US3928199A — Gas absorption system and method

Claim 1

Independent Claim 138 words

APPARATUS FOR DISSOLVING A GAS IN A LIQUID COMPRISING A CONDIUT HAVING AN INLET AND AN OUTLET AND A WEIR ARRANGED LONGITUDINALLY THEREIN, FIRST BAFFLE MEANS DISPOSED AT EITHER END OF SAID WEIR FOR DIRECTING A FLOW OF SAID LIQUID FROM SAID INLET OVER SAID WEIR, SECOND BAFFLE MEANS SPACED AWAY FROM SAID WEIR FOR DIFINING A GRAVITATIONAL FALL ZONE IN SAID CONDUIT SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVE WITH SAID WEIR THEREBY ENABLING FORMATION OF A HIGHLY TURBULENT FROTH COLUMN OF BOBBLES IN SAID FALL ZONE; AND MEANS FOR INJECTING SAID GAS INTO SAID CONDUIT AT T CONTROLLED RATE TO ESTABLISH A GAS ENRICHED SPACE IN SAID CONDUIT IN CONTACT WITH SAID LIQUID FALLING OVER SAID WEIR AND SAID FROTH COLUMN IN SAID FALL ZONE TO THEREBY EFFECT THE DISSOLUTION OF AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID GAS IN SAID LIQUID.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 138 words

APPARATUS FOR DISSOLVING A GAS IN A LIQUID COMPRISING A CONDIUT HAVING AN INLET AND AN OUTLET AND A WEIR ARRANGED LONGITUDINALLY THEREIN, FIRST BAFFLE MEANS DISPOSED AT EITHER END OF SAID WEIR FOR DIRECTING A FLOW OF SAID LIQUID FROM SAID INLET OVER SAID WEIR, SECOND BAFFLE MEANS SPACED AWAY FROM SAID WEIR FOR DIFINING A GRAVITATIONAL FALL ZONE IN SAID CONDUIT SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVE WITH SAID WEIR THEREBY ENABLING FORMATION OF A HIGHLY TURBULENT FROTH COLUMN OF BOBBLES IN SAID FALL ZONE; AND MEANS FOR INJECTING SAID GAS INTO SAID CONDUIT AT T CONTROLLED RATE TO ESTABLISH A GAS ENRICHED SPACE IN SAID CONDUIT IN CONTACT WITH SAID LIQUID FALLING OVER SAID WEIR AND SAID FROTH COLUMN IN SAID FALL ZONE TO THEREBY EFFECT THE DISSOLUTION OF AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID GAS IN SAID LIQUID.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 11 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said gas is oxygen.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 89 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first baffle means comprises a pair of transverse baffle plates, one at either end of said weir, and said second baffle means comprises a longitudinal baffle plate disposed substantially parallel to said weir, said longitudinal baffle plate extending substantially vertically downward from an upper portion of said conduit beyond the edge of said weir to a location above the bottom of said conduit to permit the flow of said liquid between said longitudinal baffle plate and the bottom of said conduit.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 15 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said liquid comprises wastewater containing activated sludge solids.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 180 words

Apparatus for dissolving oxygen in a liquid comprising: a plurality of enclosure means arranged in series and interconnected by conduit means, each of said enclosure means including gravitational fall zone means for generating and maintaining by the free fall of said liquid therein a highly turbulent froth column of said bubbles extending upwardly in said fall zone means, inlet means for admitting said liquid into each of said enclosure means and subjecting said liquid to said fall zone means at a determinable flow rate, and outlet means for passing the effluent of each of said enclosure means to said interconnecting conduit means; means for injecting oxygen into said apparatus at controlled rates to establish in each enclosure means an oxygen enriched gas space in contact with said falling liquid and said froth column; means for sensing the rate of oxygen consumption by said liquid in at least one of said enclosure means; and means for regulating the height of the gravitational fall in enclosure means wherein said rate of oxygen consumption is sensed by controlling said rate of oxygen injection.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 180 words

