Abstract:
The invention has to do with the re-entrainment of gases separated from a water/gas mixture that rise to the top of a conductor pipe. A water jet created by a nozzle of the present invention plunges though the surface of the water carrying with it the gas that has accumulated on the surface on the water between the water and the top of the conduit. Depending on the gas to liquid ratio and the velocity of the mainline water flow, the nozzles penetrate the conductor pipe adjacent to a point where the gas has accumulated and no longer is entrained and mixed with the water. The ratio of plunging water to main water flow is determined based on the upstream injected gas to liquid ratio for the treatment process such as oxygen for aerobic conditions or ozone for oxidation.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This application is generally related to the mixing of a gas phase, including a gas having reactive components, such as ozone, into a major flow of liquid through a large conduit, where the gas phase and liquid phases have been separated by the relative densities of each, or where fluids of a high gas-liquid ratio (i.e. [gas volume]/[liquid volume], hereinafter referred to as “gas-liquid ratio”) are introduced into the conduit. Such situations may occur in installations where a bypass loop has been installed, where the bypass loop is utilized to introduce a water treatment gas, such as ozone, oxygen, chlorine, or chlorine dioxide. In this type of installation, flow from the bypass loop flows through a mixing apparatus, such as a mixing injector, and a treatment gas is introduced into the bypass stream. Once the treatment gas has been mixed with the bypass flow, the treated water is reintroduced into the conduit for the purpose of mixing with the total fluid flow in the conduit and treating all of the water. This type of installation is particularly applicable for treating waste water or potable water in municipal installations. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In two phase flow in generally horizontal, low pressure (e.g. 25 psig or less) and relatively large diameter (e.g., four inch or greater) pipelines, it is common to have phase separation, where the lower density gas phase, separated from the liquid in which it is initially entrained, flows in the upper portion, or headspace of the pipeline. While this phase separation is acceptable for some applications, for other applications it is desirable to have relatively homogenous flow of the gas and liquid phases, i.e., for the gas phase to be sufficiently dissolved within the liquid phase such that there is minimal flow of a separate gas phase in the headspace of the pipeline. For example, turbine flow meters are generally more reliable with single phase or homogenous flow. As another example, there are applications where the separate gas phase contains reactants which are desired to be effectively transferred to the liquid phase. For example, if a vapor phase corrosion inhibitor is utilized, effective placement of the inhibitor on the exposed metal surfaces of a pipeline typically requires that the vapor phase be dissolved within the liquid phase. 
         [0003]    As another application, the inventor herein is the inventor of U.S. Pat. No. 7,779,864 which teaches, among other things, the diversion of some of the liquid flowing within a conduit, boosting its pressure into an aspirating injector, and adding a treatment substance, such as ozone, and returning the diverted flow stream to the conduit back into the mainstream flow for dispersion of the treatment substance. By this reference, U.S. Pat. No. 7,779,864 (“the &#39;864 patent”) is incorporated into this disclosure in its entirety. In this type of application, it is desirable that the reactive substances within the gas phase be efficiently dissolved within the mainstream flow to provide the reactive substance where it is required, such as for treating bacteria-laden waste water. 
         [0004]    One particular application for the present invention is the treatment of waste water or potable water from municipal and industrial sites. In the typical application, raw water from some source from which solids have already been extracted require subsequent treatment with injected treatment substances to eliminate objectionable organisms. As discussed in the &#39;864 patent, the objective for the treatment of waste water is commonplace—the effluent water is to be clarified and purified sufficiently to be acceptable into the water distribution system. However, as further discussed in the &#39;864 patent, the large settling ponds that could formerly be accepted are increasingly unsuitable for systems which must expand to meet an ever increasing demand. The dwell-time and consequences of known treatments were and are too costly in processing, in equipment, and in space to put the equipment. 
         [0005]    Large flows of water in confinement as contemplated by this invention are large diameter pipes, usually 4 inches inside diameter or larger flowing full under pumped pressure, or gravity fed pipelines. Larger diameters are contemplated, and smaller ones also fall within the scope of this invention. However, the systems of greatest interest are those with flow rates between about 2 and 200 million gallons per day. 
