阅读说明：本技术 使气流与液流接触的装置 (Device for contacting a gas stream with a liquid stream ) 是由 A·基恩布鲁克 于 2019-07-22 设计创作，主要内容包括：使气体与液体接触的装置(1),装置具有壳体(E)、使气流(G)引入到所述壳体内并在壳体中流通的第一引入和流通装置(5)、使液流(L)引入到所述壳体内并在壳体(E)中与气流(G)同向流通的第二引入和流通装置(6)、以及气流(G)和液流(L)的混合装置(4A)。这些混合装置(4A)在壳体(E)内定位在气流和液流的路径上并且适于使至少一部分的气流和液流局部地向上偏离和/或局部地进行上升,以便在气流中和在液流中局部地产生紊流。(Device (1) for bringing a gas into contact with a liquid, having a housing (E), a first introduction and circulation device (5) for introducing a gas flow (G) into said housing and circulating it therein, a second introduction and circulation device (6) for introducing a liquid flow (L) into said housing and circulating it in the housing (E) in co-current with the gas flow (G), and a mixing device (4A) for the gas flow (G) and the liquid flow (L). These mixing means (4A) are positioned in the path of the gas and liquid flows inside the casing (E) and are adapted to locally deviate at least a part of the gas and liquid flows upwards and/or locally ascend so as to locally create turbulence in the gas flow and in the liquid flow.)

1. Device for bringing a gas into contact with a liquid, characterized in that it has a housing (E), first means (5) for introducing a gas flow (G) into said housing and circulating it in the housing, second means (6) for introducing a liquid flow (L) into said housing and circulating it in the housing (E) in co-current with the gas flow (G), and mixing means (4A; 4B; 4C; 4D) for the gas flow (G) and the liquid flow (L), which are positioned in the housing (E) in the path of the gas flow and the liquid flow and are adapted to deflect and/or lift locally at least part of the gas flow and the liquid flow upwards in order to create locally turbulent flows in the gas flow and in the liquid flow.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (E) has at least one first section (2) in which the gas flow (G) and the liquid flow (L) are descending.

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the mixing device (4A) is positioned in said first part (2) of the housing and has at least one mixing element (40A), in particular at least one static mixing element (40A), which mixing element (40A) has a concavely curved upper end surface (40c) the curvature of which allows at least a part of the descending gas flow and the descending liquid flow to deviate locally upwards in order to create locally turbulence in the descending gas flow and in the descending liquid flow.

4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the mixing device (4A) has a plurality of mixing elements (40A) which are spaced apart in the vertical direction, preferably also in the horizontal direction.

5. Device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that each mixing element (40) is fixed at one of its edges (40A) in said first portion (2) of the casing (E) and has a free edge (40b) opposite the edge (40A) for fixing, which is located lower than the edge (40A) for fixing of the mixing element (40A) but at a position higher than the lowest point of the curved upper end face (40c) of said mixing element (40A).

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that said first portion (2) of the housing has a central axis (2a), the free edge (40b) of each mixing member (40A) being positioned substantially at or near the central axis (2 a).

7. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the mixing device (4B; 4C; 4D) has at least one rotating mixing element in the housing (E), which rotating mixing element, when rotating, allows at least a part of the gas flow and the liquid flow to undergo a local uplifting and/or an upward local deflection in order to create local turbulences in the gas flow and in the liquid flow.

8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the rotating mixing member has a rotary drum (41) in which the gas and liquid flows can circulate, the rotary drum being equipped with internal vanes (40B; 40C; 40D).

9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the rotary drum (41) is oriented substantially vertically or is inclined downwards in the direction of flow of the gas and liquid streams.

10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the inner vanes (40B) are vertically and horizontally spaced apart, each inner vane (40B) extending from the wall of the rotary drum (41), preferably up to substantially the centre axis of the rotary drum (41).

11. The device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that each inner leaf (40B) is inclined downwards.

12. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the inner vanes (40C) are vertically spaced apart, each having a plate in which an opening (O) is arranged allowing the passage of the gas and liquid flow through the wall, preferably in that each opening (O) is offset in the horizontal direction with respect to the opening of the plate located below, so as to form a more tortuous path for the gas and liquid flow through the plate.

13. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that said rotary drum (41) is substantially horizontally oriented, the inner blades (40D) being radial.

14. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inlet of the liquid flow (L) into the housing has an inlet pipe (23) having an inlet opening (23a) outside the housing (E) for the liquid flow (L) to enter, and an inlet pipe having an inlet opening (23b) inside the housing (E) for the liquid flow (L) to be introduced into the housing (E).

15. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that the mixing means (4A; 4B; 4C) are positioned substantially on one axis (2a), said introduction opening (23B) for introducing the liquid flow (L) into the housing (2) being positioned substantially on or in the vicinity of this axis (2 a).

16. Device according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the inlet duct (23) is inclined with respect to the central axis (2a) by an angle substantially equal to 45 °.

17. The device according to any one of claims 3 to 6 and 14, characterized in that the inlet opening (23b) of the inlet pipe (23) for introducing the descending liquid flow (L) into the housing (E) is positioned facing the uppermost mixing member (40A).

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the uppermost mixing element (40A) has a concavely curved upper end surface (40c), the curvature of the curved upper end surface allowing at least a portion of the descending gas stream and the descending liquid stream to be deflected locally upwards so as to create turbulence locally in the descending gas stream and in the descending liquid stream, the inlet opening (23b) of the inlet tube (23) for introducing the descending liquid stream (L) into the housing (E) being positioned facing the curved upper end surface (40c) of the uppermost mixing element (40A) so that the liquid stream (L) discharged from the inlet tube (23) is directed towards the curved upper end surface (40 c).

19. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first means for introducing and circulating the flow (G) into and in the housing have a fan or compressor (5) which is connected to the housing (E) and which allows the introduction and forced circulation of the flow (G) into and in the housing, preferably with adjustable flow.

20. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second means for introducing and circulating the flow (L) into and in the housing have a pump (6) which is connected to the housing (E) and which allows the introduction of the flow (L) into the housing (E), preferably with an adjustable flow rate.

21. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that downstream of the mixing device (4A), the housing has a horizontal portion (3) in which at least one lower vertical inner wall (35) is fixed, having a free upper edge (35a) spaced from one wall (30) of the horizontal portion (3) of the housing, so as to provide a passage for gas and liquid between this wall (30) and said free upper edge (35 a).

22. A device according to claim 21, characterized in that in the horizontal part (3) of the housing the device has at least one upper inner wall (36), the free lower edge (36a) of which is spaced from one wall (30 ') of the horizontal part (3) of the housing, so that a passage is provided between this wall (30') and said free lower edge (36a) and the gas is forced to mix with the liquid when passing through the horizontal part (3) of the housing.

23. Device according to claims 21 and 22, characterized in that the free lower edge (36a) of the upper inner wall (36) is positioned substantially at the same position as the free upper edge (35a) of the lower vertical inner wall (35) or at a lower position than the position of the free upper edge of the lower vertical inner wall.

24. Method for contacting a gas with a liquid by means of a device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gas stream (G) and the liquid stream (L) are introduced into the housing (E) upstream of the mixing device (4A; 4B; 4C; 4D).

25. Use of a device according to any one of claims 1 to 23 for contacting a gas with a liquid.

Technical Field

The invention relates to contacting a gas with a liquid in a housing, the gas and the liquid circulating in the housing in the same direction in the form of a gas flow and a liquid flow, respectively.

Background

In the industrial, service or domestic field, there are a large number of applications in which it is necessary to bring a gas into contact with a liquid. For example, one application, non-limiting and non-exclusive, consists in bringing a gas into contact with a liquid in order to exchange heat between the gas and the liquid, for example cooling the gas (in particular combustion gases, industrial fumes, etc.), or conversely heating the gas with a liquid, or vice versa, or heating the liquid with a gas or cooling the liquid. Another application is to contact a gas with a liquid to humidify or dehumidify the gas stream. Another application consists in bringing a gas into contact with a liquid in order to purify or filter a gas flow, in particular to separate certain contaminants or certain particles of the gas in the liquid. Of course, the above applications may be combined with each other.

Thus, various technical solutions have been proposed so far for bringing a gas into contact with a liquid.

