CA2007615A1 - Method of improving the quality of large amount of water and the quantity of dissolved oxygen therein, and apparatus for said improvement - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus, in which the quality of a large amount of water and/or the quantity of dissolved oxygen in said water is improved and which are characterized in that water, in which slaked lime is dissolved in advance, and/or water of high oxygen content, which is generated in advance, is supplied into water pumped by an intermittent Pneumatic water pumping unit so that the water having the slaked lime dissolved therein and/or the water of high oxygen content is diffused in the large amount of water. The present invention also relates to a method and an apparatus, in which the quality of large amount of water and/or quantity of dissolved oxygen in a large amount of water is improved and which are characterized in that water with slaked lime dissolved therein and/or water of high oxygen content is conducted to the bottom of a lake or the like; and an intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit is operated in the lake or the like so that the large amount of water is caused to Flow up and down and agitated.

Description

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1 Iille Or l,be Invcrlt,it)n Metl,(,(l Or ilnpr()vin~ tllc qualil,y of large am()unl Or water and the quailtity Or dissolved o,Yy~en thercin. and apparatus ~or said improvement 2. I;ield of the Invention l'he ~)rcserlt invention relatcs to a mcthod and an ap~)aralus, in which the qualitY of a large amount of water in a tap water supplY dam, a reser-voir, a pond, a lake, a marsh, a moat, a river or the like is improved.
The present invention also relates to a method and an apparatus, in which water with slaked lime dissolved therein and/or water of hi~h oxygen content is supplied into water pumped by an intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit and is diEfused along with the diffusion and circula-tion o~ the pumped water, so that the quality oF lar~e amount of water and/or the quantitY of dissolved oxygen in a large amount Or water is improved. The present invention further relates to a method and an apparatus, in which water with slaked lime dissolved therein and/or water Or high oxygen content is supplied into a deep laYer of water of low or no oxygen content and upward and downward flows of water are caused by an intermi-ttent pneumatic water pumping unit, so that the quality of lar~e amount of water and/or the quantity of dissolved oxygen in a large amount of water is improved.

3. Prior Art An intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit is conventionallY used to improve the quantity o~ dissolved oxygen in a large amount of water, ~f~3~ L"~

an(l prodlJce~ a gno(l effecl. An inl;erlniilerlL pneumatic ~ater pumping unil proposed by the presenl applicant as disclosed in the Japanese Utility Mo(Jel l'ublication No. 3913/~ has been also used in many points oF Japan and produced a higll effect.
Ihe quanlity of dissolved oxygen in a large amount of water in a dam, a lake. a marsh. a pond. a sea or lhe like can be effectively improved by using the before mentioned an intermittent pneumatic water purnping unit with relatively smaller energy. In case a dam etc. has more than 10 meters depth l;he overgrowth of the waterweeds can be effectively prevented by using the be-fore mentioned an intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit.
~ or example. the quantitY of dissolved oxYgen in a large amount of water comprises one million tons can be improved and the temperature of said water can be almost unified at any depth within a week by using only one unit of the before mentioned an intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit providing a diffuser tube having 0.5 meters in diameter and 10 meters in length supplied with pressurized air at about a rate of I m~ an hour.
A proposal about the adjustrnent of pll level oF tap water by slaked lime and a proposal about the prevention of corrosion of a water suPPIY
pipe bY calcium have been made.

4. Summary of the Invention As for a large amount o~ water is acid. it is difficult to change it alkaine. Although the dissolution of phosphorus -from -the ground undcr Ihe l.lr~e aln()llrlL o~ waLer inlo il can be suppressed by supplying oxygen throu~h lhG use ol the interinitlent pneumatic water pumping urlit it is diF~icult to remove phosphorus in the large amount of water.
Also as For a large amount of water whose saturated dissolved oxygen layer has a small deplh such as 30 cm to I m rrom the surface oF the Wal,CI', in a rel.ltivclY-lligll-tempcrature area such as the tropical and the subtropical regions or as for a mass of water whose layer of large depth such as 50 m or more has no oxYgen it is difficult to improve the quantity of dissolved oxygen onlY by using an intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit. Because said Pumpin~ unit operates so that water of no or low oxygen at the bottom of the large amount of water is pumped up to the surface of the water and diffused and water of saturated dissolved oxygen content at and near the surface of the water is moved down to the bottom thereof to improve the quality af the water o-f no or low oxygen content at the bottom of the water. Ilowever. if the depth oF the water of saturated dissolved oxygen content at and near the surface of the water is relativelY small. onlY the other water of low oxygen content in the water moves oll the whole so that it is di-~ricult to quickly improve the quantity of the dissolved oxygen in the water. This is a problem. Particularly in the case that aerobic microorganisms are propagating at the bottom of the large amoung of water to demand a large quantitY of oxYgen or that the large amount of water is a closed water such as a dam and a reservoir. into which much water of low or no oxygen content flows. it is likelY that enough oxygen cannot be supplied by the intermittent pneumatic water pumping unil. I~esides. it is likely that cnough l3xygen to propagate aerobic microorganisms to decompose a large quantitY ot organic substances deposited on the anaerobic ground under the large amount o~ water cannot be supplicd by the intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit.
I`his is another probleln.
Ihe ~resenl invcntion was made in order to solve the problems.
According to the Present invention alkaline high concentration water with slaked lime dissolved therein or produced ~rom caustic soda etc. is supplied into the water pumped bY an intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit so that the alkaline high concentration wa-ter is effectively dif~used and mixed into a large amount of water to successfully perform SUCtl improvement of the quality of the water as adjust the pll level of the water and fix phosphorus to prevent the eutrophication of the water.
According to the Present invention. water of high oxygen content or oversaturated oxYgen content which is generated in advance. is supplied into the water pumped by an intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit so that the water of high oxygen content is effectivelY
di~used as rapidly as possible to quickly increase the quantity of dissolved oxYgen in a large amount of water successfullY.
According to the present invention. water of high oxygen content is positively generated and then mixed into water -flowing into a large amount of water a layer of water of no or low oxYgen content in a lar~e amount oF water or water flowin~ into a closed large amount of water and water of no or low oxYgen content at and near the bottom of ~3~

