Cavitation fluid circulatory system for a cavitation chamber

Abstract

A method and apparatus of circulating cavitation fluid within a cavitation fluid circulatory system is provided. The system provides a means of circulating the cavitation fluid through a cavitation chamber, before or during cavitation chamber operation, as well as a means of draining and filling the chamber with minimal, if any, exposure of the cavitation fluid to the outside environment. The apparatus includes a network of conduits coupling the cavitation chamber to a cavitation fluid reservoir and at least one external fluid pump. Preferably the cavitation fluid reservoir serves the dual function of fluid reservoir and degassing chamber. Manipulation of various valves within the conduit network allows the cavitation fluid to either be pumped from the reservoir into the cavitation chamber or from the cavitation chamber into the reservoir. During cavitation chamber operation, the same pump and conduit network can be used to continuously or intermittently circulate the cavitation fluid through the degassing system. A vacuum pump coupled to the degassing system can operate continuously or intermittently during system degassing. In another aspect, the cavitation fluid circulation system includes a bubble trap immediately following the fluid pump, thus providing a means of capturing bubbles generated during the pumping operation. In yet another aspect, the cavitation fluid circulation system includes a filter, preferably for removing contaminants that could disrupt the cavitation process. In yet another aspect, the cavitation fluid circulation system includes a heat exchange system, thus allowing the temperature of the cavitation fluid to be controlled.