Vortex Process Technology

Vortex Process Technology
Pathema VOF – www.pathema.nl – info@pathema.nl
Ralph Bunchestraat 19 5051 KW Goirle The netherlands
Vortex Process Technology®
The vortex generator was developed and patented by Pathema’s Swedish partner Warteco and
forms the basis for all our solutions and products today. The "Vortex Process Technology ®" (VPT) is
derived from the behavior of water. In the vortex generator, the water is brought to a powerful
rotation so vacuüm and pressure is perfectly balanced. This continuous process changes the
structure of the treated water so you can gain many benefits of the different products.
Benefits of degassing water by Vortex Technology:
- Improved heat capacity (3% to 5% TU Eindhoven 2010)
Use less energy to keep water temperature, both hot and cold processes
- 20% more viscosity
The water becomes more fluid (20% TU Eindhoven 2010), which has many technical, agriculture
and energy benefits to be gained in industrial and green(house) processes.
- No lime scaling, without the use of chemicals
By the crystallization of calcium in the degassing process to avoid scale striking your equipment or
coolingtower.
- Increase production and water quality
Water degassing improves your product.
Applications for Vortex technology:

Chemical free cooling(tower) water treatment

Process water energy/chemicals savings

Irrigation optimization

Higher heat capacity and energy conductivity
Pathema VOF – www.pathema.nl – info@pathema.nl
Ralph Bunchestraat 19 5051 KW Goirle The netherlands
Inside the Vortex generator:
1. The Inlet
In the direction of the arrow, the water inside the vortex. If the water spout in the
middle of the top hits the water around the inside of the spout. The patented nozzle
forces the water into a three-dimensional movement. This gives it a circular motion
before the House ends up in the vortex.
2. Vortex chamber
If the water in the Vortex Chamber is, it has a rotating motion around the flow axis.
Centrifugal force moves the water to the outside of the Vortex Chamber.
3. Outside
The Vortex Room is made of a reliable, environmentally friendly materials to ensure
the stability and shape.
4. Inside
If the water to rub against the inside of the surface electrons are drawn. This creates a
positive field. Positive particles of water are extracted at the surface and accumulate
at the center of the vortex.
5. The Vortex
When the water flows further through the Vortex Chamber, the room narrows. This
forced the water to spin faster, creating a vacuum is generated in the center of the
vortex. By the forces that occur on the water, the structure of water has broken.
6. Vacuum column
The degassed micro and nano bubbles float toward vacuum at the center of the
vortex. Towards the middle to connect the bubbles with other bubbles and may
eventually not return to their original shape. The positively charged particles move to
the center of the vortex.
Pathema VOF – www.pathema.nl – info@pathema.nl
Ralph Bunchestraat 19 5051 KW Goirle The netherlands
Prevent lime scale without Chemicals
Conversion of Calcite to Aragonite by using the Vortex Process Technology®
The emergence of lime scaling
Hard water contains a lot of calcium in the form of relatively soluble calcium hydrogen carbonate
Ca(HCO3)2, therefore in water calcium carbonate Ca2+ and bicarbonate HCO3- ions are present. When
water is heated carbon dioxide CO2(g) evolves and raise the solid calcium carbonate CaCO3(s):
Ca2+(aq) + 2(HCO-3)(aq)
CaCO3(S) + CO2(aq) + H2O(l) → CaCO3(s) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)
Formula 1
The resulting calcium carbonate CaCO3 (Calcite polymorph) is heat-insulating and is therefore bad
for the heat transfer in a heating element. The above reaction is actually a compilation of two
equilibrium reactions.
Reaction 1: the carbonate-bicarbonate equilibrium
HCO3− ions react with itself (HCO3− is amphoteric) according to the following chemical equilibrium:
HCO3− + HCO3−
H2CO3 + CO32−
Formule 2
The formed H2CO3 is unstable and breaks down into CO2 carbon dioxide and H2O water. By heating
the water, the solubility of carbon dioxide in the water decreases and disappears from the water. The
above chemical equilibrium CO2 disappears, and ensures that new CO2 is formed: the chemical
equilibrium shifts to the right (according to the principle of Le Chatelier). Because by replenishing CO2
there is also CO32- formed, which does not disappear from the reaction, the concentration of CO32ions is increased.
Reaction 2: The solubility equilibrium of calcium carbonate
The presence of Ca2+ ions will react with the now largely present, of CO32- ions to calcium carbonate
(lime scale):
Ca2+(aq) + CO32-(aq) → CaCO3(s)
Formule 3
Since calcium carbonate is insoluble in water, this equilibrium moves strongly to the right.
Pathema VOF – www.pathema.nl – info@pathema.nl
