US4931225A — Method and apparatus for dispersing a gas into a …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 124 words

An apparatus connected to a source of gas and liquid for dispersing said gas in said liquid, said apparatus comprising: (a) at least one means for injecting said gas into said liquid, wherein said means injects said gas at a linear velocity which is at least sonic for at least a portion of said gas flow at the time said gas contacts said liquid, said injection means being located in communication with the entrance to a flow accelerating configuration; and (b) at least one flow accelerating configuration for accelerating at least a portion a mixture of said gas and liquid flowing therethrough to sonic velocity, said flow accelerating configuration positioned so that gas injected by said gas injection means enters said flow accelerating configuration.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 124 words

An apparatus connected to a source of gas and liquid for dispersing said gas in said liquid, said apparatus comprising: (a) at least one means for injecting said gas into said liquid, wherein said means injects said gas at a linear velocity which is at least sonic for at least a portion of said gas flow at the time said gas contacts said liquid, said injection means being located in communication with the entrance to a flow accelerating configuration; and (b) at least one flow accelerating configuration for accelerating at least a portion a mixture of said gas and liquid flowing therethrough to sonic velocity, said flow accelerating configuration positioned so that gas injected by said gas injection means enters said flow accelerating configuration.

Claim 3

Independent Claim 106 words

An apparatus for dispersing a gas in a liquid, said apparatus comprising: (a) at least one means for injecting a gas into a liquid, wherein said means is located in communication with the entrance to a flow accelerating configuration and off-center from the center line of said flow accelerating configuration; and (b) at least one flow accelerating configuration for accelerating a mixture of said gas and liquid to a linear velocity which is at least sonic for at least a portion of the flow of said mixture, said flow accelerating configuration positioned so that gas injected by said gas injection means enters said flow accelerating configuration.

Claim 4

Independent Claim 106 words

An apparatus for dispersing a gas in a liquid, said apparatus comprising: (a) at least one means for injecting a gas into a liquid, wherein said means is located in communication with the entrance to a flow accelerating configuration and off-center from the center line of said flow accelerating configuration; and (b) at least one flow accelerating configuration for accelerating a mixture of said gas and liquid to a linear velocity which is at least sonic for at least a portion of the flow of said mixture, said flow accelerating configuration positioned so that gas injected by said gas injection means enters said flow accelerating configuration.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said injection means and said flow accelerating configuration are positioned inside a pipeline.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 39 words

The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said injection means is positioned vertically beneath the entrance to said flow accelerating configuration, whereby the buoyancy force of said injected gas moves said gas into said flow accelerating configuration.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 44 words

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for injecting a gas is capable of injecting said gas at a linear velocity which is at least sonic for at least a portion of said gas flow at the time said gas contacts said liquid.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 16 words

The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said flow accelerating configuration comprises a venturi.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said injection means is located off-center from the center line of said flow accelerating configuration.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the throat length of said venturi is the minimal length which can be reasonably fabricated.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said gas injection means is positioned inside the compression or entrance cone of said venturi.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said gas injection means is positioned inside the compression or entrance cone of said venturi.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 27 words

The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said injection means is at least 0.1 pipeline diameters upstream of said flow accelerating configuration minimum diameter opening.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said flow accelerating configuration is a venturi.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said venturi configuration throat length is the minimal length which can be reasonably fabricated.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 19 words

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said injector is positioned within the compression cone of said venturi compression cone.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 18 words

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said injector is positioned off the centerline from said venturi throat opening.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 42 words

The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said flow accelerating configuration minimum opening is as large as possible and still provides sufficient supersonic velocity in said at least a portion of said gas-liquid mixture to accomplish the desired gas dispersion.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus of claim 6 including a means for controlling the back pressure at the exit from the expansion cone of said venturi.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 94 words

A method of dissolving a gas in a liquid, said method comprising: (a) contacting said liquid with said gas to be dissolved therein by injecting said gas into said liquid through a nozzle at a linear velocity which is at least sonic for at least a portion of said gas at the time it contacts said liquid; (b) causing cocurrent flow of a composition comprising said injected gas in said liquid; and (c) causing at least a portion of said cocurrently flowing composition to flow at a linear velocity which is at least sonic.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 94 words

A method of dissolving a gas in a liquid, said method comprising: (a) contacting said liquid with said gas to be dissolved therein by injecting said gas into said liquid through a nozzle at a linear velocity which is at least sonic for at least a portion of said gas at the time it contacts said liquid; (b) causing cocurrent flow of a composition comprising said injected gas in said liquid; and (c) causing at least a portion of said cocurrently flowing composition to flow at a linear velocity which is at least sonic.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 18 wherein said method is carried out inside a pipeline.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 18 wherein causing at least a portion of said cocurrently flowing composition to flow at a lineat velocity which is at least sonic includes conducting said cocurrently flowing composition through at least one flow accelerating configuration.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 20 and including directing said cocurrently flowing composition into and off centerline of said at least one flow accelerating configuration.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 20 further including the step of controlling the back pressure of said at least one flow accelerating configuration.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 103 words

A method of dispersing a gaseous or vaporous reactant into a reactant liquid or into a liquid containing a reactant, said method comprising: (a) contacting said gaseous reactant with said liquid by injecting said gas into said liquid through a nozzle at a linear velocity which is at least sonic for at least a portion of said gas at the time it contacts said liquid; (b) causing cocurrent flow of a composition comprising said injected gaseous reactant in said liquid; and (c) causing at least a portion of said cocurrently flowing composition to flow at a linear velocity which is at least sonic.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 103 words

A method of dispersing a gaseous or vaporous reactant into a reactant liquid or into a liquid containing a reactant, said method comprising: (a) contacting said gaseous reactant with said liquid by injecting said gas into said liquid through a nozzle at a linear velocity which is at least sonic for at least a portion of said gas at the time it contacts said liquid; (b) causing cocurrent flow of a composition comprising said injected gaseous reactant in said liquid; and (c) causing at least a portion of said cocurrently flowing composition to flow at a linear velocity which is at least sonic.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 23 wherein said method is carried out inside a pipeline.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 23 wherein causing at least a portion of said cocurrently flowing composition to flow at a linear velocity which is at least sonic includes conducting said cocurrently flowing composition through at least one flow accelerating configuration.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 25 and including directing said cocurrently flowing composition into and off centerline of said at least one flow accelerating configuration.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 25 further including the step of controlling the back pressure of said at least one flow accelerating configuration.

Claim 32

Independent Claim 73 words

A method for dispersing a gas in a liquid, said method comprising: (a) injecting said gate into said liquid; (b) causing cocurrent flow of a composition comprising said injected gas and at least a portion of said liquid; (c) directing said flow into and off centerline of at least one flow accelerating configuration; and (d) causing at least a portion of said composition to flow at a velocity which is at least sonic.

Claim 33

Independent Claim 73 words

A method for dispersing a gas in a liquid, said method comprising: (a) injecting said gate into said liquid; (b) causing cocurrent flow of a composition comprising said injected gas and at least a portion of said liquid; (c) directing said flow into and off centerline of at least one flow accelerating configuration; and (d) causing at least a portion of said composition to flow at a velocity which is at least sonic.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method of claim 28 wherein said gas is injected at a linear velocity which is at least sonic for at least a portion of said gas at the time it contacts said liquid.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 28 further including the step of controlling the back pressure of said at least one flow accelerating configuration.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-06-04	1993-12-04	1994-06-05	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-06-04	1997-12-04	1998-06-05	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-06-04	2001-12-04	2002-06-05	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for dispersing a gas into a liquid

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