Abstract:
The present invention is to provide a gas-liquid processing apparatus having a high contact efficiency of a gas and a liquid and a high reaction efficiency at a low production cost. A static type fluid mixer includes a passage pipe for the passage of a fluid and a spiral blade body arranged in the passage pipe with the longitudinal direction substantially perpendicularly but being absent in the center portion of the passage pipe. A liquid and a gas are supplied into the static type fluid mixer and a fluid is returned from the bottom portion of the static type fluid mixer to the upper portion via the pipe for the fluid circulation. The fluid is maintained in the static type fluid mixer at a pressured state higher than the atmospheric pressure.

Description:
This application is a Division of application Ser. No. 09/345,498 Filed on Jul. 1, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,856,which is a divisional application of Application Ser. No. 08/924,000 filed on Sep. 5, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,945,039. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a gas-liquid processing apparatus using a static fluid mixer (motionless fluid mixer) applicable for the substance transfer from a gas to a liquid, such as the gas absorption and the gas dissolution, the substance transfer from a liquid to a gas, such as the diffusion, the gas phase reaction with a substance to be processed in a liquid, such as the aeration and the incubation, the chemical reaction with a gas and a liquid, such as halogenation, hydrogenation, oxidation and sulfidization, and the three phase reaction of gas-liquid-solid, such as a bioreactor and a bioreacting apparatus. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In the food industry, carbon dioxide is absorbed in water in the production process of refreshing beverages such as a carbonated water. In the petrochemical industry, a liquid and a gas are contacted in an oxidization reaction apparatus, a hydrogenation reaction apparatus, or a gas diluted water manufacturing apparatus. In the paper and pulp industry, a liquid and a sulfidized water are contacted for the absorption reaction of a sulfidized water. A contact process of a gas and a liquid is necessary also for environmental apparatus such as a deep aeration apparatus, a chlorine pasteurization apparatus of water, an exhaust gas processing apparatus, a purification apparatus for industrial waste water, water supply or sewage, a processing apparatus of industrial waste water with ozone gas, water supply or sewage, and an aerator. Furthermore, in the fishery industry, air is mixed in water by contacting air with water for charging oxygen in a pisciculture pond. 
     The gas-liquid processing apparatus is used particularly in a purifying apparatus for eliminating an organo-chloric compound such as 1-1-1-trichloroethane, trichloroethylene, and tetrachloroethylene from a waste liquid, a hazardous substance eliminating apparatus for eliminating a substance such as chlorine, trihalomethane and fumic acid from tap water or well water, a pasteurization apparatus for sterilization or pasteurization of dissolution and enrichment of oxygen gas, ozone, chlorine dioxide or chlorine gas in raw water, and a bioreactor where aerobic bacteria are used. 
     A conventional gas-liquid processing apparatus (a gas-liquid contacting apparatus) utilizing a static type fluid mixer, comprising a spiral blade body in a passage pipe and a plurality of fluid passage for passing a fluid in the pipe axis direction, arranged perpendicularly, for supplying liquid from a position higher than the fluid mixer by the hydrostatic pressure difference, and further, a gas can pass in the fluid mixer (Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 5-96144) is known. 
     However, since the liquid is supplied from the upper direction with respect to the liquid mixer by the hydrostatic pressure difference into the fluid mixer in the conventional gas-liquid processing apparatus, although the production cost and the running cost can be low for not requiring a motive power, it has the disadvantage of having a low gas-liquid contacting efficiency. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a gas-liquid processing apparatus with a high contacting efficiency between a gas and a liquid and a high reaction rate and a high mixing efficiency at a low production cost. 
     A first aspect of a gas-liquid processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises one or a plurality of static type fluid mixer arranged substantially perpendicularly in the longitudinal direction, a liquid supplying means for supplying a liquid in the passage pipe, and a gas supplying means for supplying a gas in the passage pipe, wherein a fluid consisted of said liquid and said gas is in the pressured state higher than the atmospheric pressure in the static type fluid mixer. 
     A second aspect of a gas-liquid processing apparatus of the present invention comprises a plurality of static type fluid mixers arranged parallel to each other and substantially perpendicularly in the longitudinal direction, a container for keeping a fluid and arranging the static type fluid mixers so as to be soaked at least partially in the fluid, partition members for partitioning the inside of the container for each of the static type fluid mixers so as to allow passage of a liquid but not allow passage of a gas, and pipes for connecting the gas space of each room of the container partitioned by the partition members and a gas introducing portion of an adjacent static type fluid mixer, wherein the fluid is in the pressured state higher than the atmospheric pressure in the static type fluid mixers. 