Among these known technical solutions, mention may be made of the first solution, which is described in the applicant's international patent applications WO2015/086979 and WO2016/071648, which consists in passing a gas flow directly through the liquid volume in the casing, by injecting the gas flow into the liquid volume below the surface of the latter. The technical solution has the particular advantage that high energy for heat exchange between liquid and gas can be obtained by utilizing heat conduction and latent heat of the liquid. However, this has the disadvantage that the gas flow is injected into the liquid volume using a high power fan or compressor because of the large load losses caused by the liquid volume in the gas flow path.

A second technical solution consists in passing the gas flow through a curtain of fine droplets or through an exchange surface permeable to gas and containing liquid, for example a textile material impregnated with water. The main drawback of this solution is the extremely low heat exchange energy output between the liquid and the gas flow, which disadvantageously requires the use of exchange surfaces with very large capacity. The same is true for gas filtration applications, where a very large volume of contact surface between the gas and the liquid is required.

A third known technical solution consists in the fact that, in a tower-type vertical exchange shell, an ascending gas flow is in counter-flow contact with a descending liquid flow under the action of gravity in the shell. The advantage of this third technical solution is that for forced circulation of the upstream air flow, a fan or a compressor is required, which is generally less powerful than the first solution described above, because of the low load losses in the air flow path. On the other hand, as with the second solution described above, the heat exchange between the liquid and the gas is less energy efficient than with the first solution, in fact requiring the use of an exchange shell of very high height, in order to increase the duration of contact between the gas and the liquid. The same is true for the third solution for gas filtration applications using liquids.

Objects of the invention

The invention aims to provide a novel technical scheme for contacting gas and liquid.

In particular, the new solution allows to improve the effectiveness of the contact between the gas and the liquid compared to the second and third solutions described above.

In particular, the new technical solution makes it possible to obtain a load loss on the air flow path lower than that of the first technical solution described above.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention therefore relates to a device for bringing a gas into contact with a liquid, characterized in that it has a housing, first means for introducing and circulating a gas flow into said housing and in the housing, second means for introducing and circulating a liquid flow into said housing and in the housing in co-current with the gas flow, and means for mixing the gas and liquid flows, the mixing means being positioned in the housing in the path of the gas and liquid flows and being adapted to deflect and/or lift locally at least part of the gas and liquid flows upwards in order to create locally turbulent flows in the gas flow and in the liquid flow.

In the present invention, the direction of flow of the gas and liquid flows is the same, and advantageously, the present invention is easy to implement with very variable operating pressures, unlike the above-mentioned solutions of the prior art, advantageously, in particular, with high operating pressures above atmospheric pressure.

More specifically, the device of the present invention has the following additional optional features, either alone or in combination with each other:

the housing has at least one first section in which the gas flow and the liquid flow are descending.

The mixing device is positioned in said first part of the housing and has at least one mixing element, in particular at least one static mixing element, which has a concavely curved upper end face, the curvature of which allows at least a part of the descending gas flow and the descending liquid flow to deviate locally upwards in order to create locally a turbulence in the descending gas flow and in the descending liquid flow.

The mixing device has a plurality of mixing elements which are spaced apart in the vertical direction, preferably also in the horizontal direction.

Each mixing element is fixed in said first portion of the casing at one of its edges and has a free edge opposite the fixing edge, which is located lower than the fixing edge of the mixing element but is located higher than the lowest point of the curved upper end face of said mixing element.

Said first portion of the housing has a central axis at or near which the free edge of each mixing element is positioned substantially.

The mixing device has at least one rotating mixing member in the housing, which rotating mixing member allows at least a part of the gas flow and the liquid flow to locally rise and/or locally deviate upwards when the rotating mixing member rotates, so as to locally create turbulence in the gas flow and in the liquid flow.

The rotating mixing member has a rotary drum in which the gas and liquid flows can circulate, the rotary drum being equipped with internal vanes.

-the rotary drum is oriented substantially vertically or is inclined downwards in the direction of flow of the gas and liquid streams.

The inner vanes are vertically and horizontally spaced apart, each inner vane extending from the wall of the rotary drum, preferably up to substantially the centre axis of the rotary drum.

-each inner leaf is inclined downwards.

