FLUID TREATMENT APPARATUS

• US 20140061027A1
• Filed: 10/31/2011
• Published: 03/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Albagaia Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Albagaia Ltd.
• Inventors: Polwart, Neil, Barfield, Steve, Tyrie, Graham
• Application Number:
  US13/883,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20140061027A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/158.2
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/86 Catalytic processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 10/007 in the presence of catalytically active bodies, e.g. porous plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/123 Ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/249 Plate-type reactors
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2208/00566 Pulsated flow
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2208/0084 inside the bed, e.g. baffles
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2208/00867 inside the bed, e.g. rotary mixer
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2208/00884 Means for supporting the bed of particles, e.g. grids, bars, perforated plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00033 Continuous processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0004 Processes in series
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0254 Glass
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0286 Steel
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0295 Synthetic organic materials
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0884 Gas-liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0892 involving catalytically active material
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/1921 triangular
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/1923 square or square-derived
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/1943 cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/2453 Plates arranged in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/2458 Flat plates, i.e. plates which are not corrugated or otherwise structured, e.g. plates with cylindrical shape
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/2474 : Mixing means, e.g. fins or baffles attached to the plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/2479 : Catalysts coated on the surface of plates or inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/30207 : Sphere
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/30223 : Cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/30475 : comprising catalytically active material
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 8/42 : with fluidised bed subjected to electric current or to radiations this sub-group includes the fluidised bed subjected to electric or magnetic fields
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/32 : with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/325 : Irradiation devices or lamp constructions
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/725 : by catalytic oxidation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/78 : with ozone C02F1/4672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/3221 : Lamps suspended above a water surface or pipe
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/3222 : Units using UV-light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/3223 : Single elongated lamp located on the central axis of a turbular reactor
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/3227 : Units with two or more lamps
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/3228 : Units having reflectors, e.g. coatings, baffles, plates, mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/326 : Lamp control systems
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/328 : Having flow diverters (baffles)
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2305/10 : Photocatalysts

Abstract

A fluid treatment apparatus comprising: a reactor vessel defining a chamber and having an inlet and an outlet to allow fluid to flow through the chamber; a UV light source adapted to transmit light within the chamber; and a plurality of catalyst members comprising a catalytic outer surface, the catalyst members being freely contained within the chamber, wherein the apparatus is adapted to cause the catalyst members to move around within the chamber as fluid flows through the chamber.

Claims

1. A fluid treatment apparatus comprising:

a reactor vessel defining a chamber and having at least one inlet and an outlet to allow at least one fluid to flow through the chamber;

a UV light source adapted to transmit light within the chamber; and

a plurality of buoyant catalyst members comprising a catalytic outer surface, the plurality of buoyant catalyst members being freely contained within the chamber, and

wherein the apparatus is adapted to cause the buoyant catalyst members to move around within the chamber without exiting the chamber as the at least one fluid flows through the chamber.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reactor vessel comprises a continuous flow reactor.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the UV light source is located within the reactor vessel and at least partially defines the chamber.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the UV light source is located at a longitudinal axis of the reactor vessel to define an annular chamber.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the buoyant catalyst members comprise spheres or beads.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the buoyant catalyst members comprise a catalytic coating.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including a means for moving the buoyant catalyst members within the chamber.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the means for moving the buoyant catalyst members is configured to move the buoyant catalyst members in a direction which is opposite to a fluid flow direction.

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a buoyancy of the buoyant catalyst members biases the buoyant catalyst members to move in a direction which is opposite to a fluid flow direction.

17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one upper inlet is disposed to allow fluid flow downwards towards the outlet.

21. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the moving means comprises a flow device for varying a flow of fluid through the chamber.

22. An apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the flow device is adapted to cause sequential periods of high flow and low flow through the chamber.

23. An apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein the flow device is adapted to cause pulsations to the flow through the chamber.

24. An apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein the flow is reversed to create an oscillating flow.

31. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is adapted to cause turbulence within one or more regions of the chamber.

5-6. -6. (canceled)

8-9. -9. (canceled)

11-12. -12. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

18-20. -20. (canceled)

25-30. -30. (canceled)

32-42. -42. (canceled)

43. A method of treating a fluid, the method comprising:

passing a fluid through a treatment chamber of a reactor vessel;

transmitting UV light within the treatment chamber;

providing within the treatment chamber a plurality of buoyant catalyst members comprising a catalytic outer surface, the plurality of catalyst members being freely contained within the treatment chamber; and

causing the catalyst members to move around within the treatment chamber without exiting the treatment chamber as one or more fluids flow through the reactor vessel.

49. A method of claim 43, including biasing the buoyant catalyst members to move in a direction which is opposite to a fluid flow direction.

52. A method of claim 43, including causing turbulence within one or more regions of the chamber.

56. A method in claim 43, including controlling one or more parameters in response to a measured amount of transmitted UV light wherein the one or more parameters is one or more of the rate of fluid flow through the chamber, the variation of fluid flow, the degree of turbulence within the chamber and the amount of light emitted by the UV source.

44-48. -48. (canceled)

50-51. -51. (canceled)

53-55. -55. (canceled)

57-82. -82. (canceled)