EP0963243A1 - Device for stirring the content of a vessel comprising a bubble elevator - Google Patents

Device for stirring the content of a vessel comprising a bubble elevator

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Publication number
EP0963243A1
EP0963243A1 EP98910820A EP98910820A EP0963243A1 EP 0963243 A1 EP0963243 A1 EP 0963243A1 EP 98910820 A EP98910820 A EP 98910820A EP 98910820 A EP98910820 A EP 98910820A EP 0963243 A1 EP0963243 A1 EP 0963243A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
tube
liquid
stirring
elevator
air
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP98910820A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0963243B1 (en
Inventor
Jacques Lafont
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.)
Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et Aux Énergies Alternatives
Original Assignee
Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique CEA
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 Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique CEA filed Critical Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique CEA
Publication of EP0963243A1 publication Critical patent/EP0963243A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0963243B1 publication Critical patent/EP0963243B1/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
    • 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
    • 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
    • B01F23/234—Surface aerating
    • 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
    • B01F23/234—Surface aerating
    • B01F23/2341—Surface aerating by cascading, spraying or projecting a liquid into a gaseous atmosphere
    • B01F23/23413—Surface aerating by cascading, spraying or projecting a liquid into a gaseous atmosphere using nozzles for projecting the liquid into the gas atmosphere
    • 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
    • B01F25/20—Jet mixers, i.e. mixers using high-speed fluid streams
    • B01F25/21—Jet mixers, i.e. mixers using high-speed fluid streams with submerged injectors, e.g. nozzles, for injecting high-pressure jets into a large volume or into mixing chambers

