Direct injection contact apparatus for severe services

Claim 1

An apparatus for directly contacting a first fluid with a second fluid, said apparatus comprising; a sealed chamber assembly comprising a chamber wall defining a chamber bore having a chamber bore diameter and a chamber longitudinal axis, said chamber wall comprising an injection port extending through said chamber wall perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the chamber bore and tangential to an inner periphery of said chamber assembly, said injection port being in fluid communication with said second fluid; a combining tube comprising a combining tube wall defining a combining tube bore having a combining tube bore diameter that is less than said chamber bore diameter and having a combining tube longitudinal axis which is substantially the same as said chamber longitudinal axis, said combining tube bore comprising an upstream port and a downstream port in fluid communication with said first fluid, said chamber wall and said combining tube wall defining an annular space therebetween, said chamber wall being at radial distance from said combining tube wall which is greater than 40% of said injection port diameter; said combining tube wall comprising an upstream set of perforations adjacent to said upstream port, a downstream set of perforations adjacent to said downstream port, and an unperforated section between said upstream set of perforations and said downstream set of perforations, said unperforated section being adjacent to said injection port and extending beyond said injection port in both the upstream and downstream directions along said combining tube wall, wherein said upstream set of perforations and said downstream set of perforations have perforation longitudinal axes at an upstream to downstream angle to said chamber longitudinal axis of from about −60 to about 60° and have a lateral offset to said chamber longitudinal axis of from about −15° to about 15°.

Claim 2

An apparatus for directly contacting a first fluid with a second fluid, said apparatus comprising; a sealed chamber assembly comprising a chamber wall defining a chamber bore having a chamber bore diameter and a chamber longitudinal axis, said chamber wall comprising an injection port extending through said chamber wall perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the chamber bore and tangential to an inner periphery of said chamber assembly, said injection port being in fluid communication with said second fluid; a combining tube comprising a combining tube wall defining a combining tube bore having a combining tube bore diameter that is less than said chamber bore diameter and having a combining tube longitudinal axis which is substantially the same as said chamber longitudinal axis, said combining tube bore comprising an upstream port and a downstream port in fluid communication with said first fluid, said chamber wall and said combining tube wall defining an annular space therebetween, said chamber wall being at radial distance from said combining tube wall which is greater than 40% of said injection port diameter; said combining tube wall comprising an upstream set of perforations adjacent to said upstream port, a downstream set of perforations adjacent to said downstream port, and an unperforated section between said upstream set of perforations and said downstream set of perforations, said unperforated section being adjacent to said injection port and extending beyond said injection port in both the upstream and downstream directions along said combining tube wall, wherein said upstream set of perforations and said downstream set of perforations have perforation longitudinal axes at an upstream to downstream angle to said chamber longitudinal axis of from about −60 to about 60° and have a lateral offset to said chamber longitudinal axis of from about −15° to about 15°.

Claim 22

An apparatus for directly contacting a first fluid with a second fluid, said apparatus comprising; a sealed chamber assembly comprising a chamber wall defining a chamber bore having a chamber bore diameter and a chamber longitudinal axis, said chamber wall comprising an injection port extending through said chamber wall perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the chamber bore and tangential to an inner periphery of said chamber assembly, said injection port being in fluid communication with said second fluid; a combining tube comprising a combining tube wall defining a combining tube bore having a combining tube bore diameter that is less than said chamber bore diameter and having a combining tube longitudinal axis which is substantially the same as said chamber longitudinal axis, said combining tube bore comprising an upstream port and a downstream port in fluid communication with said first fluid, said chamber wall and said combining tube wall defining an annular space therebetween, said chamber wall being at radial distance from said combining tube wall which is greater than 40% of said injection port diameter; said combining tube wall comprising an upstream set of perforations adjacent to said upstream port, a downstream set of perforations adjacent to said downstream port, and an unperforated section between said first set of perforations and said second set of perforations, said unperforated section being adjacent to said injection port, and extending beyond said injection port in both the upstream and downstream directions along said combining tube wall; said injection port being adapted to produce a tangential flow pattern which does not directly impinge said combining tube wall; said sealed chamber assembly and said perforations being adapted to produce a turbulent flow of said first fluid and said second fluid within said combining tube bore upon injection of said second fluid through said injection port.

