Apparatus in the form of a unitary, single-piece structure configured to generate and mix ultra-fine gas bubbles into a high gas concentration aqueous solution

Abstract

A mixing apparatus for generating and mixing gas bubbles into an aqueous solution includes a structure defining an interior fluid-flow chamber that extends along a longitudinal axis between an input port at a liquid input end and an output port at a liquid output end. The structure includes a gas injection portion located upstream from the liquid output end and a mixing vane portion extending in the downstream direction from the gas injection portion. The gas injection portion defines a gas injection lumen and a first region of the interior fluid-flow chamber, while the mixing vane portion defines a second region of the interior fluid-flow chamber. The first region of the interior fluid-flow chamber includes a plurality of side fluid-path lumens that extend alongside a first part of the gas injection lumen. This first part of the gas injection lumen and the side fluid-path lumens merge with a downstream fluid-path lumen of the first region.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus having an interior fluid-flow chamber extending along a longitudinal axis between a liquid input end and a liquid output end, the apparatus comprising:
 a gas injection portion comprising:
 the liquid input end of the apparatus, 
 a gas injection port, 
 at least one fluid-flow interference structure in the interior fluid-flow chamber that extends along the longitudinal axis from the liquid input end and terminates prior to the gas injection port, and 
 a downstream end; 
   a gas inlet structure in fluid communication with the gas injection port and arranged to extend into the interior fluid-flow chamber, wherein the gas inlet structure is configured to inject gas from the gas injection port into the interior fluid-flow chamber; and   a mixing vane portion comprising:
 an upstream end, 
 the liquid output end, and 
 at least one fluid-flow interference structure in the interior fluid-flow chamber that extends along the longitudinal axis from the upstream end and terminates at the liquid output end. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gas inlet structure comprises a porous cylindrical sidewall. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the gas inlet structure further comprises a porous end cap. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gas inlet structure is removable coupled with the gas injection portion. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fluid-flow interference structure of the mixing vane portion comprises a helical vane. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fluid-flow interference structure of the mixing vane portion comprises a plurality of helical vane regions arranged adjacently along a length of the mixing vane portion. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gas injection portion and the mixing vane portion are formed as a single unitary structure. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gas injection portion and the mixing vane portion are formed as separate structures, and the upstream end of the mixing vane portion and the downstream end of the gas injection portion are configured to couple to decouple from each other. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fluid-flow interference structure of the gas injection portion comprises a geometric structure surrounded by an outer wall. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the geometric structure comprises a tip facing the liquid input end. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gas injection portion is a unitary, single-piece structure configured to mechanically couple with the mixing vane portion. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mixing vane portion is a unitary, single-piece structure configured to mechanically couple with the gas injection portion. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus comprising:
 a unitary, single-piece structure defining an interior fluid-flow chamber extending along a longitudinal axis between an input port at a liquid input end and an output port at a liquid output end, wherein the unitary, single-piece structure is characterized by:
 a gas injection portion located upstream from the liquid output end, the gas injection portion comprising a first region of the interior fluid-flow chamber, a gas injection port configured to couple with a gas supply coupling, and at least one fluid-flow interference structure in the first region of the interior fluid-flow chamber, wherein the at least one fluid-flow interference structure extends along the longitudinal axis beginning at or near the liquid input end and ending prior to the gas injection port; and 
 a mixing vane portion extending from the gas injection portion and comprising a second region of the interior fluid-flow chamber. 
   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the second region of the interior fluid-flow chamber comprises a plurality of first helical fluid-path lumens extending along a length of the mixing vane portion. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the second region of the interior fluid-flow chamber comprises a plurality of second helical fluid-path lumens corresponding in number to the plurality of first helical fluid-path lumens and being downstream from the plurality of first helical fluid-path lumens, wherein the plurality of first helical fluid-path lumens and the plurality of second helical fluid-path lumens are separated by a space.