Open system sulphurous acid generator

Abstract

This invention presents a sulphurous acid generator which employs a combination of novel blending, contact and mixing mechanisms which maximize the efficiency and duration of contact between sulphur dioxide gas and water to form sulphurous acid in an open nonpressurized system, without employing a countercurrent absorption tower. The present invention also incorporates a novel high temperature concrete for use in constructing portions of the present invention.

1. A sulphurous acid generator apparatus comprising:
 a first conduit for conducting sulphur dioxide gas;  
 a second conduit for conducting water;  
 a third conduit comprising: 
 means for bringing the sulphur dioxide gas conducted through the first conduit and the water conducted through the second conduit into contained, codirectional, substantially downward flow whereby the sulphur dioxide gas and water are brought into contact with each other;  
 a passageway through which the sulphur dioxide gas and the water codirectionally flow in contact with each other and in which at least a portion of the sulphur dioxide gas may react with water to form sulphurous acid; and  
 means for discharging the sulphurous acid and unreacted sulphur dioxide gas from the third conduit;  
 
 the first and third conduits defining an open system thereby avoiding subjecting the sulphur dioxide gas to a system pressure;  
 a mixing tank into which the sulphur dioxide gas and water empty from the third conduit in which tank at least some gas is mixed in a cool  pool of water;  
 a first discharge pipe for discharging the sulphurous acid from the mixing tank;  
 the mixing tank having an exhaust vent through which undissolved gases exit the mixing tank;  
 a vent conduit in communication with the exhaust vent;  
 a supplemental water conduit for conducting a supply of water;  
 a fourth conduit comprising: 
 means for bringing the sulphur gases conducted through the vent conduit and the water conducted in the supplemental water conduit into contained, codirectional, substantially downward flow whereby the sulphur gases and water are brought into contact with each other; and  
 a second discharge pipe for discharging sulphurous acid from the fourth conduit.  
 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a vent stack in communication with the second discharge pipe, the vent slack comprising a tower containing water and exhausting gases in countercurrent flow. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein  further comprising a corresponding hopper and burn chamber connected to the first conduit, the hopper and burn chamber constructed from a concrete comprising one   1  volumetric part calcium aluminate cement and three   3  volumetric parts aggregate wherein the aggregate comprises granular shale in an amount ranging from about 0 volumetric parts to about 3 volumetric parts and crushed fines  fine shale in an amount ranging from about 0 volumetric parts to about 3 volumetric parts. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a burn chamber connected to the first conduit and means for dampening the flow of air into the burn chamber. 
     
     
       5. A sulphourous acid generator apparatus comprising:
 a first conduit for conducting sulphur gas;  
 a second conduit for conducting water;  
 a third conduit comprising: 
 means for causing the water of the second conduit to substantially form an annular column of water around the sulphur gas of the first conduit thereby bringing the water and sulphur gas into contained, codirectional, substantially downward flow whereby the sulphur dioxide gas and water are brought into contact with each other;  
 a passageway through which the sulphur dioxide gas and the water codirectionally flow in contact with each other and in which at least a portion of the sulphur dioxide gas may react with water to form sulphorous acid; and  
 a discharge outlet for discharging the sulphurous acid and unreacted sulphur dioxide gas from the third conduit; the first and third conduits defining an open system thereby avoiding subjecting the sulphur dioxide gas to a system pressure;  
 
 a mixing tank into which the sulphur dioxide gas and water empty from the third conduit in which tank at least some gas is mixed in a pool of water;  
 a first discharge pipe for discharging the sulphurous acid from the mixing tank;  
 the mixing tank having an exhaust vent through which undissolved sulphur gas exits the mixing tank;  
 a vent conduit in communication with the exhaust vent;  
 a supplemental water conduit for conducting a supply of water;  
 a fourth conduit comprising: 
 means for causing the water of the supplemental water conduit to substantially form an annular column of water around the sulphur gas of the vent conduit thereby bringing the supplemental water and sulphur gas into contained, codirectional, substantially downward flow whereby the sulphur gases and water are brought into contact with each other; and  
 a second discharge pipe for discharging sulphurous acid from the fourth conduit.  
 