lhe largc ~llTl()~lnt, ol Wat.('r iS pumped to lhl` surrace nf the water by an intermittenl pnellmatic water pumping unit and agitated and mixed the waler between the botlom and surface Or water so that the former Problem is solved.
Accordin~ly it is an obiect of the present invention to provide a method in which a larxe amount of waler is improved in nuality and which is characlerized in that the alkaline high concentralion water is supplied into water pumped by an intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit so that the pll level of the large amount of water is adjusted along with the diffusion and circulation of the pumped water.
Il is another object of the present invention to Provide a method in which the quality of large amount of water is improved and which is characterizcd in that the alkaline high concentration water is supplied into water pumped by an intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit so that a calcium and phosphorus compound is produced in said large amount of water and the pll level thereof is adjusted along with the diffusion and circulation of the pumped water.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method in which the quality of large amount of water is improved and which is characterized in that the water is iniected into a dissolution vessel containing slaked lime; and water with a calcium dissolved therein is taken out from said vessel and supplied into water pumped by an intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit. so that the pll level of the large amount of water is adjusted along with the diffusion and circulation of the pumped water.

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Il, is yel arlothol ot)ject of l,he proscnt inverlti(3rl to provide a method in which a largc amourlt Or water is im~roved in qualitY at any depth or at specific deplh layer and which is characterized in that thc alkaline high concelltration water is supplied into water pumped by multi sta~e int~rmittent pneumatic water pwnpin~ unit. so that the pll level Or lhe lar~e amounl of water at any depth or at specific depth layer is adiusted along with the diFFusion and circulation of the pumped water.
It is yet, another- object of the present invention to provide a method in which the pll level oF the large amount oF water is adiusted at the shallow depth laYer and/or deep depth layer.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method in which a large amount of water is improved in quality and which is characterized in that slaked lime is disposed in spouted water pumped by an intermittent pneumatic water pumpinR unit; and water with a high concentration of the slaked lime dissolved therein is mixed into the large amount of water along with the dif-~usion and circulation o~
the pumped water as the pumped water is caused to flow and cirucula-te.
It is Ye-t another obiect o-f the present invention to provide a method in which the quantity o~ dissolved oxygen in a large amount oF
water is improved and which is characterized in that water oF low or no oxygen content is taken out ~rom the large amount o~ water in a river or a closed water reservoir and changed into water oF high oxygen content in advance; and the water oF high oxygen content is supplied into water~
pumped bY an intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit. so that the water ~3~7'~
o~ hi~h nxyj~cn c()rlt(`rlt is (lirrused inlo l,he large amount o~ water along with lhe (lifrllsiorl arld circulal,i()rl Or the pulnpcd water.
It is another object Or the present invention to provide a method in which lhe nuantitY of dissolved oxygen in a large amount oF water is improved and which is characterized in that water oF low or no oxygen conterlL is l.akerl out rr()m the largc amount o~ water in a river or a closed water reservoir and chan~ed into water Or hi~h oxYgen content in advance; the water of high oxygen content is supplied into the low-or-no-oxygen-content portion Or the large amount of water; and the large amount of water is discontinuously caused to Flow up and down and circulate, by an intermittent pneumatic water PUmPing unit.
In the before mentioned objects of the present invention. an intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit comprises the upper and lower water pumping cylinders, and water pumping action is conducted on the upper water pumping cylinder and/or the lower water pumping cylinder.
To generate the water of high oxYgen content, air of high oxygen content o-F about 8U% is blown into the water of low or no oxygen content taken out froln the large amount of water.
It is yet another object of the present invention to pruvide a method in which the qualitY of a large amount of water and the quantity o~ dissolved oxygen in said water are improved and which is character-ized in that water with slaked lime dissolved therein and water of high oxygen content. which is generated in advance, are suPplied into water pumped bY an intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit so that the water with the slaked lime dissolved therein and the water of high oxygen colllent are di~rllsed in the large amount of water along with the diffusiorl and circlJlation of the pumped water lo adiust tlle pli level o~
the large amoullt Or water and improve the quantily oF dissnlved oxygen therein.
It is yet another object nr the present invention to provide a molho(J in whicll lllc nllalitY Or a lar~c am()un~ of water and tllc quantity o-F dissolved oxygen in said water are improved and which is charac terized in that water with slaked lime dissolved therein and water of high oxYgen content, which is generated in advance, are supplied into water pumped by an intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit so tha-t the water with the slaked lime dissolved therein and the water o-f high oxy~en content are dif~used in the large amount of water along with the di-ffusion and circulation of the pumped water to produce a calcium and phosphorus compound in the large amount of water and to adjust the pll level thereof and to improve the quantity of dissolved oxygen in said wa-ter.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method in which the quality of a large amount of water and the quantity of dissolved oxygen in said water are improved and which is charac-terized in that water is iniected into the lower a dissolution vessel containing slaked lime: and water with calcium dissolved therein taken out from said vessel; and said water with calcium dissolved therein and water of high oxYgen content. which is generated in advance, are supplied into the water pumped by an intermittent Pneumatic pumping unit.

