Patent Grant
9821280
A portion of the disclosure of this patent contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and system for the infusion of a media into contained water or other liquid media. In particular, the present invention relates to a diffusion mixing device for the introduction of a media, such as a gas, into a contained water media that is at atmospheric pressure or into a pressurized pipeline of flowing media.
Description of Related Art
The introduction of a gas into a liquid, especially while the liquid is contained, such as in a basin, pool, tank or the like, has been the object of many methods and apparatuses. The purpose is normally to dissolve one or more gases in a liquid media, such as water or other liquid, or in some cases another gas, at a given point. The utility of such processes is widespread, including lowering the pH of the contained media, increasing levels of beneficial gases in the media, treating media containing pollutants, adding nitrogen, carbon dioxide or oxygen to water, gasoline, and the like treatment of the media. Carbon dioxide, carbonic acid, oxygen, and nitrogen gas are frequently added to water or other liquids for their beneficial uses. Ozone is utilized as a sterilizing agent for contained waste water, swimming pools, and other areas where traditionally chlorine is used.
A number of different arrangements have been used and are still being used to introduce gas into a contained liquid media. Addition of pressure, increasing flow turbulence, changes of temperature, and the like are all utilized in the introduction process. In some methods, gas is bubbled into the media or mechanical aeration devices are utilized. Other methods include placing sparger stones, diffusers and mixers in the media.
The main issues with the current technology are that there is a huge problem with the fouling of the internal parts of the introduction or mixing devices and frequently there are difficulties depending on the depth of the media. Further, there is still much inefficiency in the process and frequently the introduction is incomplete. Even further, where there is a multiplicity of gases to be introduced, the problems tend to be compounded and the system is even less efficient.
The present invention relates to the discovery that if gases are passed into a pressurized chamber before entering into the contained media, then the above problems with gas introduction into a contained media are largely avoided.
Accordingly, one embodiment of the present invention is a system for the introduction of one or more gases into a contained liquid media comprising:
In yet another embodiment of the invention, there is a method for the introduction of one or more gases into a contained media comprising:
While this invention is susceptible to embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, specific embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure of such embodiments is to be considered as an example of the principles and not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments shown and described. In the description below, like reference numerals are used to describe the same, similar or corresponding parts in the several views of the drawings. This detailed description defines the meaning of the terms used herein and specifically describes embodiments in order for those skilled in the art to practice the invention.
The terms “about” and “essentially” mean±10%.
The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or as more than one. The term “plurality”, as used herein, is defined as two or as more than two. The term “another”, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having”, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled”, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.
References throughout this document to “one embodiment”, “certain embodiments”, and “an embodiment” or similar terms means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of such phrases or in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments without limitation.
The term “or” as used herein is to be interpreted as an inclusive or meaning any one or any combination. Therefore, “A, B or C” means any of the following: “A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B and C”. An exception to this definition will occur only when a combination of elements, functions, steps or acts are in some way inherently mutually exclusive.
The drawings featured in the figures are for the purpose of illustrating certain convenient embodiments of the present invention, and are not to be considered as limitations thereto. The term “means” preceding a present participle of an operation indicates a desired function for which there is one or more embodiments, i.e., one or more methods, devices, or apparatuses for achieving the desired function and that one skilled in the art could select from these or their equivalent in view of the disclosure herein and use of the term “means” is not intended to be limiting.
As used herein the term “contained liquid media” refers to one or more of water or other liquid media sitting in any kind of container such as a basin, tank, lagoon, pond, pool, or the like. Liquids, such as water, gasoline, diesel fuel, natural gas, or any other liquid or gas chemicals are included in the term “contained media”. The term includes where the contained media is static, i.e. no current, or non-static, i.e. flowing in some manner, in the container, or in/out of the container. The term assumes that the temperature and pressure conditions of the media are such that the gas or gases are readily absorbed or mixed into the media to maintain target levels of pH, oxygen, nitrogen, ozone, or other beneficial gas for the process. “Flowing media” refers to a liquid or the like flowing through a transport pipe or other place.
