Abstract:
Reactive beads interact with a fluid to be treated in a treatment chamber that retains the beads in the chamber and provides a geometry which promotes the fluid flow agitation of the beads to enhance the treatment.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of priority from Provisional Patent Application No. 61/720,500 filed on Oct. 31, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a fluid treatment apparatus and method employing a multiplicity of reactive beads located in a treatment chamber arranged to provide self-cleaning and enhanced mixing with the fluid through agitation by the fluid motion, and further arranged to provide retention of the beads in the treatment apparatus by retention screens. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Reactive beads are widely used in a variety of applications as adsorbents, desiccants, reagents, and catalysts interacting with a fluid process stream. Depending on the application, they may consist of aluminosilicate minerals, clays, porous glasses, microporous charcoals, zeolites, active carbons, plant fertilizing chemicals, alkaline pH reduction, synthetic compounds, or other chemically or electrochemically active materials. Often, their capacity is limited due to saturation, fouling, or poor mixing with the process stream. The present invention is an apparatus and method for enhancing the effectiveness of reactive beads by providing an environment of robust agitation of the beads within the process stream. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In this application the term “bead” means a small, often, but not necessarily, round, piece of ceramic, stone, glass, organic material, wood, metal, synthetic, or other material with the property of chemical or mechanical treatment of a fluid through contact. The bead has the characteristic of the treatment property degrading with use, and the ability to partially or fully rejuvenate such treatment property by energetic contact with other beads or a wall of the treatment chamber. 
     The apparatus of the present invention is a treatment chamber body with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The treatment chamber body also has an agitation area arranged to provide agitation of the beads by fluid flow into and out of the device. A removable closure fits on the chamber body closure attachment providing a fluid seal when attached, and an opening for insertion or withdrawal of beads when removed from the body. Screens are provided to prevent passage of the beads into the inlet or outlet connections, retaining them in the treatment chamber body. 
     The method of the present invention is to remove the removable closure providing an opening for insertion of the beads in the treatment chamber. The removable closure is then reattached and the fluid inlet and outlet are connected to a flow path for the fluid, if not permanently connected. Flow is then established into the chamber inlet and out the chamber outlet, which causes agitation of the beads as fluid flow is established from the inlet into and out of the chamber agitation area and also to the outlet. 
     OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
     The object of this invention is to provide enhanced performance of reactive beads treating a fluid stream. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete understanding of the present invention can be obtained by considering the detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a left side view of an embodiment of the invention. The right side view is a mirror image and therefore is not shown. This figure shows the location of the cross section view of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom view of an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of a second embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a left side view of a second embodiment of the invention. The right side view is a mirror image and therefore is not shown. 
         FIG. 8  is a rear view of a second embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of a second embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a top view of a second embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross section view at the location shown on  FIG. 2  of an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a cross section view at the location shown on  FIG. 2  of an embodiment of the invention illustrating the device in service. 
         FIG. 13  is a cross section view at the location shown on  FIG. 7  of an embodiment of the invention employing an expanded agitation area. 
         FIG. 14  is a cross section view at the location shown on  FIG. 7  of an embodiment of the invention employing an expanded agitation area illustrating the device in service. 
     
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS 
     These reference numbers are used in the drawings to refer to areas or features of the invention.
           101  Removable Closure     103  Chamber Body     104  Elongated Chamber Body     105  Chamber Body Closure Attachment     107  Inlet Opening     109  Outlet Opening     110  Chamber Body Inlet and Outlet Portion     111  Inlet Screen     113  Outlet Screen     115  Agitation Area     117  Reactive Bead       

     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The bead fluid treatment self-cleaning apparatus invention is a chamber arranged with a removable closure ( 101 ) on the chamber body ( 103 ), an inlet ( 107 ), and an outlet ( 109 ) as shown in various views on  FIGS. 1 through 10 , and in cross-section in  FIGS. 11 through 14 . The removable closure ( 101 ) is shown in the figures as attached to the chamber body ( 103 ) by a chamber body closure attachment ( 105 ) consisting of a threaded connection. Those familiar with the art will recognize there are many possible closure types capable of providing a removable closure, for example a bayonet plug configuration or a flanged bolted closure configuration. Another embodiment is to have a non-removable closure used for single use fluid treatments. The removable closure ( 101 ) provides access to the interior of the chamber body ( 103 ). The body contains an agitation area ( 115 ) located in the upper portion of the chamber as shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3 ,  6  through  8 , and  11  through  14 . 
