Field of the invention

The invention relates to a sparger apparatus as defined in the preamble of independent claim 1.

A sparger is used to feed a first fluid such as gas into a second flowing liquid such as into a flowing liquid media. It is known in the prior art to use venture systems, and spargers comprising porous material such as ceramic, sintered or laser cut holing systems.

A known problem with spargers is the control of the bubble size of the first fluid that is fed into the second flowing fluid and to control the distribution of the bubbles of the first fluid in the second flowing fluid. Lack of control results in that tiny bubbles of first fluid merge together to create larger bubbles of first fluid or in that large bubbles of first fluid are divided to create smaller bubbles of first fluid that possible merge again.

Objective of the invention

The object of the invention is sparger apparatus that provides for a controlled feed of a first fluid such as gas into a second flowing liquid such as a flowing liquid media.

Short description of the invention

The sparger apparatus is characterized by the definitions of independent claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the sparger apparatus are defined in the dependent claims

2 to 37.

The invention relates also to a method for extracting particles from a second fluid as defined in claim 38.

Preferred embodiments of the method are defined in the dependent claims 39 to 41. List of figures

In the following the invention will described in more detail by referring to the figures, of which

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the sparger apparatus,

Figure 2 shows the sparger apparatus shown in figure 1 in partly cut state,

Figure 3 shows the sparger apparatus shown in figure 1 in partly cut state,

Figure 4 shows the sparger apparatus shown in figure 1 as cut along plane B-B in figure 1,

Figure 5 shows the sparger apparatus shown in figure 1 as seen from one side, Figure 6 shows the sparger apparatus shown in figure 1 as seen from another side, Figure 7 shows the sparger apparatus shown in figure 1 as cut along plane A-A in figure 5,

Figure 8 shows the sparger apparatus shown in figure 1 as seen from the downstream end,

Figure 9 shows the sparger apparatus shown in figure 1 as seen from yet another side, Figure 10 shows the sparger apparatus shown in figure 1 as cut along plane C-C in figure 9,

Figure 11 shows the sparger apparatus shown in figure 1 as cut along plane D-D in figure 9,

Figure 12 shows detail E in figure 11,

Figure 13 shows a pattern in which the opening of the nozzles can be arranged, Figure 14 is a section view of a second embodiment of the sparger apparatus, Figure 15 is a section view of a third embodiment of the sparger apparatus,

Figure 16 shows a fourth embodiment of the sparger apparatus as seen from one side, Figure 17 shows the sparger apparatus shown in figure 16 as cut along plane R-R in figure 16,

Figure 18 shows the sparger apparatus shown in figure 16 as cut along plane S-S in figure 16,

Figure 19 shows the sparger apparatus shown in figure 16 as seen from the downstream end,

Figure 20 shows the sparger apparatus shown in figure 16 as cut along plane T-T in figure 19,

Figure 21 shows detail X in figure 18, and

Figure 22 shows the sparger apparatus shown in figure 16 as seen from the upstream end.

Detailed description of the invention

The figures show examples of a sparger apparatus 1 for feeding a first fluid (not shown in the figures) into a second flowing fluid (not shown in the figures).

The first fluid can be gas such as air, oxygen, nitrogen, ozone, or carbon dioxide.

The second flowing fluid can be a flowing liquid media such as effluent, industrial process fluid, fresh water, raw water, mine water, process water, water that contains substances that requires biological oxygen demand, water that contains substances that requires chemical oxygen demand, or water that contains substances often called total organic carbons.

The sparger apparatus comprises a hollow tube member 2 defining a straight duct flow space 3 having an upstream inlet end 4 and a downstream outlet end 5.

The sparger apparatus comprises nozzles 6 in the straight duct flow space 3.

The nozzles 6 are configured to feed first fluid into second flowing fluid that is configured to flow in a direction of flow X in the straight duct flow space 3 from the upstream inlet end 4 to the downstream outlet end 5.

The nozzles 6 are provided in a sparger 7 arranged in the straight duct flow space 3.

The sparger 7 comprises wing elements 8; 9.

The nozzles 6 are provided at the wing elements 8; 9.

The wing elements 8;9 can configured to, for a moment, divide the flow of second flowing fluid in the straight duct flow space 3 for example into a laminar flow or into a transitional flow.

The openings 10 of the nozzles 6 are distributed at several positions along the direction of flow X so that the openings 10 forms upstream openings and downstream openings and so that each upstream opening is unfollowed by a downstream opening in the direction of flow X.

An advantage of the sparger apparatus is that the wing elements 8; 9 will protect the bubbles of first fluid that is fed from the openings 10 of the nozzle 6 into the second flowing fluid.

Because of the positioning of the openings 10 of the nozzles 6, bubbles of first fluid fed from openings 10 in nozzles 6 upstream into the second flowing fluid will not merge with fluid bubbles of first fluid that fed from openings in nozzles downstream into the second flowing fluid.

