Patent ID: 8276888

Claim:
An apparatus for dissolving a gas in a liquid comprising: (a) a dissolution tank comprising (i) a pressure vessel for containing a treated fluid and providing a regulated head space comprising at least one gas above the treated fluid, (ii) at least one liquid spray nozzle that permits passage of an untreated fluid into the head space of gas under conditions effective to dissolve the gas in the untreated fluid, and (iii) an outlet that permits passage of the treated fluid out of the pressure vessel; (b) means for passing the untreated fluid into the dissolution tank in communication with the at least one liquid spray nozzle; (c) a gas source in communication with the dissolution tank; and (d) a discharge device external the dissolution tank in communication with the outlet and immersed in a target liquid, which discharge device is provided with at least one orifice through which treated fluid from the dissolution tank can be released into the target liquid external the discharge device.