Átfolyó

Átfolyó is a Hungarian term used in technical and scientific contexts to describe a flow-through or pass-through configuration. It denotes a system or component in which a fluid, gas, or signal moves continuously from an inlet to an outlet with limited residence time, rather than being stored or held for extended periods. The concept is used to distinguish through-flow arrangements from batch or recirculating setups.

In engineering and process technology, átfolyó configurations are common when continuous processing or cooling is required. Examples include through-flow cooling systems, where coolant passes through a channel to remove heat as it flows onward, and continuous-flow reactors or similar apparatus in which the reacting or processing medium moves steadily through the equipment. In environmental and water-management contexts, the idea applies to channels, filtration stages, or treatment trains designed so that water or wastewater passes progressively through successive units. In laboratory and biomedical settings, through-flow or perfusion-type devices and certain microfluidic systems rely on the same principle of constant flow rather than static incubation.

Etymology and usage notes: the word combines the prefix át- meaning through or across with folyó, the base meaning flow or stream. Átfolyó is primarily a technical descriptor in Hungarian and can appear as a noun or adjective in compound terms describing flow-through behavior in various disciplines. It is not typically used in everyday language outside technical contexts, where more specific terminology may be chosen depending on the field.