DISPERSED GAS FLOTATION PROCESS AND APPARATUS

摘要

DISPERSED GAS FLOTATION PROCESS AND APPARATUS A flotation process and machine wherein hydraulic effects are used to disperse gas bubbles throughout a contained liquid body with a free surface. The process comprises ejecting a two-phase fluid into the liquid body with the density and the kinetic energy of the ejected fluid per unit of the contained volume being such as to define a point within the area encompassed by Regions I and II in the graph of Figure 2. The machine utilizes the hydraulic effects to disperse gas bubbles throughout the contained liquid body and includes an ejection device mounted to expel an air-liquid mixture into the liquid body. The ejection device comprises a tubular expansion chamber with an open exit end and an opposite end into which is connected a flat plate to receive a pipe through which liquid is pumped under pressure into the chanber, the chamber being of large crosssection relative to the pipe. Gas is aspirated into the chamber for mixing with the pumped liquid through orifices formed in the flat plate.