Apparatus for producing a flow in a liquid mixture

Claim 1

Apparatus for producing a flow in a liquid mixture, formed by at least one vessel enclosing substantially vertical partitions between which the mixture will flow vertically, means for supplying liquid mixture to said vessel, means for removing liquid mixture from said vessel and comprising in its lower zone injection means for a gas, the vessel being substantially parallelipipedal in form with four substantially vertical walls, the partitions being substantially parallel to one wall of the vessel and defining flat, substantially vertical spaces communicating with one another at the top and at the bottom, and upwardly concave semi-cylindrical guide surfaces with horizontal generatrices parallel to the partitions being arranged edge to edge with one another forming the bottom of the vessel, each guide surface being placed beneath one partition and extending on each side thereof to guide the liquid mixture from one side of this partition to the other, guide vanes being provided near the free edges of the partitions to facilitate flow of the liquid mixture, and said gas injection means comprising chambers situated beneath the junction of two adjacent guide surfaces, a duct connect to a gas source opening into said chambers and each of said chambers communicating with gas outlet means adjacent said chambers.