Apparatus for dissolving oxygen in a liquid comprising: a plurality of enclosure means arranged in series and interconnected by conduit means, each of said enclosure means including gravitational fall zone means for generating and maintaining by the free fall of said liquid therein a highly turbulent froth column of said bubbles extending upwardly in said fall zone means, inlet means for admitting said liquid into each of said enclosure means and subjecting said liquid to said fall zone means at a determinable flow rate, and outlet means for passing the effluent of each of said enclosure means to said interconnecting conduit means; means for injecting oxygen into said apparatus at controlled rates to establish in each enclosure means an oxygen enriched gas space in contact with said falling liquid and said froth column; means for sensing the rate of oxygen consumption by said liquid in at least one of said enclosure means; and means for regulating the height of the gravitational fall in enclosure means wherein said rate of oxygen consumption is sensed by controlling said rate of oxygen injection.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 15 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said liquid comprises wastewater containing activated sludge solids.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 175 words

A METHOD OF INCREASING THE OXYGEN CONTENT OF A LIQUID STREAM FLOWING THROUGH A PLURALITY OF ENCLOSED GRAVITATIONAL FALL ZONES EACH HAVING AN INLET AND AN LUTLET LINKING SEPARATE LIQUID LEVELS THEREBETWEEN WITH THE OUTLET OF ONE OF SAID ENCLOSED FALL ZONES INTERCONNECTED THROUGH CONDIUT MEANS TO THE INLET OF A SUCCEEDING ENCLOSED FALL ZONE MEANS, AND COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: INJECTING OXYGEN AT A CONTROLLED RATE TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN AN OXYGEN ENRICHED GAS SPACE IN EACH OF SAID ENCLOSED FALL ZONES; AND SUBJECTING SAID STREAM TO SUCCESSIVE UNCONFINED FREE FALLS THROUGH SAID PLURALITY OF ENCLOSED FALL ZONES AT A SUPERFICIAL FLOW VELOCITY WITHIN THE RANGE OF ABOUT 0.5 FT./SEC. TO 2.0 FT./SEC. AND AT A FLOW RATE SUBSTANTIALLY INDEPENDENT OF THE RATE AT WHICH OXYGEN IS INJECTED WITH EACH FALL ZONE BEING OF SUFFICIENT HEIGHT TO GENERATE AND MAINTAIN BY FREE FALL OF SAID STREAM, A HIGHLY TURBULENT FROTH COLUMN OF BUBBLES EXTENDING UPWARDLY IN EACH OF SAID FALL ZONES WHEREBY A HIGH RATE OF OXYGEN TRANSFER INTO SAID LIQUID STREAM IS ENABLED.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 175 words

A METHOD OF INCREASING THE OXYGEN CONTENT OF A LIQUID STREAM FLOWING THROUGH A PLURALITY OF ENCLOSED GRAVITATIONAL FALL ZONES EACH HAVING AN INLET AND AN LUTLET LINKING SEPARATE LIQUID LEVELS THEREBETWEEN WITH THE OUTLET OF ONE OF SAID ENCLOSED FALL ZONES INTERCONNECTED THROUGH CONDIUT MEANS TO THE INLET OF A SUCCEEDING ENCLOSED FALL ZONE MEANS, AND COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: INJECTING OXYGEN AT A CONTROLLED RATE TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN AN OXYGEN ENRICHED GAS SPACE IN EACH OF SAID ENCLOSED FALL ZONES; AND SUBJECTING SAID STREAM TO SUCCESSIVE UNCONFINED FREE FALLS THROUGH SAID PLURALITY OF ENCLOSED FALL ZONES AT A SUPERFICIAL FLOW VELOCITY WITHIN THE RANGE OF ABOUT 0.5 FT./SEC. TO 2.0 FT./SEC. AND AT A FLOW RATE SUBSTANTIALLY INDEPENDENT OF THE RATE AT WHICH OXYGEN IS INJECTED WITH EACH FALL ZONE BEING OF SUFFICIENT HEIGHT TO GENERATE AND MAINTAIN BY FREE FALL OF SAID STREAM, A HIGHLY TURBULENT FROTH COLUMN OF BUBBLES EXTENDING UPWARDLY IN EACH OF SAID FALL ZONES WHEREBY A HIGH RATE OF OXYGEN TRANSFER INTO SAID LIQUID STREAM IS ENABLED.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 44 words

A method as defined in claim 7 additionally comprising the step of raising the liquid stream from the outlet of one fall zone to the inlet of the next successive fall zone such that a gravitational fall of the liquid stream may be effected.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-12-22	1979-06-23	1979-12-23	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-12-22	1983-06-23	1983-12-23	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-12-22	1987-06-23	1987-12-23	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Gas absorption system and method

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