A device for producing and treating a gas stream is provided that includes an enclosure, of which the lower part is submerged in a liquid supply open at the top and includes at least one liquid intake opening. The submerged lower part of the enclosure contains a volume of this liquid and at least one opening for discharging a gas stream, positioned above the surface of the volume of liquid contained in the enclosure. The device further provides for injecting a gas stream including at least one injection conduit and extends in the upper part inside the enclosure outside the volume of liquid. During operation of the device an incoming gas stream is introduced to create an outgoing gas stream, treated by direct contact with said volume of liquid that is discharged outside the enclosure. A facility inclusive of the device and method of operation are also provided.

The invention relates to a device (1) for producing a stream of air (F′), wherein said device comprises an enclosure (10), which is intended for containing a volume of liquid (V), and which comprises at least one air-discharge opening (101), air-injection means (12) which make it possible to create and pass an incoming stream of air (F) from the outside of the enclosure into a volume of liquid (V) contained in the enclosure, by injecting said incoming stream of air (F) into said volume of liquid (V) underneath the surface of said volume of liquid (V), such that an outgoing stream of air (F′), treated by direct contact with the volume of liquid, is discharged from said enclosure by passing through the air-discharge opening (101) of the enclosure. The enclosure comprises one or more baffles (14; 14′; 14″) which are positioned between the volume of liquid (V) and said discharge opening (101), and which make it possible to circulate the stream of air (F′) exiting the volume of liquid until the discharge opening (101), causing same to undergo one or more changes of direction such as to prevent the spraying of liquid through the air-discharge opening (101).

The invention relates to a device (1) for producing a stream of air (F′), wherein said device comprises an enclosure (10), which is intended for containing a volume of liquid (V), and which comprises at least one air-discharge opening (101), air-injection means (12) which make it possible to create and pass an incoming stream of air (F) from the outside of the enclosure into a volume of liquid (V) contained in the enclosure, by injecting said incoming stream of air (F) into said volume of liquid (V) underneath the surface of said volume of liquid (V), such that an outgoing stream of air (F′), treated by direct contact with the volume of liquid, is discharged from said enclosure by passing through the air-discharge opening (101) of the enclosure. The enclosure comprises one or more baffles (14; 14′; 14″) which are positioned between the volume of liquid (V) and said discharge opening (101), and which make it possible to circulate the stream of air (F′) exiting the volume of liquid until the discharge opening (101), causing same to undergo one or more changes of direction such as to prevent the spraying of liquid through the air-discharge opening (101).

A device for producing and treating a gas stream is provided that includes an enclosure, of which the lower part is submerged in a liquid supply open at the top and includes at least one liquid intake opening. The submerged lower part of the enclosure contains a volume of this liquid and at least one opening for discharging a gas stream, positioned above the surface of the volume of liquid contained in the enclosure. The device further provides for injecting a gas stream including at least one injection conduit and extends in the upper part inside the enclosure outside the volume of liquid. During operation of the device an incoming gas stream is introduced to create an outgoing gas stream, treated by direct contact with said volume of liquid that is discharged outside the enclosure. A facility inclusive of the device and method of operation are also provided.

A device for producing and treating a gas stream is provided that includes an enclosure, of which the lower part is submerged in a liquid supply open at the top and includes at least one liquid intake opening. The submerged lower part of the enclosure contains a volume of this liquid and at least one opening for discharging a gas stream, positioned above the surface of the volume of liquid contained in the enclosure. The device further provides for injecting a gas stream including at least one injection conduit and extends in the upper part inside the enclosure outside the volume of liquid. During operation of the device an incoming gas stream is introduced to create an outgoing gas stream, treated by direct contact with said volume of liquid that is discharged outside the enclosure. A facility inclusive of the device and method of operation are also provided.

A droplet heat exchange system is provided for that includes a heat exchange chamber, at least one injector, and at least one swirler. The chamber is configured to have gas flow through it. The injector can be configured to dispense liquid droplets into the chamber for thermal energy exchange with gas flowing through the chamber. The swirler can disposed within the chamber and can have a body configured to form a spiral gas flow that pushes liquid droplets from the injector, radially outward as gas flows across the body, thereby separating the liquid droplets from the gas flowing across the body and forming a liquid film along an inner wall of the chamber. The collector can be in fluid communication with the heat exchange chamber and configured to collect the liquid film after thermal energy exchange. The collector can be configured to direct at least some of the collected liquid film to the injector for subsequent use.

A method of treating/cooling a process fluid includes spraying a working fluid into a stream of the process fluid to form a mixed fluid and separating the working fluid from the mixed fluid to form a treated/cooled process fluid and a separated working fluid. The separated working fluid is conditioned to form a recycled working fluid and sprayed into the stream of the process fluid. A variant includes indirectly cooling a process fluid using a cooled working fluid. The spraying may use a working fluid in the form of microdroplets with Sauter Mean Diameter no greater than 100 microns onto a selected fluid.

A method of treating/cooling a process fluid includes spraying a working fluid into a stream of the process fluid to form a mixed fluid and separating the working fluid from the mixed fluid to form a treated/cooled process fluid and a separated working fluid. The separated working fluid is conditioned to form a recycled working fluid and sprayed into the stream of the process fluid. A variant includes indirectly cooling a process fluid using a cooled working fluid. The spraying may use a working fluid in the form of microdroplets with Sauter Mean Diameter no greater than 100 microns onto a selected fluid.

This disclosure relates to a method, system and apparatus for inactivating microorganisms in an aqueous solution. The method comprises passing bubbles of a gas through the aqueous solution, wherein the gas comprises at least 10% CO2 by volume and has a temperature of at least 18 C. The system comprises a gas supply to supply gas comprising at least 10% CO2 and having a temperature above 18 C., a gas-delivery apparatus to receive the gas and deliver it into the aqueous solution in the form of bubbles. The apparatus comprises a gas-permeable material having a flow surface configured to enable the flow of the aqueous solution across the flow surface, a chamber arranged at an opposite side of the gas-permeable material to supply a gas that inactivates microorganisms such that the gas is able to pass through the gas-permeable material and into the aqueous solution as gas bubbles.

A droplet heat exchange system is provided for that includes a heat exchange chamber, at least one injector, and at least one swirler. The chamber is configured to have gas flow through it. The injector can be configured to dispense liquid droplets into the chamber for thermal energy exchange with gas flowing through the chamber. The swirler can disposed within the chamber and can have a body configured to form a spiral gas flow that pushes liquid droplets from the injector, radially outward as gas flows across the body, thereby separating the liquid droplets from the gas flowing across the body and forming a liquid film along an inner wall of the chamber. The collector can be in fluid communication with the heat exchange chamber and configured to collect the liquid film after thermal energy exchange. The collector can be configured to direct at least some of the collected liquid film to the injector for subsequent use.