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Il is yel arl()thei oi) jt.`Ct, Or th( preserlt invention to provide an apparatus which is For imProvin~ the quality o~ water and is character-ized in lhat the downstrealn end of a waler Feed pipe is connected to the lower portion of a dissolution vessel containing slaked lime; the upperstream end oF wate`r conveYanCe pipe is connected lo the upper portit)n Or said vesscl; and lhe downslleam end o~ said water conveyancc pipe is connected to the water suction cylinder of an intermittent pneumalic water pumping unit.
It is yet another object o-~ the present invention to provide an apparatus which is For improving the quality of water and is character-ized in that the downstream end oF a water Eeed pipe is connected to the lower portion Or a dissolution vessel containing slaked lime the upperstream end of water conveyance pipe is connected to the uPper portion oF said vessel; and the downstream end oE said water conveyance pipe is connected to all or some water pumping cylinders oE multi stage intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit.
It is yet another object oF the present invention to provide an apparatus which is Eor improving the quality oF water and is character-ized in that a water-passable container containing a slaked lime is disposed in spouted water pumped by an intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit in which an air chamber is provided under the water pumping cylinder ~or supplying a specific volume oF air into th~ water pumping cylinder at speci~ic interval. Since the solubility oF slaked lime to water is 1 600 Ing/Q or 0.16% at the temperature o~ 20 DC. a large quantity oE slaked lime put in a dissolution vessel or a large quantity n~ slake~(l lime block put in lhe watcr-pass.lble colltainer can be dissolved at lhe cnllstarlt rate in the water withoul causirlg a hindrance. Ior lha~ reas()rl, the managemenl of the apparatus is easy. For cxample, if a large quarllity of slaked lime is put in the dissolution vessel or the water-passable container and the water is passed through the vessel or containcr, calcium is ~radually dissolved in the water, continuously in a nearly constant sl;ate until the slaked lime is completely dissolved.
For that reason, the dissolution takes place steadily without automatic control. Since IO to 30 mg/~ of slaked l;me is needed for the adjustment of the pl-l level of water in an ordinary tap water dam or the like, the quality of such water whose amount is about 50 to 160 times as much as that of the water containing a high concentration of -the slaked lime which is dissolved by 1,600 mg/ Q as mentioned above can be improved by the present method and apparatus. Since ~0 to 100 mg/ ~ Or slaked lime is needed for the removal of phosphorus ~rom the water in the ordinary tap water dam or the like, the quality of such water whose amount is about 32 to 16 times as much as that oF the water containing the high concentration of the slaked lime which is dissolved by 1,600 mg/Q as mentioned above can be improved by the present method and apparatus.
When the water containing a high concentration of slaked lime is to be generated in advance in the methods provided in accordance with the present invention, the quantity of the water needs to correspond to that of the water to be processed for improving its quality. For example, the amounl Or the water containing the high concentration of slaked lime needs to be 10,000 tons for l.OOO.OOO tons of the water to l O

