Method and apparatus for dispersing a gas into a liquid
First Claim
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1. An apparatus connected to a source of gas and liquid for dispersing said gas in said liquid, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) at least one means for injecting said gas into said liquid, wherein said means injects said gas at a linear velocity which is at least sonic for at least a portion of said gas flow at the time said gas contacts said liquid, said injection means being located in communication with the entrance to a flow accelerating configuration; and
(b) at least one flow accelerating configuration for accelerating at least a portion a mixture of said gas and liquid flowing therethrough to sonic velocity, said flow accelerating configuration positioned so that gas injected by said gas injection means enters said flow accelerating configuration.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for dispersing a gas into a liquid. Gas is injected into a liquid and the flowing gas-liquid mixture is accelerated by a flow area contraction to at least sonic flow velocity, and subsequently decelerated by a flow area expansion to subsonic velocity. The attendant shock waves disperse the gas in the liquid. Preferred embodiments include off-centering the gas injection direction from the centerline of the contracting flow area and controlling the pressure at the exit of the expanding flow area.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An apparatus connected to a source of gas and liquid for dispersing said gas in said liquid, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) at least one means for injecting said gas into said liquid, wherein said means injects said gas at a linear velocity which is at least sonic for at least a portion of said gas flow at the time said gas contacts said liquid, said injection means being located in communication with the entrance to a flow accelerating configuration; and (b) at least one flow accelerating configuration for accelerating at least a portion a mixture of said gas and liquid flowing therethrough to sonic velocity, said flow accelerating configuration positioned so that gas injected by said gas injection means enters said flow accelerating configuration. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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2. An apparatus for dispersing a gas in a liquid, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) at least one means for injecting a gas into a liquid, wherein said means is located in communication with the entrance to a flow accelerating configuration and off-center from the center line of said flow accelerating configuration; and (b) at least one flow accelerating configuration for accelerating a mixture of said gas and liquid to a linear velocity which is at least sonic for at least a portion of the flow of said mixture, said flow accelerating configuration positioned so that gas injected by said gas injection means enters said flow accelerating configuration. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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18. A method of dissolving a gas in a liquid, said method comprising:
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(a) contacting said liquid with said gas to be dissolved therein by injecting said gas into said liquid through a nozzle at a linear velocity which is at least sonic for at least a portion of said gas at the time it contacts said liquid; (b) causing cocurrent flow of a composition comprising said injected gas in said liquid; and (c) causing at least a portion of said cocurrently flowing composition to flow at a linear velocity which is at least sonic. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of dispersing a gaseous or vaporous reactant into a reactant liquid or into a liquid containing a reactant, said method comprising:
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(a) contacting said gaseous reactant with said liquid by injecting said gas into said liquid through a nozzle at a linear velocity which is at least sonic for at least a portion of said gas at the time it contacts said liquid; (b) causing cocurrent flow of a composition comprising said injected gaseous reactant in said liquid; and (c) causing at least a portion of said cocurrently flowing composition to flow at a linear velocity which is at least sonic. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for dispersing a gas in a liquid, said method comprising:
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(a) injecting said gate into said liquid; (b) causing cocurrent flow of a composition comprising said injected gas and at least a portion of said liquid; (c) directing said flow into and off centerline of at least one flow accelerating configuration; and (d) causing at least a portion of said composition to flow at a velocity which is at least sonic. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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Specification