CA1135658A - Gas diffuser, aerator, or sparger apparatus and method - Google Patents

Abstract

GAS DIFFUSER, AERATOR, OR SPARGER APPARATUS AND METHOD
ABSTRACT
The field of the invention relates to the disso-lution of gasses such as air or oxygen in aqueous liquid as is commonly done in the treatment of sewage wastes.
The problem in the prior art is to effect sufficient dissolution of such gasses to avoid the waste of gasses not dissolved, Also, to effect the dissolution of grater quantities of gas to more quickly treat suspended contaminants. This prior art problem is greatly aided by causing both the gas and the liquid being treated to intersect magnetic flux lines simultane-ously. Momentarily this displaces the hydrogen bonding in aqueous liquids which lower viscosity and facili-tates dissolution of gas at the liquid interface of each gas bubble. This greatly improved dissolution of gas in the gaseous treatment of liquids is effected by gas chamber (4) which releases gas into the liquid in which submerged. The released gas causes circulation of liquid between magnetic chamber walls (12). Here the gas contacts the liquid at the moment of hydrogen bond displacement by the intersecting flux lines of magnetic plates (2).

Description

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GAS DIFFUSERl_ AERATOR, OR SPARGER APPARATUS AND M~THOD

S BACKGROUND OF THE_INVENTION

The invention relates to improved method and appara-tus for introducing gasses for dissolution into liquid.
lO This is when gasses are utilized in the treatment of aqueous liquid as is well-known. Generally known as diffuser, aerator, or sparger apparatus, improvement shown herein attains substantially more effective attain-ment of the object of various gas treatments of liquid 15 Appa~atus of the type referred to and which is improved as shown herein is represented by U.S. Patent Nos.
3,977,606, 4,007,240, 3,953~553, 4,093,681, 3,575,350, 4,022,854 and 3,857,910.

In addition to the gaseous treatment of liquids in pools or tanks by carbon dioxide or chlorination for example, a~tificial aera~ion is well known as means for introducing dissolved oxygen into water. Such aeration has the object of increasing the oxygen content of 25 aqueous systems of water management. These systems are those with quality impaired stemming from use in commer-cial fishery operation or amateur aquaria use, the discharge of industrial waste iD S treams and lagoons such as by petrochemical or paper plants, the massive 30 impairment of water quality and the pollution thereof s~emming from necessary usage in municipal sewage systems.

The prior art has addxessed itself to the problems 35 of achieving effective gas dissolution in liquid ~56 58 essentially by the utilization of conduit-connected per-forated tubing positioned under liquidO With gas intro-5 duced into the conduit the tubing is able to release thegas, the dissolution of which is desired in the liquid, as a myriad of small bubbles. Such apparatus is conventionally known as diffuser, gas aerator, or sparger apparatus. Frequently the perforated tubing 10 portion of the apparatus is comprised of fritted glass, sintered polymer granules compressed into a gas perme-able conduit for gas, or any suitable gas per~eable material able to conduct and release gas into liquid forming a myriad of small bubbles therein.
Albeit the recognized utility of gas treatment and aerating means in water management, methods related thereto such as the above have not been wholly satis-factoryO This is because of low efficiency in 20 dissolution or absorption requiring high gas input requirements with much waste of the gas introduced.
Bioche~ical oxygenation employs air as the oxygen source utilizing large quantities thereof, because of such - waste, with substantial power required~ This is in 25 providing the excess quantities needed for required dissolution of oxygen in the water being treated~

The prior art has long sought to improve gas-liquid contacting ~echniques by means employing agi-30 tated gas-liquid columns, plate-type columns, mechanical mixing in combination with diffusers~ multiple gas contact tanks in series, the use of temperature and pressure to aid gas dissolution. However there has been no system of gas transfer in water management that may il;3565i~

be considered substantially the superior of known prior art methods such as those above.

