WO1988003435A2

WO1988003435A2 - Suction device

Info

Publication number: WO1988003435A2
Application number: PCT/EP1987/000705
Authority: WO
Inventors: Siegfried Dörr
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-11-13
Filing date: 1987-11-13
Publication date: 1988-05-19
Anticipated expiration: 1989-05-13
Also published as: WO1988003435A3

Abstract

A novel turbine (5) which consists of a disc (3) or a shaft, to the upper and lower sides of which blades (2) are attached, the blades (2) on the upper side being at least three times larger than those on the underside. The combination of such a turbine with a guide tube (1) provides a strong suction effect, which is suitable, for example, for drawing gases or gas/vapour mixtures into liquid media. Also, methods of directly heating a liquid by hot gases while avoiding the discharge of pollutants into the environment which comprises introducing the hot gases into the liquid with turbulence and with a suction effect such as, for example, by rotating the turbine in the liquid.

Description

SUCTION DEVICE

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This appl ication is a continuation-in-part of application serial no. 694,461, filed January 24, 1985, now U.S. Patent No

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a novel turbine which is suitable especially for whirling gases into liquid media, the term gases also comprising vapors, and liquid/gas mixtures.

Summary of the Invention

The invention relates to an apparatus for the direct heating of a liquid by hot gases while avoiding the discharge of pollutants into the environment. This apparatus comprises means for holding a liquid containing an absorbent and including an out-flow opening for the introduction of hot gases into the liquid; burner means having a burning chamber situated above the upper level of the liquid in the holding means; elongated tubular means arranged within the holding means having a hot gas inlet and a hot gas outlet, the hot gas inlet being connected to the burner means and wherein at least the hot gas outlet of the tubular means extends into the liquid; and means located within the tubular means for generating a suction effect directed into the liquid, the suction effect means also effecting turbulent motion of the hot gases within the liquid for heating of the liquid and removal of pollutants by the absorbant.

More specifically , the means for generating a suction effect are partly located above the hot gas outlet and partly below. The invention also relates to a turbine, a suction device, and methods of use thereof as more fully described in the detailed description hereinbelow.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Further benefits and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description given with reference to the accompanying drawings figures which specify and show preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a suction device according to the invention with portions of the outer housing removed to illustrate the turbine blades therein;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the turbine blades and guide tube of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a turbine blade to illustrate its shape and configuration; and

FIG. 4 is an end view of the turbine blades and guide tube of FIG. 2.

Description of the Invention

This invention is directed to an improvement of that disclosed in application serial no. 694,461, filed January 24,

1985, now U.S. Patent No. -----------------------------. To the extent necessary to understand or describe the present invention, the content of that application is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

The present invention relates to a suction device of a type generally illustrated in Figure 1, which includes a turbine (5) combined with a guide tube (1). The features of this device are more specifically shown in Figures 2-4. The combination of the turbine and guide tube makes it possible to draw gas mixtures or liquid/gas mixtures into liquid media. Due to the high suction force of the turbine, the gas or liquid/gas mixture can also be drawn and whirled into the liquid medium even if the liquid medium is heated, it being possible in an extreme case for the liquid medium to be heated to its boiling point.

In detail, the turbine according to the invention includes a disc (3), having lower and upper sides to which blades (2) are attached, and is characterized in that the blades on the upper side are at least three times larger than the blades on the underside.

The turbine is furthermore characterized in that at least the larger blades are located partly below the hot gas outlet of the tubular means as is described in more detail beiow. it is possible for the disc to be compact or also for segments (4) to be cut out of this disc, if desired.

In a preferred embodiment of the turbine, the blades on the upper side are curved. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the blades on the upper side of the disc have an S-shaped curvature or form.

The disc (3) preferably has a height (thickness) of 0.1 4 cm. Advantageously, the height of the disc depends on its diameter and the size of the blades, these dimensions in turn being related to the desired power of the turbine. Thus, the higher the suction power of the turbine, the greater is the diameter of the disc, the higher (thicker) is the disc and, as a rule, more sharply curved are the blades on the upper side of the disc. The sizing in an individual case depends on the required constructional principle, which in turn depends on the field of use. The material used also has likewise a substantial influence on the proportions in sizing. The diameter of the disc depends advantageously on the speed of rotation, a smaller diameter requiring a high speed of rotation, and vice versa. In a preferred embodiment, the diameter of the disc is 8 to 12 cm, preferably 9 to 11 cm and more preferably 10 to 11 cm.

In such a preferred embodiment, the height of the blades on the lower side of the disc is 1 to 3 cm and, correspondingly, the height of the blades on the upper side is 3 to 20 cm. These preferred dimensions can be multiplied with a factor for the case where, because of specific technical conditions and problems, higher or lower power of the turbine is required. Segments can be cut out of the disc, whereby the disc becomes lighter but the suction effect of the turbine is not substantially affected. Thus, any segment cut-out sizes (4) are possible between the extreme cases, on the one hand, of the compact disc and, on the other hand, fixing of the blades directly to the shaft (6), which rotates the turbine, that is to say the largest segment cut-outs which are possible in view of the size (in Figure 4, the segment (4) is completely absent in the extreme case).

