Technology
The science behind the REALice technology is to allow a fluid to self-organize into an ordered vortex movement.
Vortex movement is fundamental in nature. It occurs in galaxies, tornados, mountain streams, and human blood flow.
The REALice® technology is able to generate a well-defined multi-dimensional vortex at a considerably lower pressure and flow than what can be achieved through other techniques.
How it Works
The inlet (Preformer) of the vortex generator provides a smooth outward direction of the flow
through tornado-like motion towards a set of well-defined channels.
After the preformer, the fluid is directed through a set of channels, each with vortex-forming geometry. Each channel delivers a jet stream of vortex flow tangentially into a vortex chamber.
In the vortex chamber, the vortices from the channels are wound together, similar to how a rope is spun together from a set of threads.
A strong and stable vortex flow is formed inside the vortex chamber, causing a strongly reduced pressure along the vortex axis.
Macroscopic and microscopic gas bubbles in water will be pulled into the low-pressure zone in the vortex chamber.
The low pressure will cause them to expand and gather into large bubbles that can be easily extracted downstream of the vortex generator.
Removing the micro air bubbles
Effects on the Water
Where do the air bubbles go?
The micro air bubbles are released into the atmosphere. The REALice® technology separates the micro air bubbles from the water. The air and the treated water go into the resurfacer: water on the bottom, air on top. Find out more
VPT – VORTEX PROCESS TECHNOLOGY “REALICE” TECHNICAL BRIEF
Qualities of REALice Treated Water
- Eliminates or significantly reduces limescale in water. Soluble forms of calcium such as calcium hydrogencarbonate (CaHCO3)2 are transformed into calcite and aragonite, which do not attach to pipes or nozzles.
- Removes micro-bubbles of air, air, resulting in decreased viscosity from 5-17%, as well as better heat transfer than untreated water
- Removes unbound gas (air, CO2) from the water by a vacuum in the middle of the vortex – controlled cavitation due to the design of the unit
- Calcium hydrogencarbonate (CaHCO3)2 in the water is forced to precipitate out in the form of calcite (CaCO3) – primarily aragonite crystals which have minimal scaling properties – does not precipitate on surfaces
- Decrease viscosity due to the removal of micro-bubbles of ~3%-17%; improves heat transfer