Reactor sparger assembly

A sparger assembly for a reactor comprising a reactor vessel, the sparger assembly being extemal to the reactor vessel and comprising:

• a plurality of sparger chambers, and wherein each sparger chamber of the plurality of sparger chambers comprises:
• a process fluid conduit fluidly coupled to a process fluid inlet, wherein the process fluid inlet comprises a first block and bleed valve assembly;
• a sparger conduit fluidly coupled to the process fluid conduit, wherein the first block and bleed valve assembly is configured to block process fluid flow from reaching the sparger conduit and to drain process fluid from the sparger chamber;
• a sparger disposed within the sparger conduit and fluidly coupled to a gas inlet;
• and
• a process fluid-gas mixture outlet fluidly coupled to the sparger conduit, wherein the process fluid-gas mixture outlet comprises a second block and bleed valve assembly, wherein the second block and bleed valve assembly is configured to selectively block process fluid-gas mixture within the sparger conduit from reaching the reactor vessel and to prevent process fluid from the reactor vessel from entering the sparger conduit.

A method of providing a gas to a fluid within a reactor, the method comprising:

• passing a process fluid to a sparger chamber external to the reactor through a first block and bleed valve assembly;
• passing a gas through a sparger element within the sparger chamber;
• forming bubbles within the process fluid within the sparger chamber to form a mixed fluid;
• and
• passing the mixed fluid out of the sparger chamber and into a reactor vessel through a second block and bleed valve assembly,
• wherein the first block and bleed valve assembly is configured to block process fluid flow from reaching the sparger chamber and to drain process fluid from the sparger chamber, and wherein the second block and bleed valve assembly is configured to selectively block the mixed fluid within the sparger chamber from reaching the reactor vessel and to prevent process fluid from the reactor vessel from entering the sparger chamber.