US1856120A

US1856120A - Gas scrubbing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US1856120A
Application number: US402001A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kenneth S Valentine
Original assignee: TURBO MIXER CORP
Current assignee: TURBO MIXER CORP; TURBO-MIXER Corp
Priority date: 1929-10-24
Filing date: 1929-10-24
Publication date: 1932-05-03
Anticipated expiration: 1949-05-03

Description

M 3,. 11932. K. s. VALENTINE 1,356{m@ GAS SCHUBBING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 24, 1929 nu Ill-C M 1% K. s. VALENTINE 1,856,120

GAS SGRUBBING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 24. 1929 L ma gm gg Patented May 3, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KENNETH S. VALENTINE, OF HOLIiIS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOIR TO THE TURBQ-MIXER CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., .A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK GAS SCBUBIBING APPARATUS Application filed October 24, 1929. Serial No; 402,001.

My invention relates to gas and liquid contact apparatus such as absorbers, gas scrubhers, wash towers, etc.

The principal object is to provide a relatively small and compact apparatus for very effective contact of the gas with the scrubbing or other liquid, and delayed flow and protracted circulation of the gas in contact with the liquid; or as otherwise described the apparatus provides a very long course of travel of the gas in proportion to its size or area, with correspondingly eifective scrubhing, cleansing, etc. of the gas and complete utilization of the active materials or qualities of the wash liquid.

To these ends, the apparatus consists, in brief, of a tank having partitions separating it into a plurality of compartments, with central apertures in the partitions, rotary circulating or impelling devices in or adjacent the apertures, and deflecting means or blades at the apertures, together with suitable ports for supply and discharge of liquid and gas. lhe impellers are preferably carried by a common shaft, which has means foraxial adjustment, whereby the positions of the impellers in relation to the compartments or partitions may be varied, to provide different circulating conditions or effects. By the action of the impellers in cooperation with the various compartments, the movement of gas through the tank is retarded, and the gas is caused to circulate through a long course in contact with the liquid in each compartment, so that the total length of gas travel is extensive in proportion to the size of the apparatus.

The apparatus, including some or all of the essential features briefly referred to above, is capable of various modes of use, as sufliciently explained below. r

The characteristics and advantages of the invention are further sufficiently explained in connection with the following detail description of the accompanying drawings, which show one representative embodiment. lifter considering this example, skilled persons will understand that many variations may be made without departing from the principles disclosed and l contemplate the employment of any structures that are properly within the scope of the appended claims.

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of apparatus embodying the invention in one form.

Fig. 2 is a section at 2-2, Fig. 1.

A suitable tank 1, preferably a vertical, cylindrical tank as shown, is provided with a plurality of transverse partitions 2 dividing it into compartments 3. Communication between the compartments is provided by central apertures 4 in the partitions. For supply and discharge of gas and liquid I provide any or all of the ports or pipes 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, these usually communicating with the upper and lower tank compartments. The vertical driving shaft 10 at the tank axis carries a plurality of rotary bladed impellers 11 of a suitable or known type. Specifically, as shown, these are duplex impellers of the turbo type, including upper and lower annular directing plates 12, and approximately tangential, curved impelling blades 13 which connects the plates to hubs 14 which are fixedly mounted on the shaft. The shaft has any known or suitable driving means such as the motor and gearing 15, and means such as 16 by which it may be vertically adjusted to simultaneously position the impellers at different levels in relation to the partitions 2. At each partition aperture 4, I provide up per and lower annular series of deflector blades 17 curved, and approximately tangen- .tially arranged, as shown in Fig. 2, and which act to deflect material tangentiallydischarged, by the impellers and cause such material to flow substantially radially toward the tank wall.

For certain purposes, I may also provide a stand-pipe or gas discharge column 18 com- -municating at its bottom with the lower tank compartment, the communication port 19 being preferably of relatively large area, as shown. This stand-pipe may be omitted in some cases, or if provided and not used, may

be rendered inoperative as by valve 20locat-" ed above the liquid level or at some other point such as 21. Imay also prov de in some cases a bypass connection or pipe 22,

connectingxthe lower and upper tanl; oom

partments. If necessary or desirable, this by-pass conduit may be rendered inoperative by one or more valves such as 23, 24.

When the discharge pipe or port 9 is used for liquid discharge it may be guarded by a shield or hood 25.

In normal operation the tank including all of the compartments is filled with liquid up to a level in the upper compartment which is substantially above the upper partition 2 or about as indicated by the line 30, Fig. 1.