As used herein, the term “gas infusion device” refers to a device that is capable of introducing one or more gases into a flowing media optionally passed through a diffusing material and then introducing the infused media into the contained media. The one or more gases can remove or combine with selected components contained in the flowing media and serve to purify or isolate undesirable components in the flowable media. In the present invention, it comprises a novel set of components. The gas infusion device of the present invention comprises a “containment enclosure” such as a cylinder which can contain or pass through the gas being infused into the flowing media under pressure. In one embodiment, a cylinder enclosure with a cap that is sealed from the atmosphere other than the gas inlet and outlet of the device is contemplated. One could, for example, take an open cylinder or pipe and cap both ends or weld them shut as desired. The containment enclosure can be materials such as a metal (like stainless steel), plastic, glass, or the like, compatible with the gas, pressure, and conditions of the process and one skilled in the art can select such materials in view of the disclosure herein and the selected one or more gases. The enclosure is pressurized to at least 5 psi, and, in one embodiment, between about 15 and 40 psi. In another embodiment the device is pressurized to over 40 psi. The gas infusion device (or plurality thereof), in one embodiment, is mounted next to the contained media, e.g. on a concrete pad adjacent to the contained media.
The present invention containment enclosure has an inlet and optional outlet for introduction of the gas and optional removal of the gas for an introduction into the flowing media and then introduction of media into the contained media. For example, any convenient method could be utilized. Standard gas connectors could be used for attaching gas hoses and the like to the containment cylinder. Once again, a hose type connection can be used for connecting the pipe, or as shown in the drawing, an inline outlet is utilized. In one embodiment, it contains a porous ceramic cylinder.
The gas source utilized in the present invention is from any normal source. In some embodiments it is carbon dioxide, oxygen, or the like. A gas tank, a gas generating mechanism, or the like, is anticipated. In one embodiment, a plurality of gases is added, either through separate gas inlets or through a mixing device prior to the infusion device. In one embodiment, a novel mixing device includes a T-shaped mixing chamber wherein each gas is introduced from a side of the T-shape for mixing in the chamber. Mixing is accomplished by the intermixing flow of the gases as they move into and then out of the mixing chamber. The mixing chamber has an outlet which delivers the mixed gas to the infusion device. Note, in one embodiment of the present invention there can be a plurality of infusion devices for infusing the same or multiple gases.
The method of the present invention comprises attaching the gas infusion device outlet to a pipe with flowing media and then the flowing media passing into the contained media where it circulates. A source of one or more gases is attached to the infusion device inlet(s). Once the media is flowing in the pipe, it is withdrawn from the contained media by a pump, the gas is introduced into the infusion device. From there it flows out the gas infusion device into the pipe mixing with the flowing media. The flowing media then flows into the contained media, introducing the gas into the contained media. In one embodiment, the flowing media is the same as the contained one but it could be different, and in one embodiment, is selected from the list of contained media. In one embodiment, the contained media is pumped to the device of the invention from the contained media and then returned to the contained media after treatment.
Now referring to the drawings,
Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may make modifications resulting in other embodiments employing principles of the present invention without departing from its spirit or characteristics, particularly upon considering the foregoing teachings. Accordingly, the described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive, and the scope of the present invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description or drawings. Consequently, while the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, modifications of structure, sequence, materials and the like apparent to those skilled in the art still fall within the scope of the invention as claimed by the applicant.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. non-provisional application Ser. No. 13/837,101 filed on Mar. 15, 2013, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. non-provisional application Ser. No. 13/370,358 filed on Feb. 10, 2012, now issued U.S. Pat. No. 8,608,138, issued on Dec. 17, 2013, and are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.
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| 1151786 | Nov 2001 | EP |
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| Porous Ceramic Filters, Refraction Technologies, http://www.refraction.com/filtration.asp, Jul. 7, 2011. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20160136592 A1 | May 2016 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 13837101 | Mar 2013 | US |
| Child | 15005147 | US | |
| Parent | 13370358 | Feb 2012 | US |
| Child | 13837101 | US |
