Abstract: An exhaust pipe (100) for a fuel burning engine including a hollow body, the body having an internal surface (120), an external surface (110), a first open end (130), a second open end (140) and a longitudinal axis, wherein the internal surface (120) is shaped to form standing cyclic wave geometry having at least 2 cycles (c). When gas containing inhalable particles (22) enters the exhaust pipe (100) through the first open end (130) and flows out of the exhaust pipe (100) through the second open end (140), a substantial amount of inhalable particles (22) are grouped to form filterable particles (182).

Abstract: The invention relates to a gas liquid contactor and effluent cleaning system and method and more particularly to an array of nozzles configured to produce uniformly spaced flat liquid jets with reduced linear stability. An embodiment of the invention is directed towards a stability unit used with nozzles of a gas liquid contactor and/or an enhancer for stable jet formation, and more particularly to reducing the stability of liquid jets formed from nozzles of the gas liquid contactor. Another aspect of the invention relates to operating the apparatus at a condition that reduces the stability of liquid jets, e.g., a droplet generator apparatus. Yet another aspect of the invention relates to operation of the apparatus with an aqueous slurry. Still another aspect of the invention is directed towards to an apparatus for substantially separating at least two fluids.

Abstract: A gas scrubber employing liquid droplets injected into a flowing gas stream at a higher velocity than the gas velocity, having means to create a gradient of increasing pressure downstream from the droplet injection site, which gradient decelerates the gas and thereby increases the velocity of the droplets relative to the gas, thus increasing the total path length of the droplets through the gas, so as to allow substantial increase of scrubber collection efficiency without use of increased scrubber size or increased liquid droplet flow rate.

Abstract: Vapor-liquid contacting apparatuses, for example reactors and distillation columns (as well as reactive distillation apparatuses), comprising a vessel with one or more vortex contacting stages, are described. The one or more stages provide high interfacial area for the effective contacting of the different phases, in addition to the effective disengagement of these phases after contacting.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention there is provided a gas scrubbing system for removing contaminants from a flow of fluid, comprising a container having an interior volume, an inlet for receiving the flow of fluid and an outlet for dispensing the stream of fluid, a treatment liquid, a porous medium positioned in the interior volume, between the inlet and outlet, said porous medium providing a high surface area to facilitate chemical interactions between the fluid flow and the treatment liquid and means to apply the treatment liquid onto the porous medium. A contact cell aspect of the porous medium and a method aspect are also provided.

Abstract: A device and method for generating micro bubbles in a liquid. The method includes the steps of: providing a flow-through channel containing at least two local constrictions of flow therein; passing the liquid at a velocity of at least at least 12 m/sec through a first local constriction of flow to create a first hydrodynamic cavitation field downstream from the first local constriction of flow; introducing a gas into the liquid in the first local constriction of flow, thereby creating gas-filled cavitation bubbles; collapsing the gas-filled cavitation bubbles formed in the first hydrodynamic cavitation field to dissolve the gas into the liquid, thereby forming a gas-saturated liquid; passing the gas-saturated liquid through a second local constriction of flow to create a second hydrodynamic cavitation field downstream from the second local constriction of flow; and extracting the dissolved gas from the gas-saturated liquid, thereby generating micro bubbles in the liquid.

Abstract: A system for removing at least one pollutant from an air stream exhaust, the system including a plurality of enclosures through which the air stream exhaust is directed to cool the air stream exhaust, a plurality of barriers within each respective enclosure to impede a flow of the air stream exhaust, a liquefied material, comprising bone glue, gelatin and/or skin glue, mixed with water provided within at least one of the plurality of enclosures, and wherein the air stream exhaust passes therethrough the liquefied material and at least one pollutant attaches to the liquefied material.

Abstract: A low-energy venturi pre-scrubber optimized for removing abrasive particles from a gaseous effluent is disclosed. While venturi scrubbers are efficiently used for at removing entrained particulates in air pollution control systems, they can be damaged due to the abrasive characteristics of entrained particles, such as silica particles greater than a micrometer in diameter. According to the present invention, high scrubbing efficiencies can be obtained in equipment that is not damaged by the abrasive particles by first removing the abrasive particles in a low-energy venturi, and then removing the remaining particles in a second scrubber. In addition to improving the lifetime and reducing the maintenance costs of the venturi, scrubbing fluids have fewer large particles, allowing their use in downstream components, such as evaporative coolers.

Abstract: An air filter baffle unit that works with large type canister wet/dry type vacuums. The baffle unit also can be used in large air filter systems and can be ganged to increase filtering. The baffle unit has two sections that are connected for use. An inlet pipe is connected to the inlet of the vacuum. This inlet pipe directs the incoming dirt into the baffle unit, where it encounters a number of baffles and a water reservoir before it is expelled as clean air. In this baffle unit, there is no need for paper or other types of filters that must be periodically replaced. In this way, the baffle unit provides a simple, effective mechanism for filtering air using the wet/dry vacuum. The baffle unit can be also placed in an air filtering system that has a housing, an inlet and an outlet.

