Liquid-solid particle or liquid-gas-solid particle contacting method

Claim 1

The method of claim 1 wherein the specific gravity of said particulate solid is at least 1.05 times that of said liquid.

Claim 4

A method of uniformly closely contacting a liquid, a gas and a particulate solid which comprises a. accommodating in a contact zone a particulate solid which is greater in specific gravity than said liquid, b. introducing said liquid and gas into said contact zone from the lower portion thereof, c. causing substantially all of said particulate solid to flow continuously and also move upward through said contact zone solely by the flowing action of said liquid and gas and in the absence of mechanical agitation, thereby substantially contacting said liquid, gas and particulate solid with each other, and d. allowing substantially all of said liquid, gas and said particulate solid to ascend through said contact zone, overflow into an overflow zone which is provided above and larger in cross-section area than said contact zone, e. the particulate solid overflowing into said overflow zone being allowed to fall under gravity within a precipitation zone in the substantial absence of a flow of said liquid, said precipitation zone being provided exteriorly of said contact zone with the upper portion thereof in communication with said overflow zone and the lower portion in communication with the lower portion of said contact zone, f. said particulate solid forming a thickly accumulated layer in the lower portion of said precipitation zone and gradually moving downward in that state under gravity to be recycled into the lower portion of said contact zone, and g. said liquid and gas overflowing into said overflow zone being withdrawn to the outside of the system from said overflow zone above said contact zone.