     Furthermore, it is preferable that a circulating means for returning the fluid from the bottom portion of the static type fluid mixer to the upper portion thereof for circulating the fluid is further provided in the first and second aspects of the present invention. 
     It is also preferable that the static type fluid mixer comprises a passage pipe for the passage of a fluid and a spiral blade body arranged in the passage pipe. An opening is formed in the spiral blade body at the center portion of the passage pipe. 
     In the first aspect of the present invention, a liquid and a gas are mixed and contacted for generating a certain reaction, a gas absorption or a dissolution while passing through the fluid mixer. In this case, the fluid is maintained in a pressured state in the static type fluid mixer. Preferably, the liquid and the gas are circulated and supplied in the static type fluid mixer. Accordingly, in the present invention, a fluid is maintained in a pressurized state higher than the atmospheric pressure, and preferably circulated and supplied into the static type fluid mixer. Therefore, a gas and a liquid are contacted and mixed with a high efficiency. Besides, since a motive power is not used for stirring the gas and the liquid, it has an advantage of a low production cost. 
     In the second aspect of the present invention, a plurality of the static type fluid mixers are arranged parallel to each other and the container is partitioned by the partition members so that a liquid can move freely among the rooms but a gas cannot move freely. Then the gas is introduced to the gas introducing portion of an adjacent static type fluid mixer by the pipe. Then, the gas passes through the static type fluid mixer of each room successively and contacts with the liquid. Accordingly, the gas and the liquid are introduced into the static type fluid mixer arranged at an end of the container so that a mixed fluid in the container is discharged from the room on the other end of the container. Similarly, a fluid is mixed in a pressured state in the static type fluid mixer as well as since the contacting length of a gas and a liquid is long in the second aspect, the contacting efficiency of the liquid and the gas is extremely high. By circulating and supplying a fluid in the static type fluid mixer in each room, the contacting efficiency of a liquid and a gas can be further higher. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a 90° rotation type mixing element; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a 90° rotation type mixing element; 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of a static type fluid mixer utilizing the mixing element; 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a third embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a fifth embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a sixth embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a seventh embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter embodiments of the present invention will be explained concretely with reference to the accompanied drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of a mixing element. FIG. 4 is a side view of a static type fluid mixer utilizing the mixing element. As shown in FIG. 2 to  4 , each of mixing elements  1  and  8  of a static type fluid mixer  30  used in this embodiment comprises a cylindrical passage pipe  2  or  9 , and spiral blade bodies  3 ,  4  or  10 ,  11  arranged in the passage pipe  2  or  9 . The blade bodies  3 ,  4  and  10 ,  11  are tw&#39;sted clockwise (right-handed rotation) or counterclockwise (left-handed rotation) by 90°, respectively so as to form fluid passages  5 ,  6  or  12 ,  13 . The blade bodies  3 ,  4 , or  10 ,  11  do not exist on the axis of the passage pipe  2  or  9 . Accordingly, an opening portion  7  or  14  is formed on the axis of the passage pipe  2 ,  9  when viewed two-dimensionally. Therefore, the fluid passages  5 ,  6  and the fluid passages  12 ,  13  communicate with each other via the opening portions  7  and  14  through the entire length of the passage pipes  2  and  9 . 
     The static type fluid mixer  30  can be assembled by fitting the mixing elements  1  and  8  in a cylindrical casing  15  alternately so as to have the edges of the blade bodies  3 ,  4  and  10 ,  11  of the mixing elements  1  and  8  orthogonal to each other. 
     While two kinds of fluids FA, FB pass through the fluid passages of the static type fluid mixer  30  of the above-mentioned configuration, part of the fluid rotates spirally by 90° to be partially sheared at the opening portion, joins the fluid passed through the other fluid passage and is further divided, and rotates spirally by 90° to the other direction. While repeating the rotation, shearing, confluence, and division as mentioned above, the fluids can be mixed. In the static type fluid mixer  30 , 180° rotation type blade bodies can be used in place of the 90° rotation type blade bodies of this embodiment. 
