Gas Dispersion Device with Self-Regulating Mixing Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for mixing gas in liquids, particularly in industrial processes with continuous liquid flow, face challenges in achieving easy regulation and control of bubble dimensions, homogeneous mixing, and micronization, especially under varying flow conditions, and require improvements for efficient gas dispersion and transfer.
Innovation Solution
A device and method that utilize turbulent movements and shear stresses induced by pressure jumps, combined with specific geometric configurations, to maintain constant energy transfer and mixing efficiency despite variations in flow rates, using self-regulating systems to control pressure differences and minimize transient regimes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If gas bubbles are made smaller to increase interface surface area and improve material transfer, then the exchange surface increases, but the bubbles rise more slowly and require greater control precision to maintain uniform dispersion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic mixing element that slides axially within a guide, allowing real-time adjustment of the passage section area. This dynamic mechanism enables continuous optimization of bubble size and dispersion characteristics, resolving the contradiction between achieving small bubble sizes for high interface area and maintaining control precision through adaptive geometric adjustment rather than fixed rigid structures
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the mixing system by varying the passage section area through axial movement of the mixing element. This parameter change allows optimization of the balance between bubble size (for interface area) and bubble dimension control (for uniform dispersion), enabling the system to adapt to different operating conditions and maintain precision across varying flow rates
2Productivity
If pressure jump is increased to enhance mixing and dispersion, then gas dispersion improves, but energy consumption increases and transient regimes become more pronounced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-regulating system where the mixing element automatically adjusts its position in response to pressure differences. The element slides axially to equalize pressure between upstream and downstream areas, creating a feedback mechanism that optimizes the pressure jump for mixing while minimizing excess energy consumption and reducing pronounced transient regimes through automatic adaptation
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates inherent feedback through the movable mixing element that responds to pressure differential changes. When pressure jump increases to enhance dispersion, the element moves to adjust the passage area, automatically modulating the energy input to maintain optimal mixing efficiency while preventing excessive energy consumption and stabilizing transient behavior
3Adaptability or versatility
If flow rate varies in continuous liquid flow processes, then production flexibility improves, but mixing homogeneity deteriorates and bubble dimension control becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic mixing element that can axially slide to adjust the passage section area in real-time. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain mixing homogeneity and bubble dimension control across varying flow rates, resolving the contradiction between production flexibility (flow rate variation) and composition stability (mixing homogeneity) by continuously optimizing the mixing geometry to match operating conditions
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables precise control of gas bubble dimensions and homogeneous mixing, enhancing gas dispersion and transfer efficiency, reducing bubble rise time, and maintaining consistent product quality even under varying flow conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The mixing element (13), sliding in a guide (14) housed in the body (11), is configured so as to be subjected, from one side, in the flow direction of the two-phase fluid (L+G) through the device (10), to a first pressure, denoted by P1, present in the two-phase fluid (L+G) in an upstream area (A1) of the head (13a) of the mixing element (13), and, from another side and in the opposite direction, both to a second pressure, denoted by P2, present in the two-phase fluid (L+G) in a downstream area (A2) of the head (13a) of the mixing element (13), and to a third pressure or force, denoted by Pp or Fp, acting on a face of a piston (13b) integral with the head (13a) of the mixing element (13), in the area (A3) of the guide (14) which houses slidably the piston (13b) of the mixing element (13)
Implementation Method 2
The device (10) comprises control means (20), associated with the mixer (12) and the respective mixing element (13), having the function of controlling the third pressure Pp or corresponding force Fp acting on the piston (13b) in the area (A3) of the respective guide (14), so as to maintain, during variation of the operating conditions of the device (10), and typically during variation of the flow rate of the flow of the two-phase fluid (L+G) which traverses the device (10), the pressure difference ΔP = (P1-P2), between the pressure P1 of the two-phase fluid (L+G) in the upstream area (A1) of the head (13a) of the mixing element (13), and the pressure P2 in the downstream area (A2) of the same head (13a) of the mixing element (13), conforming to a given value or within a given range of variation
Implementation Method 3
a piston (13b), integral with the head (13a) of the mixing element (13), housed and sliding axially, along the axis (X) of the device (10), in a guide (14) defined by the body (11)
Data Source
Figure 1~5
Figure 2
Figure 3~8
AI summary
Device for improving the dispersion and mixing of gas (G1) in liquids, comprising: - an outer body (11) defining internally a conduit (22, 23, 24) for the flow, through the device, of a two-phase fluid with a gaseous phase dispersed in a liquid phase; - a mixer (12) housed in the device and comprising in turn a mixing element (12, 13) or member, sliding axially, apt to intercept the two-phase fluid which flows in the conduit (22, 23, 24), wherein this mixing element (12, 13) is configured with a head (13A, 13), apt to co-operate with the inner surface (11) of the conduit (22, 23, 24) to define and vary a passage (17, 18) opening, entailing a sharp pressure (P2) jump, of the two-phase fluid through the device, and a piston (12B, 13B, 13), sliding axially in a respective guide (14) defined by the body (10, 11, 1) of the device; and - control means, associated with the mixing element (12, 13), in the form of a mechanism (20) with a box (21) containing a gas (G1) or a special spring (50), in order to control a pressure (P2) or force (F2) acting on the piston (12B, 13B, 13) of the mixing element (12, 13), in the area (Al, A3) of the respective guide (14), in a direction contrary to the flow of the two-phase fluid, so as to maintain, as the working conditions and typically the rate of flow of the two-phase fluid through the device varies, the pressure (P2) difference, between the pressure (P2) of the two-phase fluid in the upstream area (Al) and that in the downstream area (A2) of the head (13A, 13) of the mixing element (12, 13), conforming in time to a given value or at least within a given range of variation. The device, thanks to its performances, can find an advantageous application in many working contexts and industrial processes, for example in the carbonation and in the bottling of gassed drinks and in all those processes that require the dissolving of gas (G1) in liquids.