The inner vanes are vertically spaced apart, each having a plate in which an opening is arranged, the openings allowing the passage of gas and liquid through the wall, preferably each opening being offset in a horizontal direction with respect to the opening of the underlying plate so as to form a more tortuous path for the gas and liquid flow through the plate.

-said rotary drum is oriented substantially horizontally, the inner vanes being radial.

The inlet of the liquid flow into the housing has an inlet pipe with an inlet opening outside the housing for the liquid flow to enter, the inlet pipe having an inlet opening inside the housing for the liquid flow to be introduced into the housing.

The mixing means are positioned substantially on an axis, said introduction opening for introducing the liquid flow into the housing being positioned substantially on or near the central axis.

-the inlet duct is inclined with respect to the central axis by an angle substantially equal to 45 °.

The inlet opening of the inlet pipe for introducing the descending liquid flow into the housing is positioned facing the uppermost mixing element.

The uppermost mixing element has a concavely curved upper end face, the curvature of the curved upper end face allowing at least a part of the descending gas stream and the descending liquid stream to be deflected locally upwards so as to create turbulence locally in the descending gas stream and in the descending liquid stream, the inlet opening of the inlet tube into which the descending liquid stream is introduced being positioned facing this curved upper end face of the uppermost mixing element so that the liquid stream discharged from the inlet tube is directed towards this curved upper end face.

A first introduction and circulation device for introducing and circulating the flow of gas in said housing, having a fan or compressor connected to the housing and allowing the introduction and forced circulation of the flow of gas in the housing, preferably with adjustable flow rate.

The second means for introducing and circulating a liquid flow into and in the housing have a pump which is connected to the housing and which allows the introduction of the liquid flow into the housing, preferably with an adjustable flow rate.

Downstream of the mixing device, the housing has a horizontal portion in which at least one lower vertical inner wall is fixed, the lower vertical inner wall having a free upper edge spaced from one wall of the horizontal portion of the housing, so as to provide passages for gas and liquid between this wall and said free upper edge.

In the horizontal part of the housing, the device has at least one upper inner wall, the free lower edge of which is spaced from one wall of the horizontal part of the housing, so as to provide a passage between this wall and said free lower edge and to force the gas to mix with the liquid when passing through the horizontal part of the housing.

The free lower edge of the upper inner wall is positioned substantially at the same position as the free upper edge of the lower vertical inner wall or at a lower position than the position of the free upper edge of the lower vertical inner wall.

The invention also relates to a method for contacting a gas with a liquid by means of the above-mentioned device, wherein preferably a gas stream and a liquid stream are introduced into the housing upstream of the mixing device.

The invention also relates to the use of the above-mentioned device for contacting a gas and a liquid.

Drawings

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of several non-limiting and non-exclusive particular embodiments thereof, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 is an isometric perspective view of a first embodiment of the device of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the device of FIG. 1;

figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the device of figure 1 in a central vertical plane, with the vertical housing connected to the fan (or compressor) and the pump, and in use;

figure 4 is a vertical plane cross-section of a second embodiment of the device of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment, taken along the cross-section V-V in FIG. 4;

figure 6 is a vertical plane cross-section of a third embodiment of the device of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the third embodiment, taken along the cross-section VII-VII in FIG. 6;

figure 8 is a vertical plane cross-section of a second embodiment of the device of the invention;

fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment, taken along the cross-section IX-IX in fig. 8.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 to 3 show an embodiment of the device 1 allowing contact between a gas flow G and a liquid flow L flowing in the same direction.

The device 1 has a housing E which, in this particular embodiment of the invention which is not limiting, has a vertical first portion 2 having a central vertical axis 2a and a height H, which communicates at the bottom with a second horizontal portion 3 having a length L.

As shown in fig. 2, this first portion 2 of the casing E has a side wall 20 and a top wall 21, said side wall 20 defining an internal vertical passage 22 for the flow of the descending gas stream G and the descending liquid stream L, said top wall 21 having disposed therein an inlet opening 20a for the descending gas stream G into the casing 2, preferably oriented substantially perpendicular to the inlet of the casing 2.

