Pumps – Processes – Of pumping one fluid by contact or entrainment with another
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-06
2001-04-24
Thorpe, Timothy S. (Department: 3746)
Pumps
Processes
Of pumping one fluid by contact or entrainment with another
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220822
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The invention belongs to methods and apparatus for lifting aqueous and non-aqueous liquids, suspensions, and emulsions with the help of air or other gases.
BACKGROUND
Airlifts are well known in the prior art. Air is used in airlifts. Other gases are used in gaslifts. In the present invention, these terms are used interchangeably. The main problem of airlifts is significant fluctuations in flows of liquid and air. This results in low lifting efficiency. Moreover, fluctuating flows and poorly organized separation of liquid and gas produce splashes and heisering, which is an operational nuisance.
The main objective of this invention is to eliminate flow fluctuations thus increasing the pumping efficiency of airlifts and to eliminate splashing. Other objectives of this invention will become apparent from the ensuing description.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
This is a method for lifting liquids with airlift consisting of a lift pipe having a suction port, a discharge port, and an air feed including steps of
(a) feeding air into the lift pipe,
(b) sucking liquid in the suction port,
(c) discharging liquid and air at the discharge port, and
(d) inducing rotational motion of the liquid at the discharge port, whereby the efficiency of said airlift is increased. The method can be used for lifting water, wastewater, suspension, emulsion, mixed liquor in biological processes, sludge, biosolids, aqueous industrial products, nonaqueous industrial products, agricultural liquids, animal husbandry liquids and slurries, and combinations thereof. In case of thick sludges and similar materials, a dilute liquid or water can be provided to the suction port.
The airlift comprises a lift pipe having a suction port, a discharge port, an air feed, and means for inducing rotational motion of liquid at the discharge port. The rotational motion can be provided by at least one inclined baffle, at least one curved two-dimensional baffle, at least one tri-dimensional baffle, and combinations thereof. Such rotational motion plays a role of a fly wheel in mechanical systems, thus increasing the airlifting efficiency. Additionally, air is separated from the liquid more gradually without forming air pockets. Accordingly, splashing and heisering due to bursting air pockets are eliminated.
A modification of the present airlift can be used for mixing in large tanks, for example, chemical or biological reactors, or biological ponds. In such applications, induced rotational motion can extend from above the discharge port at the top of airlift to a point between the discharge point and the suction port at the bottom.
The present airlift can be provided with a discharge container at the discharge port, the container can accommodate at least one means for inducing rotational motion. The means for inducing rotational motion can be at least one inclined baffle, at least one curved two-dimensional baffle, at least one tri-dimensional baffle, and combinations thereof.
The present airlift can be provided with a means for controlling air flow. Particularly, a continuous control means, incremental control means, and combinations thereof can be used. The incremental control means can comprise at least two branches of air feed lines and each brunch can be provided with an on/off flow control means.
The present airlift can be installed on a fixed-support structure, or a floating-support structure the floating-support airlift can be provided with a means for propelling it along a predetermined path. The predetermined path can be a circular path, a linear path, and combination thereof.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3028816 (1962-04-01), Walker et al.
patent: 3694106 (1972-09-01), Walker
patent: 5382137 (1995-01-01), Lane
Rodriguez William H
Thorpe Timothy S.
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