Saturator and water treating apparatus including the same

Abstract

A saturator, configured for use in a water treating apparatus, includes a chamber, in which a first flow path through which first fluid flows is formed, and a plurality of porous membranes disposed in the first flow path, a second flow path formed within the plurality of porous membranes, through which second fluid flows. The first fluid is dissolved in the second fluid, or the second fluid is dissolved in the first fluid. Accordingly, a contact area between the first fluid and the second fluid is enlarged, and thus, a dissolving speed increases.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A saturator comprising:
 a chamber in which a first flow path through which first fluid flows is formed; and   a plurality of porous membranes disposed in the first flow path, and a second flow path formed in the plurality of porous membranes through which second fluid flows,   wherein the first fluid is dissolved in the second fluid, or the second fluid is dissolved in the first fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The saturator of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of porous membranes transmits one of the first and second fluids, and does not transmit the other of the first and second fluids. 
     
     
         3 . The saturator of  claim 1 , wherein a pore formed in each of the plurality of porous members has a size of 50 μm or less, or has a size having a range of 1 μm to 100 μm. 
     
     
         4 . The saturator of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of porous membranes are formed of a plastic material such as poly ethylene (PE). 
     
     
         5 . The saturator of  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid is compressed air, and the second fluid is water. 
     
     
         6 . The saturator of  claim 1 , wherein the first flow path extends in parallel with the second flow path. 
     
     
         7 . The saturator of  claim 1 , wherein the first flow path extends and intersects the second flow path a plurality of times. 
     
     
         8 . The saturator of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber further comprises a partition wall that extends from a wall of the chamber to an inner side of the chamber, and meets the plurality of porous membranes, and
 wherein the first flow path is formed in zigzags by the partition wall.   
     
     
         9 . The saturator of  claim 8 , wherein a plurality of through holes are formed in the partition wall. 
     
     
         10 . The saturator of  claim 8 , wherein the partition wall extends spirally, and is disposed in an extension direction of the second flow path. 
     
     
         11 . A water treating apparatus comprising:
 a saturator configured to include a chamber, in which a first flow path is formed, and a plurality of porous membranes disposed in the first flow path, a second flow path formed within the plurality of porous membranes, wherein compressed water is dissolved in water in the saturator;   an air compressor configured to supply the compressed air to the saturator;   a water supply apparatus configured to supply the water to the saturator; and   a floatation apparatus configured to include a space in which dissolved air of the water supplied from the saturator floats in combination with a foreign material.   
     
     
         12 . The water treating apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the saturator has a pipe shape. 
     
     
         13 . The water treating apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the water supply apparatus comprises a pump configured to supply the water to the saturator, and
 wherein a flow rate of the water supplied from the saturator to the floatation apparatus is adjusted by the pump.   
     
     
         14 . The water treating apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the water supply apparatus is provided so that the pump supplies at least some of the water, passing through the floatation apparatus, to the saturator. 
     
     
         15 . The water treating apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the air compressor supplies the compressed air to the first flow path, and the water supply apparatus supplies the water to the second flow path, or
 wherein the air compressor supplies the compressed air to the second flow path, and the water supply apparatus supplies the water to the first flow path.   
     
     
         16 . The water treating apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of porous membranes transmit one of the first and second fluids, and does not transmit the other of the first and second fluids. 
     
     
         17 . The water treating apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the first flow path extends to intersect the second flow path a plurality of times. 
     
     
         18 . The water treating apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the chamber further comprises a partition wall that extends from a wall of the chamber to an inner side of the chamber, and meets the plurality of porous membranes, and
 wherein the first flow path is formed in zigzags by the partition wall.   
     
     
         19 . The water treating apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein a plurality of through holes are formed in the partition wall. 
     
     
         20 . The water treating apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the partition wall extends spirally, and is disposed in an extension direction of the second flow path.