with said cavitation rotor.
2. The cavitation pump of claim 1 wherein said at least one disc has a central hole for passing fluid from said inlet through said disc.
3. The cavitation pump of claim 2 wherein said at least one disc has a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said cavitation rotor.
4. The cavitation pump of claim 2 wherein said fluid inlet in said housing is located to pass fluid directly to said central hole of said disc.
5. The cavitation pump of claim 4 wherein said fluid outlet is located in said housing opposite said rotor from said inlet.
6. The cavitation pump of claim 1 wherein said at least one disc has a plurality of generally radial splines on at least one face.
7. Method of mixing fluids comprising combining said fluids in a tank, immersing the cavitation pump of claim 1 in said tank, and rotating said cavitation rotor and said disc by rotating said shaft.