Liquid circulating device

• US 4,187,263 A
• Filed: 01/15/1979
• Issued: 02/05/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Atara Corp.
• Original Assignee: Aero-Hydraulics Corporation
• Inventors: Lipert, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiesa, Richard L.
• Application Number:
  US06/003,707
• Time in Patent Office: 386 Days
• Field of Search: 261/77, 261/121 R, 261/123, 261/36 R, 261/DIG. 75, 137/206, 137/209, 210/220, 210/221 P, 210/180, 405/22
• US Class Current: 261/77
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/20 using diffusers
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/223 using "air-lift"
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 5/26 Installations for stirring-up sewage disintegrating garbage to be evacuated with sewage B02C18/0084; devices on water-closet bowls E03D
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/10 Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3127 With gas maintenance or application

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for causing circulation within a large body of fluid. The apparatus comprises a "large bubble" generator exposed to the pressure of the fluid at a predetermined level, a vertically extending standpipe, an inverted siphon between the standpipe and the generator, and a transverse connection between the standpipe and a vertically extending stackpipe. Upon generating a large gas bubble into the stackpipe, the gas acts as a piston within the stackpipe, pushing liquid upwardly therethrough, and thereby drawing liquid into the bottom. The continuous passage of such large bubbles through the stackpipe results in a current flow circulation through the large standing body of liquid. The advantage of the present type of large bubble generator, is that the generator can be placed at a position beneath the surface of the standing body of liquid a distance limited only by the rapidity at which a large bubble can be generated, as it is desirable that in steady state operation, a large bubble enter the stackpipe before the preceding large bubble has exited from the top.

Claims

1. A device for creating circulation within a body of liquid, the device comprising a substantially vertically extending stackpipe means designed to be wholly submerged within the liquid, the stackpipe having an upper discharge opening and a lower inlet opening;

a large-bubble generator means located adjacent the stackpipe and comprising a gas-accumulator chamber having a peripheral wall, a top wall, and an opening at the chamber bottom;

a substantially vertically extending standpipe adjacent the accumulator chamber and the stackpipe;

an inverted siphon defining fluid flow connecting means between the upper portion of the accumulator chamber and the standpipe;

means for delivering gas under pressure into the accumulator chamber;

transverse gas flow conduit means between the upper end of the standpipe and the stackpipe, the transverse conduit connecting through the peripheral wall of the stackpipe; and

secondary liquid inlet means into the transverse conduit between the standpipe and the stackpipe.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the transverse conduit connects at a first end into the stackpipe at a position located below the top end of the stackpipe a distance of at least about four times the diameter of the stackpipe (4·

D).

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the second end of the transverse conduit comprises a divergent opening, having a maximum diameter greater than that of the upper end of the standpipe, the upper end of the standpipe opening into the divergent opening and defining an annular clearance between the standpipe upper end and the divergent opening, providing for the secondary inlet of liquid into the stackpipe.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein the position is located above the bottom end of the stackpipe a distance of at least about three times the diameter of the stackpipe (3·

D).

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the lower end of the standpipe is closed.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the lower end of the standpipe is open.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the lower standpipe opening is a restricted orifice opening.

8. The device of claim 6 wherein the ratio of the area of the secondary inlet opening to the area of the open lower end of the stackpipe is designed to provide for not more than about 10 percent of the liquid flow to enter the stackpipe through the transverse conduit.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the secondary inlet to the transverse conduit is through a peripheral wall of said transverse conduit, adjacent to the peripheral wall of the stackpipe and is open to the liquid in which the device is designed to be submerged.

10. A system for treating sewage and the like in a liquid body, comprising a tank for the liquid sewage;

a substantially vertically extending stackpipe positioned within said tank;

the stackpipe having a lower inlet opening and an upper discharge opening below a predetermined level within said tank;

a large-bubble generator means located within the tank adjacent the stackpipe; and

comprising a gas accumulator chamber having a peripheral wall and a top wall, the bottom of the chamber being substantially open;

a substantially vertically extending standpipe adjacent the accumulator chamber and the stackpipe within the tank;

an inverted siphon defining fluid flow connecting means between the upper portion of the accumulator chamber and the standpipe;

pressure means for delivering gas under pressure into the accumulator chamber;

transverse gas flow conduit means between the upper end of the standpipe and stackpipe, the transverse conduit connecting through the peripheral wall of the stackpipe at one end of the conduit; and

secondary liquid inlet means into the transverse conduit between the standpipe and the stackpipe, whereby the generation of a large bubble of gas passes from the accumulator chamber up through the stackpipe, acting as a piston to generate a current flow through a large body of liquid within the tank.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the bottom end of the stackpipe is located a distance of between about 3 inches and about 12 inches above the bottom of the tank, sufficiently above the bottom to permit the flow of liquid from the tank up through the stackpipe.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the top end of the stackpipe is located a distance of at least about three times the diameter (D) of the stackpipe (3·

D) below the surface of any liquid in the tank.