WO1992011926A1 - Generateur de mousse - Google Patents

Generateur de mousse Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1992011926A1
WO1992011926A1 PCT/US1991/006992 US9106992W WO9211926A1 WO 1992011926 A1 WO1992011926 A1 WO 1992011926A1 US 9106992 W US9106992 W US 9106992W WO 9211926 A1 WO9211926 A1 WO 9211926A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
aerator
foam
liquid
region
chamber
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1991/006992
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Kurt J. Weimer
Edward P. Kromrey
Original Assignee
Ecolab Inc.
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 Ecolab Inc. filed Critical Ecolab Inc.
Publication of WO1992011926A1 publication Critical patent/WO1992011926A1/fr

Links

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
    • B01F25/30—Injector mixers
    • B01F25/31—Injector mixers in conduits or tubes through which the main component flows
    • 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
    • B01F25/313—Injector mixers in conduits or tubes through which the main component flows wherein additional components are introduced in the centre of the conduit

Definitions

  • the present invention is a device used to mix a gas into a foamable liquid so as to create a foam, and more particularly to mix air into a foamable liquid at a relatively low pressure to create a foam which may be useful in cleaning applications.
  • foam is created by entraining air in a flowing liquid.
  • the air is mixed with the liquid to form bubbles of foam.
  • the entrained air must be thoroughly mixed with the liquid such that the bubbles are of a small and uniform size.
  • the efficiency of the mixing of the air in the liquid is dependent upon the turbulence created within the foam generating device, although excessive turbulence can reduce the velocity of the flow of the foam from the nozzle and shorten its useful range.
  • foam In cleaning applications, foam may be categorized according to its air to liquid volume ratio. In general, a ratio of 15 to 1 is a good intermediate foam, whereas a ratio of 10 to 1 is a wet foam and a ratio of 20 to 1 is a dry foam. Ideally, one would like to obtain a foam in the desired range without the necessity of utilizing special equipment to inject chemicals, boost pressures, control liquid velocities, etc. Since readily available air and water pressures are often in the range of 10 to 80 psi, a foamer operating somewhere within this range would be desirable.
  • the present invention is a relatively simple device operating with available air and liquid pressures to create a foamed product.
  • the device includes at least three ports, including at least one inlet for a solution to be foamed, an air flow inlet and a foam outlet.
  • an aerator which, in a preferred embodiment, is formed as a cylinder, with the longitudinal axis of the cylinder being substantially perpendicular to the direction of air and liquid flow. Any aerator geometry, such as a flange, sphere or plate, which exposes opposing surfaces of the aerator to the air and liquid flow, respectively, could also be utilized.
  • the aerator structure is typically formed of a microporous plastic with air being introduced into the interior of the cylinder and passing outwardly through the porous cylinder walls.
  • the cylinder resides in a casing such that there is a relatively small clearance between the outer wall of the cylinder filter and the inner wall of the casing.
  • the solution to be foamed flows into the casing and around the cylindrical filter, being forced through the narrow gap between the filter and casing wall. Immediately downstream of the filter/casing wall region, foam is produced and flows to its ultimate discharge point.
  • Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of a foamer constructed according to the principles of the present invention
  • Figure 2 is a sectional plan view of a foamer as depicted in Fig. 1; taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;
  • Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of an insert as utilized in a foamer constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention
  • Figure 4 is an end view of a cylindrical aerator element as utilized in the foamer
  • Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of the aerator element taken along line 5-5 as depicted in Fig. 4;
  • Figure 6 is a graph depicting the relationship of air flow and air pressure in a foamer as depicted in Fig. 1;
  • Figure 7 is a cross sectional view of a jet pump/injector as used in combination with the foamer depicted in Fig. 1; and Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of an aerator and housing constructed according to the principles of the present invention.
  • the foamer 1 includes a generally cylindrical housing 2 which encloses a substantially cylindrical cavity 3.
  • the housing wall 4 contains a liquid inlet orifice 5, which is typically threaded to permit the attachment of the standard hose or tubing fitting. Additional liquid inlet orifices (not shown) may be incorporated into housing wall 4 as needed.
  • Housing wall 6 contains a foam outlet orifice 7, the longitudinal axes of orifices 5 and 7 typically being coaxial along longitudinal axis 8. The inside diameter of orifices 5 and 7 is typically compatible with a 1/2 inch pipe thread.
  • Foamer 1 has an end wall 9 which is formed so as to have an indented shelf 10 which protrudes inwardly into cavity 3 and creates recess 11 within cavity 3 adjacent to the housing wall 4.
  • the shelf 10 and recess 11 act to center element 28.
  • Housing 2 is formed so as to have an opening 12, the interior wall 13 of cavity 3 being threaded in the region adjacent to opening 12 so as to permit the threaded attachment of a suitable insert.
  • an insert 14 is depicted, being formed so as to be insertable into opening 12 of housing 2.
  • Insert 14 contains groove 15 into which a suitable O-ring may be inserted so as to provide a fluid tight fit of insert 14 within housing 2.
  • Surface 16 of insert 14 is threaded so as to mate with threaded surface 13 of housing 2.
  • air inlet 18 having a diameter, in one embodiment, compatible with 1/4 inch pipe threads.
  • the interior wall 19 of air inlet 18 is threaded so as to permit the attachment of a suitable hose or tubing fitting.
  • insert 14 is placed within opening 12 of casing 2, with O-ring 20 inserted within groove 15, thereby providing a fluid tight seal.
  • the longitudinal axis 21 of air inlet 18 is substantially perpendicular to longitudinal axis 8 of liquid inlet 5 and foam outlet 7.
  • a filter element 22 is depicted.
