EP0573626B1 - Aeration reactor - Google Patents

Aeration reactor Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0573626B1
EP0573626B1 EP92924495A EP92924495A EP0573626B1 EP 0573626 B1 EP0573626 B1 EP 0573626B1 EP 92924495 A EP92924495 A EP 92924495A EP 92924495 A EP92924495 A EP 92924495A EP 0573626 B1 EP0573626 B1 EP 0573626B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
liquid
tank
region
reactor
draft tube
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP92924495A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0573626A4 (en
EP0573626A1 (en
Inventor
Robin John Batterham
Warwick Arthur Hoffmann
Nicholas Katsikarous
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Technological Resources Pty Ltd
Original Assignee
Technological Resources Pty Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Technological Resources Pty Ltd filed Critical Technological Resources Pty Ltd
Publication of EP0573626A1 publication Critical patent/EP0573626A1/en
Publication of EP0573626A4 publication Critical patent/EP0573626A4/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0573626B1 publication Critical patent/EP0573626B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F23/00—Mixing according to the phases to be mixed, e.g. dispersing or emulsifying
    • B01F23/20—Mixing gases with liquids
    • B01F23/23—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids
    • B01F23/232—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids using flow-mixing means for introducing the gases, e.g. baffles
    • B01F23/2323—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids using flow-mixing means for introducing the gases, e.g. baffles by circulating the flow in guiding constructions or conduits
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F23/00—Mixing according to the phases to be mixed, e.g. dispersing or emulsifying
    • B01F23/20—Mixing gases with liquids
    • B01F23/23—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids
    • B01F23/233—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids using driven stirrers with completely immersed stirring elements
    • B01F23/2334—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids using driven stirrers with completely immersed stirring elements provided with stationary guiding means surrounding at least partially the stirrer
    • B01F23/23341—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids using driven stirrers with completely immersed stirring elements provided with stationary guiding means surrounding at least partially the stirrer with tubes surrounding the stirrer
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F23/00—Mixing according to the phases to be mixed, e.g. dispersing or emulsifying
    • B01F23/20—Mixing gases with liquids
    • B01F23/23—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids
    • B01F23/233—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids using driven stirrers with completely immersed stirring elements
    • B01F23/2336—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids using driven stirrers with completely immersed stirring elements characterised by the location of the place of introduction of the gas relative to the stirrer
    • B01F23/23363—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids using driven stirrers with completely immersed stirring elements characterised by the location of the place of introduction of the gas relative to the stirrer the gas being introduced above the stirrer
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F23/00—Mixing according to the phases to be mixed, e.g. dispersing or emulsifying
    • B01F23/40—Mixing liquids with liquids; Emulsifying
    • B01F23/45—Mixing liquids with liquids; Emulsifying using flow mixing
    • B01F23/454—Mixing liquids with liquids; Emulsifying using flow mixing by injecting a mixture of liquid and gas
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F25/00—Flow mixers; Mixers for falling materials, e.g. solid particles
    • B01F25/30—Injector mixers
    • B01F25/31—Injector mixers in conduits or tubes through which the main component flows
    • B01F25/312—Injector mixers in conduits or tubes through which the main component flows with Venturi elements; Details thereof
    • B01F25/3124—Injector mixers in conduits or tubes through which the main component flows with Venturi elements; Details thereof characterised by the place of introduction of the main flow
    • B01F25/31242—Injector mixers in conduits or tubes through which the main component flows with Venturi elements; Details thereof characterised by the place of introduction of the main flow the main flow being injected in the central area of the venturi, creating an aspiration in the circumferential part of the conduit
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F25/00—Flow mixers; Mixers for falling materials, e.g. solid particles
    • B01F25/50—Circulation mixers, e.g. wherein at least part of the mixture is discharged from and reintroduced into a receptacle
    • B01F25/53—Circulation mixers, e.g. wherein at least part of the mixture is discharged from and reintroduced into a receptacle in which the mixture is discharged from and reintroduced into a receptacle through a recirculation tube, into which an additional component is introduced
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F27/00—Mixers with rotary stirring devices in fixed receptacles; Kneaders
    • B01F27/05—Stirrers
    • B01F27/11—Stirrers characterised by the configuration of the stirrers
    • B01F27/113—Propeller-shaped stirrers for producing an axial flow, e.g. shaped like a ship or aircraft propeller