     In this embodiment, the static type fluid mixer  30  of the above-mentioned configuration is placed vertically with respect to its longitudinal direction in a sealed processing container  31 , as shown in FIG.  1 . In this case, an introducing portion  31   a  is provided at the upper part of the container  31  as a space for introducing a gas and a liquid, and a storage portion  31   b  is provided at the lower part of the container  31  for storing a liquid. 
     A pipe  32 , connected with a liquid supply, is connected with the introducing portion  31   a  at the upper part of the container  31 . A flow regulating valve  34  is provided in the pipe  32 . A pipe  33  connected with a gas supply is connected with the introducing portion  31   a . A flow regulating valve  35  is provided in the pipe  33 . A liquid and a gas is supplied into the container  31  with pressure from the liquid supply and the gas supply. A spray nozzle  37  is provided in the introducing portion  31   a  at the upper part of the container  31  for jetting the liquid. 
     On the other hand, a pipe  36  is connected with the storage portion  31   b  at the lower part of the container  31  for discharging the liquid stored at the lower part of the container to outside the container via the pipe  36 . The pipe  36  is connected with the spray nozzle  37  at the upper part of the container so that the liquid discharged from the bottom portion of the container is supplied to the spray nozzle  37  at the upper part of the container via the pipe  36  to be jetted toward the inside of the container  31  via the nozzle  37 . Accordingly, the liquid in the container  31  is returned into the container  31  via the pipe  36  to be circulated and supplied to the static type fluid mixer  30  in the container  31 . A pump  38  is provided in the pipe  36 , and furthermore, a flow regulating valve  39  is provided therein. A pipe  40  branches out from the pipe  36  at the upstream side with respect to the flow regulating valve  39 . A switching valve  41  is provided in the pipe  40 . 
     The operation of the gas-liquid processing apparatus of the above-mentioned configuration will be explained. With the valve  41  closed, and the valve  39  opened, the valves  34  and  35  are opened at a predetermined angle for supplying the liquid and the gas into the container  31  via the pipes  32  and  33  at a predetermined rate with pressure. Then the liquid and the gas are stirred and mixed in the static type fluid mixer  30  so that the gas is dissolved in the liquid to be aerated or reacted by sufficiently contacting the gas and the liquid. 
     The mixture fluid stored in the container  31  is supplied to the spray nozzle  37  at the upper part of the container  31  by the pump  38  to be jetted into the container  31  by the spray nozzle  37 . Then a liquid and a gas supplied from the pipes  32  and  33 , and the mixture fluid from the spray nozzle  37  are mixed while passing through the static type fluid mixer  30 . After applying pressure to the gas and the liquid in the container  31  until the pressure becomes higher than the atmospheric pressure, the valves  34  and  35  are closed to seal the mixture fluid of the liquid and the gas in the container  31 . The fluid passing through the static type fluid mixer  30  in the container  31  circulates in the static type fluid mixer  30  in a pressured state. Accordingly, the liquid and the gas sufficiently contacts so that the gas is dissolved in the liquid, aerated or reacted. 
     Afterwards, the fluid after the mixing and contacting processing is discharged from the container  31  via the pipe  40  by closing the valve  39  and opening the valve  41 . 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the second embodiment of the present invention. In a container  42 , a plurality of the static type fluid mixers  30  are interlocked via cylindrical spacers  43  having the same diameter size as the casing of the static type fluid mixers. A gap is formed between the container and the static type fluid mixers  30  or the spacers  43  for the passage of a fluid. That is, the container  42 , the static type fluid mixers  30  and the spacers  43  have a double-pipe structure. The spacers  43  are provided with holes  43 a for the passage of a fluid so that a fluid can flow into the spacers  43  from the gap via the holes  43   a . A mixture fluid of the gas and the liquid is stored at the bottom portion of the container  42  and the mixture fluid is returned to the spray nozzle  37  at the upper part of the container via the pump  38 . 
     In the gas-liquid processing apparatus of the above-mentioned configuration, a liquid is jetted from the spray nozzle  37  into the uppermost static type fluid mixer  30  to be mixed with a gas introduced from the top of the container to the inside of the container, contacted, and processed. The mixture fluid is also mixed with a gas introduced via the holes  43   a  at the spacers  43  to be introduced further into the lower static type fluid mixer  30 . 