~)c pr()cessc(l llownvcl. the wat,er conl,aining a hi~ll concentration of slaked lime is generat,ed by using the waler takcn olll of th~ water to be proccssed. Ior that reasoll, the imProvement can bc smoothly and surely perf()emed.
Since lhe water-passable container containing a slaked lime is disposell in a ~)umped water diffusit)n area above thc pumpin~ unil in lhe aPParatus provided in accordance with the presenl invention, the mana~ement o r the apparatus is easy.
Once the quality of the water is improved in each of the methods and the apparatuses provided in accordance with the present invention, only the quality of water flowing into the former water is improved for improving and maintaining the quality of a large amount of water. For thal, reason. the cost of operation in each of the methods and the apparatuses nearly corresponds to the amount of the water flowing into the former. Besides, Problems based on eutroPllication are solved.
Althou~h the capacity of each of the intermittent pneumatic water pumpin~ units in the methods and the apparatus provided in accordance with the presenl invention depends on the amount of the processed water, thc cross-sectional form of a dam or the like containin~ it, and the mannels of the inflow and outflow o-F the water to and from the dam or like, the pumping unit needs to have one water pumping cylinder of 50 cm in diameter -for 1,000,000 tons of the processed water.
As a result of an experimenl, it has been confirmed that water diffuses and circulates almost uniformly even if the horizontal form of -the dam or the like is complicated or the distance between the shore of ~ 37'~
lhe dam or the like an(l lhe installed position of each of the apparatuses provided in accordance with the present invention is as large as 1.000 m or more. I`heref()re. the water with the slaked lime dissolved therein dif~uses and circulates so that the quality of all the water in the dam or the like is improved.
Although, Ihe before mentioned alkaline hi~h concentration water is produced by dissolving slaked lime into water. any olher method to produce alkaline high concentration water trom anY other alkaline chemicals may be adopted.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which is for improving the quantity of dissolved oxYgen in a large amount of water and is characterized in that a high-oxygen-content water feeder is connected to a high-oxygen-content water generator to which a water intake means is connected: and the watel feed means of the feeder is connected to the water suction cylinder of an intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which is for improving the quantity of dissolved oxygen in a large amount of water and is charac-terized in that a high-oxYgen-content water feeder is connected to a high-oxygen-content water generator to which a water intake means is connected: and the water feed means of the feeder is connected to all or some water pumping cylinders of multi stage intermittent pneumatic water pumping uni-t.
It is Yet another obiect of the present invention to provide an apparatus which is for improving the quantity of dissolved oxygen in a ~.6~ r~
lalge am()unt o~ waler an(i is chara(,terized in lhat a water dispersion mcans loca~ed al the side o~ in~l()w Or water to the large amuunl of water, a high-oxYgen-content water generator, a low-oxy~en-conlent water intake means and ar, intermittent Pneumatic water pumping unit are connected to each other.
The low-oxygen-content water intake means in each of the apparatuses is composed o~ a pump, a waler suction pipe connected to the Pump. and a dischar~e piPe connected to the pump. The water feed means in the former apparatus is composed o~ a pump and a water conveyance pipe.
In each of the apparatuses, the water Or high oxYgen content is generated bY blowin~ air of high oxYgen content Or about 60%-90% into water o~ low or no oxY~en content. in low o~ygen content the concentra-tion o~ dissolved oxygen is no more than I mg/Q. And the large amount of water to be processed is caused to discontinuously flow up and down and to circulate by the intermittent pneumatic water pumPing unit as a prlme mover.
In each of the apparatuses, the high-oxygen-content sir generator is made o~ a generation cylinder which is Filled with a nitrogen absorbent such as 7.eolite and has an air ~eed Port in one side o~ the cyiinder and a high-oxygen-content air takeout port in another side o~
the cylinder and said generation cylinder is connected to a water processin~ vessel throu~h said high-oxYgen-content air takeour port.
Nitrogen in air is adsorbed by the nitrogen adsorbent so that air oF
high oxygen content is generated. The air o~ high oxygen is blown into the water of no or low oxygen content so that the water of high oxygen ct~r~tent is genf ratcd. Ille watcr Or higi~ oxygen corltenl is supplied to the water pumped bY an intermiltent pneumatic water pumpin~ unit which is installed at an appropriate portion Or a lake, a pond or -the like and diffused into the watcr therein as the water is flowed and circulate between the bottom and surface by the intermittent pneumatic water pumpirlg unil so ll~at thc (lualltity of dissolved ()xygen is iml)roved. Thc quantity of disolved oxYgen in the water in the lake, the pond or the like, after the be~ore mentioned improvement process, can have the oxygen content of the water at about 5 mg/Q. The air of high oxygen content, in the present invention, has an oxygen concentration at about 60%-90%. ~nd a nitrogen absorbent, in the present invention, is every variety of zeolite.
It is Yet another obiect of the present invention to provide an apparatus in which the quantity of dissolved oxygen in a large amount of water and the qualitY of said water are improved and is characterized in that the downstream end of a water feed pipe ~or supplying wa-ter of high oxygen water is connected to the water pumping cYlinder of an intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit: also the downstream end o~ a water ~eed pipe for supplYing water with slaked lime dissolved therein is connected to the water pumping cylinder.
In each of the before mentioned apparatuses, the intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit is made of a sin~le water pumping cylinder, a plurality of water pumping cylinders, a multi stage construction such as combination of an upper and a lower water pumping cylinders or a multi stage intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit such as comprises upper nrlil an(l lowel unil. Ihe waler pulnping cylinder of the intermittent pneurrlatic water pumping unil in each of the apparatuses is about 30 cm to ~0 cm in diameter and about 5 m to 30 m in len~th, and maY be substituted by a pluralily of water pumping cylinders bundled together to obtain the same performance such as obtained by an intermittent pne(lmatic water pumpirl~ urlit having a water pumping cYlindcr o~ I m to 3 m in diameter. Also, the water pwnping cylinder may be substituted by a combination of upper and lower cYlinders, in which an upper water pumping cylinder for circulating the shallow portion of the water and a lower water pumping cylinder ror circulating the deep portion o~ the water. Iurther, the upper intermittent Pneumatic water pumping unit and the lower interm;ttent pneumatic water pumping unit are combined in vertically through a separator, and the shallow and deep portion are circulated by respective unit. In these cases, water with slaked lime dissolved therein and/or water of high oxYgen content may be supplied either into only the lower water pumping cylinder or into both the upper and the lower water pumping cylinders.
According to the present invention. slaked lime is dissolved in water so that the alkaline high concentration water. And said water is then di-f-fused in the large amount of watcr along with the di~fusion and circulation of the pumped water to be processed for improving quality and mixed therewith. The alkaline high concentration water can thus be easily mixed with the water to be processed to quickly and uniformly set the mixture at a concentration such as a pll level of about 7. The slaked lime putted on the water passage is gradually dissolved in the ~3~ LI~