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a reactor for a two-phase or three-phase system.
  • the invention has particular application to the aeration of a fluid comprising a slurry of mineral particles with air or any other suitable oxygen-containing gas, as is required by way of example in aerobic bacterial leaching.
  • a fluid comprising a slurry of mineral particles with air or any other suitable oxygen-containing gas, as is required by way of example in aerobic bacterial leaching.
  • the invention is not restricted to this application and extends to the aeration of any liquid-based systems such as gas/liquid, gas/liquid/solid, or gas/liquid/solid/microbial systems.
  • the invention has the advantages of enabling a fluid to be aerated with a gas at low energy usage and with high efficiency in terms of gas utilisation.
  • Aeration is understood to mean herein the introduction of a gas or gases into a fluid.
  • reactors for aeration of slurries have been in use for many years in the mining industry.
  • the two major types of reactors are the Pachuca (or air agitated reactor) and the mechanically agitated reactor.
  • the Pachuca reactor was initially favoured due to its simplicity of construction and operation but gradually lost favour as reactor size increased.
  • the loss of favour resulted from the large amounts of compressed air required for good mineral suspension.
  • the residence time of air in a Pachuca reactor is too short for efficient mass transfer and Pachuca reactors are prone to channelling of the air.
  • Air agitation in general, is inefficient because the bubble size for efficient agitation is too large for efficient mass transfer.
  • a reactor (11) for introducing a gas into a liquid comprises a mixing tank (12) for the liquid, a partition means (13) for dividing the tank into at least two chambers (21,23) and for allowing the liquid to flow between the chambers (21,23) at a lower region and an upper region of the tank (12), a pump means (14) located in one of the chambers for circulating the liquid downwards in one chamber (21) and then upwards in the other chamber (23), an external circuit (6) for a side stream of the liquid from the tank comprising:
  • a reactor for introducing a gas into a liquid comprising a mixing tank for the liquid, a partition means for dividing the tank into at least two chambers and for allowing the liquid to flow between the chambers at a lower region and an upper region of the tank, a pump means located in one of the chambers for circulating the liquid downwards in one chamber and then upwards in the other chamber, a means for creating a region of reduced pressure in the liquid comprising a tubular member having a region of restricted cross-section for imparting a venturi effect to the liquid passing through the tubular member whereby the velocity of the liquid increases and the pressure of the liquid decreases in the region of restricted cross-section, a means for introducing the gas into the liquid in the region of reduced pressure to aerate the liquid, and a means for introducing the aerated liquid into the circulating liquid in the tank.
  • the partition means comprises a draft tube adapted to be submerged in the liquid in the tank, the draft tube having an open upper end and an open lower end.
  • the tank be cylindrical and the draft tube be located centrally in the tank to divide the tank into an inner chamber and an outer annular chamber.
  • the pump means be located in the draft tube.
  • the pump means comprises an axial flow pump.
  • the axial flow pump comprises an impeller located in the draft tube.
  • the means for introducing the aerated liquid into the circulating liquid in the tank be arranged to introduce the aerated liquid into the draft tube upstream of the impeller.
  • the means for introducing the gas into the liquid comprises a porous membrane, holes, or jets.
  • Aeration by use of a reactor according to the invention comprises circulating the liquid to be aerated by means of a pump means in a mixing tank having at least two chambers that are in fluid communication at upper and lower regions of the tank so that the liquid flows downwards in one chamber and upwards in the other chamber, creating a region of reduced pressure in a portion of the liquid, introducing the gas into the portion of the liquid in the region of reduced pressure to aerate the liquid, and introducing the aerated liquid into the circulating liquid in the tank.
  • the preferred embodiment of the reactor of the invention is described herein in relation to the aeration of a slurry of a mineral and water with air. However, it is noted that the invention is not restricted to this application and extends to the aeration of any fluid with or without suspended solids.
  • the reactor 11 shown in Figure 1 comprises a mixing tank 12 containing the slurry, a vertical draft tube 13 submerged in the slurry, and a motor driven axial flow impeller 14 located in the draft tube 13 near the top thereof.
  • the tank 12 may be of any suitable size.
  • the draft tube 13 has open upper and lower ends 16, 18 and is located centrally in the mixing tank 12 to divide the mixing tank 12 into an inner chamber 21 and an outer annular chamber 23.