Ralph Bunchestraat 19 5051 KW Goirle The netherlands
Aragonite crystallization in the Vortex
In the Limeteq Converter™ the Vortex Process Technology ® (figure4)
creates a powerful and stable vortex. This essentially is a controlled
cavitation. In figure1 is an uncontrolled cavitation can be seen,
created by the pressure difference of a ship’s propeller. In the
Limeteq Converter™ the Vortex removes unbound gasses from the
water by a vacuum in the middle of the vortex. This is a controlled
cavitation. All unbound gasses, including carbon dioxide CO2 gasses,
are withdrawn by the sub pressure of the vortex. The relatively Figure 1 uncontrolled cavitation
soluble calcium hydrogen carbonate Ca(HCO3)(aq) will be converted by this process in Calcium
Carbonate CaCO3(s), see formula1.
There is one important difference, the build-up of the CaCO3 crystal!
Calcium carbonate CaCO3 formed in the Limeteq Converter™ by the Vortex
Process Technology® (figure4) crystallizes differently. The Aragonite crystal
(figure3) is formed instead of the Calcite crystal (figure2). During the
formation of calcium carbonate, by the removal of CO2 gas bubbles, the
forces of the vortex prevent that the Calcite crystal is formed. Instead, the
polymorph Aragonite is formed. Aragonite cultures that are created in the
Vortex ensure that more Aragonite crystals form when calcium carbonate figure 2 Calciet
CaCO3 is formed in a later process. The length of the Vortex, and thus the
cavitation tunnel, determines the amount of unbounded gasses that are
extracted. When more carbon dioxide CO2 gas bubbles by the vortex are
extracted more of the calcium carbonate polymorph Aragonite is formed.
Figure 3 Aragoniet
Properties of Aragonite
The polymorphic Aragonite has a main characteristic that it does not scale. Calcium Carbonate CaCO3
formed in the vortex remains dissolved in water and will not catch on to heat sources or other
surfaces. Treatment with salts or chemicals is no longer needed. Furthermore, Aragonite is slightly
harder than Calcite and usually grows in needle-shaped crystals (aciculair), while Calcite has a leafshaped habit. The more harder Aragonite can even wear down older Calcite lime scales and remove
them over time.
Figure 4 Vortex Process Technology ®
Vlottum, (2006), Ketelsteen, Wikipedia.org, 24/10/2010 http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketelsteen
Pathema VOF – www.pathema.nl – info@pathema.nl
Ralph Bunchestraat 19 5051 KW Goirle The netherlands
Efficient irrigation
Create more and higher quality crop using less water and fertilizer
By pumping the water through a nozzle inside the Vortex generator the water is treated
continuously. The water normally contains very small bubbles (nano bubbles) that affect the waters
properties significantly. In the treatment the water is de gassed as the bubbles "floats" towards a sub
pressure (vacuum) at the centre of the vortex. On the way to the centre the bubbles combines with
other and after a while they can not go back to the former state. As the water is applied to a very
extreme movement shear forces will tear any structure or cluster in the water. The water is vitalized,
the viscosity is lowered and the water molecules are structured in a suitable form so the plants can
utilize the water more efficiently.
The bio fouling inside the pipes is lowered due to this new type of movements. By a lower viscosity a
better flow is achieved lowering the stress on the irrigation system. Fertilizing and other chemical
treatment can be reduced something that increases the ecological and environmental profile. The
operational process is very easy and the system can easily be adapted and installed on different
seizes and irrigation systems.
All in all this gives an efficient Clean-Tech solution with lowered costs and a better operational
economy
By using the IVG you will achieve following benefits,
- Optimal absorption
- less evaporation loss
- Lower viscosity
- Reduce fertilizing and chemicals
- Small gas bubbles are evacuated
Pathema VOF – www.pathema.nl – info@pathema.nl
Ralph Bunchestraat 19 5051 KW Goirle The netherlands
Technical information of main models
De IVPT-serie pressure/flow models.
Max pressure @ 20℃
Normal flow @ 3-5 bar
Max temperature
Length (A)
Diameter (B)
Weight
Connect to: (C)
IVPT 4
16 bar / 232 PSI (PN16)
4 m³/h / 1057 gal/h
80℃ / 68 F
558 mm
82 mm
1.27 kg / 2.80 lb
ISO 228-G1”
IVPT 6
16 bar / 232 PSI (PN16)
6 m³/h / 1585 gal/h
80℃ / 68 F
643 mm
96 mm
1.43 kg / 3.15 lb
ISO 228-G1”
Pathema VOF – www.pathema.nl – info@pathema.nl
Ralph Bunchestraat 19 5051 KW Goirle The netherlands
IVPT 10
16 bar / 232 PSI (PN16)
10 m³/h / 2642 gal/h
80℃ / 68 F
726 mm
120 mm
1.89 kg / 4.17 lb
ISO 228-G1¼”
IVG skid model examples
Inline Vortex water treatment
Chemical free cooling water Vortex treatment
Pathema VOF – www.pathema.nl – info@pathema.nl
Ralph Bunchestraat 19 5051 KW Goirle The netherlands