The difficulty of efficient gas-liquor transfer in large water management systems may be appreciated, for example, by reference to small scale amateur aquaria.
Here air pumps are commonly utilized to introduce air 10 as a source of oxygen to aquaria water containing fish.
The utility of the introduced oxygen is maintenance of water quality by biochemical oxidation of the nitrite content of the water stemming from considerable waste discharged by fish. Levels of Q.l mg N/liter (ppm~
15 represent satisfactory water condition otherwise fish will lack appetite, have closed fins, be susceptible to disease, and succumb to higher levels of nitrite concen-tration they cannot tolerate. It was believed at one time that the rising bubbles fro~ artificial aeration as 20 practised in aquaria and similar wastewater treatment systems totally dissolved as they rose in the water.
However it is now known that this is untrueO Such bubbling essentially merely moves water to the surface.
Most of the oxygenation in such systems occurs at the 25air-water interface from the exposure of the water surface to air. This represents inefficient and poor attainment of objectives in water quality management.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly, in general terms, the present invention provides a new and substantially improved method and apparatus for the treatment of liquid by the addition of gas theretoO The gas may be nearlv any gas such as ~-.

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carbon dioxide, chlorine, oxygen, or air utilized because of its oxygen content. The processes include those carbonating liquid as hy using carbon dioxide, the use of chlorine gas in the chemical. treatment of swim~ing pool water; the utiliæation of oxyqen (or air because of containing oxysen) in nearly an~ process of treatment of contaminated water.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a diffuser for discharging gas into a body of liquid, the diffuser having a first gas chamber, inlet means for gas in communication with the interior of the gas ehamber and outlet means for ~as from the chamber including at least one perforation located in an end wall of the chamber opposite the inlet means. A second magnetic chamber is defined by spaced apart opposed sidewalls made of material magnetizable or conductive to lines of magnetic flux with magnetic means being provided for inducing magnetic poles in the opposed sidewalls of the magnetic chamber and constructed and arranged to provide essentially horizontal magnetic flux lines across the upper portion of the magnetie ehamber. The sidewalls of the magnetie ehamber are eonstructed and arranged so that gas from the gas ehamber perforation is discharged into the magnetie chamber between the sidewalls at an open bottom of the magnetie ehamber and permitted to rise and leave the ehamber through an open top of the chamber when the diffuser apparatus is located beneath the surface of a body of liquid.
The sidewalls are further constructed and arranged to permit liquid fro~ the liquid body to enter the magnetic chamber to replace liquid vertically lifted from the magnetic chamber and intersecting the flux lines simultaneously with the gas ~4' mb/~ rfi~ - 4 -1~356S~

vertically lifting the liquid and also intersecting the magnetic flux lines.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for treating liquid with an aqueous component wherein diffuser means are utilized for discharging a gas into the body of liquid for the treatment thereof.
The method includes the steps of providing a first gas chamber submerged in the body of liquid, providing a source of gas and inlet means therefor in communication with the interior of the gas chamber, providing outlet means for gas from the gas chamber including at least one perforation located in an end wall of the chamber opposite the inlet. The method further includes the steps for providing a second magnetic chamber defined by spaced apart opposed sidewalls made of material magnetizable or conductive to lines of magnetic flux, and providing means for inducing magnetic poles in the opposed sidewalls of the magnetic chamber, the means constructed and arranged to provide magnetic flux lines across the magnetic chamber, the opposed sidewalls of the chamber being constructed and arranged to permit liquid from the liquid body and gas discharged from the gas chamber to enter a portion of the magnetic chamber, pass between its sidewalls intersecting the magnetic flux lines between its sidewalls and to be discharged from another portion of the magnetic chamber so that both the gas and the aqueous component of the liquid into the discharge are simultaneously caused to intersect the magnetic flux lines in treating the gas, treating contaminants suspended in the liquid, and aiding the dissolution of the gas in the aqueous component of the liquid.