Claim 23

An apparatus for directly contacting a first fluid with a second fluid, said apparatus comprising; a sealed chamber assembly comprising a chamber wall defining a chamber bore having a chamber bore diameter and a chamber longitudinal axis, said chamber wall comprising an injection port extending through said chamber wall perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the chamber bore and tangential to an inner periphery of said chamber assembly, said injection port being in fluid communication with said second fluid; a combining tube comprising a combining tube wall defining a combining tube bore having a combining tube bore diameter that is less than said chamber bore diameter and having a combining tube longitudinal axis which is substantially the same as said chamber longitudinal axis, said combining tube bore comprising an upstream port and a downstream port in fluid communication with said first fluid, said chamber wall and said combining tube wall defining an annular space therebetween, said chamber wall being at radial distance from said combining tube wall which is greater than 40% of said injection port diameter; said combining tube wall comprising an upstream set of perforations adjacent to said upstream port, a downstream set of perforations adjacent to said downstream port, and an unperforated section between said first set of perforations and said second set of perforations, said unperforated section being adjacent to said injection port, and extending beyond said injection port in both the upstream and downstream directions along said combining tube wall; said injection port being adapted to produce a tangential flow pattern which does not directly impinge said combining tube wall; said sealed chamber assembly and said perforations being adapted to produce a turbulent flow of said first fluid and said second fluid within said combining tube bore upon injection of said second fluid through said injection port.

Claim 27

An apparatus for directly contacting a first fluid with a second fluid, said apparatus comprising; a sealed chamber assembly comprising a chamber wall defining a chamber bore having a chamber bore diameter and a chamber longitudinal axis, said chamber wall comprising an injection port, said injection port being in fluid communication with said second fluid; a combining tube comprising a combining tube wall defining a combining tube bore having a combining tube bore diameter that is less than said chamber bore diameter and having a combining tube longitudinal axis which is substantially the same as said chamber longitudinal axis, said combining tube bore comprising an upstream port and a downstream port in fluid communication with said first fluid, said chamber wall and said combining tube wall defining an annular space therebetween, said combining tube comprising a tip bevel comprising a protrusion adapted to mate with a bore bevel of an outlet assembly in a sliding fit; said combining tube wall comprising an upstream set of perforations adjacent to said upstream port, a downstream set of perforations adjacent to said downstream port, and an unperforated section between said upstream set of perforations and said downstream set of perforations, said unperforated section being adjacent to said injection port; said injection port being adapted to prevent said second fluid from directly impinging said combining tube wall; said sealed chamber assembly and said perforations being adapted to produce a turbulent flow of said first fluid and said second fluid within said combining tube bore upon injection of said second fluid through said injection port.

Claim 28

An apparatus for directly contacting a first fluid with a second fluid, said apparatus comprising; a sealed chamber assembly comprising a chamber wall defining a chamber bore having a chamber bore diameter and a chamber longitudinal axis, said chamber wall comprising an injection port, said injection port being in fluid communication with said second fluid; a combining tube comprising a combining tube wall defining a combining tube bore having a combining tube bore diameter that is less than said chamber bore diameter and having a combining tube longitudinal axis which is substantially the same as said chamber longitudinal axis, said combining tube bore comprising an upstream port and a downstream port in fluid communication with said first fluid, said chamber wall and said combining tube wall defining an annular space therebetween, said combining tube comprising a tip bevel comprising a protrusion adapted to mate with a bore bevel of an outlet assembly in a sliding fit; said combining tube wall comprising an upstream set of perforations adjacent to said upstream port, a downstream set of perforations adjacent to said downstream port, and an unperforated section between said upstream set of perforations and said downstream set of perforations, said unperforated section being adjacent to said injection port; said injection port being adapted to prevent said second fluid from directly impinging said combining tube wall; said sealed chamber assembly and said perforations being adapted to produce a turbulent flow of said first fluid and said second fluid within said combining tube bore upon injection of said second fluid through said injection port.

