Method of dispersing gases

Claim 1

THE METHOD OF CONTACTING LIQUID AND GASEOUS MEDIUMS WHICH COMPRISES SEGREGATING A PORTION OF A MAIN BODY OF LIQUID IN A CONFINED SPACE CLOSED AT THE SIDES AND AT THE BOTTOM AND OPEN AT THE TOP FOR COMMUNICAION WITH THE MAIN BODY OF LIQUID IN A REGION BELOW THE SURFACE OF THE MAIN BODY OF LIQUID, INTRODUCING GASEOUS MEDIUM SUBSTANTIALLY FREE OF LIQUID UNDER PRESSURE INTO SAID CONFINED SPACE BELOW THE OPEN TOP THEREOF SO THAT THE GAS WILL MINGLE WITH THE LIQUID AND FORM A GAS-LIQUID MIXTURE WHICH RISES IN SAID CONFINED SPACE AND PASSES THEREFROM INTO THE MAIN BODY OF LIQUID ABOVE SAID SPACE, WHILE SAID GAS-LIQUID MIXTURE RISES IN SAID CONFINED SPACE, FLOWING LIQUID FROM SAID MAIN BODY INTO SAID CONFINED SPACE IN COUNTERCURRENT CONTACT WITH SAID UPWARDLY RISING GAS-LIQUID MIXTURE TO IMPOSE HYDRAULIC SHEARING FORCES ON THE GAS IN SAID GAS-LIQUID MIXTURE AND THEREBY SUBDIVIDE THE GAS INTO SMALL BUBBLES, AND CONTINUING THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SAID GAS AND THE SAID LIQUID INTO SAID CONFINED SPACE TO PROVIDE FOR A CONTINUED COUNTERCURRENT CONTACT OF LIQUID FLOWING INTO SAID CONFINED SPACE WITH A GASLIQUID MIXTURE RISING THEREFROM WHEREBY SMALL BUBBLES OF GAS ARE CONTINUOUSLY INTRODUCED INTO SAID MAIN BODY OF LIQUID AS LONG AS THE GAS IS INTRODUCED INTO SAID CONFINED SPACE.

Claim 2

THE METHOD OF CONTACTING LIQUID AND GASEOUS MEDIUMS WHICH COMPRISES SEGREGATING A PORTION OF A MAIN BODY OF LIQUID IN A CONFINED SPACE CLOSED AT THE SIDES AND AT THE BOTTOM AND OPEN AT THE TOP FOR COMMUNICAION WITH THE MAIN BODY OF LIQUID IN A REGION BELOW THE SURFACE OF THE MAIN BODY OF LIQUID, INTRODUCING GASEOUS MEDIUM SUBSTANTIALLY FREE OF LIQUID UNDER PRESSURE INTO SAID CONFINED SPACE BELOW THE OPEN TOP THEREOF SO THAT THE GAS WILL MINGLE WITH THE LIQUID AND FORM A GAS-LIQUID MIXTURE WHICH RISES IN SAID CONFINED SPACE AND PASSES THEREFROM INTO THE MAIN BODY OF LIQUID ABOVE SAID SPACE, WHILE SAID GAS-LIQUID MIXTURE RISES IN SAID CONFINED SPACE, FLOWING LIQUID FROM SAID MAIN BODY INTO SAID CONFINED SPACE IN COUNTERCURRENT CONTACT WITH SAID UPWARDLY RISING GAS-LIQUID MIXTURE TO IMPOSE HYDRAULIC SHEARING FORCES ON THE GAS IN SAID GAS-LIQUID MIXTURE AND THEREBY SUBDIVIDE THE GAS INTO SMALL BUBBLES, AND CONTINUING THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SAID GAS AND THE SAID LIQUID INTO SAID CONFINED SPACE TO PROVIDE FOR A CONTINUED COUNTERCURRENT CONTACT OF LIQUID FLOWING INTO SAID CONFINED SPACE WITH A GASLIQUID MIXTURE RISING THEREFROM WHEREBY SMALL BUBBLES OF GAS ARE CONTINUOUSLY INTRODUCED INTO SAID MAIN BODY OF LIQUID AS LONG AS THE GAS IS INTRODUCED INTO SAID CONFINED SPACE.