TH49158A - Liquid enhancing aerosol by foaming - Google Patents

Abstract

DC60 (17/01/44) The process of incremental aerosolization by foaming involves the formation of a flowing solution of the liquid to be atomized and a foaming liquid with a lower boiling point. This flowing solution is then exposed to a pressure-reducing device at a temperature below the foaming point of the foaming liquid in the solution to induce foaming. These foams consist of liquid vapor from the foaming and nucleation of the foam, creating a dual-phase fluid of foam and liquid solution. The dual-phase fluid is then flowed to the end and through the atomization device, such as an inlet, and into a lower-pressure atomization region where the foam vaporizes to form a spray of tiny liquid droplets. The nucleated foams continue to grow as the formed dual-phase fluid flows to the end and through the atomization device. The incremental aerosolization by foaming process involves the formation of a flowing solution. A liquid to be atomized is a bubbling liquid with a lower boiling point. This flowing solution is then exposed to a pressure-reducing device at a temperature below the bubbling point of the bubbling liquid in the solution to induce bubbles. These bubbles consist of liquid vapor from the bubbling process, and the nucleation of the bubbles creates a dual-phase fluid of bubbles and liquid solution. The dual-phase fluid is then flowed to the end and through the atomizing device, such as an inlet, and into a lower-pressure atomizing region where the bubbles vaporize to form a spray of tiny liquid droplets. The nucleated bubbles continue to grow as the forming dual-phase fluid flows to the end and through the atomizing device.

Claims (20)

1. The process of liquid atomization involves the contact of a flowing fluid containing the solution to be atomized and a bubbling fluid with a lower boiling point. This is done under pressure and at a temperature lower than the bubbling point of the solution, with a depressurizing device reducing the pressure of the fluid. This process causes the nucleation of bubbles to form a two-phase vapor-liquid fluid consisting of the bubbles and the solution. This two-phase fluid then flows to a destination and through the atomization device into a depressurized zone, where it is further atomized to form a spray of liquid droplets. 2. The process under claim 1 in which such bubbles will continue to grow at the source size of the aerosol-generating device. 3. The process under claim 2 where the pressure drop caused by such pressure-reducing device is less than 50 pounds per square inch. 4. The process under claim 3 whereby the pressure reducing device shall consist of at least one static mixing device. 5. The process under claim 4 in which at least 0.5 percent by weight of the liquid causing the bubbles is vaporized by the nucleation of the bubbles and subsequent aerosolization. 6. The process under claim 5 whereby the atomizing device shall consist of holes that cause atomization. 7. The process under claim 6 where the pressure drop caused by such pressure-reducing device shall be less than 15 pounds per square inch. 8. The process for atomizing liquid FCC feed material shall consist of (a) contact of a flowing fluid under pressure, containing a solution of the FCC feed oil and a foaming fluid, which shall consist of a liquid or hydrocarbon distillate containing material that boils below the boiling point of the feed oil, with a pressure drop device to reduce the pressure of the flowing fluid and cause the nucleation of bubbles consisting of vapors of the foaming fluid at a temperature below the foaming point of the solution, in order to form a two-phase fluid consisting of bubbles and the liquid solution; (b) The flow of this two-phase fluid through the outlet and through the atomizing device into an atomization zone at a pressure lower than the inlet pressure of the atomizing device, in order to atomize the fluid and form a spray of liquid feed oil droplets, where the atomization zone contains the reaction zone. Catalytic cracking and (c) contact spraying such as with a regenerating hot particle cracking catalyst in the reaction area under reaction conditions that affect the catalytic cracking of the feed oil and to produce hydrocarbons that boil at lower temperatures. 9. The process under claim 8 in which such bubbles will continue to grow at the source of the device that causes the atomization to occur. 10. The process stipulated in claim 9, in which hydrocarbons with lower boiling points are separated from the catalytic particles used and recovered. 11. The process under claim 10, in which such cracking reaction would also produce catalytic particles which would contain removable hydrocarbons and coke. 12. The process pursuant to claim 11, in which the used catalyst particles are removed in a disposal site to extract the removable hydrocarbons for the production of removed carbonized catalyst particles. 13. The process under claim 12 in which the removed carbonized catalyst particles are flowed into a regeneration zone where the catalyst particles are exposed to oxygen under conditions that cause the coke to burn off and generate hot, regenerated catalyst particles. 14. The process pursuant to claim 13 where the pressure drop caused by such pressure-reducing device is less than 50 pounds per square inch. 15. The process pursuant to claim 14 in which at least 0.5 percent by weight of the foaming liquid is vaporized by the nucleation of bubbles and subsequent aerosolization of the liquid. 16. The process under claim 15 where the heated, regenerated catalyst particles are passed through the cracking reaction area where the catalyst particles are exposed to the spray to catalyze the cracking of the feed oil. 17. The process under claim 16 in which the pressure reducing device shall consist of at least one static mixing device. 18. The process under claim 16 in which the aerosol-generating device shall consist of an aerosol-generating form. 19. The procedure under claim 16 in which such pressure-reducing device reduces such pressure to less than 15 pounds per square inch. 20. The process pursuant to claim 19 in which the recovered hydrocarbons are further processed.