The housing 2 has a lower opening 20b at the bottom, which allows communication with the horizontal housing 3.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 1 to 3, the vertical first portion 2 of the shell E forms a tower having a quadrangular, in this case square, cross section in the horizontal plane, it being noted that the geometry of this cross section of the vertical first portion 2 is not critical to the invention. In another embodiment, the vertical first portion 2 may have a circular cross-section, for example in a horizontal plane.

The vertical first part of the housing E is equipped with an inlet pipe 23, the central axis 23c of which passes through the side wall 20 of the housing 2.

The inlet pipe 23 has an inlet opening 23a outside the housing E into which the descending liquid flow enters, and the inlet pipe 23 has an inlet opening 23b in the vertical first portion 2 of the housing E for introducing the descending liquid flow L into the housing 2.

Non-limiting and preferred according to the invention, the axis 23c of the inlet duct is inclined with respect to the vertical by an angle substantially equal to 45 °; the inlet opening 23b for introducing the descending liquid flow L into the shell 2 is positioned substantially at or near the central vertical axis 2a of the vertical first portion 2 of the shell E.

The casing E is also equipped with static mixing means 4A positioned in the path of the descending gas stream G and the descending liquid stream L, downstream of the gas inlet opening 20a and the liquid inlet opening 23b, in the vertical first portion 2 of the casing E.

In this particular embodiment, these mixing devices 4A have mixing elements 40A in the form of curved plates fixed to the side wall 20 of the vertical first portion 2 of the casing E. Each plate 40A has a curvature, in which case, and in a non-limiting manner of the invention, each plate 40A has a curvature in the shape of an annular arc that allows at least a portion of the descending gas stream and descending liquid stream to be locally deflected upwardly to create local turbulence T1, T2, T3 (fig. 3) in the descending gas stream and in the descending liquid stream, while allowing the descending gas stream and descending liquid stream to pass downwardly.

In particular, each curved plate 40A has a concave upper end face 40 c. Each bent plate 40A is fixed at one of its edges 40A to the side wall 20 of the vertical first portion 2 of the casing E and has a free edge 40b opposite the side wall 20, which is located lower than the edge 40A for fixing of the plate 40A but slightly above the lowest point of the bent upper end face 40c of the plate 40A.

The free edge 40b is spaced from the side wall of the vertical first portion 2 of the housing E, which allows for a space to be arranged between the free edge and the side wall to allow downward flow communication of the descending gas stream and the descending liquid stream.

Preferably, but not limiting to the invention, the free edge 40b of each plate 40A is positioned substantially on or in the vicinity of the central vertical axis 2a of the vertical first portion 2 of the casing E.

The bent plates 40A are fixed in the first vertical portion 2 of the casing E while being spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction, preferably in the horizontal direction, and more preferably, as shown in fig. 2 and 3, while being opposite to each other.

In the particular embodiment shown in fig. 2, the device has three successive plates 40A, it being noted that in the present invention, the device may have more or fewer plates 40A.

As shown in fig. 2, the opening 23b of the inlet pipe 23 is positioned against the upper end face 40c of the uppermost first plate 40A, so that the discharged liquid flow L of the inlet pipe 23 is directed toward the upper end face 40c of the uppermost first plate 40.

In an alternative embodiment of lower performance, the device may have only this uppermost first sheet 40A.

The second horizontal portion 3 of the casing E, having a horizontal central axis 3a, has a top wall 30 in which is formed an arrangement opening 30a, the opening 30a coinciding with the lower opening 20b of the vertical first portion 2 of the casing E, which allows communication between the two portions 2 and 3.

The second horizontal portion 3 of the casing E has, at its end portion furthest from the vertical first portion 2 of the casing E, a lower outlet 30b for discharging the liquid discharged by the casing E at least under the action of gravity and an upper outlet 30c for discharging the gases discharged by the square casing E. The liquid discharge port 30b communicates with the lower vertical discharge pipe 31, and the gas discharge port 30c communicates with the upper vertical discharge pipe 32.

The second horizontal portion 3 of the casing E also has a manual emptying opening 33 which is temporarily blocked by a movable plug during operation of the device 1 and can be opened at the end of operation for manual emptying by the weight of the liquid remaining in the device 1.