water, conlirluollsly in a cnnstarll state without any managernent about the amount o~ dissolulion. since slaked lime can be dissolved in the water at the constant rate. 'I'he pll level oF the processed water can thlJs be adiusted lhrough the use of the slaked lime to prevent the corrosion oF an iron pipe or the like. Since calcium dissolved from lhe slaked lime into the ~ater colnbines wi~h dissolvcd phosphrous or the like to form an insol Utl le deposit, the quantity of the di S50 Ived phosphorus or the like is ~reatly reduced to decrease the eutrophica-tion oF the processed water.
The present invention can be effectively applied to imProve a quality o-F water of a pond, a lake, or the like where a wa-ter is under the influence of acid rain so that it is not inhabitable for fishes.
If the present invention is applied to a dam, a lake or the like having a considerable depth, the quality of water of their place can be improved effectivelY and rationally by conducting only the upper layer of water, or conducting the upper and lower layer of water respectively.
According to the present invention, water of high oxygen content is supplied into water, pumped by an intermittent Pneumatic water pumping unit so -that -the water of high oxY~en content dif~uses along with the diffusion and circulation of the pumped ~ater. If the pumping unit is a two-stage pumping unit having an upper and a lower water pumping cylinders and the water of high oxygen content is supplied into onlY
the lower water pumping cYlinder, the quantity of dissolved oxygen in only a deep layer of water can be quickly improved.
According to the present invention, water of high oxygen content is senl lo the boltoln ol` a lake or the like an~ upward and downward flows of water are causc(l by an intermittent Pneumatic water pumping unit so that watcr Or no or low oxy~en content is quickly changed into water of enough oxygen content to enable fishes and so forth to live in the lake or the like. and aerobic microorganisms on the ground of the lake or the like propagate to dec()mpose organic substances to prevent the genera-tion of harmful gas and tlle dissolution of nutrients into the water.
~fter the decomposition of the organic substances on the ground Or the lake or the like is completed. the consumption of oxygen is drastically reduced. Therefore. the supplied quantity of the water of high oxygen content can be diminished after a certain period of time. IF green algae becomes propagate in the lake or the like it is conceivable that the algae supply oxYgen to make it possible to obtain a necessary quantity of dissolved oxygen in the lake or the like onlY through the operation of a pumping unit aFter the decomposition of the organic substances is completed.
The present invention can be effectively applied to a watery place where the depth of the lligh-oxygen-content layer of water at and near the surface of the water is small as in the lake Pond or the like of tlle tropical and subtropical regions. For example the depth of the high-oxy~en-content layer of ~ater in a lake located at the ~mazon river and being 100 m in depth and 500.000.0UO tons in water amount is about 30 cm to I m and that of the no-oxygen-content layer of the water is overwhelmingly large. ~or that reason. it is near!y impossible to improve the quant.itY of dissolved oxygen in the water of the lake only by an internlittenL ~)nellnlatic water pumpin~ urlit. Ilowever. according l.o the prcsent invelltion the quarltily ol` dissolved oxygen in the water Or tlle erltire lake can be relatively easily increased to 5 mg/Q for example.

5. Brief Description of tile Drawings lig. I is a diagrammatic view for describing the feed oF alkaline hi~h concelltration water in an embodiment Or lile presenl invention.
Fi~. 2 is an enlarged cutaway front view of an intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit in the embodiment. Fig 3 is a plan view of the water pumping unit shown in Fig. 2. Fig.- 4 is a view for describing the installation of equipment in the embodiment shown in Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 is a view for describing the installation of equipment in the another embodiment of the Present invention. Fi~. 6 is a view for decribing the operation of the Present ;nvention conducting the upper layer and the lower laYer of water respectivelY. Fig. 7 is a cutaway front view o~ an intermittent pneumatic water pumpin~ unit in yet another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 8 is an enlarged cutaway front view of the connection part of the upper and lower water pumping cylinders of the water pumping unit o~ Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view o-f the lower air chamber of the water pumping unit of Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional view of the upper air chamber oF the water pumping unit of Fig. 7. Fi~. Il is a cutaway front view of an intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit in the yet another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic ~ ~3 a~

view for describillg llle SUpplY of higll-oxy~en-corltent water in an embo(limenl oF the present invcntion. 1ig. 13 is a view for describin~
the o~eration of the yet another embodiment Or lhe present invention.
I;ig. 14 is a plan view,o~ the embodiment shown in Fig. 13. Fig. 15 is an enlar~ed sectional view of a major part of an intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit in the embodiment shown in Fig. 13. Fig. 16 is a view for describing the state of water pumping in i;he emhodiment shown in Fig. 13. Fig. 17 is a view for describing the operation of the yet another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1~ is a plan view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 17. Fig. 19 is a diagrammatic view for describing the supply of alkaline hi~h concentration water and high-oxygen-content water in Yet another embodiment of the present invention.

