Apparatus and methods for efficient generation of chlorine dioxide

Abstract

An apparatus and methods for chlorine dioxide generation. The chlorine dioxide apparatus may comprise a plurality of metering pumps for delivering a plurality of reactant chemicals. The reactant chemicals are preferably delivered to a reaction column through inlet ports where the reactants are mixed to form the desired reactants. A synchronizer may control the metering pump action to provide synchronized delivery of the plurality of reactant chemicals to the reaction column.

1 - 15 . (canceled)  
     
     
         16 . A method comprising: 
 selecting a plurality of reactant chemicals;    providing a plurality of metering pumps, each pump thereof corresponding to a different reactant chemical of the plurality of reactant chemicals;    selecting a first reaction site; and    synchronizing the pulsations of the plurality of metering pumps to provide a synchronized delivery of the plurality of reactant chemicals to the first reaction site.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein selecting the reaction first site comprises selecting a location within a reaction column having a plurality internal passages;  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein each reactant chemical of the plurality of reactant chemicals is in solution.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the internal passages promote mixing of the plurality of reactant chemicals.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the internal passages promote mixing by providing at least one head-on collision at the first reaction site between a first reactant chemical of the plurality of reactant chemicals and a second reactant chemical of the plurality of reactant chemicals.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the internal passages further promote mixing by providing abrupt changes in the flow path of the plurality of reactant chemicals.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising reacting, at the first reaction site, the first reactant chemical with the second reactant react to form chlorine gas.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising providing chlorite.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising selecting a second reaction site within the reaction column and introducing the chlorite to the chlorine gas at the second reaction site.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising placing the reaction site under a vacuum created by a carrier fluid flowing through an eductor.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the carrier fluid is selected to be water.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein synchronizing comprises operably connecting a repeat cycle timer to the plurality of metering pumps.  
     
     
         28 - 30 . (canceled)  
     
     
         31 . A method comprising: 
 selecting a first reactant stored in a first container;    selecting a second reactant stored in a second container;    selecting a reaction site; and    pumping the first reactant from the first container to the reaction site in a first pulsed pattern;    pumping the second reactant from the second container to the reaction site in a second pulsed pattern; and    synchronizing the first pulsed pattern with the second pulsed pattern.    
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein pumping the first reactant comprises operating a first metering pump.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein pumping the second reactant comprises operating a second metering pump.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein synchronizing comprises applying a repeat cycle timer to the first and second metering pumps.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the first reactant comprises hydrochloric acid in solution and the second reactant comprises sodium hypochlorite in solution.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the reaction site introduces the first reactant to the second reactant in a head-on collision.  
     
     
         37 . A method comprising: 
 selecting a plurality of reactant chemicals;    providing a plurality of pumps, each pump of the plurality of pumps corresponding to a different reactant chemical of the plurality of reactant chemicals;    selecting a reaction site;    positioning an eductor to place the reaction site under vacuum; and    synchronizing the pulsations of the plurality of pumps to provide a synchronized delivery of the plurality of reactant chemicals to the first reaction site.    
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the plurality of pumps comprises a plurality of metering pumps.