         [0006]    These are rapid flows into which the invention taught in the &#39;864 patent injects treatment gas in the pipe without interruption of the major flow. With that invention, settling ponds, dwell tanks and the like become unnecessary or the need for them is greatly reduced. However, the &#39;864 patent is generally silent regarding the size of the bypass facility, except to state that an injection stream can be properly dispersed within the main stream, i.e. quickly and uniformly taken into the mainstream, when utilized with “proper parameters.” Unfortunately, there are obstacles to achieving these proper parameters. Most importantly, the demands of the initial capital investment and the ongoing operational expenses for maintenance and energy, favor small bypass facilities. These factors greatly favor bypass systems which divert a small percentage of the overall liquid flow. With such systems, the volume of carrier liquid is significantly reduced. However, the required volume of treatment gas for all of the liquid flowing through the pipeline does not change. As a result, the fluid returned into the mainstream may have a very high gas-liquid ratio such that gas carried in the returned water will usually break out into a separate phase within a length of a few pipe diameters upon re-introduction of the carrier fluid into the conduit. 
         [0007]    The gas-liquid ratio may be so high that phase separation occurs almost immediately upon re-introduction of the treated bypass stream back into the main conduit, such that the treatment gas separates from the liquid and flows in the headspace of the conduit (i.e., in the upper section of the conduit), while the waste water flowing in the lower section of the conduit remains largely untreated. When the volume of the diverted stream is significantly reduced, for example where the diverted stream is less than 25% of the main stream water, and if the treatment fluid is a gas, such as ozone, the gas-liquid ratio of the returning injection stream can be quite high. As a result, when the injection stream is returned into the main conduit, there may be an adverse impact on shearing thrust and velocity, resulting in a decrease of the transfer of reactive components within the gasses into solution where the reactive components are required. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention is used in a confined-flow conduit under pressure such as a pipe. The system has an upstream end and an effluent end. Between these ends there is an unimpeded region of fluid flow. This fluid, through either the characteristics of the fluid itself, or by treatment processes such as the reinjection stream of the &#39;864 patent, may contain a gas phase which, as the fluid flows through the conduit, breaks out, rises to the top of the conduit into the headspace, and flows as a separate phase from the liquid phase, potentially leaving unreacted treatment gas in the headspace and minimally treated water flowing in the lower section of the conduit. 
         [0009]    A first embodiment of the invention comprises a generally circular conduit generally comprising a pipe wall which defines an interior of the conduit. The interior of the conduit has an upper section and a lower section. The conduit has a length through which the liquid phase and the gas phase are simultaneously flowing in separated two phase flow where, because of density separation or the injection of a fluid having a high gas-liquid ratio, a majority of the gas phase is flowing as a separate gas phase within the upper section and a majority of the liquid phase is flowing within the lower section. A plunging nozzle assembly is installed on and through the conduit, where the nozzle assembly comprises a sleeve member having a first end which penetrates the pipe wall and a second end which comprises a flange. A nozzle slides inside the sleeve member, where the nozzle has a landing member on one end which lands on the flange. At the opposite end of the nozzle is the throat of the nozzle which has a reduced diameter for jetting fluid which flows through the nozzle, where the throat of the nozzle is positioned to be downwardly facing into the interior of the conduit. A mating flange is made up to the flange on the sleeve, where the mating flange may be on a valve, spool piece, or other fitting. 
         [0010]    A pressurized liquid supply means is hydraulically connected to the sleeve to provide for the pumping of a pressurized liquid through the plunging nozzle. The pressurized liquid supply means and the plunging nozzle are configured to discharge the pressurized liquid into the upper section through the gas phase and impacting an upper surface of the liquid phase, thereby entraining a portion of a gas in the gas phase into the liquid phase. Depending on the gas-liquid ratio and the velocity of the mainline water flow, the nozzle or nozzles are located at a point or points where the gas has accumulated and no longer is entrained and mixed with the water, and the angle of the nozzles, diameter of the nozzle throats, injection pressure, the number of nozzles, etc. may be adjusted to increase the transfer of free gas into the liquid phase. The ratio of “jetted water” or “plunging water” to main water flow is determined based on the upstream injected gas-liquid ratio for the treatment process such as oxygen for aerobic conditions or ozone for oxidation. 