6. Description of Preferred Embodiments (Embodiment 1) An embodiment of the present invention is hereafter described Wittl reference to Figs. 1. 2. 3 and 4. In the embodiment, slaked lime 117 is filled in the lower portion of a dissolution vessel 116 in such a manner that water-passable containers containing the slaked lime are appropriately piled up in the vessel, for examPle. A water feed pipe 11~ is connected to the lower portion o-f the vessel 116. A
pump 119 and a valve 120 are provided in the Pipe 118. The upstream end of a con'veyance pipe 121 is connected to the upper Portion of the dissolution vessel 116. A solution tank 122 is connected to -the downstream end of the conveyance pipe 121. The upstream end of a water 1 ~3 ~ 3 ~

transl`el pil)e 12~. in which a [~Ulllp 123 is l)rovided, is connected to the soluti()n tank 122. 'I`he downstrcam end of the waler transfer pipe 124 is connected to the water suction cYlinder 126 o~ an intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit 125. When the pwnp 119 is rotated so that water is pumped up from a dam, ror example, and sent to the dissolution vesse~ IIG as shown by an arrow 127 in ~ig. 1, the water passes through the slaked lime 117 and accumulates in the vessel. The supernatant portion oF the accumulated water in the vessel 116 is taken out therefrom throu~h lhe conveyance piPe 121 as shown by an arrow 128 in ~ig. 1.
If the position of the supernatant portion of the water is higher than that o~ the solution tank 122, a pump For sending the supernatant portion to the tank is not needed. If the dissolution vessel 116 is hermetically sealed, the supernatant portion of the water therein is automatically moved into the transfer pipe 121 due to the action of the pump 119 as shown bY an arrow 129 in Fig. 1. The water thus trans~erred into the solution tank 122 is sent to the water suction cylinder 126 by the pump 123 as shown by an arrow 130 in Fig. 1.
'I`he water pumping cylinder 131 o~ the intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit 125 is composed o~ a combination 132 of four mutually bundled cylinders 131a, 131b. 131c and 131d. and the single water suction cylinder 126 connected to the lower end of the combination. The water transfer pipe 124 is connected to the water suction cYlinder 126. The water pumPing unit 125 has an air chamber 133 outside the lower portion of the water suction cylinder 126. An inner cylinder 134 is movably ~itted with a prescribed gap outside the water suction cylinder 126. an .

r~

out(r cylin(lcr 135 is mov.lbly Filte(l will~ a ~)rescribed gap outside the inner cylin(ler an(l a parliti()n cylind(r 136 is Fitted hetween the inner and the outer cylinders. so that the air chalnber 133 is formed.
l`he space 137 between the water suction cylinder 126 and the ;nner cylinder 134 the space 138 between the inner cYlinder 134 and the partitinn cylinder 13~ and the space 139 between the partition cylinder 136 and the outer cylinder 135 are covered at the upper ends of the spaces with a top plate 140. The spaces 137 and 138 are closed at the ~ower ends thereof with a closure plate 141. Water passage holes 142 and 143 are provided in the upper portion of the partition cYlinder 136 and the lower portion of the inner cylinder 134 respectively so that the spaces 137 138 and 139 commun;cate Wittl each other through the holes. The space 137 communicates with the interior of the water suction cylinder 126 ttlrough a water passage hole 144. An air feed hose 146 For supplyin~ pressurized air. a wei~ht 146. a cover Plate 147 for preventing sludge or the like from entering into the water pumping cylinder 131 as the sludge or the like is agitated up From the ground oF the dam or the like. and a float 1~8 are provi(led. Since the inter-mittent Pneumatic water pumping unit 125 is hung bY the buoyancy of the float 148 secured to the outside of the upper portion of a combination 132 of four mutually bundled cylinders and pulied downward by the weight 146 the pumping unit is always in a vertical Free floating posture as shown in Fig. 4. ~hown at 170 in Fig. 4 is a float indicative of the installed Place of the pumping unit 125. When the pressurized air is continuouslY supplied to the air chamber 133 as shown by an r3 arr()~ 1~19 i~l lig. 2, the air accumulats in the chalnber starting wilh the upper portion thereor, to push down the level u~ water in the chamber as showrl by an arrow 15~ in ~ig. 2. When the level of water is pushed down to the water passage holes 143, the air enters into the water suction cylinder 126 through the water passage holes 142, 143, 144 as shown by arrows 151, 1S2 and 153, so that the air forms a large bubble 154a, which ascends and is then divided into bubbles 154 in the four cylinders 131a, 131b, 131c and 131d in which the bubbles ascend.
'l'he water under the bubbles 154a and 15~ is pulled up by the buoyancy oF the bubbles, and the water over them is pushed up bY the buoyancy.
'I'he pumped-up water spouts out of the upper end of the mutually bundled water pumping cYlinders 132, lifts the surface 21 of the water of the dam as shown bY arrows 155 in ~ig. 4, forms convex surface 21a, and lhereafter descends as shown by arrow~ 157 therein, so that the water horizontally diffuses as shown by arrows 15B therein. 'I'he water o-f high slaked lime content, which is supplied into the water suction cylinder 126, mixes with the water pumped up by the pumping unit 125, so that the mixed water ascends in the water pumping cylinder 131 as shown by an arrow 159 in Fig. 4 and quickly mixes with the water between the upper end of the cylinder and the surface 21 of the water of the dam. At that time, the quickly mixed water is pushed up to the protruded surface 21a of the water of the dam, and then dif-fuses a shown bY the arrows 157 in Fi~. 4. A mixed water ascends before reaching the surface 21 of the water, and mixed water diffuses the depth o-f I m to 3 m, for example, under the surface 21 of the water of ~ 3 ~ ..r~

