Porous air diffuser for treatment of liquids

• US 6,511,054 B1
• Filed: 10/05/2000
• Issued: 01/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Truman Green
• Original Assignee: Truman Green
• Inventors: Green, Truman
• Primary Examiner(s): BUSHEY, CHARLES S
• Application Number:
  US09/684,715
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: 261/120, 261/122.1, 261/122.2, 261/124, 261/DIG.70, 210/221.1, 210/221.2
• US Class Current: 261/122.1
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/2311 Mounting the bubbling devices or the diffusers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/231142 Mounting the gas transporting elements, i.e. connections between conduits
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/231151 the bubbling devices being fixed or anchored in the bottom
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/231152 the bubbling devices being supported, e.g. on cables or laying on the bottom
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/2312 Diffusers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/23125 characterised by the way in which they are assembled or mounted; Fabricating the parts of the diffusers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/23126 characterised by the shape of the diffuser element
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/1452 using fluids

Abstract

A porous diffuser is disclosed. The porous diffuser can be in the form of a hose or other structure, the wall of the hose or structure having many small and irregularly shaped channels and pores that allow gas to seep out of the hose into the liquid. The diffuser receives air, oxygen or other gasses, and releases these gasses as bubbles into the liquid through the channels and pores. As the bubbles migrate in the liquid, they diffuse their gas into the liquid, as well a mix the liquid. The porous diffuser also provides for convenient methods to purge the system of liquid that has seeped into the diffuser during normal use and to retrieve the diffuser when maintenance, repair or replacement is required. An anchoring system can be incorporated with the porous diffuser to overcome buoyancy problems associated with gas in a liquid environment which can reduce or prevent proper gas distribution.

Claims

1. A diffuser for aerating a body of liquid, the diffuser comprising:

a. a porous diffuser;

b. a stabilizing pipe securely attached to the porous diffuser; and

c. a purging mechanism, the purging mechanism extending above a surface of the body of liquid to be aerated.

2. The diffuser of claim 1 where the porous diffuser is selected from the group consisting of:

a. a commercially available porous water soaker hose;

b. a sheet of diffuser material stretched over a frame, the sheet of diffuser material being of the same composition as the soaker hose;

c. a sheet of diffuser material stretched over the top of a dome, the sheet of diffuser material being of the same composition as the soaker hose;

d. a sheet of diffuser material stretched over a perforated membrane support tube, the diffuser material being of the same composition as the soaker hose; and

e. a sheet of diffuser material stretched over the top of a disc, the sheet of diffuser material being of the same composition as the soaker hose.

3. The diffuser of claim 2 where the purging mechanism is attached directly to the porous diffuser.

4. The diffuser of claim 2 where the purging mechanism is attached to an outlet pipe connected to one end of the porous diffuser.

5. The diffuser of claim 3 or 4 where the purging mechanism is selected from the group consisting of:

a. a cap removably secured to one end of the porous diffuser or the outlet pipe;

b. a stopper removably secured to one end of the porous diffuser or the outlet pipe;

c. a cap securely attached to one end of the porous diffuser or the outlet pipe, the cap being adapted to alternate between a closed and open position;

d. a stopper securely attached to one end of the porous diffuser or the outlet pipe, the stopper being adapted to alternate between a closed and open position; and

e. a valve securely attached to one end of the porous diffuser or the outlet pipe, the valve being adapted to alternate between a closed and open position.

6. The diffuser of claim 5 further comprising an anchoring mechanism.

7. The diffuser of claim 6 where the anchoring mechanism is selected from the group consisting of:

a. a weight member securely attached to the stabilizing pipe of sufficient weight to overcome the buoyancy effect of the porous diffuser;

b. a stabilizing pipe being adapted to contain weighting material sufficient to overcome the buoyancy effect of the porous diffuser; and

c. a guide element of sufficient weight to overcome the buoyancy effect of the porous diffuser, the guide element capable or reversibly receiving the porous diffuser and stabilizing pipe.

8. The diffuser of claim 7 where the weight member is selected from the group consisting of:

a concrete block, a metal anchor, a coated hookless boat anchor and a metal weight.

9. The diffuser of claim 7 where the weighting material is selected from the group consisting of:

sand, concrete, steel rebar and any material having a specific gravity greater than 62.4 lbs/cubic foot.

10. A diffuser for aerating a body of liquid, the diffuser comprising:

a. a means for aeration;

b. a means for stabilizing the means for aeration; and

c. a means for purging, the means for purging extending above a surface of the body of liquid to be aerated.

11. The diffuser of claim 10 where the means for purging is attached directly to the porous diffuser.

12. The diffuser of claim 10 where the purging means is attached to an outlet pipe connected to one end of the porous diffuser.

13. The diffuser of claim 11 or 12 further comprising an anchoring means.