         [0011]    In order for the device to work, the fluid flowing through the nozzle must enter into the empty head space of the conduit, and not directly into the liquid phase. This is because the jetting of the fluid directly into the surface of the liquid creates a low pressure zone directly adjacent to the liquid surface, facilitating the entrainment of the free gas phase into the liquid phase. Jetting the fluid directly into the liquid phase rather than allowing the fluid to pass through the gas phase will not, it is believed, make the low pressure zone available to the gas phase, but will rather simply mix the liquid or liquids. Thus, it is important to identify the volume and therefore the position of the free gas phase. It is also desirable, but not necessary, to have multiple plunging nozzles disposed circumferentially about the upper section of the conduit, such that the volume and orientation of the fluid flowing through the plunging nozzle(s) may be adjusted as desired. 
         [0012]    In another embodiment, the invention comprises a generally circular conduit having a length L, where the conduit has an upper arcuate section. This upper arcuate section forms the headspace into which a separate gas phase may form. The invention comprises a plurality of plunging nozzles disposed within and penetrating the upper arcuate section, with the plurality of nozzles generally located at a distance L 1  along the length, with the nozzles in circumferential alignment and within the same axial plane. Each nozzle has a body which has an axial opening extending through the body, where an axis is defined by the orientation of the axial opening of each nozzle. A pressurized liquid supply means is attached to each plunging nozzle for delivering a pressurized liquid in the conduit. The liquid jet plunges though the surface of the liquid flowing through the conduit, carrying with it the gas that has accumulated in the headspace. Depending on the gas-liquid ratio and the velocity of the mainline water flow, the placement of the nozzles are located at a point where the gas has accumulated and no longer is entrained and mixed with the water. Multiple sets of plunging nozzles may be placed along the length of a conduit to achieve the desired dissolution of the free gas phase. The use of multiple nozzle sets allows the utilization of lower liquid injection pressure at the nozzles, which means more nozzle sets can be operated with the same energy demand which, depending upon the volume of gas accumulated at the top of the conduit, accomplishes greater mass transfer. 
         [0013]    In another embodiment of the invention, a bypass conduit extends into the unimpeded flow region of the conduit, as taught within the &#39;864 patent. The purpose of this bypass conduit is to bypass a portion of the total stream while receiving one or more from mixer-injectors correct amounts of treatment gas, and then branching into at least one pair of injection nozzles that discharge the additive-laden fluid back into the conduit. This diversion/reinjection system is referred to as a pipeline flash reactor (“PFR”). In general, the plunging jets should be located 10 to 15 pipe diameters downstream from where the treatment gas is injected for the PFR. 
         [0014]    As with the system disclosed in the &#39;864 patent, the present system operates with no impediment to free flow through it, and with only a moderate loss of energy consumed by the plunging jets and, if utilized, in the operation of the bypass conduit. This is an effective small-footprint system which requires little or no separate power and little operational attention. 
         [0015]    The above and other features of this invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  schematically depicts a conduit having both injection nozzles and plunging nozzles, showing the relative positions of each. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  depicts one configuration of plunging nozzles which might be utilized in embodiments of the invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2A  shows a detailed view of the configuration of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  depicts an alternative configuration of plunging nozzles which might be utilized in embodiments of the invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3A  shows a detailed view of the configuration of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  shows an isometric view of a conduit section having a configuration of plunging nozzles attached. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  shows an isometric view from the other side of the conduit section of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  shows an end view of the conduit section of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  shows a top view of the conduit section of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  shows an exploded view of the conduit section of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  shows an end view of another configuration of plunging nozzles. 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  shows a detailed view of a configuration of sleeve member of the plunging nozzle assembly which may be utilized in embodiments of the invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 11 . shows a detailed view of an alternative configuration of sleeve member of the plunging assembly which may be utilized in embodiments of the invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 12  is a schematic drawing of an embodiment of a pipeline flash reactor which may be utilized in embodiments of the invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 13  is a cross-section taken at line  13 - 13  in  FIG. 12 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 14  is an axial cross-section of an embodiment of a mixing injector appropriate for use in pipe line flash reactor depicted in  FIG. 12 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 15  is an axial cross-section of a nozzle which may be utilized for both gas injection and liquid injection in the disclosed embodiments of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0033]    A pipe or conduit  10  for carrying a substantial flow of water is schematically depicted in  FIG. 1 . As shown, conduit  10  is generally circular has a wall  12 . The conduit  10  has a length L, through which, at least for part of length L, a liquid phase P L  and a gas phase P G  are simultaneously flowing in separated two phase flow as shown in  FIG. 1 . The conduit  10  has an interior I defined by the wall  12 . The interior I has an an upper section  14  and a lower section  16 . Because of the phase separation which occurs in the conduit  10  downstream of gas injection point  18  a majority, if not substantially all, of the gas phase P G  is contained within the upper section  14  and a majority, if not substantially all, of the liquid phase P L  is contained within the lower section  16  between the gas injection point  18  and the plunging nozzle assembly  100 . Plunging nozzle assembly  100  is placed a distance L 1  from gas injection point  18 . A second plunging nozzle assembly  200  may be placed a distance L 2  from plunging nozzle assembly  100 . Additional plunging nozzle assemblies may be added as desired or required to insure effective dispersion of treatment gas into the liquid phase P L  or to achieve the desired flow regime within the conduit  10 . 
