Liquid membrane generator

Claim 1

An apparatus for generating a multiple phase emulsion and distributing said multiple phase emulsion as globules in a suspension phase, said apparatus comprising: means for introducing a first fluid under pressure into a first zone; said first zone including a porous fluid dispersing layer having a pore size ranging between about 100μ and 0.1μ for receiving said first fluid and dispersing said first fluid in a second zone through said porous fluid dispersing layer; means for introducing a second fluid under pressure into said second zone; said second zone for receiving said second fluid and said dispersed first fluid from said first zone with which said second fluid is immiscible, wherein said first fluid is dispersed in said second fluid as bubble-like microdroplets in said second fluid by passage of said first fluid through said fluid dispersing layer, thereby forming a multiple phase dispersion; an outlet zone comprising a perforated, substantially nonporous layer having an outer and inner surface, each perforation forming a communicative passageway through the nonporous layer between the outer and inner surfaces of said nonporous layer and forming orifices at the inner and outer surfaces of said nonporous layer, which orifices have a diameter ranging between about 3000 and and 10 microns, said outlet zone including a porous flow distribution layer which is in substantial contact with said inner surface of said nonporous layer, the pores of which flow distribution layer are smaller than the diameter of the orifices at the surface of the nonporous layer, said second zone being in fluid communication with said outlet zone through the perforated substantially nonporous layer, wherein said multiple phase dispersion formed in said second zone enters the outlet zone through the porous flow distribution layer and exits the outlet zone as globules of a predetermined size range through said perforated nonporous layer, the outer surface of said perforated nonporous layer forming an interface with the suspension phase which suspension phase is immiscible with said second fluid, wherein the pressure differential at the conditions of employment of said flow distribution layer is greater than or equal to 0.25 times the static pressure differential of an orifice of the communicative passageway of average size and shape formed at the outer surface of the nonporous layer.

Claim 2

An apparatus for generating a multiple phase emulsion and distributing said multiple phase emulsion as globules in a suspension phase, said apparatus comprising: means for introducing a first fluid under pressure into a first zone; said first zone including a porous fluid dispersing layer having a pore size ranging between about 100μ and 0.1μ for receiving said first fluid and dispersing said first fluid in a second zone through said porous fluid dispersing layer; means for introducing a second fluid under pressure into said second zone; said second zone for receiving said second fluid and said dispersed first fluid from said first zone with which said second fluid is immiscible, wherein said first fluid is dispersed in said second fluid as bubble-like microdroplets in said second fluid by passage of said first fluid through said fluid dispersing layer, thereby forming a multiple phase dispersion; an outlet zone comprising a perforated, substantially nonporous layer having an outer and inner surface, each perforation forming a communicative passageway through the nonporous layer between the outer and inner surfaces of said nonporous layer and forming orifices at the inner and outer surfaces of said nonporous layer, which orifices have a diameter ranging between about 3000 and and 10 microns, said outlet zone including a porous flow distribution layer which is in substantial contact with said inner surface of said nonporous layer, the pores of which flow distribution layer are smaller than the diameter of the orifices at the surface of the nonporous layer, said second zone being in fluid communication with said outlet zone through the perforated substantially nonporous layer, wherein said multiple phase dispersion formed in said second zone enters the outlet zone through the porous flow distribution layer and exits the outlet zone as globules of a predetermined size range through said perforated nonporous layer, the outer surface of said perforated nonporous layer forming an interface with the suspension phase which suspension phase is immiscible with said second fluid, wherein the pressure differential at the conditions of employment of said flow distribution layer is greater than or equal to 0.25 times the static pressure differential of an orifice of the communicative passageway of average size and shape formed at the outer surface of the nonporous layer.

Claim 7

An apparatus for generating a multiple phase emulsion and distributing said multiple phase emulsion as globules in a suspension phase, said apparatus comprising: means for introducing a multiple phase emulsion under pressure into a receiving zone; an outlet zone in fluid communication with said receiving zone comprising a perforated, substantially nonporous layer having an outer and inner surface, each perforation forming an orifice at the outer and inner surfaces of said nonporous layer, which orifices have a diameter ranging between about 3000 and 10 microns, said outlet zone including a porous flow distribution layer which is in substantial contact with the inner surface of said perforated nonporous layer, the pores of which flow distribution layer are smaller than the diameter of the orifices at the surface of the nonporous layer, wherein the multiple phase dispersion from the receiving zone enters the outlet zone through the porous flow distribution layer and exits said outlet zone as globules of a predetermined size range through said perforations where the outer surface of said nonporous layer forms an interface with said suspension phase immiscible with said multiple phase dispersion, wherein the pressure differential at the conditions of employment of said flow distribution layer is greater than or equal to 0.25 times the static pressure differential of an orifice of average size and shape formed at the outer surface of the nonporous layer.

Claim 8

An apparatus for generating a multiple phase emulsion and distributing said multiple phase emulsion as globules in a suspension phase, said apparatus comprising: means for introducing a multiple phase emulsion under pressure into a receiving zone; an outlet zone in fluid communication with said receiving zone comprising a perforated, substantially nonporous layer having an outer and inner surface, each perforation forming an orifice at the outer and inner surfaces of said nonporous layer, which orifices have a diameter ranging between about 3000 and 10 microns, said outlet zone including a porous flow distribution layer which is in substantial contact with the inner surface of said perforated nonporous layer, the pores of which flow distribution layer are smaller than the diameter of the orifices at the surface of the nonporous layer, wherein the multiple phase dispersion from the receiving zone enters the outlet zone through the porous flow distribution layer and exits said outlet zone as globules of a predetermined size range through said perforations where the outer surface of said nonporous layer forms an interface with said suspension phase immiscible with said multiple phase dispersion, wherein the pressure differential at the conditions of employment of said flow distribution layer is greater than or equal to 0.25 times the static pressure differential of an orifice of average size and shape formed at the outer surface of the nonporous layer.