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a device for mixing the contents of a tank.
  • a bubble elevator uses a device already used for this and commonly used in particular in the nuclear industry: it is called a bubble elevator and consists of a generally vertical tube, open at its ends and which also includes an inlet nozzle for at an intermediate height. The lower end is always immersed in the liquid from the tank and corresponds to a liquid inlet opening, while the upper end can be emerged or submerged according to the circumstances and corresponds to a mixture ejection opening.
  • air and liquid in fact, the air introduced into the tube by the nozzle rises, carrying with it the liquid occupying the tube, until it leaves by the upper end, and the ejected liquid is replaced by liquid from the tank entering through the lower opening.
  • Bubbles elevators do not require the use of moving mechanical parts and thus can be used 'even in corrosive liquids; they are very effective in stirring and homogenizing the liquid in the tanks, in particular in resuspending the deposits accumulated at the bottom of the tank.
  • the efficiency of a bubble elevator can be defined as the quotient of the flow of liquid entrained by the flow of air supplied. We see that it is very variable and strongly depends on the rate of submergence, either of the ratio between the height separating the air connection from the level of the liquid in the tank and the invariable height between the air connection and the top of the elevator; the first of these heights actually corresponds to the difference in level between the air intake and the free surface of the liquid.
  • the subject of the invention is an improved bubble elevator which offers both good efficiency and the possibility of auxiliary operation in sparsely filled tanks. It can replace several ordinary elevators.
  • This bubble elevator comprises an open tube at a lower liquid inlet end, at an upper end for ejecting a gas and liquid mixture and at a gas injection nozzle at a height intermediate between the ends, and it turns distinguishes in that the tube also comprises at least one additional opening at an intermediate height between the upper end and the air injection nozzle. This new opening can be used to suck up an additional flow of liquid in certain circumstances or to eject the mixture on the contrary.
  • a tube is generally connected to this opening.
  • FIG. 1 represents a bubble elevator according to the invention
  • FIGS. 2a to 2d illustrate several operating modes which can be distinguished
  • the bubble elevator of FIG. 1 is shown housed in a tank 1 and comprises a main tube 2 open at its lower end 3 and at its upper end 4 where, as usual, it is bent in the shape of a stick to reject the mixture of lifting gas and liquid driven horizontally or even downwards.
  • An intermediate opening corresponding to an air connection 5 is made at a low height from the lower end 3; a compressed air line 6 is connected to it which supplies the mixing gas.
  • the essential element of the invention consists of an additional opening 7 of the main tube 2, located between the tap 5 and the upper end 4 and to which a connection tube 8 can be connected which extends from there horizontally or towards the bottom, and opens in the tank 1 below the upper end 4.
  • connection tube 8 lends itself as well to the suction of the liquid from the tank as to the ejection of a mixture. It is good to mention beforehand certain geometric characteristics of the elevator and to explain their interest. This is how the main tube widens upwards, passing from a diameter D1 on the side of the lower end 3 to a larger diameter D2 on the side of the upper end 4. The variation in diameter is localized. a little below the connection opening 7 and it is abrupt, but correct operation would be obtained with a gradual variation in diameter over a small height of the main tube 2.
  • connection opening 7 • are produced, and the connection opening 7 must be as small as possible, perhaps a few centimeters; the suction effect would be reduced or compromised if it was too large.
  • additional tests, carried out with a view to optimizing and reducing the value of the difference in level b between the lower end 3 and the opening of the air nozzle 5, have shown that the empirical values recommended in the devices of the prior art, situated in a range of values between 15 and 25 cm, in order to avoid any risk of exhaust of air downwards through the lower end 3, which would reduce the lift performance, could be reduced significantly.
  • the difference in height b a value of approximately 5 cm for a main tube 2, without observing air exhaust even by increasing the injection rate by the nozzle 5 until it triples.
  • This possibility of reducing the difference in level b is beneficial since it increases the rate of submergence of the elevator, all other things being equal, and therefore the extent of its operation in sparsely filled tanks, since the rate of submergence corresponding to the cut of operation remains 1/3. Even when operation is possible with a high air tapping, lowering it increases the efficiency of the elevator.
  • the diameter D3 of the connection tube 8, its angle of inclination and its length are determined empirically. The diameter D3 must be smaller than the diameter D2, and the length shorter than that of the lower part (of diameter Dl) of the main tube 2.
  • FIG. 2a illustrates a situation where the tank 1 • is almost empty but where a homogenization of its content is still sought.
  • the air is supplied at the desired flow rate and it drives the liquid present at the bottom of the tube 2 to the connection opening 7 before discharging it through the connection tube 8: an "first stage” operation is therefore obtained.
  • the elevator which only concerns its lower part, while the rest, between the opening of connection 7 and the upper end 4, consists of a "second stage” which remains entirely empty for this operating mode except for an air leakage rate, since its submergence is too low. If the tank fills, we can arrive at the state of Figure 2b where the liquid level extends to the connection opening 7: this operation remains roughly the same as before, all the mixture of air and liquid passing through the connection tube 8, except that the mixture is discharged directly into the liquid.
  • FIG. 3 shows that the concept of intermediate orifice can be generalized to a bubble elevator with more than two ejection stages: the elevator which is illustrated therein thus has a second intermediate orifice 17 above the first (referenced by 7 as in the previous example), and a second connection tube 18 is connected to it.
  • the tube 2 then comprises three sections, of diameters D1, D2 and D4, which are connected 7 and 17 with abrupt or progressive variations in diameter as before.
  • the mixture of air and liquid leaves the elevator 7 and 17 or through the upper end 4 of the tube 2, or more of these places at the same time according to the submergence and the air flow rate, as previously.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Mixers With Rotating Receptacles And Mixers With Vibration Mechanisms (AREA)
  • Infusion, Injection, And Reservoir Apparatuses (AREA)

Abstract

The invention concerns a bubble elevator comprising an orifice (7) intermediate between the air-tapping point (5) for driving the liquid and the top opening (4) for expelling the air-liquid mixture. The mixture can be expelled by the orifice (7) when the vessel is slightly filled and its content cannot be driven to the top, or on the contrary additional air suction can be provided. The bubble elevator is generally used for stirring and homogenising the liquid content of a vessel.