The second horizontal portion 3 of the casing E has, in the upper part, a discharge pipe 34 which controls the level of liquid in the horizontal casing 3 and, if necessary, discharges the excess liquid when the level reached in the second horizontal portion 3 of the casing E is too high.

Within the second horizontal portion of the casing E, the device has two lower vertical internal walls 35 spaced apart in the horizontal direction and defining three successive internal chambers 37 along the second horizontal portion 3 of the casing E. The free upper edge 35a of each lower vertical inner wall 35 is spaced from the top wall 30 of the second horizontal portion 3 of the casing E, so as to provide between this top wall 30 and said free upper edge 35a passage allowing communication between two adjacent inner chambers 37.

In order to force the gas to mix with the liquid when passing through the horizontal housing 3 and to prevent the gas and the liquid from separating prematurely in the upstream part of the second horizontal portion 3 of the housing E in the region of the vertical first portion 2 of the housing E, the device also has an upper inner wall 36 positioned between two lower vertical inner walls 35. The free lower edge 36a of the upper vertical inner wall 36 is spaced from the bottom wall 30 'of the second horizontal portion 3 of the casing E so as to provide a passage between the bottom wall 30' and said lower edge 36 a.

Preferably, the free lower edge 36a of the upper vertical inner wall 36 is located below the position of the free upper edge 35a of the lower vertical inner wall 35.

As shown in fig. 3, in operation, the inlet opening 20a of the casing E is connected to a compressor or fan 5 (fig. 3) which allows the continuous introduction of a flow G upstream of the mixing device 4A and which preferably allows the regulation of the flow rate and the passage of said flow G inside the casing E between the inlet opening 20a of the gas and the outlet opening 30c of the gas.

The inlet pipe 23 is connected to a pump 6 which allows to continuously introduce a descending liquid flow L into the casing E, preferably with adjustable flow, from upstream of the mixing device 4A. This pump 6 allows the liquid flow L to circulate between the opening 3b for the entry of the liquid and the discharge opening 30b for the liquid, in the same direction of circulation as the gas flow G.

Initially, the second horizontal portion 3 of the casing E is primed at a level N (fig. 3), preferably above the upper edge 35a of the lower vertical internal walls 35, these lower vertical internal walls 35 thus being completely immersed in the liquid contained in the second horizontal portion of the casing E. The upper vertical internal wall 36 is partially immersed in the liquid contained in the second horizontal portion 3 of the casing E, the lower edge 36a of the upper vertical internal wall 36 being immersed below the level N.

During operation, with the fan or compressor 5 and the pump 6 in operation, the descending liquid flow L is directed onto the curved upper end surface 40c of the uppermost first plate 40A at the discharge opening 23b of the inlet pipe 23 and is deflected at least partially upwards. At least a portion of the descending gas flow G contacting the uppermost first plate 40A is also deflected locally upward. This results in the local formation of a turbulent flow T1 at the uppermost first panel 40A, the turbulent flow T1 advantageously providing more intimate agitation and mixing of the gas and liquid.

The liquid flow flows downwards by gravity in the first vertical portion 2 of the casing E, the gas flow is forced downwards by the fan or compressor 5 in the first vertical portion 2 of the casing E, so that the gas flow and the liquid flow descend inside the casing until the next bent sheet 40A, the same phenomenon of gas and liquid deflecting upwards, forming turbulences T2, T3 being generated on the other bent sheets 40A.

Thus, at the outlet of the vertical first portion 2 of the casing E, a first intimate mixing of the gas flow G with the liquid flow L is obtained. The creation of turbulence T1, T2, T3 in the path of the gas and liquid flow of the bent sheet 40A advantageously increases the effectiveness of this mixing and thus reduces the height H of the vertical first portion 2 of the casing E. In addition, the load losses in the path of the air flow G caused by the bent plate 40A are low, which makes it possible to avoid the use of fans or compressors 5 that are oversized.

After the liquid and gas flows through the vertical first portion of the casing E, the liquid and gas flows pass through the openings 20b, 30a, descending to the second horizontal portion 3 of the casing E.

During operation, the liquid flows along the horizontal casing 3 up to the discharge opening 30b of the liquid, which continuously renews the liquid contained in the casing; the upper vertical inner wall 36 prevents the passage of gas and forces the gas flow through the volume of liquid contained in the second horizontal portion 3 of the casing E, making it possible to obtain additional contact between the gas and the liquid.

