US 6,464,210 B1Granted

Fluid dissolution apparatus

AssigneeAgrimond, LLC

InventorsAlfredo J. Teran, Richard G. Wood, Nidal A. Samad, Timothy N. Tyndall, Wesley Todd Willoughby

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Abstract

An apparatus for the efficient dissolution of fluids, both gas to liquid and liquid to liquid. A flow splitter divides the influent to an upper and lower stream. The lower stream is injected with a gas and the gas-enriched lower stream is subsequently discharged proximate to the bottom of a contactor in tangential fashion. The upper stream is discharged in similar tangential fashion proximate to the top of the contactor producing a vortex flow pattern. The countercurrent flow of the gas-enriched lower stream and upper stream ensures a high degree of dissolution of the gas in the liquid. Alternatively, two liquids of differing densities may be dissolved together with the present invention.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A contacting apparatus that increases the efficiency of the transfer of gas to a liquid, comprising:

a contactor adapted to receive liquid from a remote source of liquid, the contactor having an upper end and a lower end;
a flow splitter dispose between the remote source of liquid and the contactor;
a flow adjustment means disposed between the flow splitter and the. upper end of the contactor;
a gas injection means disposed between the flow splitter and the lowermost end of the contactor, the gas injection means adapted for fluid communication with a remote source of gas;
an upper fluid flow directing moans disposed proximate to the upper end of the contractor at a preselected downward angle so that the liquid follows a downward vortex path of travel within the contractor,
a lower fluid flow directing means disposed proximate to the lower end of the contactor at a preselected upward angle so that the gas follows an upward vortex path of travel;
an outlet disposed proximate to the lower end of the contactor;
and
a mixing zone created by the downward vortex flow of liquid and the upward vortex flow of gas.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/063,115Filed 22 Mar 2002
Granted: 15 Oct 2002
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

B01F 33/821
Combinations of dissimilar mixers: with consecutive receptacles
B01F 23/2321
Using flow-mixing means for introducing the gases, e.g. baffles: by moving liquid and gas in counter current
B01F 23/2322
Using flow-mixing means for introducing the gases, e.g. baffles: using columns, e.g. multi-staged columns
B01F 25/10
Flow mixers; Mixers for falling materials, e.g. solid particles: mixing by creating a vortex flow, e.g. by tangential introduction of flow components