the d(un, !c~lches tile Silnre ()r t,he dam, an~ descerlds as shown by arrows 1~0, 161 ill i;ig. 4.
In ~enerally, the temperature Or the waler pumped up through the watcr pumping cylinder is lower than that of the water near the surface.
Ilowever, the water spout;ed out Or the top of water pumpinR cylinder joints and mixes with a lots Or the intermediate water located between the sur~ace 21 and the bottom, so lhat tlle temperature o~ mixed water becomes nearly lhat of the water near the surface. And the temPeratUre rises rurther more when il is scattered as shown by arrows 158, and so there is no dif-ference in temperature between it and surface water.
~ccordingly, the specific weight difference becomes smaller, which causes the mixed water to scatter transversely, not to descend as shown by arrows 15~.
~ Ithough the water pumping cylinder 131 of the intermittent pnewnatic water pumping unit 125 is composcd of the ~our mutually bundled cylinders and the water suction cYlinder under thereof in this embodiment, the present in~ention is not conFined thereto but may be otherwise embodied so that the water pumping cylinder is composed of a single cylinder and a water suction cYlinder or composed o~ an upper and a lower water pumping cYlinders.
~ Ithough the water having the slaked lime dissolved therein is supplied to the water suction cylinder 126 constituting the lower portion o~ the water pumping cylinder 131, in this embodiment. -the present invention is not confined thereto but may be otherwise embodied so that a short cYlinder provided with a feeder for supplYing the lower ell(J Or the waler pullipin~ cylirlder with l,he water having the slaked lime dissolved thereirl is corlrlected to the lower end of the water pumping cylinder, similarly to lhe emt)odiment 4, also may be otherwise embodied so that the water having t!le slaked lime dissolved therein is supplied into the middle-height portions o~ watcr pumpin~ cylinder.
Also, ll)c water havin~ the slakcd lime dissolved l;herein may be supplied through the any intermediate porl;ion of the water pumping cylinder between -the top and the bottom.
Further, the water having the slaked lime dissolved therein in the present embodiment alternatively changed to the water o-f high oxygen content.
(Embodiment 2) ~ nother embodiment of the present invention is hereafter described with reference to Fig. 5. In the embodiment, a water-passable containcr 163 is held by Floats 162 over an intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit 125, and slaked lime is provided in the container 163.
When pressuri~ed air is supplied into the air chamber of the pumping unit 125. water spouted up from the unit as shown by arrows 164 in Fi~. 5 mixes with water at and near -the surface of water of a dam or the like, similarly to the embodiment 1, and passes through and around a water-passable container 163 dissolving the slaked lime. so that the mixed water with slaked lime dissolved therein diffuses as shown by arrows 165 and 166 in Fi~. 5 and descends as shown by arrows 167. The mixed water therea~ter moved on the ground of the dam or the like as shown by arrows 168 in Fig. 6, and then ascends again as shown by an 7 ~ ~ r arrow 169. I;or lhese reasons, water in which the slaked lime is dissolved al a hi~h concentration is quickly di r rused and mixed along with thereor in the dam or the like, similarly to the embodiment 1.
In this emhodiment, alkaline concentration can not be controlled as it be conducted in the embodiment 1, because the alkaline high concentration water is produced by dissolving the slaked lime in a water-passable container 163 by the water spouted out oF the top of unit in this embodiment. And the alkaline concentration of the mixed water becomes low in case a lots of water is passed throu~h and around a water-passable container 163. Ilowever, the water is spouted out of the top o~ unit intermittently over and over again, so that the efEiciency o~ this embodiment is not lowered.
(Embodiment 3) The yet another embodiment o~ the present invention is hereafter described with reference to ~igs 7, 8, 9 and 10 ~rom now.
In this embodiment, the upper layer and the lower laYer of the water in a daln. a lake, a pond or the like is imProved respectively.
