Oxygen enriched liquids, method and apparatus for making, and applications thereof

An apparatus for enriching a liquid with oxygen, which comprises

• (i) an oxygen enriching vessel having
• (a) an interior,
• (b) an interior surface,
• (c) a vertical axis,
• (d) a top, and
• (e) a bottom,
• (ii) a plurality of substantially horizontal annular trays within said enriching vessel in a vertically spaced relationship, each of said trays having
• (a) a substantially central opening, and
• (b) an outer rim spaced from said interior surface,
• (iii) a liquid supply tube having an inlet and ranging into the interior of said enriching vessel through said openings,
• (iv) discharge means in said liquid supply tube subdividing liquid entering from said supply tube into discrete water particles and from said supply tube onto a tray,
• (v) an oxygen supply source in fluid communication with the interior for providing oxygen at a pressure of at least about 20 psi,
• (vi) a liquid and oxygen mixer in fluid communication with said inlet of said liquid supply tube and with said oxygen supply source, and
• (vii) a liquid outlet for the removal of oxygen-enriched liquid from said vessel.

A process for enriching a liquid with oxygen which comprises the steps of

• (a) introducing a liquid and oxygen into means for mixing said liquid with oxygen and mixing said liquid with oxygen therein,
• (b) introducing said liquid from step (a) into an oxygen enriching vessel having an interior, an interior surface, a vertical axis, a top, and a bottom, said vessel having disposed therein,
• (i) a plurality of substantially horizontal annular trays in a vertically spaced relationship, each of said trays having a substantially central opening, and an outer rim spaced from said interior surface of said oxygen enriching vessel, and
• (ii) a liquid supply tube having an inlet and liquid discharge means and ranging into said interior of said oxygen enriching vessel through said central openings,
• and flowing said liquid from said liquid discharge means gradually downwardly over at least one of said annular trays,
• (c) subjecting said interior of said oxygen enriching vessel to an oxygen pressure of at least 20 psi,
• (d) conducting said liquid in a substantially flowing contact with said oxygen, whereby said liquid is enriched with oxygen, and
• (e) recovering all of said oxygen-enriched liquid.