Apparatus for and a method of separating a foam into its liquid and gaseous components

Abstract

An apparatus for separating a foam into its constituent liquid and gaseous components has a vessel in which the foam is formed, and a foam-breaking means including a housing communicating with the vessel, rotatable foam breakers located in the housing for breaking up the foam, and hollow stationary baffles for preventing a smooth circulation of the foam. The foam-breaking means also include means for facilitating the separation of the foam by admitting a heat exchange substance into the hollows of the baffles and effecting a heat exchange between the heat exchange substance and the foam. The method in accordance with the invention comprises the steps of feeding the foam from the vessel into the housing, breaking up the foam by the foam breakers, effecting turbulence of the foam by the baffles so as to prevent the smooth circulation of the foam, and admitting the heat exchange substance into the hollows of the baffles for effecting heat exchange between the latter and the foam.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.