Bubble generator
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Interior
InventorsJeffrey D. McKay, Donald G. Foot, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for generating gaseous bubbles in a liquid body comprises a bubble chamber for mixing a pressurized gas with a liquid at a pressure greater than atmospheric and a fine injector tip for releasing the pressurized gas-liquid mixture from the bubble chamber under a high tip velocity and shear. The apparatus is adapted for supplying bubbles to a flotation column for the treatment of mineral ore materials.
Claims6
A method for generating gaseous bubbles in a liquid body, comprising:
- (a) providing an apparatus comprising means defining a bubble chamber, a pressurized gas injector inlet means connected to said chamber means, at least one liquid injector inlet means connected to said chamber means and a fine injector tip having a diameter of from about 0.02 to about 0.125 inches, outlet means connecting the chamber means to said fine injector tip and packing material means inside said chamber means for increasing the mixing of gas with liquid in said bubble chamber;
- (b) mixing a pressurized gas delivered to the bubble chamber from the pressurized gas injector inlet means with a liquid delivered to the bubble chamber from the liquid injector inlet means in the bubble chamber at a pressure greater than 60 psi to dissolve at least a portion of the gas in the liquid;
- and
- (c) releasing the gas-liquid mixture from the bubble chamber through the outlet means and through the fine injector tip under a high velocity and shear to produce gaseous bubbles in the liquid body.
A method for the froth flotation of mineral ore material, comprising:
- (a) suspending the ore material in water in a flotation column;
- and
- (b) supplying water containing gasous bubbles to the flotation column, the water containing gaseous bubbles being generated external to the flotation column by
- (i) providing an apparatus comprising means defining a bubble chamber, a pressurized gas injector inlet means connected to said chamber means, at least one liquid injector inlet means connected to said chamber means and a fine injector tip having a diameter of from about 0.02 to about 0.125 inches, outlet means connecting said chamber means to said fine injector tip, and packing material means inside said chamber means for increasing the mixing of gas with liquid in said bubble chamber;
- (ii) mixing a pressurized gas delivered to the bubble chamber from the pressurized gas injector inlet means with water delivered to the bubble chamber from the liquid injector inlet means in the bubble chamber at a pressure greater than 60 psi to dissolve at least a portion of the gas in the liquid;
- and
- (iii) releasing the gas-liquid mixture from the bubble chamber through said outlet means and through the fine injector tip under a high velocity and shear into the flotation column to produce gaseous bubbles in the flotation column.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.