  • the impeller 14 induces flow of the slurry downwards in the draft tube 13 and then upwards in the outer annular chamber 23. The flow of the slurry is controlled so that the mineral particles are kept in suspension.
  • the reactor 11 further comprises an external circuit for withdrawing a portion of the slurry from the mixing tank 12, aerating the slurry, and returning the air-enriched slurry to the mixing tank 12.
  • the external circuit comprises a recycle line 6, a pump 15 for pumping the slurry around the external circuit, and a venturi device 17 for aerating the slurry.
  • the external circuit is arranged to withdraw slurry from an upper section of the mixing tank 12 and to return the air-enriched slurry to a location in the draft tube 13 above the impeller 14 to optimise mixing of the air-enriched slurry with the circulating slurry in the mixing tank 12.
  • the external circuit comprises at least one re-entry nozzle 19 arranged to direct the air-enriched slurry down the draft tube 13.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates the basic design features of the venturi device 17.
  • the venturi device 17 comprises a tubular body 25 having an inlet end 41, an outlet end 43, and an intermediate throat 3 which defines a region of restricted cross-section in which there are holes 2 for introducing air for mixing with the slurry.
  • the flow rate increases as the slurry enters the throat 3 thereby creating a region of reduced pressure according Bernoulli's equation.
  • the air in order to introduce air into the region of reduced pressure it is not necessary that the air be at high pressure and the air can be introduced at low pressure or by natural aspiration.
  • the slurry As the slurry flows from the throat 3 the slurry enters a region of increased cross-section 5 where the fluid velocity decreases and the pressure increases.
  • the region of increased cross-section 5 is shaped to give maximum energy recovery as the air-enriched slurry expands as it flows from the throat 3.
  • the design and operating parameters of the venturi device 17 are selected to form air bubbles of optimal size for efficient oxygen mass transfer from the bubbles to the slurry. As a consequence, a minimal amount of air is required thereby reducing the operating costs.
  • the design and operating parameters include slurry flow rate, air pressure, and the means of air injection into the slurry.
  • Figure 3 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the venturi device 17 for use with a 3,000 litre capacity mixing tank 12 and a 75 mm diameter recycle line 6.
  • the throat 3 of the venturi device 17 comprises an entrance cone 45 of 25° and an exit cone 47 of 7°
  • the diameter of the throat 3 is 25 mm and the diameter of the inlet and outlet ends 41, 43 is 75 mm.
  • the holes 2 are located in the exit core 47 of throat 3 and are arranged in 3 circumferential rows spaced 5 mm apart with each row comprising 24 x 1 mm holes.
  • the tanks contained 8% w/v slurry of a pyrite/pyrhotite tails which was being bacterially leached with Thiobacillus ferrooxidans .
  • oxygen uptake refers to the amount of oxygen that was transferred to the liquor and therefore is a direct measure of the extent of aeration.
  • oxygen utilisation refers to the amount of oxygen that was transferred to the liquor as a percentage of the total amount of oxygen introduced into the reactor and therefore is a direct measure of the efficiency of the aeration.
  • air sparger refers to the conventional reactor and the term “venturi aerator” refers to the preferred embodiment of the reactor.
  • results indicate significant power savings with the preferred embodiment of the reactor compared with the conventional reactor. Specifically, the results show that the energy required per m 3 of air delivered was four-fold lower for the preferred embodiment of the reactor than for the conventional reactor. On the basis of the results of the energy utilization to achieve an O 2 uptake of 150 mg O 2 /litre of slurry/hour discussed above, the energy required per m 3 of oxygen transferred was nine-fold lower for the preferred embodiment of the reactor than for the conventional reactor.
  • the impeller 14 is located near the top of the draft tube 13 in the preferred embodiment, the invention is not restricted to such an arrangement and the impeller 14 may be located at any suitable location along the length of the draft tube 13.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Aeration Devices For Treatment Of Activated Polluted Sludge (AREA)
  • Transition And Organic Metals Composition Catalysts For Addition Polymerization (AREA)
  • Mixers Of The Rotary Stirring Type (AREA)
  • Amplifiers (AREA)
  • Oscillators With Electromechanical Resonators (AREA)
  • Glass Compositions (AREA)
  • Organic Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds And Preparation Thereof (AREA)
  • Apparatus Associated With Microorganisms And Enzymes (AREA)
EP92924495A 1991-12-02 1992-12-02 Aeration reactor Expired - Lifetime EP0573626B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU97/91 1991-12-02
AUPK979191 1991-12-02
PCT/AU1992/000645 WO1993010890A1 (en) 1991-12-02 1992-12-02 A reactor