Description

DISPOSITIF DE BRASSAGE DE CONTENU D'UNE CUVE COMPRENANTDEVICE FOR BREWING THE CONTENT OF A TANK COMPRISING

UN ÉLÉVATEUR À BULLESA BUBBLE LIFTER

DESCRIPTIONDESCRIPTION

L'invention concerne un dispositif de brassage du contenu d'une cuve.The invention relates to a device for mixing the contents of a tank.

Elle a recours à un appareil déjà employé pour cela et d'emploi courant notamment dans l'industrie nucléaire : il est appelé élévateur à bulles et consiste en un tube généralement vertical, ouvert à ses extrémités et qui comprend encore un piquage d' entrée d'air à une hauteur intermédiaire. L'extrémité inférieure est toujours immergée dans le liquide de la cuve et correspond à une ouverture d'entrée de liquide, alors que l'extrémité supérieure peut être émergée ou immergée selon les circonstances et correspond à une ouverture d'éjection de mélange d'air et de liquide : en effet, l'air introduit dans le tube par le piquage remonte en entraînant avec lui le liquide occupant le tube, jusqu'à ce qu'il sorte par l'extrémité supérieure, et le liquide éjecté est remplacé par du liquide de la cuve entrant par l'ouverture inférieure. Les élévateurs à bulles n'imposent pas l'emploi de pièces mécaniques mobiles et peuvent donc être employés 'même dans les liquides corrosifs ; ils sont très efficaces pour brasser et homogénéiser le liquide des cuves, notamment pour remettre en suspension les dépôts accumulés au fond de la cuve. Le rendement d'un élévateur à bulles peut être défini comme le quotient du débit de liquide entraîné par le débit d'air fourni. On constate qu'il est très variable et dépend fortement du taux de submergence, soit du rapport entre la hauteur séparant le piquage d'air du niveau du liquide de la cuve et la hauteur, invariable, entre le piquage d'air et le sommet de l'élévateur ; la première de ces hauteurs correspond en réalité à la dénivellation entre le piquage d'air et la surface libre du liquide. Si le liquide affleure à hauteur du sommet de l'élévateur, celui-ci est entièrement submergé et le taux de submergence est de 100% ; ce taux diminue à mesure que le liquide baisse dans la cuve. On constate que le rendement baisse rapidement avec le taux de submergence et qu'il devient nul pour un taux de submergence égal à 1/3 environ, ce qui signifie que le liquide ne sort plus du tout de l'ouverture supérieure de l'élévateur. On doit donc admettre que les élévateurs à bulles deviennent inopérants pour les cuves peu remplies. Quand le niveau de la cuve est variable, on dispose plusieurs élévateurs de hauteurs différentes et on les utilise séparément selon les circonstances, en choisissant celui qui possédera momentanément le meilleur rendement ou celui qui débouchera aux profondeurs qui permettront l'homogénéisation la plus complète. Mais on est en droit de juger que l'installation devient compliquée.It uses a device already used for this and commonly used in particular in the nuclear industry: it is called a bubble elevator and consists of a generally vertical tube, open at its ends and which also includes an inlet nozzle for at an intermediate height. The lower end is always immersed in the liquid from the tank and corresponds to a liquid inlet opening, while the upper end can be emerged or submerged according to the circumstances and corresponds to a mixture ejection opening. air and liquid: in fact, the air introduced into the tube by the nozzle rises, carrying with it the liquid occupying the tube, until it leaves by the upper end, and the ejected liquid is replaced by liquid from the tank entering through the lower opening. Bubbles elevators do not require the use of moving mechanical parts and thus can be used 'even in corrosive liquids; they are very effective in stirring and homogenizing the liquid in the tanks, in particular in resuspending the deposits accumulated at the bottom of the tank. The efficiency of a bubble elevator can be defined as the quotient of the flow of liquid entrained by the flow of air supplied. We see that it is very variable and strongly depends on the rate of submergence, either of the ratio between the height separating the air connection from the level of the liquid in the tank and the invariable height between the air connection and the top of the elevator; the first of these heights actually corresponds to the difference in level between the air intake and the free surface of the liquid. If the liquid is flush with the top of the elevator, it is completely submerged and the submergence rate is 100%; this rate decreases as the liquid drops in the tank. It can be seen that the yield drops rapidly with the submergence rate and that it becomes zero for a submergence rate equal to approximately 1/3, which means that the liquid no longer leaves the upper opening of the elevator at all. . It must therefore be admitted that the bubble elevators become inoperative for sparsely filled tanks. When the level of the tank is variable, there are several elevators of different heights and they are used separately according to the circumstances, choosing which one will have momentarily the best output or which which will lead to the depths which will allow the most complete homogenization. But we have the right to judge that the installation becomes complicated.

