Submerged gas evaporators and reactors

Abstract

A submerged gas processor in the form of an evaporator or a submerged gas reactor includes a vessel, a gas delivery tube partially disposed within the vessel to deliver a gas into the vessel and a process fluid inlet that provides a process fluid to the vessel at a rate sufficient to maintain a controlled constant level of fluid within the vessel. A weir is disposed within the vessel adjacent the gas delivery tube to form a first fluid circulation path between a first weir end and a wall of the vessel and a second fluid circulation path between a second weir end and an upper end of the vessel. During operation, gas introduced through the tube mixes with the process fluid and the combined gas and fluid flow at a high rate with a high degree of turbulence along the first and second circulation paths defined around the weir, thereby promoting vigorous mixing and intimate contact between the gas and the process fluid. This turbulent flow develops a significant amount of interfacial surface area between the gas and the process fluid resulting in a reduction of the required residence time of the gas within the process fluid to achieve thermal equilibrium and/or to drive chemical reactions to completion, all of which leads to a more efficient and complete evaporation, chemical reaction, or combined evaporation and chemical reaction process.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The submerged gas processor of  claim 30 , further including a reinforcing plate attached to the vessel and attached to the weir. 
     
     
         11 . The submerged gas processor of  claim 10 , further including a stabilizer ring attached to the reinforcing plate and disposed between the gas tube and the weir. 
     
     
         12 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The submerged gas processor of  claim 30 , further including a jacket disposed adjacent to an outer wall of the vessel that may be used for either heating or cooling the process liquid. 
     
     
         17 . The submerged gas processor of  claim 16 , wherein the jacket includes a fluid volume that enables heating or cooling fluid to circulate adjacent the vessel. 
     
     
         18 . The submerged gas processor of  claim 16 , wherein the jacket includes an electrical heating element. 
     
     
         19 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A submerged gas processor comprising:
 a vessel capable of holding a fluid, wherein the fluid, when disposed in an at rest condition within the vessel defines an at rest fluid level within the vessel;   a fluid inlet disposed within the vessel;   a gas tube extending into the vessel adapted to transport a gas into the interior of the vessel, the gas tube including a gas exit port disposed below the at rest fluid level;   an exhaust port disposed in the vessel adapted to transport gas from the interior of the vessel; and   a weir, having a first end and a second end, the weir disposed adjacent the gas exit port within the vessel to create a confined volume between the tube and the weir; wherein the weir includes a first end and a second end and wherein at least a substantial portion of the weir is disposed below the at rest fluid level within the vessel so as to form a first circulation gap between the first weir end and a first wall of the vessel and to form a second circulation gap between the second weir end and a second wall of the vessel.   
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . The submerged gas processor of  claim 30 , wherein the second end of the weir is disposed at or above the at rest fluid level of the vessel. 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . The submerged gas processor of  claim 30 , further including a baffle disposed within the vessel at or above the at rest fluid level of the vessel. 
     
     
         35 . The submerged gas processor of  claim 30 , further including a baffle disposed within the vessel above the second end of the weir. 
     
     
         36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . The submerged gas processor of  claim 30 , further including a heating device associated with the vessel. 
     
     
         39 . The submerged gas processor of  claim 30 , further including a cooling device associated with the vessel. 
     
     
         40 . The submerged gas processor of  claim 30 , wherein the weir comprises a tubular member disposed around the gas tube. 
     
     
         41 . The submerged gas processor of  claim 40 , wherein the tubular member is circular in cross section. 
     
     
         42 . The submerged gas processor of  claim 40 , wherein the tubular member is disposed co-axial to the gas tube. 
     
     
         43 - 59 . (canceled) 
     
     
         60 . A submerged gas processor comprising:
 a vessel;   a fluid inlet disposed within the vessel;   a weir disposed within the vessel to define a first volume and a second volume within the vessel;   a gas delivery tube extending into the vessel, the gas delivery tube including a gas exit disposed in the first volume;   a gas exhaust port disposed in the vessel; and   a biogas burner attached to the gas delivery tube;   wherein the weir includes a first weir end and a second weir end and is disposed within the vessel to create a first fluid circulation path adjacent the first weir end to allow fluid to flow from the first volume to the second volume and to create a second fluid circulation path adjacent the second weir end to allow fluid to flow from the second volume to the first volume when gas is introduced into the first volume from the gas exit.   
     
     
         61 . The submerged gas processor of  claim 60 , the first weir end is disposed above the gas exit and the second weir end is disposed below the gas exit. 
     
     
         62 . The submerged gas processor of  claim 60 , wherein the first volume is smaller than the second volume. 
     
     
         63 . The submerged gas processor of  claim 60 , wherein the second fluid circulation path is formed between the second weir end and a bottom wall of the vessel. 
     
     
         64 . The submerged gas processor of  claim 60 , further including a baffle disposed within the vessel above the first volume adjacent the first weir end. 
     
     
         65 . The submerged gas processor of  claim 60 , further including a heating device disposed adjacent an outer wall of the vessel or associated with the vessel. 
     
     
         66 . The submerged gas processor of  claim 60 , further including a cooling device disposed within or adjacent to the vessel. 
     
     
         67 - 69 . (canceled) 
     
     
         70 . The submerged gas processor of  claim 60 , wherein the weir comprises a generally flat plate member. 
     
     
         71 . The submerged gas processor of  claim 70 , wherein the generally flat plate member extends across the vessel between opposite sides of the vessel. 
     
     
         72 . The submerged gas processor of  claim 60 , further including a burner that operates on gaseous or liquid fuel attached to the gas tube.