Method and apparatus for mixing fluids

Abstract

A method for entraining and mixing gas with liquids within a conduit or drop structure, comprising the channeling of one or more liquid flows into spiral flows of predetermined radius (radii), reducing the predetermined radius (radii) to increase the centrifugal forces acting upon the spiral flow(s) as the spiral flow(s) enter the conduit, and allowing gas access to the conduit to mix with and entrain within the spiral flow within the conduit or drop structure. The method can facilitate the mixing of gas with one or more fluid flows and/or reduce the release of gas emissions from the fluid(s) into the surrounding environment.

1. A method for reducing gas emissions from fluid traveling through drop structures having a wall and a base, said method comprising:
 channeling the fluid within the drop structure into  through a flow channel that forms a spiral flow of predetermined maximum outer radius and predetermined minimum inner radius;  
 reducing said spiral flow predetermined maximum outer radius to increase the centrifugal forces acting upon the fluid; and  
 continuing said reduced radius spiral flow, with the aid of gravity, to or near the drop structure base.  
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the channeling of the fluid through the flow channel includes channeling the fluid in a spirally downward sloping direction, and wherein the method further comprising  comprises:
 providing air access to the drop structure to allow mixing of the air with said spiral flow.  
 
     
     
       3. A method for entraining and mixing air or another gas with liquid traveling within a conduit, said method comprising:
 channeling a first portion of the liquid within a first influent line into a first spiral flow of first predetermined radius around the centerline of said conduit;  
 channeling a second portion of the liquid within said first influent line into a second spiral flow of second predetermined radius around said centerline of said conduit downstream of said first spiral flow and having a rotational direction opposing said first spiral flow;  
 reducing each of said first and second spiral flows predetermined radii to increase the centrifugal forces acting upon each of said spiral flows; and  
 providing air or other gas access to said conduit upstream of and proximate to said first spiral flow  
 so that the a portion of the air or other gas mixes with and becomes entrained in said spiral flows.  
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , including a second influent line, wherein said first and second spiral flows are channeled from said first and second influent lines, respectively. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the said air or gas access is provided though a pipe centered about said centerline of said conduit. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 4 , wherein said first spiral flow predetermined radius is reduced to a smaller radius than said second spiral flow predetermined reduced radius. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 channeling a first portion of a second liquid within a third influent line into a third spiral flow of third predetermined radius around the centerline of said conduit and downstream of said first and second spiral flows;  
 channeling a second portion of the second liquid within said third influent line into a fourth spiral flow of fourth predetermined radius around said centerline of said conduit downstream of said third spiral flow and having a rotational direction opposing said third spiral flow; and  
 reducing each of said third and fourth spiral flows predetermined radii to increase the centrifugal forces acting upon each of said spiral flows;  
 so that said third and fourth spiral flows mix with said first and second spiral flows.  
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 channeling additional liquid or liquids within a one or more additional influent lines into additional spiral flows of predetermined radii around the centerline of said conduit and downstream of said first and second spiral flows; and  
 reducing each of said additional spiral flows predetermined radii to increase the centrifugal forces acting upon each of said additional spiral flows;  
 so that said additional spiral flows mix with said first and second spiral flows.  
 
     
     
       9. A method for entraining a mixing air or another gas with liquid traveling within a conduit, said method comprising:
 channeling a first portion of the liquid within a first influent line into a first spiral flow of first predetermined radius around the centerline of said conduit;  
 channeling a second portion of the liquid within said first influent line into a second spiral flow of second predetermined radius around said centerline of said conduit downstream of said first spiral flow and having the same rotational direction as said first spiral flow;  
 reducing each of said first and second spiral flows predetermined radii to increase the centrifugal forces acting upon each of said spiral flows; and  
 providing air or other gas access to said conduit upstream of and proximate to said first spiral flow  
 so that the a portion of the air or other gas mixes with and becomes entrained in said spiral flows.  
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , including a second influent line, wherein said first and second spiral flows are channeled from said first and second influent lines, respectively. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the said air or gas access is provided though a pipe centered about said centerline of said conduit. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , wherein said first spiral flow predetermined radius is reduced to a smaller radius than said second spiral flow predetermined reduced radius. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 channeling a first portion of a second liquid within a third influent line into a third spiral flow of third predetermined radius around the centerline of said conduit and downstream of said first and second spiral flows;  
 channeling a second portion of the second liquid within said third influent line into a fourth spiral flow of fourth predetermined radius around said centerline of said conduit downstream of said third spiral flow and having the same rotational direction as said third spiral flow; and  
 reducing each of said third and fourth spiral flows predetermined radii to increase the centrifugal forces acting upon each of said spiral flows;  
 so that said third and fourth spiral flows mix with said first and second spiral flows.  
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 channeling additional liquid or liquids within a one or more additional influent lines into additional spiral flows of predetermined radii around the centerline of said conduit and downstream of said first and second spiral flows; and  
 reducing each of said additional spiral flows predetermined radii to increase the centrifugal forces acting upon each of said additional spiral flows;  
 so that said additional spiral flows mix with said first and second spiral flows.  
 