         [0034]    One or more plunging nozzle assemblies  100  are installed on the conduit  10  in a position which is adjacent to the upper section  14  of the conduit, as schematically indicated in  FIG. 1  and shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 2-10 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a portion of a plunging nozzle  102  penetrates the wall  12  of the conduit  10 . A pressurized liquid supply means, such as pump  110  schematically indicated on  FIG. 6 , is hydraulically connected to the plunging nozzle assembly  100 , wherein pressurized liquid is pumped through the plunging nozzle assembly  100  when the gas phase is flowing adjacently to the plunging nozzle assembly within upper section  14 . The pressurized liquid supply means, such as pump  110  and the plunging nozzle  102  are configured to discharge the pressurized liquid into the upper section  14  through the gas phase P G  and impacting an upper surface  20  of the liquid phase P L , thereby entraining a portion of a gas in the gas phase P G  into the liquid phase. For example, the pressure and discharge rate of pump  110 , the number of nozzle assemblies  100 , and the throat diameter T and angle of dispersion of nozzle  102  may be adjusted to obtain efficient and effective mass transfer of the gas phase P G  into the liquid phase P L . 
         [0035]    As best shown in  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B and  8 , each nozzle assembly  100 ,  200  may comprise one or more nozzles  102  which are installed on the top side of the conduit  10 , such that the nozzle assemblies will be adjacently disposed to any separated gas phase P G  which forms inside upper section  14 . A plunging nozzle assembly comprises a sleeve member  104  having a first end  106  which penetrates the pipe wall and a second end  108  which may comprise a flange. A nozzle  102  slides inside the sleeve member  104 , where the nozzle has a landing member  112  on one end which lands on the flange  108 . At the opposite end of the nozzle  102  is the throat T of the nozzle which has a reduced diameter for jetting fluid which flows through the nozzle, where the throat of the nozzle is positioned to be downwardly facing into the interior I of the conduit  10 . A mating flange  114  is made up to the flange  108  on the sleeve member  104  where the mating flange may be on a valve  116 , spool piece, or other fitting. 
         [0036]    In another embodiment, the invention comprises a generally circular conduit having a length L, where the conduit has an upper arcuate section  14 . This upper arcuate section forms the headspace into which a separate gas phase P G  may form. The invention comprises a plurality of plunging nozzles  100  disposed within and penetrating the conduit wall  12  adjacent to the upper arcuate section. In this embodiment a set of nozzles  102  is mounted within a nozzle assembly  100 , with the plurality of nozzles generally located at a distance L 1  from the gas injection point  18 . In this embodiment, the nozzles  102  of the nozzle assembly  100  are arranged in circumferential alignment as indicated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The nozzles  102  may also be within the same axial plane P, as indicated in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0037]    As best shown in  FIG. 15 , each nozzle  102  has a body  120  which has an axial opening  71  extending through the body, where an axis is defined by the orientation of the axial opening of each nozzle. A pressurized liquid supply means, such as pump  110  is attached to each plunging nozzle assembly  100 ,  200  for delivering a pressurized liquid in the conduit  10 . The resulting liquid jet plunges though the surface  20  of the liquid phase P L  flowing through the conduit  10 , carrying with it the gas that has accumulated in the headspace or upper section  14  within the separate gas phase P G . Depending on the gas-liquid ratio and the velocity of the water flow in the conduit  10 , the placement of the nozzle assembly  100  (or assemblies) are located at a point where the gas has accumulated and no longer is entrained and mixed with the water. Multiple sets of plunging nozzles may be placed along the length of a conduit to achieve the desired dissolution of the free gas phase. The use of multiple nozzle sets allows the utilization of lower liquid injection pressure at the nozzles, which means more nozzle sets can be operated with the same energy demand which, depending upon the volume of gas accumulated at the top of the conduit, accomplishes greater mass transfer. As shown in  FIG. 2A , the axes of the axial openings of the plunging nozzles  102  may be mutually parallel. Alternatively, wherein a long axis is defined at the center of the conduit, the axes of the axial openings of the plunging nozzles may intersect at the long axis as shown in  FIG. 3 . Finally, an installation may comprise a first group of nozzle assemblies  100  which are configured as shown in  FIG. 2 , followed downstream by a second group of nozzle assemblies which are configured as shown in  FIG. 3 , and vice-versa. 
