Pipe Reactor Bubble Injection for Efficient Flotation Water Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Incomplete mixing of chemicals in water treatment processes leads to increased chemical consumption and prolonged treatment times, particularly in chemical water purification methods using coagulants and flocculants, often requiring pH adjustment and the use of static mixers.
Innovation Solution
Simultaneous injection of micro- and/or nanobubbles with chemicals, such as coagulants and flocculants, into the influent water in a pipe reactor before entering the flotation tank, combined with real-time monitoring of turbidity and pH to adjust chemical dosages, eliminating the need for static mixers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chemicals are added to water for coagulation and flocculation, then purification efficiency is improved, but incomplete mixing increases chemical consumption and treatment time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a jet injector device that utilizes water pressure to create a vacuum and draw chemicals into the water stream. The high-velocity water flow creates a suction effect that automatically draws chemicals from reservoirs into the treatment stream, ensuring complete mixing without additional mechanical mixers. This hydraulic-pneumatic system eliminates the need for separate mixing equipment and ensures optimal chemical distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The jet injector acts as an intermediary device between the chemical reservoirs and the water treatment stream. It facilitates the transfer and mixing of chemicals into the water by using the water flow itself as the mixing mechanism, rather than requiring external mixing equipment. The injector serves as the mediating element that ensures complete and efficient chemical-water mixing.
2Quantity of substance
If static mixers are used to enhance chemical mixing, then mixing efficiency is improved, but device complexity and treatment time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the mixing function from separate static mixer devices and integrates it directly into the chemical injection system. The jet injector itself performs the mixing function by using the water flow to draw in and thoroughly mix chemicals as they are injected into the stream. This eliminates the need for additional static mixer components in the treatment train.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the chemical injection function and the mixing function into a single integrated device - the jet injector. Rather than having separate components for injecting chemicals and for mixing them, the injector design inherently performs both functions simultaneously through its hydraulic-pneumatic mechanism, simplifying the overall system.
3Reliability
If multiple chemicals are added in sequence for pH adjustment, coagulation, and flocculation, then treatment thoroughness is improved, but treatment process time is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary pH adjustment by incorporating pH-adjusting chemicals into the jet injector system along with coagulants and flocculants. The pH adjustment occurs simultaneously with chemical mixing in the injector, preparing the water chemistry in advance before the water enters the treatment tank. This preliminary action ensures optimal conditions for subsequent coagulation and flocculation processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The jet injector system enables continuous mixing and chemical addition without interruption or separate processing steps. All chemicals (pH adjusters, coagulants, flocculants) are introduced and mixed continuously in the injector as water flows through, maintaining uninterrupted treatment action throughout the process rather than requiring sequential batch operations.
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
Reduces chemical consumption by 5-30% while maintaining or enhancing purification efficiency, with improved mixing and reaction rates through high-pressure bubble injection.
Implementation Method 1
a first multiphase pump (18) for pumping water and for generating micro- and/or nanobubbles into the water to be treated
Implementation Method 2
a flotation tank (10) and a meandering pipe reactor (12) for feeding water into the flotation tank
Data Source
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AI summary
The method of treating water comprising steps of feeding influent water into a flotation tank via a pipe reactor, adding chemicals into the water, injecting micro- and/or nanobubbles into the water and removing treated water from the flotation tank. At least part of the chemicals and the micro- and/or nanobubbles are injected to the influent water flowing in the pipe reactor substantially simultaneously before the influent water enters to the flotation tank.