Mixing eductor

Abstract

An eductor comprising an inlet channel, a mixing channel, and a flowpath, designed for the improved mixing of a relatively large volume of water with gas while utilizing a relatively small amount of power.

1 - 29 . (canceled)  
     
     
         30 . A mixing eductor comprising 
 an inlet channel for accepting a forced flow of fluid;    a mixing channel having a flared inlet region positioned near the inlet channel in a manner which allows a fluid surrounding the mixing eductor to be entrained into the mixing channel and a flared outlet region through which the forced flow of fluid and entrained fluid is directed;    a flow path for introducing a liquid or a gas into the mixing channel to form a mixture of the forced flow of fluid, the entrained fluid and the gas bubbles or liquid    
     
     
         31 . The mixing eductor of  claim 30  wherein the flow path for introducing the gas or liquid is a tube positioned in the flow of fluid through the mixing channel at an angle θ t  from the central longitudinal axis of the mixing channel.  
     
     
         32 . The mixing eductor of  claim 31  wherein the flowpath tube comprises two tube sections, an inner section and an outer section, wherein the inner tube section is positioned in the flow of fluid through the mixing channel and extends outside the mixing channel of the eductor, the outer tube section extends from outside the mixing channel of the eductor to the source of gas or liquid, and the two sections are connected at the outer surface of the mixing channel of the eductor.  
     
     
         33 . The mixing eductor of  claim 32  wherein the diameter of the inner tube section is smaller than the diameter of the outer tube section.  
     
     
         34 . The mixing eductor of  claim 31  wherein the angle θ t  ranges from 0° to 90°.  
     
     
         35 . The mixing eductor of  claim 31  wherein θ t  ranges from 30° to 60°.  
     
     
         36 . The mixing eductor of  claim 31  wherein θ t  is 45°.  
     
     
         37 . The mixing eductor of  claim 31  wherein the flow path for introducing the gas or liquid is positioned in the flow of fluid through the mixing channel so that the outlet of the flow path is located at or near the central longitudinal axis of the mixing channel.  
     
     
         38 . The mixing eductor of  claim 37  wherein the flowpath tube comprises two tube sections, an inner section and an outer section, wherein the inner tube section is positioned in the flow of fluid through the mixing channel and extends outside the mixing channel of the eductor, the outer tube section extends from outside the mixing channel of the eductor to the source of gas or liquid, and the two sections are connected at the outer surface of the mixing channel of the eductor.  
     
     
         39 . The mixing eductor of  claim 38  wherein the diameter of the inner tube section is smaller than the diameter of the outer tube section.  
     
     
         40 . The mixing eductor of  claim 30  wherein the flow path for introducing a flow of gas comprises two or more tubes.  
     
     
         41 . The mixing eductor of  claim 40  wherein each of the flowpath tubes comprise two tube sections, an inner section and an outer section, wherein the inner tube section is positioned in the flow of fluid through the mixing channel and extends outside the mixing channel of the eductor, the outer tube section extends from outside the mixing channel of the eductor to the source of gas or liquid, and the two sections are connected at the outer surface of the mixing channel of the eductor.  
     
     
         42 . The mixing eductor of  claim 41  wherein the diameter of the inner tube section is smaller than the diameter of the outer tube section.  
     
     
         43 . The mixing eductor of  claim 30  wherein the flared outlet region ranges from about 1 inch to about 80 inches long.  
     
     
         44 . The mixing eductor of  claim 30  wherein the flared outlet region flares out at an angle θ f  from the central longitudinal axis of the mixing channel, wherein the angle θ f  ranges from about 10 to about 60°.  
     
     
         45 . The mixing eductor of  claim 44  wherein θ f  ranges from about 30° to about 45°.  
     
     
         46 . The mixing eductor of  claim 44  wherein angle Of ranges from about 1° to about 15°.  
     
     
         47 . The mixing eductor of  claim 30  wherein the flow path for introducing the flow of gas comprises two or more tubes positioned in the flow of fluid through the mixing channel.  
     
     
         48 . The mixing eductor of  claim 30  wherein inner surface of the flared outlet region is modified to direct the motion of fluid through the outlet region in a helical path, thereby creating a vortex.  
     
     
         49 . The mixing eductor of  claim 48  wherein the inner surface comprises foils formed on the inner surface of the flared outlet region, wherein the foils rotate around the inside surface of the outlet region in a manner which directs the motion of fluid through the outlet region in a helical path, thereby creating a vortex.  
     
     
         50 . The mixing eductor of  claim 49  wherein the foils extend a distance of about 1/16 inch from the inner surface of the outlet region with a maximum extension to the central longitudinal axis.