Gas saturation of liquids with application to dissolved gas flotation and supplying dissolved gases to downstream processes and water treatment

Abstract

The description relates to methods and apparatus that enable the efficient introduction of gases like air, oxygen and ozone into aqueous liquids. Gases are introduced into liquids for making that gas chemically or biologically available at a minimum energy expenditure. Impinging jets of liquid are directed into a pressurized saturation vessel having a gas-filled headspace and a saturation zone below the surface of the liquid at a velocity sufficient to create a turbulent impact and plunge zone. The resulting turbulence and mixing of gas and liquid in that zone under pressure, causes the gas to be driven into the liquid in the vessel and breaks up the gas and the liquid into a churning flow and creates a large number of bubbles. The resulting gas-enriched liquid is discharged from the vessel at an outlet to ensure a minimum of bubbles in the gas-enriched liquid.