Liquid purification or separation – With means to add treating material
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-22
2001-08-28
Lithgow, Thomas M. (Department: 1724)
Liquid purification or separation
With means to add treating material
C210S199000, C210S748080, C210S205000, C210S220000, C422S186300, C250S436000, C250S438000, C366S338000, C366S341000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06280615
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to fluid mixers, for example for use in mixing liquids, or liquids and gases.
A particular application of the invention is in mixing oxygen or air with water for cleaning the water in a swimming pool without the need for chlorine.
In the cleaning of water for use in swimming pools it is known to add chlorine. This has the disadvantage that chlorine is a poison and many people develop skin problems from long exposure to chlorinated water in swimming pools. In some countries, such as USA and Germany, the use of chlorine in swimming pools has been banned and instead ozone treatment is used. A disadvantage of ozone treatment is that an extremely large amount of energy is required to generate sufficient ozone to treat the water, and then to ensure that there is no ozone remaining in the water when it is returned to the swimming pool.
We believe that the main cause of contamination of water in a swimming pool is due to anaerobic bacteria. One method of dealing with this contamination is to introduce air or oxygen at sufficiently high concentrations as to saturate the water which then kills the anaerobic bacteria. In addition UV radiation can be applied to the water to destroy other contaminants and other forms of biological material. We also believe that a significant factor in achieving good treatment of the water with the use of air/oxygen and UV radiation involves the use of a mixer which will vigorously mix the gas and liquid and bring all of the water into close proximity to the UV radiation.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fluid mixer including an elongate mixing chamber having an inlet at one end for admission of fluid and an outlet at an opposite end, the chamber having in longitudinal cross-section an interior profile which, when considered along a longitudinal plane, consists of a series of troughs and peaks at each side of the longitudinal axis and extending along the length of the chamber, the series of troughs and peaks being at the opposite sides of the longitudinal axis being relatively displaced so that the peaks of the profile along one side face the troughs of the profile along the other side, the configuration of the troughs and peaks causing fluid entering the chamber through the inlet to flow along a tortuous path through the chamber towards the outlet to create a turbulent flow which promotes intimate mixing within the fluid.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fluid mixer comprising an elongate mixing chamber having an inlet system at one end for admission of liquid and gas to be intimately mixed by passage through the chamber and an outlet for the mixture at the opposite end, wherein opposed longitudinal sides of the chamber are each defined by a respective series of concave surfaces spaced longitudinally of the chamber, with the concave surfaces at the opposite sides being so configured as to cause the liquid and gas entering the chamber to flow along a generally sinuous path through the chamber to create a turbulent flow which promotes intimate mixing.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a water steriliser and oxygenator including an elongate mixing chamber having an inlet at one end and an outlet at an opposite end, an inlet system coupled to the inlet and comprising a venturi through which incoming water flows, said venturi having a throat communicating with an air inlet whereby air is drawn into the venturi by the water flowing therethrough, sterilising means extending longitudinally within the mixing chamber, the mixing chamber having opposed longitudinal sides each profiled to define a series of troughs of arcuate cross-section spaced along the length of the chamber, with the troughs along one side being longitudinally offset with respect to the troughs along the other side whereby the water is caused to flow through the chamber along a path which traverses repeatedly from one side of the chamber to the other with a turbulent flow which promotes intimate mixing of the water and air, and parts of the troughs relatively close to the sterilising means confine the liquid flow past those parts to zones relatively close to the sterilising means to promote effective sterilisation.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a fluid mixer including an elongate mixing chamber having an inlet system at one end for admission of liquid and gas to be intimately mixed by passage through the chamber and an outlet for the mixture at the opposite end, wherein opposed longitudinal sides of the chamber are each defined by a surface of scallop shape having peaks and troughs, with the peaks of the two surfaces being relatively offset so as to cause the liquid and gas entering the chamber to flow along a generally sinuous path through the chamber to create a turbulent flow which promotes intimate mixing.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4230571 (1980-10-01), Dadd
patent: 4968437 (1990-11-01), Noll et al.
patent: 5785845 (1998-07-01), Colaiano
patent: 94/29017 (1994-12-01), None
Browne John Phillip
Phillips Laurence Colin
Innotech Pty. Ltd.
Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP
Lithgow Thomas M.
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