The chosen form of the turbine in a special case depends on the nature of the gas or vapor or the mixture of the two and on the nature of the liquid medium into which the gas or gas/vapor mixture is to be whirled.

If, for example, a flue gas is whirled or drawn into water, which, if appropriate, can also contain additives for absorbing constituents of the flue gas, such as alkali or alkaline compounds or the like, a turbine embodiment is preferred in which the blades on the upper side of the disc have an S-shaped form. If the water is to be heated by the flue gas, the flue gas above the turbine consists of a mixture of gas and steam, as a function of the temperature (and the vapor pressure of the water with the additive). These conditions, as explained above taking flue gas and water as an example, are also applicable to other types of gases and liquid media, if these are heated . The conditions become particularly extreme if the liquid medium is heated almost or even fullyup to the boiling point. Analogous conditions apply in the case of operation under a reddced pressure ( i. e. in vacuo) or under an elevated pressure, especially when a compressor or axial compressor is used, that is to say the gas is first compressed and then forced in to the turbine.

The turbine is operated preferably in the range of 2500 to 3500 revolutions per minute, more preferably at 2900 r.p.m. Furthermore, the circumferential speed of the blades, at its greatest diameter, is considered to be of importance. This speed is in the range of 12 to 16 meters per second, preferably 14 meters per second.

The turbine runs with particularly high efficiency if it is combined with a guide tube. The invention thus also relates to a suction device which is characterized in that the turbine (5) described above is combined with a guifie tube (1).

In a preferred embodiment of the suction device; the blades (2) are located on the upper side of the disc (3) within the guide tube (1) as shown in Figures 2-4. The minimum distance of the blades (2) within the guide tube (1) from the inner edge of the guide tube is between 0.5 and 1.5 cm, preferably 0.8 to 1.2 cm. An embodiment is also preferred in which the lower edge of the guide tube ends flush with the turbine and the dimension of the disc is only 2/3 of the diameter of the guide tube. An arrangement is also preferred in which the lower edge of the disc is at the same height as the lower edge of the guide tube and the diameter of the disc is 50% to 80% of the diameter of the guide tube. An embodiment is particularly preferred in which that part of the blades fixed to the upper side which is arranged nearest to the disc ends at a right angle flush with the lower edge of the guide tube or protrudes by a maximum of 2 cm, preferably 1 cm and most preferably 1 mm, beyond the latter. The number of blades on the upper side of the disc is at least 3, preferably a multiple of 3, particularly preferably 6 to 12 and with a very particular preference being 6 blades. The same applies to the number of blades on the underside of the turbine. However, other numbers are also possible, if desired.

The diameter of the guide tube is 7 to 12 cm, preferably 8 to 11 cm and particularly preferably 10 cm, for drawing in relatively small gas rates. These guide tube dimensions allow 30 to 80 i of gas per hour to be whirled or sucked into the tube. If, for example, air is drawn into water, the output of such a suction device at a water temperature of 20ºC is about 70 to 120 m of air per hour and sometimes higher. This applies to a gas temperature of 100ºC or higher. If the water iε heated to 80 to 90ºC, the output of the suction device at, for example, a diameter of the guide tube of 10 cm in a preferred embodiment of the turbine is still approximately 40 m of gas per hour or possibly higher. The drop in the turbine output is a consequence of the evaporation of water, so that, at these high temperatures of the liquid medium, the turbine must also additionally draw steam into the liquid medium. The suction device is thus suitable for drawing gases into cold or hot liquid media, the gases simultaneously also being dispersed in an optimum manner in the liquid medium. The output of the turbine is substantially affected by the flow velocity, with a preferred flow velocity being 12-14 meters per second.

The suction device is thus suitable, for example, for drawing flue gases into liquid media with simultaneous dispersion, so that the hot flue gases release their heat to the liquid medium in an optimum manner. An example of a preferred use of such a suction device is in heating technology, especially in low-temperature absorption heaters, as shown in Figure 1. This suction device is also suitable for drawing biogaεes from, for example, effluent treatment plants into an absorption liquid, whereby pollutants such as hydrogen sulphide, hydrogen chloride and the like are eliminated. The purified biogas can then be used further for other applications. The same device can be used for aerating effluent treatment plants. Such suction devices have hitherto not been used in technology, so that no theoretical knowledge whatsoever exists.

The invention also relates to a process for drawing gases into liquid media, which is characterized in that the turbine and/or suction device described above is used.

While it is apparent that the invention herein disclosed is well calculated to fulfill the desired results, it will be appreciate that numerous modifications and embodiments may be devised by those skilled in the art, and it is intended that the appended claims cover all such modifications and embodiments as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PC

(51) International Patent Classification 4 (11) International Publication Number: WO 88/ 0

B01F 15/06, F24H 1/10 A3 B01F 3/04 (43) International Publication Date: 19 May 1988 (19.