Le sujet de l'invention est un élévateur à bulles amélioré qui offre à la fois un bon rendement et une -possibilité de fonctionnement auxiliaire dans des cuves peu emplies. Il peut remplacer plusieurs élévateurs ordinaires .The subject of the invention is an improved bubble elevator which offers both good efficiency and the possibility of auxiliary operation in sparsely filled tanks. It can replace several ordinary elevators.

Cet élévateur à bulles comprend un tube ouvert à une extrémité inférieure d'entrée de liquide, à une extrémité supérieure d'éjection de mélange de gaz et de liquide et à un piquage d'injection de gaz à une hauteur intermédiaire entre les extrémités, et il se distingue en ce que le tube comprend encore au moins une ouverture supplémentaire à une hauteur intermédiaire entre l'extrémité supérieure et le piquage d'injection d'air. Cette nouvelle ouverture peut servir à aspirer un débit additionnel de liquide dans certaines circonstances ou à éjecter au contraire le mélange. Un tube est en général raccordé à cette ouverture .This bubble elevator comprises an open tube at a lower liquid inlet end, at an upper end for ejecting a gas and liquid mixture and at a gas injection nozzle at a height intermediate between the ends, and it turns distinguishes in that the tube also comprises at least one additional opening at an intermediate height between the upper end and the air injection nozzle. This new opening can be used to suck up an additional flow of liquid in certain circumstances or to eject the mixture on the contrary. A tube is generally connected to this opening.

L'invention sera maintenant décrite en détail à l'aide des figures suivantes, annexées à titre illustratif et non limitatif :The invention will now be described in detail with the aid of the following figures, annexed by way of illustration and not limitation:

- la figure 1 représente un élévateur à bulles conforme à l'invention,FIG. 1 represents a bubble elevator according to the invention,

- les figures 2a à 2d illustrent plusieurs modes de fonctionnement qu'on peut distinguer,FIGS. 2a to 2d illustrate several operating modes which can be distinguished,

- et la figure 3 représente un autre élévateur à bulles .- And Figure 3 shows another bubble elevator.

L'élévateur à bulles de la figure 1 est représenté logé dans une cuve 1 et comprend un tube principal 2 ouvert à son extrémité inférieure 3 et à son extrémité supérieure 4 où, comme il est usuel, il est recourbé en forme de crosse pour rejeter le mélange de gaz élévateur et de liquide entraîné horizontalement ou même vers le bas. Une ouverture intermédiaire correspondant à un piquage d'air 5 est faite à peu de hauteur de l'extrémité inférieure 3 ; on y raccorde un conduit 6 d'air comprimé qui fournit le gaz de mélange.The bubble elevator of FIG. 1 is shown housed in a tank 1 and comprises a main tube 2 open at its lower end 3 and at its upper end 4 where, as usual, it is bent in the shape of a stick to reject the mixture of lifting gas and liquid driven horizontally or even downwards. An intermediate opening corresponding to an air connection 5 is made at a low height from the lower end 3; a compressed air line 6 is connected to it which supplies the mixing gas.