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The present invention is believed to include the principle of weakening the hydrogen bonding of molecules of water to reduce the viscosity thereof. This is at the location of and simultaneously with dissolving gasses therein as desired for the water treatment practised. This is done by the magnetic means found to be surprisingly effective because of the small energy of hydrogen honding as compared witll ordinary chemical bonds. The apparatus for practising the above method substantially enlarges and improves the results of nearly all water treatment systems with which utilized. Also large reduction in the waste of such gasses added to liquids hy prior art methods, although not dissolved, is an attendant benefit.
There are numerous theoretical possibilities in explanation of the discovered substantially improved results of this apparatus for wastewater treatment. In addition to lowering viscosity of aqueous systems by believed disruption ; of hydrogen bonds when presenting gasses for dissolution, gasses such as oxygen are paramagnetic. Also, the apparatus 2Q is arranged to provide magnetic circuits which may act upon the outer electron shells of molecules. These are the molecules of numerous suspended contaminants in the aqueous systems being treated. I do not wish to he bound by theoretical explanation but, under the most difficult conditions, use of the suhject method and apparatus provides spectacular achievenent in water quality and clarity.
The apparatus of the invention suitable for practising the method disclosed may comprise aerator or diffuser or sparger means. This is that suitable for introducing gas into . ~ - ~,b/~ 5 -I

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water and releasing gas therein forming a myriad of fine bubbles in the liquid. Immediately adjacent the point of release the air-lift effect of such gas causes both the gas and lifted ~iater to pass through multiple magnet fields arranged in combination with the aerator of diffuser. Both the rising gas and the liquid are caused to intersect magnetic flux lines of magnetic circuits at right angles.
The above and other objects and advantages of the method and apparatus of this invention will become apparent 1~ from the following more detailed description when taken in , conjunction with the accompanying drawings of illustrative i embodiments.
. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved diffuser apparatus of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of Fig. 1.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment , ~ ~ mb/~ - 5a -i of the improved diffuser apparatus of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a method of treating liquid by the discharge of gas thereinto utiliz-ing the improved diffuser apparatus of the present invention.

Figure S is a perspective view of a method of treating, by oxygenation or aeration, sewage wastewater.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a method of improving the treatment of the water of recirculated 15 systemsO This is those utilizing air-lift pumping and polluted by the nitrite wastes of aquatic life such as fish.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a method of 20 improving the treatment of bodies of liquidO This is by utilizing the improved diffuser of the present invention as an adjunct to filter systems apparatus and other apparatus conventionally utilized in water treatment systems.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFER~ED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate the general construction of an improved diffuser apparatus. The diffuser apparatus 2 is shown as consisting of a first chamber 4 for the introduction o~ gas thereinto by a conduit that may be connected by 10 suitable means to a inlet 6. The first gas chamber 4 is normally provided with closure means 5 of any suit-able construction arranged at the chamber end opposite that of the inlet end 6. The construction of gas chamber 4 may be that of a hollow conduit with perfo-15 rations located in its sidewall for the discharge of gasfrom its interior. Also, as is well-known, the function of conducting gas and discharging it may be provided by making the sidewalls 7 of chamber 4 of particles of plastic, glass, or other materials which are pressed 20 together to form a unitary mass with a myriad of small passages between the par~icles. Arranged in this manner, gas may be conducted through such a unitary mass and dis-charged from the surface 9 of the gas conducting chamberO The surface of the unitary mass serves as the 25 sidewalls of the gas conducting chamber. Alternatively, for reasons better understood as shown following, the sidewall surface may be defined by, or supported upon slotted or perforated tubular member 11 of metallic or other material suitable for conducting a magnetic circuit~
30 When threaded at each end such a member is useful for the assembly of apparatus elements along its length as shownO