         [0038]    In another embodiment of the invention, a bypass conduit  220 , as taught within the &#39;864 patent, extends into the unimpeded flow region of the conduit  210 . The purpose of this bypass conduit  220  is to bypass a portion of the total liquid phase L G  stream and direct the bypass portion into one or more from mixer-injectors, which introduce into the bypass portion a correct amount of a desired treatment gas. Once the bypass portion has been treated with the desired treatment gas, the treated liquid is directed into at least one pair of injection nozzles that discharge the additive-laden fluid back into the conduit  210 . This diversion/reinjection system is referred to as a pipeline flash reactor (“PFR”). In general, the plunging jets should be located 10 to 15 pipe diameters downstream from where the treatment gas is injected for the PFR at gas injection point  18 . 
         [0039]    A PFR was described in the &#39;864 patent. The present invention may incorporate such a PFR as a component of the present invention. It has been through the application of the PFR that the issues associated with injection of high gas-liquid ratio liquids have been identified and giving rise to the need for the present invention. 
         [0040]    The PFR may be described as having an upstream intake end  211  and an effluent end  212 . Between these ends is a mixing region  213 . The direction of total flow is shown by arrows  214 . These ends and regions are at arbitrary locations within the conduit  10 . For example, the ends are not necessarily ends of pipe segments, nor is region  213  well-defined. These items are given to designate respective generalized locations in the continued unimpeded flow through the conduit  210 . 
         [0041]    A bypass conduit  220  extends through the pipe wall  21  upstream of the region, and divides into two branches  222 ,  223 . 
         [0042]    As best shown in  FIG. 13 , branch  222  flows into the intake  224  of a mixer-injector  225 , and from its outlet divides into branches  230 ,  231 . Branches  230 ,  231  discharge into respective nozzles  234 ,  235 . Branch  223  includes identical elements, branches  230   a  and  231   a , mixer-injector  225   a , and nozzles  234   a  and  235   a . Nozzles  234   a  and  235   a  may be identical to the nozzles  102  utilized in the nozzle assemblies  100  depending upon the desired performance characteristics. 
         [0043]    Nozzles  234  and  235  have respective discharge axes  237 ,  238 . Importantly, in the preferred construction these axis are coaxial and confrontational, directly across a major part of the cross-section of the pipe. When the pipe is circular they will intersect the center  239  of the lumen of the pipe. Similar relationships exist with nozzles  234  and  235  and their respective axes. 
         [0044]    Coaxial discharge of the nozzles of this pair is preferred but optional. However, they should be in the same plane, but may make an angle with each other as the center of the pipe. 
         [0045]    Treatment gas or other additives is supplied to the mixer injectors from a supply  240  which discharges to the respective mixer-injectors through pipes  241 ,  242 . The additive used in this invention for large-scale operations will usually be ozone, but instead may be other treatment gases such as chlorine or oxygen or aqueous solutions of various types. The identity of the treatment substance is not a limitation in this invention. The term treatment substance is used for all fluid additives, the word fluid including both gases and liquids. 
         [0046]    Two pairs of these nozzles, as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13  are preferable, although only one and as many as four pairs may be used. When more than one pair is provided, nozzles will preferably be axially aligned along the pipe as shown. 
         [0047]    It does require some power to remove the bypass flow, pass it through the mixer-injector and return it to the main flow. An auxiliary pump  250  is provided for this purpose. Instead other known means to provide a differential passing may be utilized. 