     The chamber body ( 103 ) contains multiple reactive beads ( 117 ), free to move and contact each other and the walls of the chamber body, as shown in  FIGS. 11 through 14 . These beads ( 117 ) are inserted in the chamber through the opening provided by the chamber removable closure ( 101 ) when opened or removed, and sufficient are inserted to provide the desired treatment, but still provide space in the chamber body ( 103 ) above the beads for the agitation area ( 115 ). An inlet screen ( 111 ) and an outlet screen ( 113 ) are provided to prevent passage of the reactive beads into the inlet ( 107 ) or outlet ( 108 ). These penetrable screens may be cast, formed of mesh, have machined openings, or otherwise configured to allow passage of fluid through the screen while preventing such passage of the beads ( 117 ) into the inlet ( 107 ) and outlet ( 108 ) respectively. 
     The chamber body ( 103 ) is connected to a fluid system providing fluid flow to the chamber inlet ( 107 ) at the bottom of the chamber body ( 103 ), and fluid flow from the chamber outlet ( 109 ) located at the side of the chamber body ( 103 ). The body ( 103 ) is configured so the flow coming into the chamber inlet opening ( 107 ), as shown by the vertical arrow in  FIGS. 12 and 14 , is directed upwards onto the reactive beads ( 117 ), and provides a motive force on the beads to move them toward the agitation area ( 115 ) portion of the body, located above the beads when first inserted into the chamber body ( 103 ). The fluid flow out of the body, as shown by the sideways arrow in  FIGS. 12 and 14 , provides a motive force on the beads to direct them toward the chamber outlet ( 109 ). This change in direction provides robust agitation of the beads as those in the flow path of the chamber inlet opening ( 107 ) move in the direction of the agitation chamber ( 115 ) and those in the flow path to the chamber outlet opening ( 109 ) move in the direction of the outlet opening. The beads collide with each other and with the walls of the chamber body and treatment chamber as they are agitated providing enhanced mixing with the fluid stream and promoting dislodgment of bead surface contaminants and any reaction products on the bead surface. The extent of agitation of the beads varies with the fluid type, flow rate, and fluid conditions, such as temperature and pressure, of the treatment process of interest. 
     Those familiar with the art will recognize the additional agitation area ( 115 ) volume provided by the embodiment with an elongated chamber body ( 104 ) as shown in  FIGS. 6 through 8  and  13 ,  14 , provides room for an increased reactive beads quantity with a resultant increase in bead-fluid reactions over the smaller agitation area ( 115 ) area volume shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3  and  11 ,  12 . The elongated chamber body ( 104 ) is defined for purposes of this application as a chamber body with an agitation area ( 115 ) distance between the portion of the body containing the inlet opening ( 107 ) and outlet opening ( 109 ) as shown in  FIGS. 6 through 8  and  13 ,  14 , and the chamber body closure attachment ( 105 ) greater than the height of the portion of the body containing the inlet opening ( 107 ) and outlet opening ( 109 ) and also greater than the height of the chamber body closure attachment ( 105 ). Combinations of these agitation area sizing embodiments may be varied to accommodate the desired fluid treatment. The embodiments of the invention shown and described have other possible variations and these descriptions are not intended to limit the invention. 
     Operation 
     The bead fluid treatment self-cleaning apparatus invention is loaded with reactive beads ( 117 ) by stopping fluid flow to the apparatus and opening the removable closure ( 101 ) on the chamber body ( 103 ), shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3 ,  6  through  8 , and  11  through  14 . A desired quantity of the type of reactive bead ( 117 ) required for the desired treatment are inserted into the chamber body ( 103 ) and the removable closure is closed to contain the reactive beads ( 117 ) in the treatment chamber body ( 113 ). The fluid flow is then started in the directions indicated by the arrows in  FIGS. 12 and 14 , providing flow into the chamber body inlet opening ( 107 ) shown on the lower part of the chamber body. This fluid interacts with the reactive beads ( 117 ), moving beads in the upward flow path towards the agitation area of the treatment chamber ( 115 ) shown in  FIGS. 12 and 14 . Flow is also downward out of the agitation area towards the chamber outlet opening ( 109 ) shown in the side of the treatment chamber, and sideways, directly from the inlet to the outlet. The multiple flow paths create turbulence, providing agitation of the beads. This process is continued until the desired amount of fluid is treated. The fluid flow then is stopped and, if depleted, the reactive beads may be removed and replaced with still active beads and the treatment process restarted. Alternately, still active beads may be used to treat additional sources of fluid requiring treatment in succession, or further treat the current fluid. 
     Those skilled in the art will recognize this process may be further varied, for example, by recirculation of the treated fluid, adding other chemicals to the treatment fluid, or varying the fluid flow conditions to obtain the desired treatment. The description of the process herein have other possible variations and these descriptions are not intended to limit the invention.