 
     
     
       6. A method for using a sulphurous acid generator apparatus, the method comprising:
   contacting water with sulphur dioxide in a sulphurous acid generator apparatus to produce a treated acidic water, wherein the sulphurous acid generator apparatus comprises:        a first conduit for conducting sulphur gas;        a second conduit for conducting water;        a third conduit comprising:      means for causing the water of the second conduit to substantially form an annular column of water around the sulphur gas of the first conduit thereby bringing the water and sulphur gas into contained, codirectional, substantially downward flow whereby the sulphur dioxide gas and water are brought into contact with each other;        a passageway through which the sulphur dioxide gas and the water codirectionally flow in contact with each other and in which at least a portion of the sulphur dioxide gas may react with water to form sulphurous acid; and        a discharge outlet for discharging the sulphurous acid and unreacted sulphur dioxide gas from the third conduit; the first and third conduits defining an open system thereby avoiding subjecting the sulphur dioxide gas to a system pressure;          a mixing tank into which the sulphur dioxide gas and water empty from the third conduit in which tank at least some gas is mixed in a pool of water;        a first discharge pipe for discharging the sulphurous acid from the mixing tank;        the mixing tank having an exhaust vent through which undissolved gas exits the mixing tank;        a vent conduit in communication with the exhaust vent;        a supplemental water conduit for conducting a supply of water;        a fourth conduit comprising:      means for causing the water of the supplemental water conduit to substantially form an annular column of water around the sulphur gas of the vent conduit thereby bringing the supplemental water and sulphur gas into contained, codirectional, substantially downward flow whereby the sulphur gases and water are brought into contact with each other; and          a second discharge pipe for discharging sulphurous acid from the fourth conduit.      
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6  further comprising irrigating crops with the treated acidic water.  
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7  further comprising allowing the crops to take up sulphur from the treated acidic water.  
     
     
       9. A method for using a sulphurous acid generator apparatus, the method comprising:
   contacting water with sulphur dioxide in a sulphurous acid generator apparatus to produce a treated acidic water, wherein the sulphurous acid generator apparatus comprises:      a first conduit for conducting sulphur dioxide gas;        a second conduit for conducting water;        a third conduit comprising:      means for bringing the sulphur dioxide gas conducted through the first conduit and the water conducted through the second conduit into contained, codirectional, substantially downward flow whereby the sulphur dioxide gas and water are brought into contact with each other;        a passageway through which the sulphur dioxide gas and the water codirectionally flow in contact with each other and in which at least a portion of the sulphur dioxide gas may react with water to form sulphurous acid; and        means for discharging the sulphurous acid and unreacted sulphur dioxide gas from the third conduit;          the first and third conduits defining an open system thereby avoiding subjecting the sulphur dioxide gas to a system pressure;        a mixing tank into which the sulphur dioxide gas and water empty from the third conduit in which tank at least some gas is mixed in a pool of water;        a first discharge pipe for discharging the sulphurous acid from the mixing tank;        the mixing tank having an exhaust vent through which undissolved gases exit the mixing tank;        a vent conduit in communication with the exhaust vent;        a supplemental water conduit for conducting a supply of water;        a fourth conduit comprising:      means for bringing the sulphur gases conducted through the vent conduit and the water conducted in the supplemental water conduit into contained, codirectional, substantially downward flow whereby the sulphur gases and water are brought into contact with each other; and            a second discharge pipe for discharging sulphurous acid from the fourth conduit.      
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9  wherein the sulphurous acid generator apparatus further comprises a vent stack in communication with the second discharge pipe, the vent stack comprising a tower containing water and exhausting gases in countercurrent flow.  
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9  wherein the sulphurous acid generator apparatus further comprises a corresponding hopper and burn chamber connected to the first conduit, the hopper and burn chamber constructed from a concrete comprising  1  volumetric part calcium aluminate cement and  3  volumetric parts aggregate wherein the aggregate comprises granular shale in an amount ranging from about  0  volumetric parts to about  3  volumetric parts and crushed fine shale in an amount ranging from about  0  volumetric parts to about  3  volumetric parts.  
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9  wherein the sulphurous acid generator apparatus further comprises a burn chamber connected to the first conduit and means for dampening the flow of air into the burn chamber.  
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9  further comprising irrigating crops with the treated acidic water.  
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13  further comprising allowing the crops to take up sulphur from the treated acidic water.