摘要 |
In order to dissolve a gas such as oxygen in a liquid, typically aqueous, a stream of liquid is taken from tank 2 by a pump 10 and pressurized thereby. Oxygen is introduced into the stream via a conduit 18 upstream of a venturi 20. The resulting mixture of oxygen bubbles and liquid is accelerated from a sub-sonic to a super-sonic velocity as it flows through the venturi 20. The resultant shockwave is effective to reduce the size of the bubbles. The stream of liquid carrying oxygen bubbles dispersed therein is then transported at sub-sonic velocity along the conduit 12 to a sparge pipe 14 through which it is introduced into the main volume 4 of liquid into the tank 2. As the liquid passes through the orifices of the sparge pipe 14 so it is again accelerated to a super-sonic velocity and another shockwave is created thereby causing the bubbles to reduce in size such that they readily dissolve in or are consumed by the main volume of liquid. |