The apparatus may be operated in several ways. In one preferred mode of operation, the wash liquid, such for example as caustic soda, is supplied to the tank through one of the upper ports or pipes, such as pipe 6. The gas may be supplied through pipe 8 and discharged through pipe 5. If the sup ly or flow of liquids is to be constant, liquid may be discharged through pipe 9 and when the liquid is thus constantly circulated, the described arrangement or mode of operation provides for counterflow of the gas and liquid. The impellers are positioned substantially as shown in Fig. 1, that is, so that they draw liquid and gas into their intake openings from both upper and lower c0m- I partments, and discharge a minor portion of the gas and liquid above the respective partitions, or into the adjacent upper compartments, and a major portion of the gas and liquid below the partitions, or into the adjacent lower compartments. The tangential .eflow is interrupted by the deflectors 17, and the material is caused to flow substantially radially toward the tank wall in courses approximately indicated by arrows, and a portion of the material in each compartment is drawn upward into the intake of the upper impeller while a portion is drawn into the intake of the lower impeller. In this way, the gas and liquid is repeatedly and rapidly circulated in each compartment and the gas flow is retarded, and the gas travel from intake to outlet points is extremely long, especially since in the desired mode of operation, the gas travels upwanLand is retarded and recirculated in each compartment by the relative downward flow of the wash liquid from one compartment to another. The total height or other dimensions of the tank may therefore be made very small in relation to the volume of gas and wash liquid handled in unit time.

In another mode of operation, parallel flow of the gas and liquid may be provided. Thus. gas may be supplied at 8 and discharged at 5 while the liquid is supplied at 9 and discharged at port 7.

By another method, gas may be'supplied at 5 and liquid either at 6 for parallel flow or at 9 for counterflow of the gas and liquid. In this case, with any small pressure on the gas supply, it will be forced downward through the liquid with delayed and repeated and protracted circulation in the compartments, as above described, and will flow out through port 19 and up through the liquid in stand pipe 18 to any suitable receiving point,

valve

20 or 21 being in this case, of

the liquid will be forced into and up in stand pipe 18 to 'a level above the upper level in the tank, depending on the pressure head exerted on the liquid and usually the liquid will not rise in the stand pipe more than about six to eight feet, with the maximum pressure which can be exerted by the impellers in practical operation. The gas will then pass out through the stand pipe above the liquid therein to any desired point of collection or utilization.

It will be understood that when the tank is substantially filled with liquid, as is preferred, it is largely immaterial at what points the liquid is supplied and discharged, since, if a by-pass connection such as 22 is provided, provision is made for circulation of the liquid generally throughout the tank and in either direction, depending on the adjusted position of the impellers.

In any case, if liquid flow is not constant, that is, if there is no continuous supply and discharge of liquid to and from the tank, proper circulation of liquid through the tank may be provided by the by-pass conduit 22, through which a portion of the liquid may flow from the lower to the upper compartment, or vice versa, depending on the general direction of liquid flow in the tank, as

controlled by the position of the impellers.

The direction of liquid flow in the tank and the retardation of flow or extent of recirculation in the different compartments,

may be regulated and controlled by the position of the impellers.

Various other modes of operation will be apparent to skilled persons without further detailed explanation.

Desirably, the by-pass pipe or conduit 22 I communicates with the lower compartment of the tank at the bottom thereof, and has below the level of the tank bottom a U-bend 22a, forming a gas trap so that the by-pass provides for proper movement of liquid while practically preventing movement of gases from the lower to the upper portion of the tank.

I claim:

1. Apparatus of the classdescribed, comprising a tank normally filled with liquid from the bottom to a point near the top and having a plurality of communicating compartments, a plurality of impellers adjacent the respective compartments, means for driving the impellers, and means for supplying and discharging liquid and gas, and a stand pipe communicating with the lower compartment and extending above the tank liquid level.

2. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a tank normally tilled with liquid from the bottom to a point near the top and having a plurality of communicating compartments, a plurality of impellers adjacent the respective compartments, means for driving the impellers, and means for supplying and discharging liquid and gas, and a liquid by-pass conduit connecting upper and lower compartments.

8. Scrubbing or analogous apparatus comprising a tank. a plurality of centrally-apertured partitions dividing the tank into a series of compartments, a shaft passing axially through the tank and apertures, impellers on the shaft, and means for adjusting the shaft axially to vary the positions of the impellers upward or downward in and through the partition apertures in relation to the par titions and compartments and so to control circulation and flow of the materials.

4. Scrubbing or analogous apparatus comprising a tank normally filled with liquid from the bottom to a point near the top and a plurality of centrally-apertured partitions dividing the tank into a series of compartments, a shaft passing axially through the tank and apertures, impellers on the shaft, and a stand pipe communicating with the lower compartment and extending above the tank liquid level.