Claim 39

An apparatus for directly contacting a first fluid with a second fluid, said apparatus comprising; a sealed chamber assembly comprising a chamber wall defining a chamber bore having a chamber bore diameter and a chamber longitudinal axis, said chamber wall comprising an injection port extending through said chamber wall perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the chamber bore and tangential to an inner periphery of said chamber assembly, said injection port being in fluid communication with said second fluid; a combining tube comprising a combining tube wall defining a combining tube bore having a combining tube bore diameter that is less than said chamber bore diameter and having a combining tube longitudinal axis which is substantially the same as said chamber longitudinal axis, said combining tube bore comprising an upstream port and a downstream port in fluid communication with said first fluid, said chamber wall and said combining tube wall defining an annular space therebetween, said chamber wall being at radial distance from said combining tube wall which is greater than 40% of said injection port diameter; said combining tube wall comprising an upstream set of perforations adjacent to said upstream port, a downstream set of perforations adjacent to said downstream port, and an unperforated section between said upstream set of perforations and said downstream set of perforations, said unperforated section being adjacent to said injection port and extending beyond said injection port in both the upstream and downstream directions along said combining tube wall, said sealed chamber assembly and said perforations being adapted to produce a turbulent flow of said first fluid and said second fluid within said combining tube bore upon injection of said second fluid through said injection port; said upstream set of perforations being adapted to facilitate flow of said second fluid into said combining tube bore from the most upstream end of said annular space and said downstream set of perforations being adapted to facilitate flow of said second fluid into said combining tube bore from the most downstream end of said annular space.

Claim 40

An apparatus for directly contacting a first fluid with a second fluid, said apparatus comprising; a sealed chamber assembly comprising a chamber wall defining a chamber bore having a chamber bore diameter and a chamber longitudinal axis, said chamber wall comprising an injection port extending through said chamber wall perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the chamber bore and tangential to an inner periphery of said chamber assembly, said injection port being in fluid communication with said second fluid; a combining tube comprising a combining tube wall defining a combining tube bore having a combining tube bore diameter that is less than said chamber bore diameter and having a combining tube longitudinal axis which is substantially the same as said chamber longitudinal axis, said combining tube bore comprising an upstream port and a downstream port in fluid communication with said first fluid, said chamber wall and said combining tube wall defining an annular space therebetween, said chamber wall being at radial distance from said combining tube wall which is greater than 40% of said injection port diameter; said combining tube wall comprising an upstream set of perforations adjacent to said upstream port, a downstream set of perforations adjacent to said downstream port, and an unperforated section between said upstream set of perforations and said downstream set of perforations, said unperforated section being adjacent to said injection port and extending beyond said injection port in both the upstream and downstream directions along said combining tube wall, said sealed chamber assembly and said perforations being adapted to produce a turbulent flow of said first fluid and said second fluid within said combining tube bore upon injection of said second fluid through said injection port; said upstream set of perforations being adapted to facilitate flow of said second fluid into said combining tube bore from the most upstream end of said annular space and said downstream set of perforations being adapted to facilitate flow of said second fluid into said combining tube bore from the most downstream end of said annular space.