  • Element 22 is approximately 2.25 inches in length, in a preferred embodiment, with the wall 23 having a thickness of approximately 0.12 to 0.27 inches.
  • the filter is a microporous plastic material, such as the polypropylene material made by Porex, Part No. X-5285A.
  • the porosity of the material can vary between 10 and 250 microns, and may be constructed of numerous microporous materials, including teflon, polyethylene, polyvinyldifluoride, ceramics, or sintered metallic particles. Variations in porosity, wall thickness and filter material can be advantageously used to manipulate the characteristics of the foam produced.
  • Permeability is defined as air flow per unit area at a given pressure differential. In the case of the Porex material Part No. X-5285A (250 micron material), the air flow at a 5 PSI pressure differential across the element 22 (see Fig. 6) is measured as being approximately, for example, 0.65 scfm.
  • a thicker foamer element wall 23 would allow the use of a material with a greater pore size to result in a material with equal permeability. Conversely, thinner materials would require (allow) smaller pore size.
  • the filter element 22 can be seen residing within cavity 3, with a first end 23 residing within recess 11 while a second end 24 resides within recess 25, recess 25 being created by surface 26 of insert 14.
  • a passageway 27 is created within cavity 3 by the distance between outer wall surface 28 of filter 22 and inner surface 29 of casing 2. The distance between element wall 28 and casing wall 29 is typically between approximately 1/8 of an inch and 3/32 of an inch.
  • a liquid product 30 is introduced into liquid inlet 5 while compressed air 31 is introduced within air inlet 18.
  • the air 31 enters cavity 3 and is forced outwardly towards element 22 until coming in contact with inner wall surface 33 of filter element 22. Due to the porous nature of element 22, the air passes through wall 23 of element 22 until reaching passageway 27 adjacent to inner wall 29 of housing 2.
  • Liquid 30 is similarly forced into passage way 27, since the liquid cannot pass through element 22 due to the outward pressure of the compressed air 31.
  • the liquid 30 mixes with compressed air 31.
  • Foam 34 is thereby produced within passageway 27 and is ejected from foam outlet 7.
  • a spherical aerator element 22' is formed so as to have an inner wall surface 33', and an outer wall 28'.
  • the distance between inner wall 33' and outer wall 28' is typically 0.12 to 0.27 inches.
  • the element 22' is composed of the same microporous plastic material as previously described, or any other suitable material providing the appropriate porosity and permeability values.
  • the aerator element 22' resides in a spherical housing, which for convenience of assembly and maintenance is formed as two separate halves 2a' and 2b' .,
  • the threads 48 and 49 permit the two halves 2a' and 2b' to be screwed together to form a single spherical housing.
  • the liquid to be foamed 30' is introduced into the spherical cavity through inlet orifice 5', while air 31' enters through orifice 18' of housing halve 2a'. Additional liquid inlets (not shown) may be added as desired. Orifice 50 passes through element 22', orifice 50 being aligned with orifice 18' to permit unimpeded air flow.
  • the outside diameter of element 22' is slightly less than the inside diameter of spherical cavity 2a', 2b' thereby creating a small gap (not shown) in which the air 31' and liquid to be foamed 30' mixed and formed foam.
  • the foam 34' exists cavity 2b' through orifice 7'.
  • Fig. 6 representative operating parameters of a foamer constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention may be viewed. At a nominal water/product flow of 2 gpm, the foamer operates best with an air flow through element 22 of between approximately 0.25 and 0.90 scfm, which corresponds to a range of pressure differentials across the wall 23 of element 22 of less than approximately 5.0 psi.
  • a practical operating range of the embodiment described herein is a liquid pressure of 30 to 60 psi with a corresponding air flow of approximately 0.25 to 0.90 scfm.
  • the air consumption is a function of the overall scale of the system. For example, a system designed with a liquid flow of approximately 4 gpm would require an airflow of 0.5 to 1.80 scfm.
  • a jet pump or injector 35 is depicted which may be advantageously employed in combination with the foamer 1.
  • the injector 1 is used to introduce the chemical solution 5 into the foamer 1.
  • Water 36 is introduced at a pressure that is typically between 30 and 80 psi into chamber 37 of injector 35.
  • the entrance of chamber 37 is - compatible with a 3/8 FPT fitting and has a length of at least 9/16".
  • a transition region 38 is approximately 3/16" in length, and terminates at nozzle 39, which has an overall length of approximately 1.047".
  • a relatively low pressure region 40 is created adjacent to nozzle 39, typically in the range of 25-29 inches of mercury.
  • the chemical to be foamed 41 resides in a suitable container 42 which may be vented to atmospheric pressure.
  • chamber 44 As chemical 41 is drawn along path 43, it enters chamber 44, which, in a preferred embodiment, has a length of approximately 0.38 inches.
  • the combined water 36/chemical 41 solution next enters expansion chamber 45, which typically has an inclination from centerline 46 of approximately 5° and a length of approximately 2.5 inches.
  • Pressure within pipe 47 is typically in the range of 18-30 psi, while air 31 entering the interior of element 22 is at a pressure of between 20 to 40 psi.
  • increasing air flow 31 into element 22 increases the pressure within pipe 47, thereby reducing the velocity of the water 36/chemical 41 solution, which in turn decreases the absolute velocity of water 36 entering chamber 37.
  • the foamer 1 is not limited to use with the jet pump 35, the combination described herein offers the advantage that restrictions to fluid flow are minimized, thereby decreasing the opportunities for fouling which occur in other foamers, such as disclosed in the previously mentioned United States Patent No. 3,388,868, which requires that the solution flow through, for example, the perforated plate system illustrated in Fig. 3. While such plates and screens are useful for producing the atomization required for foam production, particulate matter within the liquid stream is frequently trapped in the screens, thereby fouling the screens and necessitating dismantling and cleaning of the device.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Nozzles (AREA)

