Water circulation systems for ponds, lakes, and other bodies of water

• US 7,798,784 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2007
• Issued: 09/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ixom Operations Pty Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Medora Environmental, Inc.
• Inventors: Kudrna, Gary A., Tormaschy, Willard R., Bleth, Joel J., Obritsch, Tait J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Freay; Charles G
• Assistant Examiner(s): COMLEY, ALEXANDER BRYANT
• Application Number:
  US11/848,425
• Publication Number:
  US 20080000818A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 417/61, 210/121, 21017001-17011, 210/221.2, 2102421-2424, 415/7, 261/34.1, 261/91, 261/120
• US Class Current: 417/61
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/23341 with tubes surrounding the stirrer
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/503 Floating mixing devices
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/36 ultrasonic vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/463 by electrocoagulation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/48 with magnetic or electric fields C02F1/46 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/105 Phosphorus compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/009 Apparatus with independent power supply, e.g. solar cells, windpower, fuel cells for electrolysis apparatus C02F2201/46165
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/22 O2
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/40 Liquid flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/16 the aerator having a vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/165 using vertical aeration channels
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 7/00 Aeration of stretches of water
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/212 Solar-powered wastewater sewage treatment, e.g. spray evaporation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/10 Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/37 using solar energy

Abstract

Circulation systems for ponds, lakes, or other bodies of water. In one set of embodiments, water is drawn up from the depths of the body for exposure to the atmosphere and to generate an overall, high flow circulation pattern throughout the entire body. In other embodiments, the circulation in the body of water is primarily limited to an upper aerobic zone with only small and controlled volumes from a lower anaerobic zone being brought up. Each system preferably includes a flotation platform, dish, impeller, and draft tube with specific modifications to the various systems to adapt them for use in a variety of environments.

Claims

1. A circulation system for drawing water from the depths of a body of water to the surface for exposure to the atmosphere and creating a circulation pattern in the body of water, said system including a flotation platform, a dish supported slightly below the surface of said body of water in a submerged position, said submerged dish having upper and lower submerged surfaces, an impeller, and a draft tube depending from an annular housing wherein the bottom of the submerged dish is spaced from and above the top of the housing to create a submerged annular opening therebetween extending substantially about a vertical axis and wherein a first portion of the water uplifted through the draft tube by the impeller passes out of the submerged annular opening underneath the submerged lower surface of said submerged dish and a second portion of the uplifted water passes up through the submerged dish and out over the submerged upper surface of the submerged dish.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the ratio of the first and second portions is about 2:

1 so that about ⅔

rds of the uplifted water passes out the submerged annular opening underneath the submerged lower surface of said submerged dish and about ⅓

rd passes out over the submerged upper surface of the submerged dish.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the ratio of the first and second portions is about 3:

1 to 1;

1.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the impeller has a plurality of blades with diameters less than the diameter of the annular housing wherein an annular gap is created between the blades and the housing.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the blade diameters are less than the diameter of the draft tube.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the draft tube is constructed to be substantially neutrally buoyant separate from the flotation platform, dish, housing, and impeller.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the submerged upper surface of the submerged dish is substantially concave.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the submerged lower surface of the submerged dish is substantially convex.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said submerged upper concave surface and said submerged lower convex surface of said submerged dish are substantially complementary to one another.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the submerged lower surface of the submerged dish is substantially convex.