Claim 41

An apparatus for directly contacting a first fluid with a second fluid, said apparatus comprising; a sealed chamber assembly comprising a stinger assembly, a chamber assembly, and an outlet assembly, each comprising an upstream end and a downstream end; said stinger assembly comprising a combining tube comprising a combining tube wall defining a combining tube bore having a longitudinal axis extending lengthwise through said sealed chamber assembly from an upstream port to a downstream port, said combining tube extending from an upstream junction with an inlet transition through a stinger end closure flange to a mating hole in said outlet assembly; said combining tube comprising a tip bevel comprising a protrusion at an angle from upstream to downstream of about 10° to about 30° relative to said combining tube bore longitudinal axis extending about 5 mm to about 10 mm beyond said mating hole; said combining tube wall comprising an upstream set of perforations adjacent to said upstream port, a downstream set of perforations adjacent to said downstream port, and an unperforated section between said upstream set of perforations and said downstream set of perforations, said perforations having an internal diameter of about 5 to about 10 millimeters wherein said perforations comprise adjacent circumferential rows having the same number of perforations per row, wherein perforations for a given row are at a relative circumferential rotation of about 15° relative to perforations in adjacent rows, resulting in a three row repeating pattern; wherein said upstream to downstream angle of said perforations is about 45°; said chamber assembly comprising a chamber body comprising an inner wall and comprising an upstream chamber closure flange and a downstream chamber closure flange; a chamber wall defining a chamber bore comprising a longitudinal axis through said chamber body; said chamber assembly comprising an annular space between said inner wall of said chamber assembly and said combining tube wall; said chamber assembly comprising a fluid inlet subassembly comprising an inlet connection, an inlet line and a tangential diverter in sealed fluid communication with said annular space adjacent to said unperforated section of said combining tube; said outlet assembly comprising an inner wall and comprising an outlet end closure flange and an outlet connection; said outlet end closure flange further comprising said mating hole and a sealing face; said mating hole comprising a bore bevel from about 5 to about 10 millimeters downstream of said sealing face, said bore bevel proceeding toward said sealing face at an angle of about 30° to about 45° relative to said chamber longitudinal axis.

Claim 42

An apparatus for directly contacting a first fluid with a second fluid, said apparatus comprising; a sealed chamber assembly comprising a stinger assembly, a chamber assembly, and an outlet assembly, each comprising an upstream end and a downstream end; said stinger assembly comprising a combining tube comprising a combining tube wall defining a combining tube bore having a longitudinal axis extending lengthwise through said sealed chamber assembly from an upstream port to a downstream port, said combining tube extending from an upstream junction with an inlet transition through a stinger end closure flange to a mating hole in said outlet assembly; said combining tube comprising a tip bevel comprising a protrusion at an angle from upstream to downstream of about 10° to about 30° relative to said combining tube bore longitudinal axis extending about 5 mm to about 10 mm beyond said mating hole; said combining tube wall comprising an upstream set of perforations adjacent to said upstream port, a downstream set of perforations adjacent to said downstream port, and an unperforated section between said upstream set of perforations and said downstream set of perforations, said perforations having an internal diameter of about 5 to about 10 millimeters wherein said perforations comprise adjacent circumferential rows having the same number of perforations per row, wherein perforations for a given row are at a relative circumferential rotation of about 15° relative to perforations in adjacent rows, resulting in a three row repeating pattern; wherein said upstream to downstream angle of said perforations is about 45°; said chamber assembly comprising a chamber body comprising an inner wall and comprising an upstream chamber closure flange and a downstream chamber closure flange; a chamber wall defining a chamber bore comprising a longitudinal axis through said chamber body; said chamber assembly comprising an annular space between said inner wall of said chamber assembly and said combining tube wall; said chamber assembly comprising a fluid inlet subassembly comprising an inlet connection, an inlet line and a tangential diverter in sealed fluid communication with said annular space adjacent to said unperforated section of said combining tube; said outlet assembly comprising an inner wall and comprising an outlet end closure flange and an outlet connection; said outlet end closure flange further comprising said mating hole and a sealing face; said mating hole comprising a bore bevel from about 5 to about 10 millimeters downstream of said sealing face, said bore bevel proceeding toward said sealing face at an angle of about 30° to about 45° relative to said chamber longitudinal axis.

Claim 44

An apparatus for directly contacting a first fluid with a second fluid, said apparatus comprising; a sealed chamber assembly comprising a chamber wall defining a chamber bore having a chamber bore diameter and a chamber longitudinal axis, said chamber wall comprising an injection port extending through said chamber wall perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the chamber bore and tangential to an inner periphery of said chamber assembly, said injection port being in fluid communication with said second fluid; a combining tube comprising a combining tube wall defining a combining tube bore having a combining tube bore diameter that is less than said chamber bore diameter and having a combining tube longitudinal axis which is substantially the same as said chamber longitudinal axis, said combining tube bore comprising an upstream port and a downstream port in fluid communication with said first fluid, said chamber wall and said combining tube wall defining an annular space therebetween, said chamber wall being at radial distance from said combining tube wall which is greater than 40% of said injection port diameter; said apparatus comprising means for preventing said second fluid from directly impinging said combining tube wall.