The straight duct flow space 3 does not have to be as long in comparison to the sparger 7 as shown in the figures. It is enough that the straight duct flow space is provided at the nozzles and at a short section downstream of the nozzles.

The relative number of openings 10 increases preferably, but not necessarily, in a direction along the direction of flow X towards the middle of the straight duct flow space 3 such as towards a longitudinal central axis Y of the straight duct flow space 3. This is advantageous, because the flow rate is higher at the middle of the straight duct flow space, because of the friction between the second flowing fluid and the walls of the straight duct flow space at the walls of the straight duct flow space. Therefore shall more first fluid preferably be fed at the middle of the straight duct flow space than at the walls of the straight duct flow space to achieve an even distribution of first fluid in the second flowing fluid.

The straight duct flow space 3 has preferably, but not necessarily, a longitudinal central axis Y, and the straight duct flow space 3 is preferably, but not necessarily, symmetrical around the longitudinal central axis Y of the straight duct flow space 3.

If the straight duct flow space 3 has a longitudinal central axis Y, and if the straight duct flow space 3 is symmetrical around the longitudinal central axis Y of the straight duct flow space 3, the openings 10 of the nozzles 6 are preferably, but not necessarily, arranged symmetrically about the longitudinal central axis Y of the straight duct flow space 3. An advantage of this is more even concentration of first fluid in the second flowing fluid.

If the straight duct flow space 3 has a longitudinal central axis Y, and if the straight duct flow space 3 is symmetrical around the longitudinal central axis Y of the straight duct flow space 3, the wing elements 8; 9 are preferably, but not necessarily, arranged symmetrically about the longitudinal central axis Y of the straight duct flow space 3. An advantage of this is less turbulence in the second flowing fluid, because the wing elements causes less flow rate difference in the second slowing fluid.

If the straight duct flow space 3 has a longitudinal central axis Y, and if the straight duct flow space 3 is symmetrical around the longitudinal central axis Y of the straight duct flow space 3, the openings 10 of the nozzles 6 are preferably, but not necessarily, as shown in figure 13, provided in a pattern 14 defined by several rings 15 having the center at the longitudinal central axis A of the straight duct flow space 3, wherein each ring 15 is provided at a location along the longitudinal central axis Y of the straight duct flow space 3 that is different from the location of the other rings 15 and wherein each ring 15 has a diameter that is different from the diameter of the other rings 15. This provides for an easy and clear way to form upstream openings and downstream openings and so that each upstream opening 10 is unfollowed by a downstream opening 10 in the direction of flow X.

The sparger apparatus comprises preferably, but not necessarily, a fluid distribution ring 11 surrounding the straight duct flow space 3, and the wing elements of the sparger 7 comprises preferably, but not necessarily, first wing elements 8 and second wing elements 9, so that the first wing elements 8 are in fluid connection with the fluid distribution ring 11, so that by the second wing elements 9 are in fluid connection with the first wing elements 8, and so that by the nozzles 6 are provided at the second wing elements 9.

If the sparger apparatus comprises a fluid distribution ring 11 as presented, the sparger apparatus comprises preferably, but not necessarily, a fluid inlet 12 in fluid connection with the fluid distribution ring 11.

If the sparger 7 of the sparger apparatus comprises first wing elements 8 as presented, each first wing element 8 extend preferably, but not necessarily, from the fluid distribution ring 11 to the middle of the straight duct flow space 3 inclined in relation to the direction of flow X, towards the downstream outlet end 5 of the hollow tube member 2. The first wing elements 8 are preferably, but not necessarily, in fluid connection with each other in the middle of the straight duct flow space 3 such as at a longitudinal central axis Y of the straight duct flow space 3. An advantage of this is that it evens out possible pressure differences between the first wing elements 8. Each first wing element 8 extend preferably, but not necessarily, in an angle between 15 and 75, preferably between 30 and 60°, such as about 45°, in relation to the direction of flow X or in relation to a longitudinal central axis Y of the straight duct flow space 3.

If the sparger 7 of the sparger apparatus comprises first wing elements 8 and second wing elements 8 as presented, the second wing elements 9 extend preferably, but not necessarily, between adjacent first wing elements 8. The second wing elements 9 extend preferably, but not necessarily, between adjacent first wing elements 8 in an inclined and/or curved configuration towards the downstream outlet end 5 of the straight duct flow space 3 between adjacent first wing elements 8. It is for example possible that the second wing elements 9 are in side profile of arc shape or of pointed gothic arch shape. The second wing elements 9 can form in the direction transverse to the direction of flow X, at least two, preferably three or four circular concentric formations in the straight duct flow space 3 so that arc shaped intermediate flow spaces 13 or intermediate flow spaces having the form of a part of a segment are formed between the first wing elements 8 and second wing elements 8 of the sparger 7.