With further reference to Figs. 1 and 2 it can be seen that flat members 8 which may be discs of 1135~5~

non-corrosive magnetically conductive material such as magnetic grade stainless steel, galvanized iron, alloys and compositions known in the magnetic art as able to 5 conduct magnetic fields, are spaced along the axial length of chamber 4. Chamber 4 may be arranged to extend through openings in flat members 8 defining magnetic chamber sidewalls. The flat members 8 define sidewalls of a second magnetic chamber 12 open at its 10 lower end and in fluid communication with the perforate surface 9 of chamber 4 from which gas is discharged.
Magnetic means 13 of aluminum nickle cobalt alloy, "ALNICO",.barium ferrite, or amorphous metal alloy com-positions such as described in U.S. Patent No. 3,856,513, 1~ are suitably arranged in magnet~callyconductive relation-ship as shown. This is adjacent members 8 for the purpose of inducing magnetic flux lines between magnetic chamber 12 sidewall upper edges and crossing from one side to the other~ As is readily apparent, molecules of 20 gas discharged from the perforate sidewall surface 9 of chamber 4 rise upwardly in body of liquid in which the apparatus is intended to be used. Arranged as shown - both the gas, and the aqueous liquid into which gas dissolution is intended, simultaneously intersect the ~5 essentially horizontal flux lines of the magnetic circuit established at the upper portions of magnetic chambers 12. This is as the gas leaves the diffuser rising into the body of liquid being treated. Circulation of the liquid into the magnetic chamber accompanies the 30 dissolution of gas because of air lift effect of the g2S
discharged into the lower portion of the liquid.

~lthough the induced magnetic field may be arr2nced in various ways in achieving the beneficial results of the invention. It is very desirable to arrange magnetic poles such as represented by the letters N and S in 5 Fig. 2. By arranging similar or repelling poles adjacent discs or members 8 as shown, very efficient - flu~ concentrations may be provided extending across the upper region of chambers 12.

10 The utilization of amorphous magnetic materials such as those of Patent No. 3,856,513 permits fabricating the sidewalls of magnetic chambers 12 of various suitable shapes. This is so that the chamber sidewalls themselves may comprise the magnetic means required by the improved lS apparatus of the invention. Additionally two domain magnetic structures providing like adjacent poles may be provided advantageously such as by the magnetizing method of Trikilis, U.S. Patent No. 3,418,613.

The magnetic circuits required by the apparatus of the invention may be further enhanced by providing side-wal~ material for chamber 4, which sidewall extends between opposed members defining walls of chamber 12, of perforated magnetically conductive material such as 25 magnetic grade stainless steel, gas permeable electri-cally conductive particles pressed into suitable shape~
or other suitable means. Various arrangements of magnetic means and openings permitting discharge of gas from the chamber 4 into chamber 12 may be utilizedO
30 That shown with the perforated surface 9 for gas discharge extending between magnets 13 arranged along the length of gas cha~ber 4 is a preferred arrangement.

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Also, the magnetic material itself may be perforated to permit the passage of gas therethrough. As is 5 apparent to those skilled in mechanical applications many arrangements may be provided. However it is essential that the arrangement selected prcvide effi-ciently both for gas discharge and magnetic chamber magnetic flux concentration as shown. This for reason 10 of being essential to the objects of the invention~

Figure 3 is another embodiment 2~ of the invention, Diffuser 20 differs in that it is arranged with the pexforate gas outlets 90 fro~ the interior 15 chamber spaced vertically above inlet 22. As shown the magnetic sidewalls 80 of chambers 120 correspond to sidewalls 8 of chambers 12 of Figso 1 and 20 The chambers are arranged in a manner permitting the entry of gas into the lower concentric portions thereof with 20 discharge from the top portion. Bar magnet means 130 polarized and arranged in accordance with the showings of the apparatus of Fig. 2 provide the required magnet circuit flux lines across the upper portions of magnetic chambers 120 also arIanged for liquid flow there-25 into rom the body of liquid in which the apparatus issubmerged. It is contemplated that normally the apparatus of Figs. 1, 2, and 3 will be located in the lower portion of the bodies of liquid in which being utilized. This aids the circulation of the liquid 30 because of the gas-lift effect of the gas discharged thereinto~ An advantage of the apparatus of the embodi-ment of Figure 3 is ease in connecting multiple units along the length of the upper portion of an elongate conduit (not shown) for conducting gas, This is merely - 11356S~