Claim 45

An apparatus for directly contacting a first fluid with a second fluid, said apparatus comprising; a sealed chamber assembly comprising a chamber wall defining a chamber bore having a chamber bore diameter and a chamber longitudinal axis, said chamber wall comprising an injection port extending through said chamber wall perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the chamber bore and tangential to an inner periphery of said chamber assembly, said injection port being in fluid communication with said second fluid; a combining tube comprising a combining tube wall defining a combining tube bore having a combining tube bore diameter that is less than said chamber bore diameter and having a combining tube longitudinal axis which is substantially the same as said chamber longitudinal axis, said combining tube bore comprising an upstream port and a downstream port in fluid communication with said first fluid, said chamber wall and said combining tube wall defining an annular space therebetween, said chamber wall being at radial distance from said combining tube wall which is greater than 40% of said injection port diameter; said apparatus comprising means for preventing said second fluid from directly impinging said combining tube wall.

Claim 46

An apparatus for directly contacting a first fluid with a second fluid, said apparatus comprising: a sealed chamber assembly comprising a chamber wall defining a chamber bore having a chamber bore diameter and a chamber bore longitudinal axis, said chamber wall comprising an injection port extending through said chamber wall perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the chamber bore and tangential to an inner periphery of said chamber assembly, said injection port being in fluid communication with said second fluid, and; a combining tube comprising a combining tube wall defining a combining tube bore having a combining tube bore diameter that is less than said chamber bore diameter and having a combining tube longitudinal axis which is substantially the same as said chamber longitudinal axis, said combining tube bore comprising an upstream port and a downstream port in fluid communication with said first fluid, said chamber wall and said combining tube wall defining an annular space therebetween, said chamber wall being at radial distance from said combining tube wall which is greater than 40% of said injection port diameter, said combining tube wall comprising an upstream set of perforations adjacent to said upstream port, a downstream set of perforations adjacent to said downstream port, and an unperforated section between said upstream set of perforations and said downstream set of perforations, said unperforated section being adjacent to said injection port and extending beyond said injection port in both the upstream and downstream directions along said combining tube wall; said sealed chamber assembly and said perforations being adapted to produce a turbulent flow of said first fluid and said second fluid within said combining tube bore upon injection of said second fluid through said injection port, said turbulent flow being consistent with non-fouling operation of said apparatus.

Claim 47

An apparatus for directly contacting a first fluid with a second fluid, said apparatus comprising: a sealed chamber assembly comprising a chamber wall defining a chamber bore having a chamber bore diameter and a chamber bore longitudinal axis, said chamber wall comprising an injection port extending through said chamber wall perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the chamber bore and tangential to an inner periphery of said chamber assembly, said injection port being in fluid communication with said second fluid, and; a combining tube comprising a combining tube wall defining a combining tube bore having a combining tube bore diameter that is less than said chamber bore diameter and having a combining tube longitudinal axis which is substantially the same as said chamber longitudinal axis, said combining tube bore comprising an upstream port and a downstream port in fluid communication with said first fluid, said chamber wall and said combining tube wall defining an annular space therebetween, said chamber wall being at radial distance from said combining tube wall which is greater than 40% of said injection port diameter, said combining tube wall comprising an upstream set of perforations adjacent to said upstream port, a downstream set of perforations adjacent to said downstream port, and an unperforated section between said upstream set of perforations and said downstream set of perforations, said unperforated section being adjacent to said injection port and extending beyond said injection port in both the upstream and downstream directions along said combining tube wall; said sealed chamber assembly and said perforations being adapted to produce a turbulent flow of said first fluid and said second fluid within said combining tube bore upon injection of said second fluid through said injection port, said turbulent flow being consistent with non-fouling operation of said apparatus.

