# US 10,307,695 B2 · Degassing system and tower for sulfur process > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,307,695 B2 - Document ID: US10307695B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/101,798 - Filed: 2018-08-13 - Published: 2019-02-28 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-22 - Applicants: Strom W. Smith - Inventors: Strom W. Smith - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307695B2 ## CPC - B01D 19/0068: {General arrangements, e.g. flowsheets (B01D19/0063 takes precedence)} - B01D 1/16: by spraying (B01D1/22 takes precedence) - B01D 19/0005: {with one or more auxiliary substances} - B01D 19/0073: {by a method not covered by groups B01D19/0005 - B01D19/0042} - C01B 17/0232: {Purification, e.g. degassing} - B01D 2253/112: Metals or metal compounds not provided for in B01D2253/104 or B01D2253/106 - B01D 2257/304: Hydrogen sulfide - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C} ## Abstract Embodiments of a degassing system of the present invention generally include a degassing device having a sintered metal matrix component; and a process vessel having a liquid inlet and liquid outlet through which liquid flows providing a liquid level there within; wherein the degassing device, which is fluidly connected to a pressurized gas source, is disposed within the process vessel beneath the surface of the liquid, wherein pressurized gas is introduced to the degassing device and forced through the sintered metal matrix to create gas micro-bubbles which rise through the liquid to strip volatile compounds therefrom, the gaseous composition above the surface of the liquid being evacuated through the gas outlet. In one embodiment, a degassing tower having multiple degassing chambers and degassing devices is employed. In one embodiment, a metal powder is disposed within the sintered metal matrix. Embodiments of methods of using the degassing device are also provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A degassing tower comprising: a first degassing tower chamber; and a second degassing tower chamber; wherein: said first degassing tower chamber comprises a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, a gas inlet, and a gas outlet; disposed within said first degassing tower chamber is a packed bed section and a first degassing device; said second degassing tower chamber comprises a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, a gas inlet, and a gas outlet; disposed within said second degassing tower chamber is a packed bed section and a second degassing device; each said degassing device comprises at least one sintered metal matrix; each said degassing device is disposable at least partially beneath a surface of a liquid; provision of gas to each said degassing device produces gas bubbles within at least one said sintered metal matrix thereof; and said gas bubbles have a median diameter at least as small as about ten micrometers; wherein: said first degassing device is fluidly connected to said first degassing tower chamber gas inlet; said second degassing device is fluidly connected to said second degassing tower chamber gas inlet; liquid can flow from said first degassing tower chamber to said second degassing tower chamber; and liquid cannot flow from said second degassing tower chamber to said first degassing tower chamber. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The degassing tower of claim 1, wherein said gas provided to at least one said degassing device is substantially devoid of liquid. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The degassing tower of claim 1, wherein said first degassing tower chamber liquid inlet is connected to, or integral with, a liquid dispersion component and/or said second degassing tower chamber liquid inlet is connected to, or integral with, a liquid distribution component. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The degassing tower of claim 1, wherein no gas exiting said first degassing tower chamber and/or said second degassing tower chamber is recycled through the degassing chamber from which it exited. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The degassing tower of claim 1, comprising a first level control device that controls a liquid level in said first degassing tower chamber and a separate, second level control device that controls a liquid level in said second degassing tower chamber. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The degassing tower of claim 1, wherein said first degassing tower chamber liquid outlet is fluidly connected to said second degassing tower chamber liquid inlet. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The degassing tower of claim 1, wherein said first degassing tower chamber gas outlet is separate from said second degassing tower chamber gas outlet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The degassing tower of claim 1, wherein at least one said packed bed section within said first degassing tower chamber and said packed bed section within said second degassing tower chamber comprises structured packing material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The degassing tower of claim 1, wherein said first degassing tower chamber is positioned substantially above said second degassing tower chamber. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The degassing tower of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of at least one said sintered metal matrix comprises metal powder disposed there within. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The degassing tower of claim 10, wherein said metal powder comprises stainless steel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A method of degassing a liquid, comprising: providing the degassing tower of claim 1; introducing said liquid to said first degassing tower chamber via said first degassing tower chamber liquid inlet; establishing a level of said liquid in said first degassing tower chamber and said second degassing tower chamber, wherein said liquid flows out of said first tower chamber via said first tower chamber liquid outlet and flows into said second tower chamber via said second tower chamber liquid inlet; and introducing a pressurized gas to said first degassing device via said first degassing tower chamber gas inlet and introducing a pressurized gas to said second degassing device via said second degassing tower chamber gas inlet, whereby at least a portion of said gas provided to each said degassing device is forced through at least a portion of at least one said sintered metal matrix, whereby gas bubbles having a diameter of at least as small as about ten micrometers are produced within said sintered metal matrices. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein said gas bubbles have a median diameter of about one to about two micrometers. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein said liquid comprises molten sulfur.