If the sparger 7 of the sparger apparatus comprises first wing elements 8 and second wing elements 8 as presented, the cross-section of the first wing elements 8 have preferably, but not necessarily, the shape of an ellipse, a droplet or a vesica piscis. An advantage of this is that the first wing elements causes less turbulence in the flow of second flowing fluid.

If the sparger 7 of the sparger apparatus comprises first wing elements 8 and second wing elements 8 as presented, the cross-section of the second wing elements 9 have preferably, but not necessarily, the shape of an ellipse, a droplet a vesica piscis, a parallelogram, a kite, an isosceles trapezoid and similar shapes that are irregular. An advantage of this is that the second wing element causes less turbulence in the flow of second lowing fluid.

The openings 10 of the nozzles 6 have preferably, but not necessarily, the shape of a convex polygon such as the shape of a quadrilateral, a rhombus or a square. An advantage of this is that the sharp edges of the openings 10 will make the bubbles of first fluid smaller and will facilitate detaching of a bubble of first fluid from the opening 10.

The openings 10 of the nozzles 6 have preferably, but not necessarily, an area between 3 μιη ² and 750 μιη ² in order to create bubbles of first fluid of small size.

The nozzles 6 extend preferably, but not necessarily, from the wing elements 8; 9, at least partly in a direction transversal to the direction of flow X. An advantage of this is that the nozzles 10 will locally cause turbulence and/or vacuum in the second flowing fluid at the nozzle 10, which facilitates sucking of first fluid from the opening 10 in the nozzle 6 into the second flowing fluid flowing in the direction of flow X in the straight tubular flow space 3. The nozzles 6 extend preferably, but not necessarily, from the second wing elements 9, provided that the wing elements comprises such second wing elements 9, at least partly in a direction transversal to the direction of flow X. The height of the nozzles 6 can for example be between 100 and 500 μιη.

The openings 10 of the nozzles 6 can alternatively, as in the fourth embodiment shown in figures 16 to 22, be at the surface of the wing elements 8; 9.

It some embodiments of the sparger apparatus 1, as in the fourth embodiment shown in figures 16 to 22, each second wing element 9 has an elongated upstream edge 18 and an elongated downstream edge 19, on one side of the second wing element 9 a first surface 20 between the elongated upstream edge 18 and the elongated downstream edge 19, and on the other side of the second wing element 9 a second surface 21 between the elongated upstream edge 18 and the elongated downstream edge 19. In such embodiments the cross-section of the second wing elements 9 are formed and dimensioned so that the distance between the elongated upstream edge 18 and the elongated downstream edge 19, as measured along the first surface 20, is longer than the distance between the elongated upstream edge 18 and the elongated downstream edge 19 as measured along the second surface 21. In such embodiments the openings 10 of the nozzles 6 are provided at the first surface 20 of the second wing elements 9. An advantage of this is that because the second fluid flows faster on the first surface 20 than on the second surface 21, because the first surface 20 is longer that the second surface 21, a suction effect is created on the first surface 20 that facilitates suction of first fluid from the openings 10 in the nozzles 6 in the first surface 20 of the second wing elements 9. The cross-section of the second wing elements 9 can be formed and dimensioned so that the cross section of the first surface 20 is in the form of a curve. The cross-section of the second wing elements 9 being formed and dimensioned so that the cross section of the second surface 21 is in the form of a straight line. The first surface 20 has preferably, but not necessarily, a ridge 22 so that a first surface section 23 is formed between the elongated upstream edge 18 of the second wing element 9 and the ridge 22 of the first surface 20 of the second wing element 9 and so that a second surface section 24 is formed between the elongated downstream edge 19 of the second wing element 9 and the ridge 22 of the first surface 20 of the second wing element 9 and the first surface section 23 is preferably being free of openings 10 of the nozzles 6 so that the openings 10 of the nozzles 6 are formed in the second surface section 24.

Figures 1 to 12 shows a sparger apparatus having a hollow tube member 2 having straight duct flow space 3 having the same cross-section form and dimensions between the upstream inlet end 4 and the downstream outlet end 5 of the straight duct flow space 3. It is however possible that the hollow tube member 2, as shown in figure 14, comprises a throat section 16 between the upstream inlet end 4 and the downstream outlet end 5 of the straight duct flow space 3, and that the sparger 7 is arranged in the throat section 16. In such case, the diameter of the throat section 16 is preferably, but not necessarily, between 99 and 80 % of the diameter of the straight duct flow space 3 between the upstream inlet end 4 of the straight duct flow space 3 and the throat section 16 and between the downstream outlet end 5 of the straight duct flow space 3 and the throat section 16.

