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There is disclosed apparatus and processes for increasing fluidity of a flowing fluid. The apparatus may have a number of treatment chambers adapted to receive and pass the flowing fluid. In each treatment chamber a field is applied to the fluid. The fields may be parallel to the fluid's direction o

There is disclosed apparatus and processes for increasing fluidity of a flowing fluid. The apparatus may have a number of treatment chambers adapted to receive and pass the flowing fluid. In each treatment chamber a field is applied to the fluid. The fields may be parallel to the fluid's direction of flow, and may alternate in sequence. The fluidity of the fluid is increased through exposure to the fields.

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1. Apparatus for increasing fluidity of a fluid flowing in a first direction through a conduit, the apparatus comprising: a housing in fluid communication with the conduit;a first treatment chamber in the housing, the first treatment chamber defined by a first electrode and a second electrode separa

1. Apparatus for increasing fluidity of a fluid flowing in a first direction through a conduit, the apparatus comprising: a housing in fluid communication with the conduit;a first treatment chamber in the housing, the first treatment chamber defined by a first electrode and a second electrode separated by a first spacer ring, wherein the first and second electrodes are each positioned perpendicularly to the first direction, the first and second electrodes each comprising a plate with a plurality of apertures adapted to permit a smooth flow of the fluid there through, the first treatment chamber having a first electric field in the first direction created by the first electrode and the second electrode;a second treatment chamber in the housing, the second treatment chamber defined by the second electrode and a third electrode separated by a second spacer ring, wherein the third electrode is positioned perpendicularly to the first direction, the third electrode comprising a plate with a plurality of apertures adapted to permit a smooth flow of the fluid there through, the second treatment chamber having a second electric field in a second direction which is different from the first direction, the second electric field created by the second and third electrodes; andwherein the first and second electric fields are effective in combination to cause a second fluidity of the fluid upon leaving the apparatus to be temporarily greater than a first fluidity of the fluid upon entering the apparatus. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a third treatment chamber in the housing, the third treatment chamber defined by the third electrode and a fourth electrode separated by a third spacer ring, wherein the fourth electrode is positioned perpendicularly to the first direction, the fourth electrode comprising a plate with a plurality of apertures for allowing the flowing fluid to pass there through, the third treatment chamber having a third electric field in a third direction which is different from the second direction, the third electric field created by the third and fourth electrodes. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the third direction aligns with the first direction. 5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an inlet housing member defining an inlet port through which the fluid passes into the housing and an outlet housing member defining an outlet port through which the fluid passes out of the housing. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the treatment chambers are contiguous. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid is asphalt-based crude oil, diesel fuel, or gasoline. 8. The apparatus of claim 1 having a substantially constant temperature and pressure within the treatment chambers. 9. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first electric field overlaps the second electric field, and the second electric field overlaps the third electric field. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first, second, and third electrodes each comprises a mesh. 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second electric fields have sufficient strength to cause particles suspended in the fluid to aggregate and form clusters. 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flowing fluid is exposed to the electric fields for a time sufficient to allow particles to aggregate without forming macroscopic chains. 13. Apparatus for increasing fluidity of a fluid flowing in a first direction, the apparatus comprising: a series of charged electrodes defining a plurality of treatment chambers through which the fluid flows from an inlet port to an outlet port without significant leakage, the electrodes positioned perpendicularly to the first direction and spaced apart by spacer rings, each electrode comprising a plate with a plurality of apertures adapted to permit a smooth flow of the fluid there through;wherein the charge of each electrode is opposite to that of the electrodes next adjacent, whereby the charges of the electrodes in the series alternate from positive to negative in the series;wherein the charges create respective electric fields in alternate directions; andwherein the charges have respective strengths to create electric fields of sufficient strength to increase the fluidity of the fluid from the inlet port to the outlet port. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the fields are parallel to the first direction. 15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the fluid is asphalt-based crude oil, diesel fuel, or gasoline. 16. The apparatus of claim 13 having a substantially constant temperature and pressure within the treatment chambers. 17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein at least some of the electric fields overlap. 18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein each of the electrodes comprises a mesh. 19. A process for increasing fluidity of a flowing fluid comprising: receiving the flowing fluid in a first direction, the fluid at receipt having a first fluidity;exposing the flowing fluid to a series of electric fields by causing the flowing fluid to flow through a plurality of apertures in each of a series of electrodes, each electrode positioned perpendicularly to the first direction, each electric field in the series created by two electrodes of the series of electrodes separated by a spacer ring, each electric field having a direction different from that of the electric field next previous, wherein the direction of each electric field is parallel to the first direction;exhausting the fluid, the fluid at exhaust having a second fluidity; andwherein the electric fields are effective in combination to cause the second fluidity to be more than the first fluidity. 20. The process of claim 19 further comprising: exposing the flowing fluid to a series of additional electric fields after exhausting the fluid, each additional electric field in the series created by two additional electrodes separated by an additional spacer ring, each additional electric field having a direction different from the additional electric field next previous, wherein the direction of each additional electric field is parallel to the first direction. 21. Apparatus for increasing fluidity of a fluid flowing in a first direction through a conduit, the apparatus comprising: a housing in fluid communication with the conduit;a first treatment chamber in the housing, the first treatment chamber adapted to permit the flowing fluid to pass there through, the first treatment chamber defined by a first magnetic field in the first direction, the first magnetic field created by a first coil;a second treatment chamber in the housing, the second treatment chamber adapted to permit the flowing fluid to pass there through after passing through the first treatment chamber, the second treatment chamber defined by a second magnetic field in a second direction which is different from the first direction, the second magnetic field created by a second coil;wherein the fluid has a first fluidity prior to entering the apparatus and a second fluidity after leaving the apparatus; andwherein the first and second magnetic fields are effective in combination to cause the second fluidity to be more than the first fluidity. 22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first and second coils are each disposed against an inside wall of the housing, the first coil and second coils each adapted to permit a smooth flow of the fluid there through. 23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first and second coils are each at least partially disposed outside of the housing.