L'élément essentiel de l'invention consiste en une ouverture 7 supplémentaire du tube principal 2, située entre le piquage 5 et l'extrémité supérieure 4 et à laquelle on peut raccorder un tube de branchement 8 qui s'étend de là horizontalement ou vers le bas, et s'ouvre dans la cuve 1 au-dessous de l'extrémité supérieure 4.The essential element of the invention consists of an additional opening 7 of the main tube 2, located between the tap 5 and the upper end 4 and to which a connection tube 8 can be connected which extends from there horizontally or towards the bottom, and opens in the tank 1 below the upper end 4.

On verra que le tube de branchement 8 se prête aussi bien à l'aspiration du liquide de la cuve qu'à l'éjection d'un mélange. Il est bon de mentionner auparavant certaines caractéristiques géométriques de l'élévateur et d'expliquer leur intérêt. C'est ainsi que le tube principal s'élargit vers le haut, passant d'un diamètre Dl du côté de l'extrémité inférieure 3 à un diamètre D2 plus important du côté de l'extrémité supérieure 4. La variation de diamètre est localisée un peu au-dessous de l'ouverture de raccordement 7 et elle est brusque, mais un fonctionnement correct serait obtenu avec une variation progressive de diamètre sur une petite hauteur du tube principal 2. Cette disposition est utile pour aspirer du liquide par le tube de branchement 8, car on a constaté qu'un tube principal lisse de diamètre intérieur constant était soumis à un écoulement uniforme qui ne permettait pas d'obtenir un débit additionnel important par l'ouverture de raccordement 7, alors que le tube principal 2 décrit ici est le siège de turbulences qui favorisent une aspiration de liquide par le tube de branchement 8. La dénivellation d entre la section de changement de diamètre de Dl à D2, où les turbulencesWe will see that the connection tube 8 lends itself as well to the suction of the liquid from the tank as to the ejection of a mixture. It is good to mention beforehand certain geometric characteristics of the elevator and to explain their interest. This is how the main tube widens upwards, passing from a diameter D1 on the side of the lower end 3 to a larger diameter D2 on the side of the upper end 4. The variation in diameter is localized. a little below the connection opening 7 and it is abrupt, but correct operation would be obtained with a gradual variation in diameter over a small height of the main tube 2. This arrangement is useful for sucking liquid through the tube connection 8, because it has been found that a smooth main tube of constant internal diameter was subjected to a uniform flow which did not allow a significant additional flow to be obtained through the connection opening 7, while the main tube 2 described here is the seat of turbulence which promotes a suction of liquid through the connection tube 8. The difference in height d between the diameter change section from Dl to D2, where the turbulence

•sont produites, et l'ouverture de raccordement 7, doit être la plus petite possible, peut-être de quelques centimètres ; l'effet d'aspiration serait réduit ou compromis si elle était trop grande. Par ailleurs, des essais complémentaires, réalisés en vue d'optimiser et de réduire la valeur de la dénivellation b entre l'extrémité inférieure 3 et l'ouverture du piquage d'air 5, ont montré que les valeurs empiriques préconisées dans les dispositifs de l'art antérieur, situées dans une gamme de valeurs comprises entre 15 et 25 cm, afin d'éviter tout risque d'échappement d'air vers le bas par l'extrémité inférieure 3, qui réduirait les performances de l'élévateur, pouvaient être réduites fortement. • are produced, and the connection opening 7 must be as small as possible, perhaps a few centimeters; the suction effect would be reduced or compromised if it was too large. Furthermore, additional tests, carried out with a view to optimizing and reducing the value of the difference in level b between the lower end 3 and the opening of the air nozzle 5, have shown that the empirical values recommended in the devices of the prior art, situated in a range of values between 15 and 25 cm, in order to avoid any risk of exhaust of air downwards through the lower end 3, which would reduce the lift performance, could be reduced significantly.