         [0048]    The ultimate objective of this embodiment of the invention is to inject treatment substances into the flowing confined system so that it is rapidly thoroughly distributed in the total flow, but where, if there is gas separation within the conduit  10  as discussed above, where the treatment gas can be re-entrained into the liquid phase P L . 
         [0049]    The mixing function of the PFR is addressed by the mixer-injector fully shown and described in Mazzei U.S. Pat. No. 5,863,128.  FIG. 14  schematically shows such an injector. It is characterized by a body  360  having a circular passage  361  with a converging section  362 , an injection section  363  and a diverging section  364 . Twisting vanes  365  are formed on the wall of the converging section, and straightening vanes  366  are formed on the wall of the diverging section. Treatment gas from branch  367  is fed into the injection section. The structure and function of this mixer-injector will be fully understood from that patent, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
         [0050]    An acceptable nozzle for both the PFR and plunging nozzle  102  are shown in  FIG. 14 , which may be recognized as FIG. 3 of Mazzei U.S. Pat. No. 5,894,995, which patent is referred to herein and incorporated in its entirety for its showing of the preferred nozzle for use in this invention. This nozzle includes a body  70  with a central axis  71 , an upstream end  72  and a discharge end  72   a . Its internal inside bore  73  is reduced by a converging section  74  into which a plurality of twisting vanes  75  is placed. The result is to discharge a strong stream of water whose outside boundary is twisted relative to the inside “core” of the stream thereby providing a further mixing of the treatment substances. However, it is to be appreciated that other nozzles might be utilized. 
         [0051]    With respect to the PFR, the nozzles of each pair of nozzles (i.e.  234 ,  235  and  234   a  and  235   a ) may be axially aligned as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13  and normal to the central axis of the stream and pointing within a plane which incorporates the central axis Testing of the PFR has shown this to be preferable to arrangements in which the nozzles are not normal to the axis of the stream. Divergence of a nozzle axis from a plane that is normal to the central axis is acceptable, within limits. It will be recognized that, while the discharged streams will be somewhat deflected by the main flow, depending on the velocity of the main flow, initial discharge normal to the axes of flow provides best results. 
         [0052]    The principal objective of this invention of the PFR is to speed into a solution a treatment gas in an uniform manner within both the bypass liquid and within the main fluid flow contained within the conduit  10 . This objective is further enhanced by the utilization of the plunging nozzles described herein. 
         [0053]    A method of increasing the dissolution of a separated gas phase into a separate liquid phase, with both phases flowing together in a closed conduit is also disclosed and has the steps hereinafter described. The liquid phase P L  is introduced into the conduit  10  at a liquid inlet  211 . A gas phase is P G  is introduced into the conduit  10  at a gas injection point  18  downstream of the liquid inlet  211 . The introduction of the gas phase results in the separation of a separate gas phase P G  where most or substantially all of the gas phase is contained within the upper section  14  of the conduit  10 , while a separate liquid phase P L  is substantially contained within the lower section  16 . A liquid, either the same liquid flowing through the conduit (i.e., waste water or potable water) or a liquid from a separate source are pumped from a liquid supply means which is hydraulically connected to one or more plunging nozzle assemblies  100 . The plunging nozzle assemblies are disposed on the conduit  10  adjacent to the upper section  14 , with a portion of the plunging nozzle  102  penetrating the wall  12  of the conduit  10 . The liquid is injected into the conduit  10  through the plunging nozzle  102  when the gas phase P G  is flowing in the upper section  14  immediately adjacently to the plunging nozzle  102 . The pressurized liquid supply means, such as a pump  110  and the plunging nozzle  102  are configured to discharge the pressurized liquid into the upper section  14  through the gas phase P G  and impacting an upper surface  20  of the liquid phase P L . This injection process entrains a portion of the gas phase P G  into the liquid phase P L . This process may be repeated through several sets of plunging nozzle assemblies  100  set at different points in the conduit  10 . For reactive gasses, the process may be treated along the length of the conduit  10  until there is reasonable confidence that the liquid phase P L  has been adequately exposed to the reactive substance. The mass transfer efficiency of the reactive components of the gas phase P G  to the liquid phase P L  is improved by the reshearing of the gas. 
         [0054]    This invention is not to be limited by the embodiments shown in the drawings and described in the description, which are given by way of example and not of limitation, but only in accordance with the scope of the appended claims.