The separation of the gas from the liquid takes place in a downstream end portion of the second horizontal portion 3 of the casing E, opposite the vertical first portion 2, the gas stream, after contact with the liquid, being discharged from the casing E through the upper discharge opening 30c and the liquid being discharged from the casing E through the lower discharge opening 30 b.

In another embodiment of the invention the device may have only one vertical part 2 without a horizontal part 3, in which case the gas discharge opening and the liquid discharge opening are arranged, for example, in said vertical part 2.

The plates 40A may be replaced with any equivalent mixing device that functions to locally deflect and/or locally elevate at least a portion of the descending gas stream and descending liquid stream upwardly to locally create turbulence in the descending gas stream and in the descending liquid stream while simultaneously circulating the descending gas stream and the descending liquid stream downwardly.

For example, and not exclusively, the mixing device may have a paddle wheel positioned in the housing in the path of the descending gas stream and descending liquid stream, the paddle wheel being adapted to cause at least a portion of the descending gas stream and descending liquid stream to rise locally as the paddle wheel rotates so as to create local turbulence in the descending gas stream and in the descending liquid stream. These paddle wheels or equivalent may also be combined with the curved plate 40A.

The embodiments of fig. 4 and 5

In the embodiment of fig. 4 and 5, the mixing device 4B is rotating. The mixing device has a rotary drum 40 in which the gas stream G and the liquid stream L can circulate, the rotary drum being equipped with inner blades 40B which are inclined downwards. The rotary drum 40 is mounted coaxially within the vertical section 2 of the housing E and is fixed to a central vertical shaft 42. The mixing device 4B also has a power device which can rotate the central vertical shaft 42, thereby rotating the rotary drum 41 about a vertical central axis which coincides with the vertical central axis 2a of the vertical portion 2 of the housing E.

Preferably, as shown, each intravane 40B is a semi-cylindrical flat wall, extends from the cylindrical inner wall of the drum 41 substantially to the central axis of revolution 42, and is in particular downwardly inclined.

More particularly, the inner vanes 40B are vertically and horizontally spaced apart.

During operation, the rotary drum 41 equipped with internal blades 40B is driven in rotation at a controlled speed by the power means of the mixing device 4B (fig. 4, arrow F), and the descending liquid and gaseous flows are introduced into the casing E upstream of the mixing device 4B by the same fan or compressor (not shown in fig. 4 and 5) and a pump (not shown in fig. 4 and 5) as in the previous embodiments of fig. 1 to 3.

The descending liquid flow L and the descending gas flow G are sequentially contacted with the rotating inner blades 40B and flow downward in the same direction. Under the action of the rotation of the inner blades, each rotation is such that the inner blades 40B cause at least part of the gas flow and the liquid flow to rise locally, so as to generate locally in the gas flow and in the liquid flow successive turbulences T1 to T8.

Thus, at the outlet of the vertical portion 2 of the housing E, an intimate mixing of the gas flow G with the liquid flow L is obtained. Advantageously, the rotating inner blades 40B create turbulence T1 to T8 in the gas and liquid flow path, which enhances the effectiveness of this mixing, thereby reducing the height of the vertical portion 2 of the housing E. In addition, the loss of load on the path of the air stream G caused by the rotating inner blades 40B is low, and the use of an oversized fan or compressor can be avoided.

After the liquid and gas flows L and G pass through the vertical first portion of the housing E, the liquid and gas flows L and G descend into the second horizontal portion 3 of the housing E and are discharged through the discharge ports 30b and 30c, respectively.

The embodiment of fig. 6 and 7

The embodiment of fig. 6 and 7 differs from the embodiment of fig. 4 and 5 in that the inclined inner blade 40B has been replaced by a circular plate 40C. An opening O is formed in each circular plate 40C for the passage of liquid L and gas G through the plate 40C. The plates 40C are vertically spaced apart and the pivot axis 42 of the pivot cylinder 41 passes through the openings O of the plates. Preferably, as shown, the openings O are misaligned in the direction of the central axis of rotation of the rotary cylinder 41 (i.e., vertical in the case of fig. 6 and 7), but each opening O is offset in the horizontal direction with respect to the opening of the underlying plate 40C so as to form a more tortuous path for the gas and liquid flow through the plate 40C.