Abstract

Cette invention concerne un générateur de mousse amélioré (1) utilisant un élément microporeux (22) contenu dans un boîtier (2) dans lequel il existe un petit espace libre (27) entre l'élément microporeux et ledit boîtier. On introduit dans le boîtier un liquide (30) devant mousser, et on introduit simultanément de l'air dans une région interne de l'élément microporeux, l'air (31) sortant de l'élément microporeux se mélangeant au liquide (30) dans le passage (27). Cela a pour effet de créer une mousse qui sort du boîtier au niveau d'un orifice de sortie approprié (7).
PCT/US1991/006992 1991-01-14 1991-09-25 Generateur de mousse WO1992011926A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US64096391A 1991-01-14 1991-01-14
US640,963 1991-01-14

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1992011926A1 true WO1992011926A1 (fr) 1992-07-23

Family

ID=24570387

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1991/006992 WO1992011926A1 (fr) 1991-01-14 1991-09-25 Generateur de mousse

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO1992011926A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2005085541A1 (fr) * 2004-03-09 2005-09-15 Sunarc Of Canada Inc. Systeme d'isolation en mousse/protection solaire pour structures transparentes
CN102583708A (zh) * 2012-01-19 2012-07-18 江苏裕隆环保有限公司 大面积膜片式微孔曝气器

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR555590A (fr) * 1922-08-31 1923-07-03 Appareil pour la saturation en gaz des liquides
US3118958A (en) * 1960-02-10 1964-01-21 Mildred M Kelly Apparatus for making cellular products
US3165562A (en) * 1962-06-14 1965-01-12 Gen Dynamics Corp Dispersing device
FR1562922A (fr) * 1968-01-15 1969-04-11
DE2339927A1 (de) * 1973-08-07 1975-02-20 Peter Christiansen Rohwasserbeluefter fuer wasseraufbereitungsanlagen

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR555590A (fr) * 1922-08-31 1923-07-03 Appareil pour la saturation en gaz des liquides
US3118958A (en) * 1960-02-10 1964-01-21 Mildred M Kelly Apparatus for making cellular products
US3165562A (en) * 1962-06-14 1965-01-12 Gen Dynamics Corp Dispersing device
FR1562922A (fr) * 1968-01-15 1969-04-11
DE2339927A1 (de) * 1973-08-07 1975-02-20 Peter Christiansen Rohwasserbeluefter fuer wasseraufbereitungsanlagen

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2005085541A1 (fr) * 2004-03-09 2005-09-15 Sunarc Of Canada Inc. Systeme d'isolation en mousse/protection solaire pour structures transparentes
US7818924B2 (en) 2004-03-09 2010-10-26 Sunarc Of Canada Inc. Foam insulation/shading system for transparent structures
CN102583708A (zh) * 2012-01-19 2012-07-18 江苏裕隆环保有限公司 大面积膜片式微孔曝气器

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