Abstract: A vane-type mist eliminator is provided with pocket-like channels extending along the lengths fo the vanes. The pockets allow droplets entrained in a gas stream to impinge and cling to the vane, and then drain, without being re-entrained in the gas stream because they are protected from the gas stream by a portion of the pocket which defines the channel. The device does not increase the pressure drop when compared with a similar device lacking the pockets, and allows for a higher throughput before breakthrough occurs.

Abstract: This invention provides an improved method and apparatus for collecting a liquid overspray from a gaseous mist and separating the liquid from the gas stream. The invention has utility in a wide variety of chemical application processes such as to reduce the hazards and waste characterized by prior art methods and provide a mechanism for the in-line recycling of the overspray liquid. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention comprises a hooded recovery unit which is oriented above and about a conveyor system in which a workpiece travels through a spray zone in which a chemical or other liquid is applied to the workpiece. In such a situation, the present invention provides for the recovery of overspray liquid which would otherwise be wasted as the liquid or chemical is applied to the workpiece during the period in which the workpiece passes through the recovery unit. The system includes a spray application chamber, a conditioning chamber, and an overspray collection chamber.

Abstract: A mass transfer machine removes dissolved gases or volatile organic compounds from air or a liquid. The mass transfer machine includes a vessel capable of containing a liquid and having a liquid inlet and an air inlet at a near end. It further includes a liquid outlet at a far end. Two or more baffles are located transversely inside of the vessel. The baffle located nearest to the far end of the vessel has a window. Two or more diffusers are located near a bottom surface of the vessel. The diffusers are in communication with the air inlet and have two or more orifices through a wall. An adjustable plate is releasably mounted over the window of the baffle located closest to the far end of the vessel. The plate is adjustable in a vertical direction. In one embodiment, an air source supplies air to the air inlet located on the near end of the vessel. In another embodiment, an air source is connected to the an air exit located on the far side of the vessel.

Abstract: A process for effecting mass transfer between liquid phase and a gaseous phase in a filled-type column having an external shell which accommodates at least one filler-containing basket wherethrough the phases are caused to flow in countercurrent relationship. The process advantageously includes the step of feeding the gaseous phase to the at least one basket through a gas-permeable surface thereof which is larger than the basket cross-section, preferably in a prevailing radial flow direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dissolving a gas into a fluid which may contain at least one dissolved gas. The apparatus comprises a conventional U-tube oxygenator which includes a U-tube member having an inlet for the introduction of the fluid and the gas to be dissolved into the fluid, and an outlet. The fluid is housed in the U-tube member. The apparatus further comprises a helix-shaped bubble harvestor located proximate the bottom of the inlet side of the U-tube member. The helix-shaped bubble harvestor removes fugitive (undissolved) gas bubbles from the fluid flow and returns them to the bubble swarm located above the helix-shaped bubble harvester. The resulting fluid, which contains a high concentration of dissolved gas, exits the outlet of the U-tube member.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for purifying contaminated air using mixed liquid are disclosed. The invention includes an air inlet structure for taking in contaminated air, an air purifying compartment connected to the air inlet structure at one end for purifying contaminated air, and an air outlet structure connected to the air purifying compartment at another end for discharging purified air to the outside. The invention uses mixed liquid in its air purifying method. The invention includes a method that uses centrifugal force to form a mixed liquid filter, a method that takes in contaminated air, a method that purifies the contaminated air, and a method that discharges purified air to the outside. The invention can achieve a high degree of economic efficiency and a high degree of purification efficiency.

Abstract: An apparatus for dissolving a gas into a fluid which may contain at least one dissolved gas. The apparatus includes a first vertically oriented tube defining a first inner space and a second vertically oriented tube of diameter larger than the first tube and concentrically oriented about the first tube. The space between the first and second tubes is referred to as the second inner space. The gas is introduced through an inlet into the second inner space. The apparatus includes an acceleration device for accelerating the flow of fluid through the second inner space. The apparatus includes a helix-shaped bubble harvester which removes fugitive (undissolved) bubbles from the fluid flow and returns them to the second inner space to increase the probability that those bubbles will be dissolved into the fluid.

Abstract: The invention provides a cellular packing including a vapor/liquid separation device that can be stacked vertically with minimum wasted space. The packing uses static vanes in each cell to direct the liquid component of a vapor/liquid mixture to exit slots in a first cell and a recirculation path for the liquid to be contacted with vapor again in a second cell located below the first.