by inserting threaded inlet 22 into threaded openings provided in such a conduit. This is as an aerating, for example, large bodies of liquid.
s Figure 4 is an illustrative embodiment of the method of aq~eous liquid treatment such as is well known with chlorine, carbon dioxide, and similarly. Where the body of liquid is of large size multiple units may be 10 connected to a central header 3; or alternatively, to a length of conduit (not shown) containing the treatment gas under pressure with the conduit extended under the liquid body.

15 Corrosive conditions may result from certain gasses in which event consideration is properly given to the selection of materials resistant to the expected con-ditions stemming from the intended use of the apparatus.
The selection of suitable materials for expected con-20 ditions of corrosion does not require elaborationOAdditionally, the elements of the apparatus may be coated with resinous materials for the purpose of corrosion resistance by this means. Also, such coatings have the advantage of lowering the wett~bility of the 25 surface of the apparatus. This is desirable when located in heavily contaminated bodies of liquid and the contaminants have tendency to adhere to surfaces fouling openiDgs and similarly.

As shown in Figure 5, the method of ~eration of sewage wastewater utilizing the described apparatus entails no changes. This is in the mechanical apparatus conventionally utilized for mixing and other purposes in water treatment. This is as such mechanical means havebeen found to be of benefit in the past. The apparatus of the invention is merely substituted for prior art 5 diffuser apparatus ordinarily used in combination with such prior art water treatment means. The result of utilizing the method of the inven~ion is substantially - reduced power and material requirements for the treatment of equivalent quantities of wastewater; or, alternative-10 ly, substantial improvement in the quantity of waste-water treated with the expenditure of the same or lessor amounts of power and treatment gas and material~

Directing attention to Figure 6, air-lift pumping 15 such as that illustrated is of proven utility in both large and small water treatment installationsO In small installations such as the well-known aquaria adjunct illust~ated, air is introduced into the pumping leg as shownO In such cases diffuser 2 replaces the air 20 inlet diffuser normally utilized in such applications.
The substitution of the improved apparatus of this invention facilitates the pumping lift provided by this type of apparatus. This is in addition to incidental increase of the aeration of system water and beneficial 25 treatment thereof.

Figure 7 illustrates the method of water treatment particularly with recirculatory systems which essentially rely upon filter apparatus and other means for water 30 treatment. Such apparatus requires ~requent attention because of problems of filter replacement and mainte-nance in providing a satisfactory level of water quality. Use or the method and apparatus 2 of this - ` 113565 invention, connected to a source of aeratinO gas (not shown) as a separate adjunct to other system elements, provides greatly enhanced water quality overall with 5 greatly extended periods of filter replacement and maintenance. This is in providing improved water quality in numerous systems of water management.

It is to be understood that the examples present 10 in the foregoing specification are merely illustrative of this invention and are not intended to limit it in any manner; nor is the invention to be limited by any theory regarding its operability. The scope of the invention is to be determined by the appended claims.

