Apparatus and methods for efficient generation of chlorine dioxide

Abstract

An apparatus and methods for chlorine dioxide generation. The chlorine dioxide apparatus may comprise a plurality of metering pumps for delivering a plurality of reactant chemicals. The reactant chemicals are preferably delivered to a reaction column through inlet ports where the reactants are mixed to form the desired reactants. A synchronizer may control the metering pump action to provide synchronized delivery of the plurality of reactant chemicals to the reaction column.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 253,024, filed Nov. 22, 2000, and entitled “APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR EFFICIENT GENERATION OF CHLORINE DIODE” which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention generally relates to the production of chlorine dioxide and, more particularly, to novel apparatus and methods for increasing the efficiency of chlorine dioxide production utilizing metering pumps and a multiport reaction column under vacuum. [0004] 2. The Background [0005] Chlorine was traditionally used as a chemical disinfectant to inactivate or chemically kill microorganisms in drinking water. Certain chlorinated, brominated or poly-substituted organic compounds may result, however, from the interaction of chlorine with natural organic matter in raw water supplies. Some of these compounds (i.e., trihalomethanes and the haloacetic acids formed by ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0019] In view of the foregoing, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide novel apparatus and methods for increasing the efficiency of chlorine dioxide production by utilizing synchronized metering pumps and a multiport reaction column under vacuum, thereby precisely metering, synchronizing, and controlling reactant introduction in an effort to achieve maximum percent yield.

[0020] It is also an object of the present invention to improve the percent yield of chlorine dioxide generation by utilizing precision volumes, linear flow paths, and precision reaction column geometry in order to take advantage of the physical laws involved in efficient molecular mixing and interaction.

[0021] It is a further object of the present invention to provide novel apparatus and methods for increasing the percent yield of chlorine dioxide production at minimal cost with minimum working components.

[0024] In certain embodiments, the water delivery system may be further configured to pass the water though a flow meter which may function primarily as a point of reference for determining chlorine dioxide concentration in the final output solution. A check valve may be incorporated along the length of the water delivery system to ensure that chlorine dioxide is unable to backfeed into the water delivery system. If desired, a pressure gauge may be incorporated into the delivery system to monitor the pressure. As appreciated, the pressure readout from the pressure gauge may facilitate initial setup and also be an aid in troubleshooting the generator.

[0029] The chemical feed system may be further configured to maintain a given backpressure to ensure repeatability of pump priming while also allowing for degassing functions, if they are required by the application. These functions may be accomplished by incorporating a four function valve in the delivery path of each of the reactants. In one presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, a second backpressure regulator may be directly coupled to the reaction column. The second backpressure regulator may be configured to promote reaction efficiency by reducing the distance the metered reactants are pumped.

[0030] After the mixing of all of the reactants has been accomplished under the conditions outlined hereinabove, the chlorine dioxide which is produced by the apparatus exits the reaction column and is preferably directed into the water flow delivered from the water delivery system. The final chlorine dioxide solution may then be delivered to a holding tank for subsequent use, as desired. In one presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flow path from the reaction column to the holding tank may be configured with a sight glass for visual inspection of the final product output. Moreover, the flow path from the reaction column to the holding tank may further be configured to contain a check valve which allows flow in only the desired direction and thereby prevents any unwanted backfeeding.

Problems solved by technology

Some of these compounds (i.e., trihalomethanes and the haloacetic acids formed by reactions between free chlorine and natural organic matter) have been linked with undesirable environmental side effects and potential long term health effects, such as cancer.

Unfortunately, chlorine dioxide is hazardous due to the unstable nature of gaseous chlorine dioxide when compressed, therefore chlorine dioxide does not lend itself to large scale factory production.

Of the above listed challenges associated with prior art apparatus and methods for chlorine dioxide generation, perhaps the most difficult to solve is maximizing percent yield.

In the real world, it is very difficult to ensure that every reactant molecule comes in contact with a complement, wherein the yield of the desired product is generally referred to as the actual yield.

In order to increase percent yield, it is common practice to add an excess of one reactant, thus greatly increasing the probability that all of the accompanying limiting reactant is consumed.

However, this practice may be undesirable for two reasons.

First, after the limiting reactant has been consumed, the excess reactant is wasted and can not be readily recovered.

Second, the reactant in excess may adversely affect the characteristics of the final solution.

A significant disadvantage with these types of prior art vacuum chemical feed systems is that there is a low emphasis on precise mixture of chemicals, volumetrically or symmetrically.

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