Abstract: A natural gas dehydrator and process for dehydrating natural gas employ a longitudinal horizontal pressure vessel containing a threshold level of liquid desiccant. A plurality of spaced-apart baffles divides the vessel into a series of pneumatically discrete compartments. The baffles have a plurality of apertures which define a sinusoidal gas flow path through the vessel into and out of the liquid desiccant from the inlet to the outlet. Each of the baffles also has an opening in its lowermost portion which define a linear primary liquid desiccant flow path through the vessel from the inlet to the outlet. The baffled vessel is fixed within another longitudinally horizontal pressure vessel so as to define a chamber therebetween. Dried gas and wet desiccant are discharged from the inner or baffled vessel into the chamber where they are gravity separated, the dried gas flowing to an outlet on top of the outer vessel and the wet desiccant flowing to a sump at the bottom of the outer vessel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a contaminated waste steam heat recovery apparatus 10 and method therefore which includes a primary condensing unit 38, a low pressure water washing unit 26, a liquid to liquid heat exchanger 36 and a vent fan 31. Waste gas is ducted from fryer 11 to a de-super-heating chamber 14 wherein superheated steam is converted to saturated steam by spraying water into the steam using spray nozzles 15. The gas is then introduced into a vertically disposed air to liquid heat exchanger 16 and is drafted downward therethrough. As heat is removed from the waste gas, water vapor in the steam condenses and in the process, collects some of the oil and hydrocarbons present. A plurality of condensate trays 19 are disposed below the bottom end of heat exchanger 16 in a cascading fashion to collect hold the condensate in the airflow path such that it will absorb some of the heat still present in the remaining waste gas.

Abstract: Gases containing solubles or suspended particles are mixed with a scrubbing liquid in a mixing apparatus having a chamber with a rotatable wheel mounted therein. The gas is mixed with a scrubbing liquid by the rotating wheel which has first and second scrubbing surfaces including vanes for creating turbulence and moving the gas through the chamber. The vanes on the first scrubbing surface increase in height from the axis of the wheel to its periphery to move gas radially outwardly. The vanes on the second scrubbing surface increase in height from the periphery to the axis of the wheel to move the gas radially inwardly.

Abstract: An improved packing system and method are disclosed wherein a packing section includes a liquid distributor and a separator placed above the distributor so that gas rising through the liquid distributor contacts liquid in the distributor, forming a gas-liquid combination which rises in co-current flow to the separator. Liquid is collected in the separator, from which gas rises.

Abstract: A dissipator for percolating a mixture of flue gases and powdered lime through a body of water to remove SO.sub.2 from the flue gases includes an elongate tubular body having first and second ends. The first end of the tubular body has an inlet through which the flue gases and lime mixture is introduced into the dissipator. The second end of the tubular body is generally closed. There are a plurality of perforations in the wall of the tubular body through which the mixture of lime and flue gases can escape from the dissipator. A plurality of disrupters spaced longitudinally inside the elongate tubular body facilitate the mixing and reaction of the lime and the flue gases. Each disrupter comprises a plate with a plurality of baffles mounted on the upper thereof to facilitate the mixing of the flue gases and powdered lime mixture delivered into the dissipator.

Abstract: An indoor air filter is provided. The indoor air filter has a housing including a water tank, an air pump, an air inlet, an air outlet, an air pump positioned between the air inlet and outlet, and an air circulation section between the air inlet and the air pump. The air circulation section is defined a pair of partitions enclosing first and second turbulent boards which enclose a foam filter and an active carbon layer. The housing also has a filter screen positioned between the air circulation section in the air inlet and a conduit for spreading water from the water pump into the inlet air for subsequent filtering by the filter screen and the air circulation section.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing pollutants from a gas stream wherein a spray of steam is directed against a primary deflector plate to disperse a portion of the spray and repel the spray off of the primary deflector plate against a secondary deflector plate to disperse at least a portion of the spray rebounded against the secondary deflector plate, the placement of the primary deflector plate and secondary deflector plate adapted such that the dispersed spray from the primary and secondary deflector plates forms an aerosol in the path of the gas stream, allowing the aerosol to condense into water, and recovering the condensed water.

Abstract: A packed mass transfer tower for establishing intimate gas/liquid contact and efficient mass transfer that is less susceptible to gas or liquid channeling, gas surging and uneven distribution of gas or liquid across the cross-sectional area of the tower. The packed tower includes a packing arrangement including a lower bed of mobile packing elements, and an adjacent upper bed of fixed packing elements. The packed bed of fixed packing elements acts as a gas distributor, as well as causing good gas/liquid contact, to provide an even flow of gas across essentially the entire cross-sectional area of the packed bed of mobile packing elements.