Figures 1 to 12 shows a sparger apparatus having a hollow tube member 2 having straight duct flow space 3 having the same cross-section form and dimensions between the upstream inlet end 4 and the downstream outlet end 5 of the straight duct flow space 3. It is however possible that the hollow tube member 2, as shown in figure 15, comprises an enlarged section 17 between the upstream inlet end 4 and the downstream outlet end 5 of the straight duct flow space 3, and that the sparger 7 is arranged in the enlarged section 17. In such case, the diameter of the enlarged section 17 is preferably, but not necessarily, between 101 and 120 % of the diameter of the straight duct flow space 3 between the upstream inlet end 4 of the straight duct flow space 3 and the enlarged section 17 and between the downstream outlet end 5 of the straight duct flow space 3 and the enlarged section 17.

In the sparger apparatus, the openings 10 of the nozzles 6 are preferably, but not necessarily, provided in the sparger 7 so that the sparger 7 is free of openings 10 of the nozzles 6 as the sparger 7 is viewed from the upstream inlet end 4 of the hollow tube member 2, in a direction in parallel with the direction of the flow X, as illustrated in figure 22. An advantage of this is that the openings 10 of the nozzles are on the downstream side of the wing elements 8, 9 of the sparger 7, because the sparger 7 creates a suction effect in the second fluid on the downstream side of the sparger 7 where the openings 10 are. This suction effect sucks first fluid from the openings 10 of the nozzles 6 into the second fluid.

In the sparger apparatus, the sparger 7 has preferably, but not necessarily, an upstream face (not marked with a reference numeral) that faces the upstream inlet end 4 of the hollow tube member 2 and a downstream face (not marked with a reference numeral) that faces the downstream outlet end 5 of the hollow tube member 2 so that the openings 10 of the nozzles 6 are provided in the downstream face of the sparger 7, as illustrated in figure 19, and so that the upstream face of the sparger 7 are free of openings 10 of the nozzles 6, as illustrated in figure 22.

In the sparger apparatus, the openings 10 of the nozzles 6 are preferably, but not necessarily, distributed at several positions along the direction of flow X so that the openings 10 forms upstream openings and downstream openings and so that each upstream opening is unfollowed by any part of the sparger 7 in the direction of flow X, as illustrated in figures 8and 19. An advantage of this is that the first fluid that is fed from the openings 10 of the nozzles into the second fluid does not hit the sparger 7 as the second fluid flows in the direction of flow X, which for example means that droplets of first fluid are not destroyed by the sparger 7. This facilitates creating of a laminar flow of first fluid in the second fluid.

In the sparger apparatus, the sparger 7 is preferably, but not necessarily, in fluid connection with a gas source configured to feed first fluid in the form of gas into the sparger 7.

In the sparger apparatus, the upstream inlet end 4 of the hollow tube member 2 is preferably, nut not necessarily, in fluid connection with a fluid source configured to feed second flowing fluid containing particles to be extracted and having a particle size in the range of 0.2 to 0.3 mm such as 0.25 mm into the straight duct flow space 3 of the hollow tube member 2. The particles can for example be macromolecules, complex ions, colloids or small particles having a particle size under 10 μιη having solid particle density between 0,8 and 1,25 kg/liter, and if the particle size is small, such as between 0,1 and 2 μιη, the solid particle density can be between 0,9 and 6 kg/liter. Such particles can for example be 0,001- lOg/liter, preferably 0,001 to lg/liter. Gas can for example be fed so that a layer of 3 to 8um of gas is formed on the surface of a particle.

The direction of flow X is preferably, but not necessarily, a linear direction of flow.

The straight duct flow space 3 of the hollow tube member 2 is preferably, but not necessarily, vertical so that the upstream inlet end 4 is either arranged vertically above the downstream outlet end 5 or so that the upstream inlet end 4 being arranged vertically below the downstream outlet end 5, whereby the direction of flow X being a vertical direction of flow. An advantage of this is that the provision of such vertical straight duct flow space 3 effectively prevents the bubbles of first fluid fed from openings 10 in nozzles 6 upstream into the second flowing fluid will not merge with fluid bubbles of first fluid that fed from openings in nozzles downstream into the second flowing fluid.

The invention relates also to a method for extracting particles from a second fluid. The method comprises providing a sparger apparatus 1 according to any embodiment described earlier, feeding the second fluid through the straight duct flow space 2 of the sparger apparatus 1, feeding first fluid in the form of gas droplets into the sparger 7 of the sparger apparatus 1 to cause first fluid in the form of gas to be fed out of the openings 10 of the nozzles 6 in the sparger 7 into the second fluid to cause particles in the second fluid to attach to gas droplets of first fluid, and extracting gas droplets of first fluid having particles attached thereto from the second fluid.

It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that as technology advanced, the basic idea of the invention can be implemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are therefore not restricted to the above examples, but they may vary within the scope of the claims.