     In this embodiment, the contacting processing of a gas and a liquid is conducted in a pressured state higher than the atmospheric pressure, and thus the contacting efficiency is extremely high. Further, since a fluid is circulated and supplied in the static type fluid mixers  30 , the dissolution of the gas or the reaction between the gas and the liquid can sufficiently proceed. 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the third embodiment of the present invention. A liquid is supplied in a container  50  to be stored. The static type fluid mixer  30  is arranged with the lower half thereof soaked in the liquid in the container  50  with the fluid passing direction vertically. An introducing portion  51  is provided at the upper part of the static type fluid mixer  30  for introducing a gas into the static type fluid mixer  30 , and the spray nozzle  37  is provided in the introducing portion  51  for circulating and supplying a liquid. The outer periphery of the static type fluid mixer  50  of the portion soaked in the fluid in the container  50  is fitted with spiral blade bodies so that the static type fluid mixer  53  is formed by the spiral blade bodies. 
     In the gas-liquid processing apparatus of the above-mentioned configuration, a liquid is supplied in the container  50 , and the liquid is pumped up into the introducing portion  51  by the pump  38 . The liquid is jetted inside the introducing portion  51  via the spray nozzle  37  so as to be supplied with pressure into the static type fluid mixer  30  with the air supplied to the introducing portion  51 . The liquid and the gas are mixed while passing through the static type fluid mixer  30  downward. The mixture fluid enters the container  50  from the lower end of the static type fluid mixer  30  and is further mixed while passing through the static type fluid mixer  53  in the rising process. In this embodiment, since the pressure supplied to the introducing portion  51  of the gas is adjusted so that the surface of the fluid in the container  50  is always above the lower end of the static type fluid mixer  30 , the fluid is applied with a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure at a position lower than the fluid surface in the static type fluid mixer  30 . Accordingly, a fluid is mixed with a high efficiency in this embodiment. 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The static type fluid mixer  30  is arranged in a container  60 . An introducing portion  62  is provided at the upper part of the static type fluid mixer  30 . The lower part of the introducing portion  62  and the static type fluid mixer  30  are surrounded by a container  61 . The container  61  is arranged in the container  60  between the container  60  and the static type fluid mixer  30 . A plurality of the holes  63  are provided in the container  61  so that the fluid in the container  61  is discharged to the outside via the holes  63 . On the other hand, the supply pressure of a liquid and a gas is selected so that the fluid surface in the container  60  is always above the static type fluid mixer  30 . 
     In the gas-liquid processing apparatus of the above-mentioned configuration, a liquid and a fluid are always supplied to the introducing portion  62 , mixed by the static type fluid mixer  30  and discharged into the container  61 . Furthermore, the fluid is discharged into the container  60  via the holes  63 , and again supplied into the introducing portion  62  from the spray nozzle  37  at the upper part of the static type fluid mixer  30  by the pump  38 . Accordingly, the fluid is circulated and supplied to the static type fluid mixer  30 . Since the static type fluid mixer  30  is below the fluid surface in the containers  60 ,  61 , the fluid in the static type fluid mixer  30  is applied with the pressure based on the hydrostatic pressure difference. Therefore, the gas and liquid contacting efficiency of a fluid is high. 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the fifth embodiment of the present invention. The fifth embodiment is another embodiment of the second embodiment, wherein a plurality of the gas-liquid processing apparatus of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are provided parallel. Three static type fluid mixers  30  are arranged in the sealed container  70  with the lower part inserted. A fluid is stored in the container  70 . Partitioning members  71  comprising partition plates, standing from the bottom plate of the container to a position lower than the fluid surface, and partition plates, hanged from the upper plate of the container to deeper than the fluid surface, are arranged between the static type fluid mixers. An introducing portion  31  of a gas is provided at the upper part of the static type fluid mixer  30 . A pipe  32  for introducing a liquid into the introducing portion  31  and a pipe  33  for introducing a gas into the introducing portion  31  from the outside are connected with the introducing portion  31  of the static type fluid mixer  30  arranged at one end of the container  70 . A discharging pipe  73  for discharging a gas and a discharging pipe  74  for discharging a liquid are connected to the room having the static type fluid mixer  30  on the opposite end of the container  70 . In each room partitioned by the partitioning members  71 , a fluid is supplied to the spray nozzle  37  provided at the introducing portion  31  of the static type fluid mixer  30  of each room by the pump  38  via the pipe  36  so as to be circulated and supplied into the static type fluid mixer  30 . 
