Apparatus and methods for dissolving carbon dioxide in water
Systems for dissolving CO 2 into a liquid can be used in various applications. One of the challenges with incorporating CO 2 as a treatment strategy is the footprint needed for a basin large enough to use traditional diffuser type technology to dissolve the CO 2 at a relative low efficiency. A conical shaped transfer device can be used easily be used on a piping or closed system. The system operates by pumping a side stream of water through a conical shaped gas transfer reactor, such as a Speece Cone, where gaseous CO 2 is fed into the cone and broken up into an intense bubble swarm by the velocity of the inlet water. The cone shape design slows the water velocity down to where the buoyant rise velocity of the bubbles is higher than the water velocity which suspends the bubbles inside the cone, providing sufficient contact time for the CO 2 to dissolve.
1 . A method for increasing a concentration of carbon dioxide in water, comprising:
passing the water through a conical tubular apparatus, the conical tubular apparatus having a water inlet at a top end thereof and a water outlet at a bottom end thereof, the top end being the narrow most portion of the conical tubular apparatus, wherein a velocity of the water, as it passes through the conical tubular apparatus from the top end to the water outlet, slows, wherein a cross-sectional inside diameter of the conical tubular apparatus continually increases from the top end to the bottom end thereof;
introducing carbon dioxide into the conical tubular apparatus adjacent the top end; and
flowing the water through the conical tubular apparatus to dissolve the carbon dioxide into the water as a carbon dioxide enhanced outflow, wherein a buoyant rise velocity of bubbles of carbon dioxide is greater than the velocity of the water through the cone, suspending the bubbles inside the cone.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the water inlet and the water outlet are part of a closed system.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising passing the carbon dioxide enhanced outflow through a pipe to act as a molluscicide for control of dreissenid mussels.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the pipe is part of a hydropower generation and water delivery infrastructure.
5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the dreissenid mussels include zebra and quagga mussels or any other invasive or undesirable aquatic organisms.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising passing the carbon dioxide enhanced outflow through a pipe to cause mortality and reduce in a rate of veliger byssogenesis of dreissenid mussels.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising adjusting a pH of a water sample by adding the carbon dioxide enhanced outflow thereto.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the water sample is water from a lime softening process after settling of a precipitate.
9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising sequestering the carbon dioxide enhanced outflow into an injection well for storage.
10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising introducing the carbon dioxide enhanced outflow into a portion of a body of water to prevent or inhibit migration of Asian carp or any other invasive or undesirable aquatic organisms therethrough.
11 . A method for prevention of fouling of pipes, comprising:
passing the water through a conical tubular apparatus, the conical tubular apparatus having a water inlet at a top end thereof and a water outlet at a bottom end thereof, the top end being the narrow most portion of the conical tubular apparatus, wherein a velocity of the water, as it passes through the conical tubular apparatus from the top end to the water outlet, slows, wherein a cross-sectional inside diameter of the conical tubular apparatus continually increases from the top end to the bottom end thereof;
introducing carbon dioxide into the conical tubular apparatus adjacent the top end;
flowing the water through the conical tubular member to dissolve the carbon dioxide into the water as a carbon dioxide enhanced outflow, wherein a buoyant rise velocity of bubbles of carbon dioxide is greater than the velocity of the water through the cone, suspending the bubbles inside the cone; and
passing the carbon dioxide enhanced outflow through the pipes.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the water inlet, the water outlet and the pipes are part of a closed system.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the carbon dioxide enhanced outflow acts as a molluscicide for control of dreissenid mussels in the pipes.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the pipes are part of a hydropower generation and water delivery infrastructure.
15 . A method for reducing an amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, comprising:
scrubbing air to remove a carbon dioxide volume therefrom;
passing the water through a conical tubular apparatus, the conical tubular apparatus having a water inlet at a top end thereof and a water outlet at a bottom end thereof, the top end being the narrow most portion of the conical tubular apparatus, wherein a velocity of the water, as it passes through the conical tubular apparatus from the top end to the water outlet, slows, wherein a cross-sectional inside diameter of the conical tubular apparatus continually increases from the top end to the bottom end thereof;
introducing a carbon dioxide volume into the conical tubular apparatus adjacent the top end;
flowing the water through the conical tubular member to dissolve the carbon dioxide into the water as a carbon dioxide enhanced outflow, wherein a buoyant rise velocity of bubbles of carbon dioxide is greater than the velocity of the water through the cone, suspending the bubbles inside the cone; and
sequestering the carbon dioxide enhanced outflow into an injection well.
16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising passing the carbon dioxide enhanced outflow into the conical tubular apparatus to further increase a concentration of carbon dioxide in the water.