Patent · US Expired

Gas-liquid vortex mixer and method

US5916491A · kind A · utility

32Cited by
27References
33Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJan 16, 1997
Grant dateJun 29, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 16, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02W10/10
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

An apparatus and method are provided for mixing gas and liquid. An impeller is rotatably mounted inside a draft tube. Inlet baffles are mounted adjacent the inlet end of the draft tube in close proximity to the impeller. In addition, outlet baffles are mounted adjacent the outlet end of the draft tube in close proximity to the impeller. Rotation of the impeller draws liquid down through the draft tube and creates vortices which serve to entrain gas into the liquid. The provision of inlet and outlet baffles directly adjacent the rotating impeller produces high gas entrainment and shear rates and improves gas transfer efficiency. The gas-liquid vortex mixer is particularly suitable for treating industrial and municipal waste water, as well as various other liquids. Gases such as air, oxygen, hydrogen, and the like are efficiently dissolved in such liquids during operation of the gas-liquid vortex mixer.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.