Aeration system for liquid

• US 20060103036A1
• Filed: 11/30/2004
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ross A. Oades
• Original Assignee: Ross A. Oades
• Inventors: Oades, Ross A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,121,532 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 261/124
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/305 Treatment of water, waste water or sewage
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/231122 the flow guiding elements being dome-shaped elements, i.e. for trapping air, e.g. cap-, umbrella- or inversed cone-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/23113 characterised by the disposition of the bubbling elements in particular configurations, patterns or arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/23121 having injection means, e.g. nozzles with circumferential outlet
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/231231 the outlets being in the form of perforations
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/20 using diffusers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/10 Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage

Abstract

An aeration tank used in a method of treating effluent includes a pipe for transporting the effluent from the source to the tank bottom and a discharge duct having a siphon effect for tapping off an overflow from the tank as more effluent is added from the source. An array of generally horizontal pipes is located in the tank having a series of exit holes along their length and connected to an air plenum at one side wall for feeding air into the end of each of the pipes, the pipes being arranged in columns one above another such that the air escapes from the pipes of the array through the holes to inject air into the effluent in the tank at positions spaced transversely, longitudinally and vertically. The pipes have flat upper discharge surfaces. Above each pipe is provided a collector channel which collects bubbles as they get too large and channels them to one end to be replaced by fresh small bubbles from a next above pipe.

Claims

1. Apparatus for aeration of liquid comprising:

a tank for receiving the liquid from a source having a tank bottom and tank sides for receiving and containing a quantity of the liquid during aeration;

a pipe for transporting the liquid from the source into the tank arranged to discharge the liquid adjacent the tank bottom;

a discharge duct for tapping off an overflow from the tank as more liquid is added from the source;

an array of pipes in the tank each extending across the tank from one side toward an opposite side and each having a series of exit holes along its length;

and an air feed system including an air pump for feeding air into one end of each of the pipes;

the pipes being arranged at different depths in the tank such that the air escapes from the pipes of the array through the holes to inject air into the liquid in the tank at positions spaced transversely, longitudinally and vertically.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein there is provided above each pipe a collecting channel for collecting bubbles rising from the pipe, each collecting channel being arranged to direct the collected bubbles to one side of the tank to remove the collected bubbles from the main part of the tank.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein above each collecting channel is defined a further pipe for release of further bubbles.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein each collecting channel forms an underside of a next adjacent pipe.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein each channel is separate from a next adjacent pipe.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each pipe has a generally flat upper surface spanning across a significant part of the width of the tank.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the pipes overlap in width and are staggered vertically to form a labyrinth path for the flow of the liquid from the bottom of the tank toward the top of the tank.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the pipes are parallel and coextensive.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the air feed system includes a plenum formed at the end of each of the pipes having an opening through one side wall into the plenum.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the discharge duct defines a liquid level and wherein the pipes have a top end below the liquid level.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the discharge duct includes a portion which extends downwardly within the tank from an apex with a bottom entry mouth and an exterior portion depending downwardly from the apex outside the tank so as to form a siphon effect at the mouth.

3. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the collecting channels are inclined upwardly toward said one side of the tank.