Patent ID: 7192562

Claim:
An apparatus for mixing two gases comprising: at least one first plate, wherein the first plate defines a first gas main channel having an inlet and a plurality of outlets, and a plurality of first gas secondary channels wherein each first gas secondary channel has an inlet in fluid communication with a corresponding first gas main channel outlet, and a first gas secondary channel outlet; at least one second plate, wherein the second plate defines a second gas main channel having an inlet and a plurality of outlets, and a plurality of second gas secondary channels wherein each second gas secondary channel has an inlet in fluid communication with a corresponding second gas main channel outlet, and a second gas secondary channel outlet; wherein each first gas secondary channel outlet is in fluid communication with a second gas secondary channel at a position upstream of the second gas secondary channel outlet, and where the first and second plates are stacked in an alternating sequence and held together to form a gas sparger having a first gas inlet, a second gas inlet, and a mixed gas outlet; a sparger liquid feed conduit having an inlet for a liquid feed, which is in fluid communication with the gas sparger second gas secondary channel outlet for generating a cloud of gas bubbles in the liquid, and an outlet for the liquid carrying a gas bubble cloud; and a reactor bed having an inlet in fluid communication with the liquid feed conduit outlet, and an outlet forming a reactor-sparger unit comprising a gas sparger for generating gas bubbles in a liquid and a reactor over which the gas bubble bearing liquid flows.