     In the gas-liquid processing apparatus of the above-mentioned configuration, a liquid and a gas are introduced into the introducing portion  31  of the static type fluid mixer  30  on the left end of the drawing via the pipes  32 ,  33 . The liquid and the gas are mixed in the static type fluid mixer  30  and discharged into the container  70 . The pressure of the liquid and the gas introduced via the pipes  32 ,  33  is determined so that the fluid surface in the container  70  is positioned at a comparatively high position in the container  70  as shown in the drawing for the static type fluid mixer  30  sufficiently soaked in the fluid. 
     In the container  70 , a liquid flows to an adjacent room beyond the partitioning members  71 , but a gas in each room is supplied from the upper space of the room to the introducing portion  31  of the static type fluid mixer  30  of an adjacent room via a pipe  75 . In each room, a liquid is circulated and supplied to the static type fluid mixer  30  via a pipe  36  by the pump  38 . 
     The gas processed by sufficiently contacting with the liquid is discharged from the container  70  via the pipe  73 , and the liquid is discharged via the pipe  74 . In this embodiment, a liquid and a gas are mixed and contacted in each static type fluid mixer, and a gas moves into the static type fluid mixers successively so as to contact with the liquid in each room. Accordingly, the contacting efficiency between a gas and a liquid is extremely high. 
     FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the sixth embodiment of the present invention. In the sixth embodiment, a pipe  81  for discharging the gas in the storage portion  31   b  is connected to the storage portion  31   b  of the container  31 . Also, a valve  82  is provided in the pipe  81 . The remaining construction is same as the first embodiment shown in FIG.  1 . 
     The operation of the gas-liquid processing apparatus of the above-mentioned configuration will be explained. With the valve  41  closed, and the valves  39  and  82  opened, the valves  34  and  35  are opened at a predetermined angle for supplying the liquid and the gas into the container  31  via the pipes  32  and  33  at a predetermined rate with pressure. Then the liquid and the gas are stirred and mixed in the static type fluid mixer  30  so that the gas is dissolved in the liquid to be aerated or reacted by sufficiently contacting the gas and the liquid. 
     The mixture fluid stored in the lower part of the container  31  is supplied to the spray nozzle  37  at the upper part of the container  31  by the pump  38  to be jetted into the container  31  by the spray nozzle  37 . Then a liquid and a gas supplied from the pipes  32  and  33 , and the mixture fluid from the spray nozzle  37  are mixed while passing through the static type fluid mixer  30 . After closing the valves  34  and  82  and applying pressure to the gas and the liquid in the container  31  until the pressure becomes higher than the atmospheric pressure thorough the pipe  33 , the valve  35  is closed to seal the mixture fluid of the liquid and the gas in the container  31 . The fluid passing through the static type fluid mixer  30  in the container  31  circulates in the static type fluid mixer  30  in a pressurized state. Accordingly, the liquid and the gas sufficiently contacts so that the gas is dissolved in the liquid, aerated or reacted. 
     Afterwards, the fluid after the mixing and contacting processing is discharged from the container  31  via the pipe  40  by closing the valve  39  and opening the valve  41 . 
     FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the seventh embodiment of the present invention. In the seventh embodiment, a mixture fluid of the gas and the liquid is extracted from the container  42  at the bottom  42 a thereof. Other construction of the seventh embodiment is same as that of the second embodiment shown in FIG.  5 . 
     The first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to  4 , the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the sixth embodiment shown in FIG.  9  and the seventh embodiment shown in FIG. 10 are effective as an apparatus for eliminating a nitrogen compound in an aqueous solution. They are effective also as an apparatus for eliminating an ammonium type nitrogen in the water supply or sewage, and an apparatus for diffusing a volatile matter in waste water. Furthermore, they are advantageous also as an apparatus for injecting and adding a chlorine gas or an apparatus for dissolving an oxygen gas. 
     The third embodiment shown in FIG.  6  and the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 7 can be applied as an apparatus for processing water supply, sewage, or industrial waste water with ozone. Furthermore, the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 8 is advantageous as a continuous type aeration apparatus or a waste water processing apparatus by the activated sludge method. Furthermore, it is advantageous also as a water processing apparatus with an ozone gas or a waste water processing apparatus by the activated sludge method. 
     As heretofore mentioned, according to the present invention, since a liquid and a gas are mixed in a pressured state in a static type fluid mixer, it is advantageous in that the contacting efficiency is high as well as the production cost is low.