(21) International Application Number : PCT/EP87/00705 (81) Designated States: AT (European patent), BE ( pean patent), CH (European patent), DE (Euro

(22) International Filing Date: 13 November 1987 (13.1 1.87) patent), DK, FI, FR (European patent), GB ( pean patent), IT (European patent), JP, LU ( pean patent), NL (European patent), SE (Euro

(31) Priority Application Numbers: 4528/86 patent). 078,365

Published

(32) Priority Dates: 13 November 1986 (13.11.86) With international search report. 27 July 1987 (27.07.87) Before the expiration of the time limit for amendin

(33) Priority Countries: CH claims and to be republished in the event of the recei

US amendments.

(88) Date of publication of the international search report:

(71)(72) Applicant and Inventor: DORR, Siegfried [DE/DE]; 14 July 1988 (14.0 Schlehenstraβe 11, D-3587 Borken 3 (DE).

(54) Title: SUCTION DEVICE

(57) Abstract

Claims

THE CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for direct heating of a liquid by hot gases avoiding the discharge of pollutants into the environment, comprising means for holding a liquid containing an absorbant, said holding means including an out-flow opening for the introduction of hot gases; burner means having a burning chamber situated above the holding means, elongated tubular means arranged within said holding means having a hot gas inlet and a hot gas outlet, the hot-gas inlet being connected to the burner means, at least the hot gas outlet of the tubular means extending into the liquid; and means located within the hot gas tube for generating a suction effect directed into the liquid, said suction effect means also effecting turbulent motion of the hot-gases within the liquid for mixing and heating of said liquid and removal of pollutants by said absorbant.

2. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the means for generating the suction effect is provided adjacent to the hot gas tube outlet.

3. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the means for generating a suction effect is a turbine in combination and operatively associated with guide tube means.

4. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said turbine is connected to a drive means through a drive shaft, said drive shaft is surrounded by said guide tube means and wherein a flame tube leads to and is connected to said guide tube means.

5. An apparatus for direct suction of gasses into a liquid to avoid the discharge of pollutants into the environment, comprising tank means containing a liquid with an absorbant, a gas tube arranged within said tank means having a gas inlet and gas outlet, the gas inlet being connected to a guide tube, an outflow opening provided within the tank means for entry of the gases, at least the gas outlet of the guide tube passing through the outflow opening and dipping into the liquid; and means provided adjacent to the guide tube for generating a suction effect directed into the liquid and for effecting turbulent motion of the gases with the liquid.

6. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said means for generating a suction effect is turbine driven by drive means in combination with a guide tube.

7. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said gases are biogases.

8. Turbine comprising a rotatable member having lower and upper sides each of which having attached thereto a plurality of blades; wherein the blades on the upper side ar at least three times larger in area than the blades on the lower side.

9. Turbine as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the rotatable member is a shaft.

10. Turbine as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the rotatable member is compact or segmented disc means.

11. Turbine as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the blades on the upper side are curved.

12. Turbine as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the blades on the upper side are curved in an S-shape.

13. Turbine according to Claim 8, wherein the number of blades is six each on the upper side and the lower side of the rotatable member.

14. Suction device comprising a turbine according to Claim 8 combined and operatively associated with guide tube means.

15. Suction device as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the outer edge of each blade on the upper side of the rotatable member is rectangular and is substantially flush with the lower edge of the guide tube means.

16. Suction device as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the blades are rectangular and protrude by at least 1 mm beyond the lower end of the guide tube means.

17. A process for heating a liquid while avoiding the discharge of pollutants into the environment which comprises the liquid being heated by direct contact with the combustion gases, which comprises introducing hot gases with turbulence into the liquid with a suction effect.

18. A process as claimed in Claim 16, wherein the hot gases are directed against the liquid level above the latter and release the entrained pollutants to the liquid with the assistance of an absorbent, at the same time heating the liquid through which they flow, and escape harmlessly upward.

19. A process as claimed in Claim 17, wherein the hot gases are generated in a burner flame which points directly to the surface of the absorbent liquid but ends a short distance above the latter.

20. A process as claimed in Claim 18, wherein the liquid is water and contains a base as an absorbent.

21. A process as claimed in Claim 19, wherein the water contains salts as the absorbent.

22. A process as claimed in Claim 20, wherein the water contains calcium carbonate as the salt.

23. A process as claimed in Claim 16, wherein pollutants contained in the liquid are oxidized electrochemically or by means of a corona discharge.

24. A process as claimed in Claim 22, wherein ozone is used as the oxidizing agent.

25. A process for heating a liquid while avoiding the discharge of pollutants into the environment which comprises: holding a liquid containing an absorbant; effecting a turbulent motion of hot gases containing pollutants in said liquid by directing said gases into said liquid through the suction device of claim 13, thus mixing sai gases with said liquid; and heating said liquid while removing said pollutants from said gases by said absorbant to avoid discharge of said pollutants into the environment.

26. A process for heating a liquid while avoiding the discharge of pollutants into the environment which comprises: holding a liquid containing an absorbent; directing said liquid to burner means for contacting its outer surface for precooling of hot gases generated therefrom and for preventing overheating of said gases; effecting a tubulant motion of said gases in said liquid by directing said gases from said burner means to said liquid; and heating the liquid while removing said pollutants from said gases by said absorbant to avoid discharge of said pollutants into the environment.