Degassifying and mixing apparatus for liquids

Claim 1

Liquid degassifying apparatus comprising: a vacuum tight vessel for containment of liquid to be subjected to continuous degassing operations, the level of said liquid within said vessel producing a first liquid volume therein, the remainder of the volume of said vessel comprising a second volume; a header assembly within said second volume, said header assembly including a stacked, spaced plurality of axially narrow orifices, each of said orifices extending generally circumferentially about the axis of said header assembly to produce a plurality of cascades of spaced generally concentric, conical, liquid films into said first volume and means for adjusting the thickness of the liquid films; a first means including a liquid input and manifold for said header assembly, said manifold being formed of a generally cylindrical body having a generally axial cavity therein, and a liquid passage connecting each of said orifices to said liquid manifold; a second means for circulating said liquid from said first volume to said header assembly liquid input; and a third means for partially evacuating said second volume.