During operation, in contrast to the embodiment of fig. 4 and 5, the rotary drum 41 equipped with the plate 40C is driven in rotation at a controlled speed by the power means of the mixing device 4C (fig. 6, arrow F), and the descending liquid and gas flows are introduced into the casing E upstream of the mixing device 4C by a fan or compressor (not shown in fig. 6 and 7) and a pump (not shown in fig. 6 and 7).

The descending liquid flow L and the descending gas flow G successively contact the rotating inner plate 40C and flow downward in the same direction. Under the action of the rotation of the inner plates, each rotating inner plate 40C causes at least a portion of the gas flow and the liquid flow to rise locally, so as to generate locally in the gas flow and in the liquid flow successive turbulences T1 to T5. Thus, at the outlet of the vertical portion 2 of the housing E, an intimate mixing of the gas flow G with the liquid flow L is obtained.

The previously described embodiments of fig. 1 to 6 can also be modified so that the first part 2 of the housing E, which is equipped with inner blades or inner plates, and if desired the rotary drum 41, is not oriented absolutely vertically, but can be inclined downwards in the flow direction of the gas and liquid streams.

The second embodiment of fig. 4 and 5 and the third embodiment of fig. 6 and 7 can also be modified so that the horizontal portion 3 of the housing E of these embodiments is provided with the same plates 35 and 36 as the first embodiment of fig. 1 to 3.

The embodiment of fig. 8 and 9

In the embodiment of fig. 8 and 9, the mixing device 4D has a rotary drum 41, which, unlike the embodiment of fig. 4 to 7, is positioned along the horizontal portion 3 of the casing E, oriented substantially horizontally. The rotary drum 41 is provided with inner blades 40D fixed to the inner wall of the rotary drum, the inner blades being radially oriented in the width direction thereof, the inner blades extending in the length direction thereof in parallel to the rotational center axis of the rotary drum.

During operation, the rotary drum 41, equipped with radially inner blades 40D, is driven in rotation by the power means at a controlled speed, and the liquid and gas flows are introduced into the casing E upstream of the mixing device 4D by a fan or compressor (not shown in fig. 8 and 9) and a pump (not shown in fig. 8 and 9).

The liquid L and gas G flow through the rotary drum 41 in substantially horizontal and the same direction. Each inner blade 40D locally causes at least a portion of the gas and liquid flow to rise within the rotary drum under the action of the rotation of the inner blade so as to locally create successive turbulence in the gas flow and in the liquid flow. Thus, at the outlet of the horizontal portion 3 of the casing E, an intimate mixing of the gas flow G with the liquid flow L is obtained.

Within the framework of the invention, the rotary drum can be replaced by any rotating mixing device, positioned in the path of the gas flow G and the liquid flow L inside the casing E, capable of locally deviating upwards and/or locally causing at least a part of the gas flow and the liquid flow to rise so as to locally create turbulence in the gas flow and in the liquid flow. The rotary drum may for example be replaced by a propeller which performs the same mixing function.

Applications of

The device of the invention can be used in all the technical fields of bringing a gas stream G into contact with a liquid stream.

The liquid may be any type of liquid, such as, but not necessarily, water, or an acidic, neutral, or basic solution.

As non-limiting and non-exclusive application examples, the device of the invention can be used, for example, in the following applications, possibly in combination:

bringing the gas into contact with the liquid for heat exchange between the gas and the liquid, for example for cooling the gas by the liquid (in particular combustion gases, industrial fumes, etc.), or conversely for heating the gas, or vice versa for heating or cooling the liquid by the gas.

-contacting the gas with a liquid to humidify or dehumidify the gas stream.

Contacting the gas with the liquid to purify or filter the gas stream, in particular to separate certain contaminants or certain particles of the gas in the liquid, such as dust, emitted nitrogen oxides (nitrogen oxides), SO₂、CO₂Chlorine or chlorinated derivatives, and the like.

-condensing the vapour or mist by using a liquid which is cooler than the gas.