Il est possible de donner à la dénivellation b une valeur de 5 cm environ pour un tube principal 2, sans constater d'échappement d'air même en accroissant le débit d'injection par le piquage 5 jusqu'à le tripler. Cette possibilité de réduire la dénivellation b est bénéfique car elle augmente le taux de submergence de l'élévateur, toutes choses égales par ailleurs, et donc l'étendue de son fonctionnement dans des cuves peu emplies, puisque le taux de submergence correspondant à la coupure du fonctionnement reste de 1/3. Même quand le fonctionnement est possible avec un piquage d'air 5 élevé, son abaissement accroît le rendement de 1' élévateur. Le diamètre D3 du tube de branchement 8, son angle d' inclinaison et sa longueur sont déterminés empiriquement. Le diamètre D3 doit être plus petit que le diamètre D2, et la longueur plus petite que celle de la partie basse (de diamètre Dl) du tube principal 2. La figure 2a illustre une situation où la cuve 1 •est presque vide mais où une homogénéisation de son contenu est tout de même recherchée. L'air est fourni au débit souhaité et il entraîne le liquide présent au bas du tube 2 jusqu'à l'ouverture de raccordement 7 avant de le décharger par le tube de branchement 8 : on obtient donc un fonctionnement du "premier étage" de l'élévateur qui ne concerne que sa partie inférieure, alors que le reste, compris entre l'ouverture de raccordement 7 et l'extrémité supérieure 4, consiste en un "second étage" qui reste entièrement vide pour ce mode de fonctionnement hormis un débit de fuite d'air, car sa submergence est trop faible. Si la cuve se remplit, on peut arriver à l'état de la figure 2b où le niveau du liquide s'étend jusqu'à l'ouverture de raccordement 7 : ce fonctionnement reste à peu près le même que précédemment, tout le mélange d'air et de liquide passant par le tube de branchement 8, sauf que le mélange est rejeté directement dans le liquide .It is possible to give the difference in height b a value of approximately 5 cm for a main tube 2, without observing air exhaust even by increasing the injection rate by the nozzle 5 until it triples. This possibility of reducing the difference in level b is beneficial since it increases the rate of submergence of the elevator, all other things being equal, and therefore the extent of its operation in sparsely filled tanks, since the rate of submergence corresponding to the cut of operation remains 1/3. Even when operation is possible with a high air tapping, lowering it increases the efficiency of the elevator. The diameter D3 of the connection tube 8, its angle of inclination and its length are determined empirically. The diameter D3 must be smaller than the diameter D2, and the length shorter than that of the lower part (of diameter Dl) of the main tube 2. FIG. 2a illustrates a situation where the tank 1 • is almost empty but where a homogenization of its content is still sought. The air is supplied at the desired flow rate and it drives the liquid present at the bottom of the tube 2 to the connection opening 7 before discharging it through the connection tube 8: an "first stage" operation is therefore obtained. the elevator which only concerns its lower part, while the rest, between the opening of connection 7 and the upper end 4, consists of a "second stage" which remains entirely empty for this operating mode except for an air leakage rate, since its submergence is too low. If the tank fills, we can arrive at the state of Figure 2b where the liquid level extends to the connection opening 7: this operation remains roughly the same as before, all the mixture of air and liquid passing through the connection tube 8, except that the mixture is discharged directly into the liquid.

