Recovery of gases from non-viscous solvents
OwnerArthur F. Johnsoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process and apparatus for separating a volatile gas from a liquid in which it is dissolved. The liquid flows through a conduit having obstructions to cause separation by centripetal forces created as the liquid flows around the obstruction. The gases thus freed are collected on a surface disposed within the flow. The flow is advantageously through a syphon-like device thus reducing the pressure in the liquid to further assist separation.
Claims19
The process of continuously separating a more volatile substance from a non-viscous liquid in which it is dissolved comprising:
- (a) flowing the liquid through a vertical conduit having portions extending radially outwardly and radially inwardly, the portions extending radially outwardly each having a pattern of shaped, spaced obstructions disposed therein, said flow being controlled to take place at a sufficient velocity to cause bubbles of said volatile substance to form due to centripetal separating force caused by flowstream curvature around the shaped obstructions;
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- (b) continuously removing the bubbles of the volatile substance from the nonviscous liquid before they redissolve in the liquid.
An apparatus for separating volatile impurities from a solvent containing said impurities comprising:
- (a) a syphon for syphoning the solvent upward from an inlet into a conduit so as to flow upwardly along a flow path to a top point, at which point the solvent is at a pressure substantially below atmospheric pressure, and thence downwardly along a vacuum leg;
- (b) vacuum means located near said top point for initial commencing of the syphoning and to maintain the pressure at said top point substantially below atmospheric pressure;
- (c) a plurality of obstruction means in the flow path in the upflow leg prior to said top point of said syphon conduit means for partially obstructing the flow to cause cavitation of said flow, whereby bubbles of said volatile impurities are formed;
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- (d) means for collecting and removing said bubbles of said volatile impurities which are formed upon said cavitation.
An apparatus for separating volatile impurities from water in which said impurities are dissolved comprising:
- (a) a syphon conduit comprising an upflow leg and a vacuum leg defining a flow path for said water, said flow path extending up said upflow leg and down said vacuum leg said flow path including a top point near a connection of said upflow leg and said down flow leg;
- (b) means for defining an airspace above the surface of said water in the vicinity of said top point;
- (c) a plurality of cavitation causing partial obstructions disposed in said upflow leg to cause cavitation of said water as it flows upwardly in said upflow leg, to thereby free volatile impurities to form bubbles;
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- (d) vacuum means communicating with said airspace in the vicinity of said top point to maintain the pressure over the water at said top point below atmospheric pressure as water flows up said upflow leg and down said vacuum leg, in order to remove volatile impurities freed by said cavitation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.