Claim 49

An apparatus for directly contacting a first fluid with a second fluid, said apparatus comprising: a sealed chamber assembly comprising a chamber wall having a chamber wall inner periphery defining a chamber bore having a chamber bore diameter and a chamber bore longitudinal axis, said chamber wall comprising an injection port, said injection port being in fluid communication with said second fluid, said injection port having an injection port inside diameter defining an injection port inner periphery, said injection port being located laterally along said chamber wall essentially equidistant from either end of said sealed chamber assembly, said injection port inner periphery being tangent to said chamber wall along said chamber wall inner periphery and oriented with regard to said chamber wall in such a manner as to introduce said second fluid into said chamber bore at an angle essentially perpendicular to said chamber bore longitudinal axis and tangential to said chamber wall inner periphery; a combining tube comprising a combining tube wall having a combining tube outer periphery and a combining tube inner periphery said combining tube inner periphery defining a combining tube bore, said combining tube bore having a combining tube longitudinal axis which is substantially the same as said chamber bore longitudinal axis, said combining tube bore comprising an upstream port and a downstream port in fluid communication with said first fluid, said combining tube outer periphery defining a combining tube outside diameter which is less than said chamber bore diameter, said chamber wall inner periphery and said combining tube outer periphery defining an annular space therebetween, said combining tube ouside diameter being such that the distance between the said combining tube outer periphery and the said chamber wall inner periphery is greater than 40% of said injection port inside diameter; said combining tube wall comprising an upstream set of perforations adjacent to said upstream port, a downstream set of perforations adjacent to said downstream port, and an unperforated section between said upstream set of perforations and said downstream set of perforations, said unperforated section being adjacent to said injection port and extending beyond said injection port in both the upstream and downstream directions along said combining tube wall; said sealed chamber assembly and said perforations being adapted to produce a turbulent flow of said first fluid and said second fluid within said combining tube bore upon injection of said second fluid through said injection port, said turbulent flow being consistent with non-fouling operation of said apparatus.

Claim 50

An apparatus for directly contacting a first fluid with a second fluid, said apparatus comprising: a sealed chamber assembly comprising a chamber wall having a chamber wall inner periphery defining a chamber bore having a chamber bore diameter and a chamber bore longitudinal axis, said chamber wall comprising an injection port, said injection port being in fluid communication with said second fluid, said injection port having an injection port inside diameter defining an injection port inner periphery, said injection port being located laterally along said chamber wall essentially equidistant from either end of said sealed chamber assembly, said injection port inner periphery being tangent to said chamber wall along said chamber wall inner periphery and oriented with regard to said chamber wall in such a manner as to introduce said second fluid into said chamber bore at an angle essentially perpendicular to said chamber bore longitudinal axis and tangential to said chamber wall inner periphery; a combining tube comprising a combining tube wall having a combining tube outer periphery and a combining tube inner periphery said combining tube inner periphery defining a combining tube bore, said combining tube bore having a combining tube longitudinal axis which is substantially the same as said chamber bore longitudinal axis, said combining tube bore comprising an upstream port and a downstream port in fluid communication with said first fluid, said combining tube outer periphery defining a combining tube outside diameter which is less than said chamber bore diameter, said chamber wall inner periphery and said combining tube outer periphery defining an annular space therebetween, said combining tube ouside diameter being such that the distance between the said combining tube outer periphery and the said chamber wall inner periphery is greater than 40% of said injection port inside diameter; said combining tube wall comprising an upstream set of perforations adjacent to said upstream port, a downstream set of perforations adjacent to said downstream port, and an unperforated section between said upstream set of perforations and said downstream set of perforations, said unperforated section being adjacent to said injection port and extending beyond said injection port in both the upstream and downstream directions along said combining tube wall; said sealed chamber assembly and said perforations being adapted to produce a turbulent flow of said first fluid and said second fluid within said combining tube bore upon injection of said second fluid through said injection port, said turbulent flow being consistent with non-fouling operation of said apparatus.