Si la cuve 1 continue à se remplir, on arrive à l'état de la figure 2c où le second étage d'éjection devient éventuellement actif. Si le débit d'air injecté reste relativement faible, tout le liquide aspiré est renvoyé dans la cuve par le tube de branchement 8 comme précédemment. Mais si le débit d'air est accru, le débit de liquide éjecté s'accroît aussi et une part croissante, qui devient rapidement prépondérante, passe par le second étage et quitte l'élévateur par l'extrémité supérieure 4, comme dans un élévateur ordinaire. La division du mélange entre les deux étages peut favoriser l'homogénéisation du liquide grâce au brassage produit à plusieurs altitudes. Si le niveau du liquide dans la cuve s'élève •encore, on arrive à la figure 2d où le fonctionnement de l'élévateur change à nouveau : la circulation de fluide s'inverse dans le tube de branchement 8, qui devient un tube d'aspiration d'un débit de liquide additionnel. L'aspiration du liquide à deux altitudes favorise encore un brassage important du contenu de la cuve, en même temps qu'une augmentation du débit de liquide entraîné dans le tube principal 2. L'ouverture de raccordement 7 optimise alors le fonctionnement de l'élévateur à bulles en permettant d'aspirer puis d'éjecter un débit de liquide plus important que dans un élévateur ordinaire, à débit d'air identique. La figure 3 montre que le concept d'orifice intermédiaire peut être généralisé à un élévateur à bulles à plus de deux étages d'éjection : l'élévateur qui y est illustré comporte ainsi un second orifice intermédiaire 17 au-dessus du premier (référencé par 7 comme dans l'exemple précédent), et un second tube de branchement 18 y est raccordé. Il est en pente descendante vers la cuve 1 comme le précédent, et son diamètre D5 peut être semblable au diamètre D3 du premier tube de branchement 8 ou un peu supérieur. Le tube 2 comprend alors trois sections, de diamètres Dl, D2 et D4, qui se raccordent 7 et 17 avec des variations brusques ou progressives de diamètre comme précédemment. Le mélange d'air et de liquide sort de l'élévateur 7 et 17 ou par l'extrémité supérieure 4 du tube 2, ou plusieurs de ces endroits à la fois en fonction de la submergence et du débit d'air, comme précédemment . If the tank 1 continues to fill, we arrive at the state of FIG. 2c where the second ejection stage eventually becomes active. If the flow of air injected remains relatively low, all the liquid sucked back is returned to the tank through the connection tube 8 as before. But if the air flow is increased, the flow of ejected liquid also increases and an increasing share, which quickly becomes preponderant, passes through the second stage and leaves the elevator by the upper end 4, as in an elevator ordinary. The division of the mixture between the two stages can favor the homogenization of the liquid thanks to the mixing produced at several altitudes. If the liquid level in the tank rises • again, we come to the 2d where the operation of the elevator changes again: the fluid flow is reversed in the connecting tube 8, which is a tube suction of an additional liquid flow. The suction of the liquid at two altitudes further promotes significant mixing of the contents of the tank, at the same time as an increase in the flow of liquid entrained in the main tube 2. The opening connection 7 then optimizes the operation of the bubble elevator by making it possible to aspirate then eject a greater flow of liquid than in an ordinary elevator, with identical air flow. FIG. 3 shows that the concept of intermediate orifice can be generalized to a bubble elevator with more than two ejection stages: the elevator which is illustrated therein thus has a second intermediate orifice 17 above the first (referenced by 7 as in the previous example), and a second connection tube 18 is connected to it. It slopes downward towards the tank 1 like the previous one, and its diameter D5 can be similar to the diameter D3 of the first connection tube 8 or a little greater. The tube 2 then comprises three sections, of diameters D1, D2 and D4, which are connected 7 and 17 with abrupt or progressive variations in diameter as before. The mixture of air and liquid leaves the elevator 7 and 17 or through the upper end 4 of the tube 2, or more of these places at the same time according to the submergence and the air flow rate, as previously.

