Apparatus and method for liquid pumping
AssigneeColdharbour Marine Limited
InventorRichard Eric Whiteside
Life of this patent
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Abstract
It is to be understood that embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus and a method for pumping a liquid, for example to recirculate liquid in a liquid storage tank by means of a gas lift pump. A perforated extension at the top of a gas lift allows the apparatus to be used in circumstances where the depth of liquid in the tank may vary over a wide range. Gases other than air may be used in the gas lift, so as to change the acidity and the concentrations of dissolved gases, particularly oxygen, in the liquid. The gas may be introduced into the gas lift through a whistle that generates intense sound waves and couples them into the liquid. These features when used in combination have particular application against invasive species in the ballast water of ocean-going tankers
Claims39
A gas lift pump apparatus, comprising:
- a column having a substantially upright portion through which a liquid medium may be pumped by gas lift;
- a fluid delivery device for delivering a flow of a gaseous fluid into the column at a first location of the column;
- a sonic energy generator operable to launch sonic energy into a liquid medium flowing through the column;
- and
- a bubble generator operable to provide gas bubbles in liquid in the column, the apparatus being operable to subject the bubbles to sonic energy generated by the sonic energy generator,
- wherein the column comprises a lift portion having a substantially continuous, unperforated wall and a perforated portion being a portion having a perforated wall, the lift portion of the column extending between the first location and the perforated portion of the column, and
- wherein the fluid delivery device is operable to deliver the flow of gaseous fluid into the column such that the gaseous fluid rises through the lift portion a first distance before entering the perforated portion.
2-5. (canceled)
7-15. (canceled)
(canceled)
20-26. (canceled)
30-35. (canceled)
37-38. (canceled)
The apparatus of claim 38, arranged to generate microbubbles having a diameter in the range of at least one selected from amongst from around 1 micrometre to around 1000 micrometres, around 1 micrometre to around 500 micrometres, around 500 micrometres to around 1000 micrometres, and around 100 micrometres to around 1000 micrometres.
47-48. (canceled)
50-52. (canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
A method of circulating a liquid medium comprising:
- pumping the liquid medium through a column of a gas lift pump by means of gas lift whereby a flow of gaseous fluid is introduced into the column at a first location thereof;
- allowing the gas to rise in the column through a lift portion of the column a first distance before entering a perforated portion of the column, the lift portion of the column being a portion having a substantially continuous, unperforated wall and extending between the first location and the perforated portion;
- subjecting liquid rising in the column to sonic energy;
- and
- providing gas bubbles in liquid in the column and subjecting the bubbles to sonic energy.
(canceled)
65-70. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.