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0573626A1 EP0573626A1 (en) 1993-12-15
EP0573626A4 EP0573626A4 (en) 1994-07-13
EP0573626B1 true EP0573626B1 (en) 1997-03-12

Family

ID=3775857

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP92924495A Expired - Lifetime EP0573626B1 (en) 1991-12-02 1992-12-02 Aeration reactor

Country Status (13)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0573626B1 (zh)
KR (1) KR100274386B1 (zh)
AT (1) ATE149875T1 (zh)
AU (1) AU664871B2 (zh)
BR (1) BR9205582A (zh)
CA (1) CA2101627C (zh)
DE (2) DE4224912A1 (zh)
FI (1) FI107237B (zh)
NZ (1) NZ246021A (zh)
RU (1) RU2139131C1 (zh)
TW (1) TW217992B (zh)
WO (1) WO1993010890A1 (zh)
ZA (1) ZA929334B (zh)

Families Citing this family (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AUPO535897A0 (en) * 1997-02-28 1997-03-20 Hyperno Pty Ltd Multiphase physico-chemical reactor
US5925290A (en) * 1997-08-08 1999-07-20 Rhone-Poulenc Inc. Gas-liquid venturi mixer
KR100379298B1 (ko) * 2001-01-02 2003-04-07 동림산업 주식회사 분체이송관
FR2825996A1 (fr) * 2001-06-19 2002-12-20 Air Liquide Systeme d'oxygenation d'un liquide a traiter transitant dans un bassin
DE10250406B4 (de) * 2001-10-30 2007-10-25 Hitachi, Ltd. Reaktionsvorrichtung und Mischsystem
ES1060099Y (es) * 2005-04-12 2005-11-01 Delta Graf S A Dispositivo para la realizacion de la operacion de mojado para impresion offset.
US9205385B2 (en) * 2011-03-04 2015-12-08 Focus Products Group International, Llc Venturi apparatus with a fluid flow regulator valve
MY178684A (en) * 2012-01-31 2020-10-20 Seair Inc Multi-stage aeration apparatus
CN103071444B (zh) * 2013-01-30 2014-12-10 北京工商大学 一种气液反应装置
DE202014003774U1 (de) * 2014-05-07 2015-08-10 Symex Gmbh & Co. Kg Vorrichtung zum Homogenisieren und/oder Dispergieren fließfähiger Produkte
RU179139U1 (ru) * 2017-12-29 2018-04-28 Федеральное государственное бюджетное образовательное учреждение высшего образования "Забайкальский государственный университет" (ФГБОУ ВО "ЗабГУ") Ферментер для бактериального окисления сульфидных руд и концентратов
CN110272163B (zh) * 2019-05-14 2021-11-09 江苏若焱环境设计有限公司 一种无动力水体处理设备
KR102298061B1 (ko) * 2020-02-04 2021-09-02 이영석 스프레이 노즐을 구비한 고순도 화장품 원재료 배합 장치
CN111389339A (zh) * 2020-04-14 2020-07-10 张家港弗克新型建材有限公司 常温常压循环复配或合成生产减水剂的设备及其制作

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FR392809A (fr) * 1908-07-30 1908-12-07 Le Vide Application des trompes à la confection des mélanges, et procédés et dispositifs pour la réalisation de ladite application
DE1457179A1 (de) * 1964-11-26 1968-12-05 Willi Walbersdorf Sondermaschb Misch- oder Chemoreaktionseinrichtung
US3643403A (en) * 1970-04-29 1972-02-22 Richard E Speece Downflow bubble contact aeration apparatus and method
BE790132R (fr) * 1971-10-14 1973-04-16 Basf Ag Procede et dispositif d'aeration de
DE2303396A1 (de) * 1973-01-24 1974-07-25 Linde Ag Verfahren zum loesen eines gases oder einer gaskomponente in einer fluessigkeit
US4000227A (en) * 1973-09-27 1976-12-28 Boc International Limited Dissolving gas in liquid
DE2507698C2 (de) * 1975-02-22 1984-10-25 Linde Ag, 6200 Wiesbaden Vorrichtung zum Begasen einer Flüssigkeit
FR2338071A1 (fr) * 1976-01-16 1977-08-12 Cem Comp Electro Mec Procede et dispositif pour la formation de bulles gazeuses, par exemple en vue de la flottation
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AU516184B2 (en) * 1977-09-12 1981-05-21 The Commonwealth Industrial Gases Limited Dissolving gas ina liquid
FR2440224A2 (fr) * 1978-10-11 1980-05-30 Carboxyque Francaise Procede de traitement d'un liquide par un gaz, notamment d'eaux residuaires par l'oxygene
CA1135180A (en) * 1979-03-30 1982-11-09 Charles B. Donaldson Apparatus and method for producing a gas in liquid dispersion
DE3010351A1 (de) * 1980-03-18 1981-09-24 Michael Ing.(Grad.) 8351 Bernried Dinnendahl Vertikale gegenstrombelueftung
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FR2654584B1 (fr) * 1989-11-20 1992-05-22 Chauveau Jean Marie Reacteur pour traiter une liqueur de cacao et ses derives.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FI933415A (fi) 1993-09-30
ZA929334B (en) 1996-03-28
TW217992B (en) 1993-12-21
FI933415A0 (fi) 1993-07-30
KR100274386B1 (ko) 2001-04-02
DE4224912A1 (de) 1993-06-03
DE69218181D1 (de) 1997-04-17
AU3076992A (en) 1993-06-28
AU664871B2 (en) 1995-12-07
DE69218181T2 (de) 1997-06-19
ATE149875T1 (de) 1997-03-15
CA2101627A1 (en) 1993-06-03
WO1993010890A1 (en) 1993-06-10
CA2101627C (en) 2007-04-03
RU2139131C1 (ru) 1999-10-10
EP0573626A4 (en) 1994-07-13
FI107237B (fi) 2001-06-29
EP0573626A1 (en) 1993-12-15
NZ246021A (en) 1995-07-26
BR9205582A (pt) 1994-08-02

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