Claims

REVENDICATIONS 1. Dispositif de brassage de contenu liquide d'une cuve, comprenant au moins un élévateur à bulles comprenant un tube (2) ouvert à une extrémité inférieure (3) d'entrée du liquide, à une extrémité supérieure (4) d'éjection d'un mélange du liquide et de gaz et à un piquage (5) d'injection d'air à une hauteur intermédiaire entre les extrémités, caractérisé en ce que le tube (2) comprend encore une ouverture supplémentaire (7) à une hauteur intermédiaire entre l'extrémité supérieure et le piquage d'injection d'air et par laquelle le liquide peut être aspiré dans le tube ou en être éjecté. 1. Device for stirring the liquid content of a tank, comprising at least one bubble elevator comprising a tube (2) open at a lower end (3) for entering the liquid, at an upper end (4) for ejection of a mixture of liquid and gas and to a nozzle (5) for injecting air at a height intermediate between the ends, characterized in that the tube (2) also comprises an additional opening (7) at a height intermediate between the upper end and the air injection nozzle and by which the liquid can be sucked into the tube or be ejected from it. 2. Dispositif de brassage de contenu d'une cuve suivant la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le tube est composé d'une portion inférieure finissant un peu au-dessous de l'ouverture de raccordement et d'une portion supérieure de plus gros diamètre (D2) que la portion inférieure.2. device for stirring the contents of a tank according to claim 1, characterized in that the tube is composed of a lower portion ending a little below the connection opening and an upper portion of larger diameter (D2) than the lower portion. 3. Dispositif de brassage de contenu d'une cuve suivant la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que les portions du tube se raccordent en une variation brusque de diamètre. 3. Device for stirring the contents of a tank according to claim 2, characterized in that the portions of the tube are connected in an abrupt variation in diameter. 4. Dispositif de brassage de contenu d'une cuve suivant la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que les portions du tube se raccordent en une variation progressive de diamètre.4. Device for stirring the contents of a tank according to claim 2, characterized in that the portions of the tube are connected in a progressive variation in diameter. 5. Dispositif de brassage de contenu d'une cuve suivant la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'un tube de branchement (8) est raccordé au tube (2) à l'ouverture supplémentaire (7), le tube de branchement débouchant au-dessous de l'extrémité supérieure (4). 5. Device for stirring the contents of a tank according to claim 1, characterized in that a connection tube (8) is connected to the tube (2) at the additional opening (7), the connection tube opening out to the - below the upper end (4). 6. Dispositif de brassage de contenu d'une cuve suivant la revendication 1, caractérisé par au moins une seconde ouverture supplémentaire (17) à une hauteur intermédiaire entre l'extrémité supérieure (4) du tube (2) et le piquage (5) d'injection d'air, les ouvertures intermédiaires (7, 17) étant à des hauteurs différentes . 6. device for stirring the contents of a tank according to claim 1, characterized by at least one second additional opening (17) at a height intermediate between the upper end (4) of the tube (2) and the nozzle (5) air injection, the intermediate openings (7, 17) being at different heights.
EP98910820A 1997-02-28 1998-02-24 Device for stirring the content of a vessel comprising a bubble elevator Expired - Lifetime EP0963243B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9702427 1997-02-28
FR9702427A FR2760197B1 (en) 1997-02-28 1997-02-28 DEVICE FOR BREWING THE CONTENT OF A TANK COMPRISING A BUBBLE ELEVATOR
PCT/FR1998/000359 WO1998037956A1 (en) 1997-02-28 1998-02-24 Device for stirring the content of a vessel comprising a bubble elevator

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EP0963243A1 true EP0963243A1 (en) 1999-12-15
EP0963243B1 EP0963243B1 (en) 2002-07-31

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EP (1) EP0963243B1 (en)
JP (1) JP3727072B2 (en)
KR (1) KR100501917B1 (en)
DE (1) DE69806906T2 (en)
FR (1) FR2760197B1 (en)
WO (1) WO1998037956A1 (en)

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EP0963243B1 (en) 2002-07-31
US6237898B1 (en) 2001-05-29
WO1998037956A1 (en) 1998-09-03
JP2001513018A (en) 2001-08-28
FR2760197A1 (en) 1998-09-04
DE69806906T2 (en) 2003-03-13
DE69806906D1 (en) 2002-09-05
KR20000075787A (en) 2000-12-26
KR100501917B1 (en) 2005-07-18
FR2760197B1 (en) 1999-03-26
JP3727072B2 (en) 2005-12-14

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