5. Scrubbing or analogous apparatus comi prising a tank, a plurality of centrally-apertured partitions dividing the tank into a series of compartments, a shaft passing axially through the tank, impellers on the shaft and locatable within the partition apertures to discharge material in a cross axial plane approximate to the partition plane, and station ary detlectin g blades on the partitions and adjacent their apertures, and means for adjusting the shaft axially to vary the positions of the impellersin relation to the partitions and compartments and so to control circulation and flow of the materials.

6. Scrubbing or analogous apparatus comprising a tank having partitions dividing it into a series of compartments, means for producing circulation and mixing of gas and liquids, and a by-pass conduit for circuitous movement of liquid throughout the tank and by-pass, from the bottom to the top of the tank or vice versa, said bypass conduit connecting an upper compartment with the bottom of the lower compartment and having a U-bend below the level of the bottom of the lower compartment and forming a gas trap.

7. Multiple mixing or scrubbing apparatus comprising a tank having horizontal, centrally-apertured partitions defining superposed conipartments communicating through the apertures, the tank being adapted to be normally filled with liquid from the bottom to a substantial elevation in the upper compartment, a shaft passing through the compartment apertures, and impellers on the shaft, each being adapted for normal location substantially within one of the partition apertures and to discharge material peripherally in a plane adjacent that of the partition, the impellers thus providing for continuous recirculating flow within the variation compartments, and means for supplying and discharging gas and liquid from the tank.

8. Multiple mixing or scrubbing apparatus comprising a tank having horizontal, centrally-apertured partitions defining superposed compartments communicating through the apertures, the tank being adapted to be normally filled with liquid from the bottom to a substantial elevation in the upper compartment, a shaft passing through the compartment apertures, and impellers on the shaft, each being adapted for normal location substantially within one of the partition apertures and to discharge material peripherally in a plane adjacent that of the partition, the impellers thus providing for continuous recirculating flow within the various compartments, means for supplying and discharging gas and liquid to and from the tank, and deflector blades on the partitions substantially at their apertures to direct sub stantially radially material discharged by the impellers.

9. The structure defined in claim 7 with the addition of means for adjusting the shaft axially and thus variably positioning the impellers in relation to the partitions and to discharge material more or less into either of the two compartments adjacent each partition, and thereby also to control the generalkdirection of material fiow through the tan 10. The structure defined in claim 8 with the addition of means for adjusting the shaft axially and thus variably positioning the impellers in relation to the partitions and to discharge material more or less into either of the two compartments adjacent each partition, and thereby also to control the general direction of material through the tank.

11. Multiple mixing or scrubbing apparatus comprising a tank having horizontal, centrally-apertured partitions defining superposed compartments communicating through the apertures, the tank being adapted to be normally filled with liquid from the bottom to a substantial elevation in the upper compartment, a shaft passing through the compartment apertures, and impellers on the 5 shaft, each being adapted for normal location substantially within one of the partition apertures and to discharge material peripherally in a plane adjacent that of the partition, the impellers thus providing for continuous recirculating flow within the variation compartments, means for supplying gas, and means for discharging gas from the bottom compartment, said means comprising a conduit connected to the lower compartment and extending to a level substantially above the liquid level in the upper compartment, and means for supplying liquid to the tank.

12. Multiple mixing or scrubbing apparago tus comprising a tank having horizontal, centrally apertured partitions defining superposed compartments communicating through the apertures, the tank being adapted to be normally filled with liquid from the bottom 5 to a substantial elevation in the upper compartment, a shaft passing through the compartment apertures, and impellers on the shaft, each being adapted for normal location substantially within one of the partition apertures and to discharge material peripherally in a plane adjacent that of the partition, the impellers thus providing for continuous recirculating flow within the various compartments, means for supplying and 5 discharging gas and liquid to and from the tank, and a liquid by-pass conduit connecting the lower and upper compartments.

13. Multiple mixing or scrubbing'apparatus comprising a tank having horizontal, cen- 40 trally-apertured partitions defining superposed compartments communicating through the apertures, the tank being adapted to be normally filled with liquid from the bottom to a substantial elevation in the upper compartment, a shaft passing through the compartment apertures, and impellers on the shaft, each being adapted for normal location substantially within one of the partition apertures and to discharge material peripherally in a plane adjacent that of the partition, the impellers thus providing for continuous recirculating flow within the various compartments, means for supplying and discharging gas and liquid to and from the tank, and a liquid by-pass conduit connecting the lower and upper compartments and including gas trapping means substantially preventing recirculation of gas through the by-pass. I

In testimony whereof I affix mysignature.

KENNETH S. VALENTINE.