Carbonization of liquid

• US 5,217,621 A
• Filed: 12/18/1991
• Issued: 06/08/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Praxair Technology Incorporated (Linde Plc)
• Original Assignee: Liquid Carbonic Industries Corporation (Linde Plc)
• Inventors: Norris, Aubrey O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miles, Tim
• Application Number:
  US07/809,967
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 261/30, 261/124, 261/117, 261/DIG. 7, 210/220, 210/96.1, 210/743, 210/220
• US Class Current: 210/743
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/23 by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/07 Carbonators

Abstract

A method and apparatus for carbonating a liquid by creating a pressurized atmosphere of carbon dioxide in a container, spraying a liquid, including a caustic containing liquid, into the atmosphere to cause an interaction between the liquid and the carbon dioxide, collecting a pool of liquid in the bottom of the container, and sparging carbon dioxide under pressure through the pool, and an apparatus for same.

Claims

1. A method for carbonating a liquid comprising the steps of:

creating a pressurized atmosphere of carbon dioxide in a container having a top and a bottom;

connecting a first manifold having a plurality of outlet apertures to a source of said liquid, said first manifold being located at said top of said container;

spraying said liquid into said atmosphere through said outlet apertures so as to cause an interaction between said liquid and said carbon dioxide atmosphere;

collecting a pool of said liquid in the bottom of said container;

connecting an inlet valve to a source of pressurized carbon dioxide;

connecting a second manifold located at said bottom of said container to said inlet valve, said second manifold including a plurality of spargers located below the surface of said pool of liquid;

sparging carbon dioxide under pressure through said spargers and through said pool, said inlet valve controlling the flow rate of pressurized gas through said spargers;

discharging reacted liquid in said pool from said container through a discharge pipe;

monitoring the pH of the reacted liquid in said discharge pipe with a pH probe;

transmitting a signal from said pH probe to said carbon dioxide inlet valve to control the flow rate of carbon dioxide through said spargers; and

maintaining the surface of said pool of liquid at a desired level as carbon dioxide is sparged through said pool of liquid.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said liquid contains a caustic material.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said caustic material is substantially neutralized by said carbon dioxide.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the pressure in said atmosphere is between 55 and 60 psig.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for maintaining the level of the liquid in said vessel comprises a stand pipe.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said monitoring means comprises a pH probe.

7. An apparatus for carbonating a liquid comprising:

a vessel having a top and a bottom and adapted to receive a gas atmosphere under pressure;

a first manifold located in said vessel adjacent said top and being connectable to a source of the liquid, said first manifold including a plurality of outlet apertures such that the fluid is sprayed into the gas atmosphere through said apertures and collects as a pool of liquid at said bottom of said vessel;

an inlet valve connected to a source of pressurized gas;

a second manifold located in said vessel adjacent said bottom, said second manifold being connected to said inlet valve and including a plurality of spargers;

means for maintaining the level of the liquid in the pool at a desired level;

a discharge pipe connected to said liquid level maintaining means for discharging reacted liquid from said vessel;

means located in said discharge pipe for monitoring the pH of the reacted liquid in said discharge pipe, said monitoring means being operatively connected to said inlet valve to control the flow rate of gas delivered to the liquid in said vessel through said spargers in response to the pH of the reacted fluid in said discharge pipe.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said gas comprises carbon dioxide.