     
     
       15. A fluid mixer, comprising:
   a flow conduit having a generally cylindrical first wall portion of a first radius centered around a centerline, the first wall portion having a first wall interior surface;        a first vortex form having a first flow channel of decreasing radius that includes a first inlet and a first outlet, wherein the first outlet is fluidly coupled with the flow conduit;        a second vortex form having a second flow channel of decreasing radius that includes a second inlet and a second outlet, wherein the second outlet is fluidly coupled with the flow conduit proximate to the first outlet;        wherein the first and second flow channels are situated and shaped such that, in operation:      fluid exiting the first flow channel is directed into a first spiral flow traveling along the first wall portion of the flow conduit and centered around the centerline, the first spiral flow having an initial outer radius generally equal to the first radius; and        fluid exiting the second flow channel is directed into a second spiral flow centered around the centerline and having an initial outer radius that is smaller than the first radius.       
     
     
       16. The fluid mixer of  claim 15 , and further comprising:
   a third inlet adapted to provide access for an additional fluid to at least one of the first and second spiral flows.     
     
     
       17. The fluid mixer of  claim 16 , wherein the third inlet is a line having an end positioned in a center of at least one of the first and second spiral flows. 
     
     
       18. The fluid mixer of  claim 16 , wherein the fluid inlet is a line coupled with a source of air or other gas. 
     
     
       19. The fluid mixer of  claim 15 , wherein the second spiral flow has a rotational direction opposing the first spiral flow. 
     
     
       20. The fluid mixer of  claim 15 , wherein a portion of the first spiral flow and a portion of the second spiral flow each defines a relatively low- pressure core.   
     
     
       21. The fluid mixer of  claim 15 , wherein the flow conduit includes a generally cylindrical second wall portion centered around the centerline and having a second radius that is smaller than the first radius and a second interior wall surface, wherein the second flow channel is shaped and situated such that the second spiral flow is directed to travel along the second interior wall surface of the flow conduit. 
     
     
       22. A method for mixing a plurality of flows in a conduit having a generally cylindrical interior wall surface centered around a centerline, and having an upstream end and a downstream end, the method comprising:
   channeling a first flow into a first spiral trajectory around a centerline of the conduit, wherein the first spiral trajectory has a first initial radius and a first final radius that is smaller than the first initial radius;        channeling a second flow into a second spiral trajectory around the centerline of the conduit and proximate to the first spiral flow, wherein the second spiral trajectory has a second initial outer radius and a second final outer radius that is smaller than the second initial outer radius; and        wherein a portion of the first spiral trajectory is situated along the interior wall surface;        so that the first and second spiral flows mix with one another.     
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 22 , wherein the second spiral trajectory has a rotational direction opposing the first spiral trajectory. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 22 , wherein the second spiral trajectory has a same rotational direction as the first spiral trajectory. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 22 , wherein the second final outer radius is smaller than the first final radius. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 22 , and further comprising:
   conveying a first fluid through a first influent line to become the first flow; and        conveying a second fluid that is different from the first fluid through a second influent line to become the second flow.     
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 22 , and further comprising:
   conveying a first fluid through a first influent line to become the first flow; and        conveying the first fluid through a second influent line to become the second flow.     
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 22 , wherein at least one of the first and second flows is a liquid. 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 22 , and further comprising:
   providing access for a third flow to the conduit proximate to at least one of the first and second flows.     
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 29 , wherein the third flow is air or a gas. 
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 29 , wherein the access for the third flow is provided though a pipe centered about the centerline of the conduit. 
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 22 , wherein the second final outer radius is of a size such that a portion of the second trajectory is circumscribed by a portion of the first trajectory. 
     
     
       33. The method of  claim 22 , and further comprising:
   channeling a third flow into a third spiral trajectory around the centreline of the conduit and proximate to the first and second spiral flows, wherein the third spiral trajectory has a third initial outer radius and a third final outer radius that is smaller than the third initial outer radius.     
     
     
       34. A liquid conveyance arrangement for conveying flow from an inlet at a relatively higher elevation to an outlet at a relatively lower elevation, comprising:
   a vortex form situated proximate to the higher elevation and including a channel having an upstream end and a downstream end, wherein the upstream end of the channel is fluidly coupled with the inlet, and wherein the channel has an initial curvature and a final curvature that is greater than the initial curvature such that, in operation, the flow passing through the channel is accelerated and subjected to centripetal force;        a conduit fluidly connected to the downstream end of the channel of the vortex form, the conduit including a generally cylindrical wall having a diameter that generally corresponds to the final curvature of the channel, wherein the conduit is situated to carry the flow generally downwardly from the vortex form towards the lower elevation, and wherein the conduit includes a flow exit that is submerged relative to a level of the flow proximate to the outlet.     
     
     
       35. The liquid conveyance arrangement of  claim 34 , wherein the vortex form channel is generally sloped downwardly such that the flow passing through the channel is redirected along a path having an initial elevation and a final elevation that is lower than the initial elevation.