Claims (16)

GAS DIFFUSER, AERATOR, OR SPARGER APPARATUS AND METHOD

1. A diffuser for discharging gas into a body of liquid comprising, in combination, a first gas chamber, inlet means for gas in communication with the interior of said gas chamber, outlet means for gas from said chamber comprising at least one perforation located in an end wall of said chamber opposite said inlet means, a second magnetic chamber defined by spaced apart opposed sidewalls made of material magnetizable or conductive to lines of magnetic flux, magnetic means for inducing magnetic poles in said opposed sidewalls of said magnetic chamber and constructed and arranged to pro-vide essentially horizontal magnetic flux lines across the upper portion of said magnetic chamber, the sidewalls of said magnetic chamber being constructed and arranged so that gas from said gas chamber perforation is discharged into said magnetic chamber between said side-walls at an open bottom of said magnetic chamber and permitted to rise and leave said chamber through an open top of said chamber when said diffuser apparatus is located beneath the surface of a body of liquid, the sidewalls being further constructed and arranged to permit liquid from said liquid body to enter said magnetic chamber to replace liquid vertically lifted from said magnetic chamber and intersecting said flux lines simultaneously with the gas vertically lifting the liquid and also intersecting said magnetic flux lines.

2. The diffuser of Claim 1 wherein said first chamber is elongate with said inlet means at a first end of said chamber and closure means arranged at the second end of said chamber, the sidewall of said chamber extending between said first and second ends parallel to the elongate axis of said chamber, said at least one perforation being located in said elongate sidewall.

3. The diffuser of Claim 2 wherein a plurality of perforations in the sidewall of said gas chamber are arranged in its length between its first inlet end and opposed second closure end and a plurality of said magnetic chambers are positioned relative to said perforations so that gas from at least one perforation is discharged into the open bottom of each of said plurality of said magnetic chambers.

The diffuser of Claim 3 wherein said second magnetic chamber sidewalls are constructed and arranged as flat members with their periphereal edges extending circumferentially around the exterior surface of said first gas chamber outer wall.

5. The diffuser of Claim 2 wherein said first elongate chamber extends through axially located open-ings in the members defining said second magnetic side-walls.

6. The diffuser of Claim 2 wherein the outer wall of said first gas chamber is constructed of magnetically conductive material.

7. The diffuser of Claim 1 wherein said magnetic means defines said second magnetic chamber sidewalls.

8. The diffuser of Claim 1 wherein said inlet means is constructed and arranged for gas conduit connection thereto.

9. The diffuser of Claim 1 wherein said second magnetic chamber sidewalls are constructed of magnetic grade stainless steel.

10. The diffuser of Claim 1 wherein said diffuser is arranged in plurality with the inlet of each gas chamber in communication with a common conduit therefore

11. In a method for treating liquid with an aqueous component wherein diffuser means are utilized for dis-charging a gas into the body of liquid for the treatment thereof, and the method includes the steps of providing a first gas chamber submerged in said body of liquid, providing a source of gas and inlet means therefor in communication with the interior of said gas chamber, providing outlet means for gas from said chamber com-prising at least one perforation located in an end wall of said chamber opposite said inlet means;
the improvement comprising providing a second magnetic chamber defined by spaced apart opposed side-walls made of material magnetizable or conductive to lines of magnetic flux, providing means for inducing magnetic poles in the opposed sidewalls of the magnetic chamber said means constructed and arranged to provide magnetic flux lines across said magnetic chamber, the opposed sidewalls of said chamber being constructed and arranged to both permit liquid from the liquid body and gas discharged from the gas chamber to enter a portion of said magnetic chamber, pass between its sidewalls inter-secting the magnetic flux lines between its sidewalls and be discharged from another portion of said magnetic chamber, whereby both the gas and the aqueous component of the liquid into which discharged are simultaneously caused to intersect said magnetic flux lines in treating the gas, treating contaminants suspended in the liquid, and aiding the dissolution of the gas in the aqueous component of the liquid.

12. The method wherein a plurality of perforations are constructed and arranged in sidewalls of said gas chamber and a plurality of magnetic chambers are pro-vided in practising the method of Claim 11.

13. The method of Claim 11 wherein the gas for treating liquid comprises air.

14. The method of Claim 11 wherein the gas for treating liquid comprises oxygen.

15. The method of Claim 11 where the gas for treating liquid comprises chlorine.

16. The method of Claim 11 wherein the gas for treating liquid comprises carbon dioxide.