Air pollution control apparatus and process

Claim 2

A process for removing both solid and gaseous pollutants from a gas which comprises: a. providing a first inner contact zone eccentrically disposed within a second outer contact zone, said inner contact including packing material therein, said inner contact zone dividing said outer contact zero into an expansion flow passage and a restricted flow passage; b. flowing a scrubbing liquid into both said inner contact zone and said outer contact zone; c. flowing a gas sequentially along and through said inner and said outer contact zones, said gas being circulated in said outer contact zone and passing sequentially through said expansion flow passage and said restricted flow passage, and solid pollutants being removed from said gas in said outer contact zone and said gaseous pollutants being removed from said gas in said inner contact zone; and d. removing said liquid and gas from said zones.

Claim 3

The process in accordance with claim 1 which comprises flowing said gas at a predetermined flow rate and velocity, into said inner contact zone co-currently to and into contact with said liquid, whereby at least a portion of said gaseous components in said gas having an affinity for said liquid are transferred to said liquid, and thereafter flowing said gas into said expansion flow passage thereby causing said gas to expand, resulting in a concomitant decrease in gas flow velocity.

Claim 4

The process in accordance with claim 1 which comprises flowing said gas at a predetermined flow rate and velocity for a predetermined volume of the outer contact zone, into said outer contact zone; allowing said gas to expand and the flow velocity of said gas to decrease in said expansion flow passage thereby causing solid particles suspended in said gas to be removed from said gas, and further creating a pressure drop on said gas in said restricted flow passage thereby causing small particles and liquid entrained in said gas to be removed from said gas; and thereafter flowing said gas into said inner contact zone counter-currently to and into contact with said liquid whereby at least a portion of said gaseous components in said gas having an affinity for said liquid are transferred to said liquid.

Claim 5

Apparatus for use in removing both solid and gaseous pollutants from a gas comprising, in combination: an inner shell defining an inner contact zone having an inner fluid flow path therethrough; packing material disposed in said inner contact zone; an outer shell disposed about said shell and having end walls, the space between said inner and outer shells defining an outer contact zone having an outer fluid flow path therethrough disposed about said inner shell and communicating with said inner flow path; said inner shell being disposed eccentrically within said outer shell so that said inner shell divides said outer contact zone into an expansion flow passage and a restricted flow passage; first fluid feed means connected with said shells for introducing a scrubbing liquid into both said inner and outer contact zones; second fluid feed means connected with one of said shells including gas inlet means for circulating a gas sequentially along and through said inner and outer contact zones in a manner such that said gas is circulated in said outer contact zone so that it passes sequentially through both said expansion flow passage and said restricted flow passage; outlet means for said liquid connected with at least one of said shells; and outlet means for said gas connected with the one of said shells to which said second fluid feed means is not connected, one of said gas inlet and outlet means being connected with said inner shell without direct communication with said outer zone.

Claim 6

Apparatus for use in removing both solid and gaseous pollutants from a gas comprising, in combination: an inner shell defining an inner contact zone having an inner fluid flow path therethrough; packing material disposed in said inner contact zone; an outer shell disposed about said shell and having end walls, the space between said inner and outer shells defining an outer contact zone having an outer fluid flow path therethrough disposed about said inner shell and communicating with said inner flow path; said inner shell being disposed eccentrically within said outer shell so that said inner shell divides said outer contact zone into an expansion flow passage and a restricted flow passage; first fluid feed means connected with said shells for introducing a scrubbing liquid into both said inner and outer contact zones; second fluid feed means connected with one of said shells including gas inlet means for circulating a gas sequentially along and through said inner and outer contact zones in a manner such that said gas is circulated in said outer contact zone so that it passes sequentially through both said expansion flow passage and said restricted flow passage; outlet means for said liquid connected with at least one of said shells; and outlet means for said gas connected with the one of said shells to which said second fluid feed means is not connected, one of said gas inlet and outlet means being connected with said inner shell without direct communication with said outer zone.

Claim 7

The apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said inner shell is of circular cross-section and said outer shell is of circular cross-section.

Claim 8

The apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said gas inlet means is in direct communication with said outer contact zone, said outlet means for said gas is in direct communication with said inner contact zone, said first fluid feed means is in communication with said inner contact zone and said outlet means for said liquid is in communication with said outer contact zone.

Claim 9

The apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said gas inlet means is in direct communication with said contact zone, said outlet means for said gas is in communication with said outer contact zone, said first fluid feed means is in communication with said inner contact zone and said outlet means for said liquid is in communication with said outer contact zone.

Claim 10

The apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said outer shell and said inner shell are vertically disposed, so that said liquid and said gas flow in a substantially vertical direction therein.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said expansion flow passage has a cross-sectional area greater than the cross-sectional area of said gas inlet means.