Multiple Injector Oxygen Enrichment with Recirculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for enriching liquids with oxygen, particularly in pressurized systems like water supply networks, face challenges in achieving high saturation levels and preventing pressure surges due to undissolved gas fractions, which can lead to cavitation and equipment damage.
Innovation Solution
A method and device utilizing a multiple injector with parallel injector chambers and a degassing unit to introduce ambient air into the liquid, separate undissolved gas fractions, and recirculate undissolved oxygen fractions back into the injector to enhance dissolution, while removing lighter gases like nitrogen through a gas outlet valve.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If gas is introduced into liquid by means of an injector using the Venturi principle, then the liquid can be enriched with gas, but undissolved gas fractions cause pressure surges and cavitation in downstream equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts undissolved gas fractions from the liquid stream using a gas-liquid separator positioned before downstream equipment. This separator removes the harmful undissolved gas bubbles that would otherwise cause pressure surges and cavitation, while allowing the enriched liquid to continue to downstream units.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary component (gas-liquid separator) between the injector and downstream equipment. This intermediary device mediates by separating undissolved gas from the liquid stream, preventing the gas bubbles from reaching downstream equipment and causing damage.
2Productivity
If pure oxygen is used to enrich the liquid, then the oxygen transfer efficiency is high, but the system requires pure oxygen supply infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of gas composition from pure oxygen to atmospheric air. By using air instead of pure oxygen, the system eliminates the need for complex pure oxygen supply infrastructure while maintaining effective enrichment through the injector and separator system.
3Device complexity
If gas mixture (atmospheric air) is used instead of pure oxygen, then the system complexity is reduced, but the oxygen saturation level is lower
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a recirculation system where liquid enriched with oxygen is continuously circulated back through the injector. This continuous circulation allows multiple passes of the liquid through the gas introduction zone, progressively increasing oxygen saturation levels over time while using only atmospheric air as the gas source.
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
This approach achieves a high oxygen saturation of up to 98% in the liquid, preventing pressure fluctuations and equipment damage by efficiently dissolving oxygen and separating undissolved gases, making it suitable for use in pressurized systems without the need for pure oxygen supplies.
Implementation Method 1
the liquid flows through a tubular flow channel with a section that narrows in its cross section, using the Venturi principle. A connecting piece or pipe section which extends transversely to the flow channel for supplying the gas opens into the narrowing section and in which a negative pressure is created by the liquid flowing past at high dynamic pressure due to the narrowing.
Implementation Method 2
the liquid loaded with dissolved and undissolved gas fractions is fed to a degassing unit downstream of the injector with respect to the direction of flow of the liquid in order to remove undissolved, bubble-forming gas fractions
Implementation Method 3
By means of a pump downstream of the injector, which swirls the water enriched with gas, and a downstream degassing device equipped with a mixing unit, in which the water comes into closer contact with previously undissolved gas bubbles, increasing its residence time dissolved gas content specifically increased.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a solution for enriching a liquid with oxygen. For this purpose, oxygen from ambient air is introduced by an injector into the liquid and partially dissolved therein. The liquid leaving the injector which is loaded with dissolved and undissolved gas fractions of the air is then, for removal of undissolved gas fractions which form bubbles in the liquid, fed to at least one degassing unit (2) arranged downstream of the injector. According to the invention, the injector is a multiple injector having at least two injector chambers (11, 12, 13, 14). In the degassing unit (2), undissolved oxygen is first separated from the liquid by vigorous vortexing thereof and then introduced again into the liquid in an injector chamber (13, 14), by drawing it by suction as a part of a gas-liquid mixture via a return line (18, 18') of a multiple injector (1), said return line connecting the at least one degassing unit (2) to a suction port (6', 6") of the injector chamber (13, 14) in question. The undissolved, more sparingly soluble gas fractions of the air, namely, in particular, undissolved nitrogen, are discharged via a gas outlet valve of the degassing unit (2).