And the upper water pumping cylinder and the lower water pumping c,ylinder are combined in vertically through a separator. In Fig. 9, an air chamber 23 is provided outside the lower portion o~ the lower water pumping cylinder 13. The lower end o~ the upper water pumping cylinder 20 is connected to the upper Portion of the lower water pumpin~ c~Ylinder i3 through a separator 24. A short cylinder 52 provided with an alkaline high concentration water ~eeder 52a is connected to the lower end o-f the lower water pumping cylinder 13. An inner cylin(lcr 25 is movably ritted outside tie iowel portion of the lower water pUmpill~ cylinder 13. An outer cylinder 26 is movably Fitted oulside the inner cylinder 25 so that a prescribed gap is kept between them. A parlition cylinder 27 is provided between the inner and the outer cylinders 25 and 26. Water passage holes 2~ and 29 are provided in the lower portion oF the inner cylinder Z5 and the uPPer portion o~
the partition cYlinder 27 respectively. 'I'he air chamber 23 is thus Formed. Water passage holes 31 are provided in the lower water pumping cYlinder 13 at the upper portion Or the space 30 between the cylinder 13 and the inner cylinder 25. l'he upper end o~ the air chamber 23 is closed with a top plate 4~a. The lower end of the space 30 and that of the sPace 49 between the inner cylinder 25 and the partition cylinder 27 are closed with a closure plate 50. The lower end of the space 51 between the partition cylinder 27 and the outer cylinder 26 is an opening 55 communicating with the outside water. The alkaline high concentration water ~eeder 52a has an annular cover 52b outside the short cy3inder 52. A water ~eed pipe 53 is connected to the outer portion o~ the annular cover 52b. A pluralitY of small water passage holes 54 are provided at equal intervals in the short cYlinder 52 inside the annular cover 52a. Shown at 56 in Fi~. 9 is an air ~eed hose ~or sending Pressurized air continuou~sly to the air chamber 23.
As shown in Fig. 7 the guide plate 14 horizontallY and circularly extends with a prescribed length outward from the upper end of the lower water pumping cylinder 13. Separation plates 32 and 32a each shaped as a truncated cone are provided over the guide plate 14 so that ~,~3~ r~
~ prescri~)c(l snl.l!l gap is kePl, ~)etwecn the sep.)r(ll,ioll plal.es 32, 32a.'I'he guide plate 14a is provi(lcd over the separation ~)lales 32 and 32a so thal the ~ui(le plal,e 14a extellds oulward similarly to the other gui(le plate 14. An air chamber 34 is provided over the ~uide plate 14a, and cummunicates with a waler passage hole 33, in lig. 7. 'I'he lower end or lhe upper water PumPing cylinder 20 is connected to the upper portion of the air chamber 34, in Fig. 10. A Plurality of water suction pipes 35 are upwardly connected to the upper water pumping cylinder 20, and floats 36 are attached to the upper portion of the cylinder 20, in lig. 7.
As shown in Fig. 10, an inner an(i an outer cylinders 37 and 38 are movably ~itted outside the lower portion of the upper water pumping cylinder 20 so that a prescribed gap is kePt between the inner and the outer cylinders 37, 38. ~ partition cylinder 39 is provided between the inner and the outer cYlinders 37 and 3U. ~ water passa~e hole 40 and a water passage hole 41 are provided in the upper Portion of the partitiun cylinder 39 and the lower Portion of the inner cylinder 37, respectively. Water passage holes 43 are provided in the upper water pumping cylinder 20 at the upper portion of the space 42 between the cylinder 20 and the inner cylinder 37. 'I'he lower ends of the upper water pumping cylinder 20, the space 42 and the space 44 between the inner cylinder 37 and the partition cylinder 39 are closed with a closure plate 46. The upper end of the air chamber 34 is closed with a top plate 47.
The operation of the aPParatus is described in detail from now on. When the pressurizied air is introduced into the air chamber 23 c~
thro~ Idl( ail ree(l h()se 56 as shown by an arrow 57 in li~. 9, the air acculnlllates in tlle challlber starlillg wilh lhe upper portions of the spaccs 49 and 5i of the chamber 23, to push down the levels of water in the spaces 4'J, 51. When the Icvels of water in the spaces 49 and 51 are pushed d()wrl to tllc water passage holes 29 as showrl by a chain line 58 in li~. 9. lh~ pressurize(l air in the air chamber 23 enters in to the lower water pumping cylindcr 13 through the spaces 51, 49 and 30 and tlle water passage holes 28, 29 and 31 as shown by arrows 59, 60, 61, 62 and 63 in l;ig. 9, so that the air forlns a large bubble 64. The bubble 64 then ascends in the lower water pumping cylindel 13 as shown by an arrow 65 in Fig. 5. so that the water is sucked into the cylinder through the lower end thereor as shown by an arrow 66. The water is thus pumped up. I'he large bubble 64 collides against a closure plate 45 so that the bubble breaks into small bubbles which ascend as shown by an arrow 67 in Fig. 5 and accumulate in the air chamber 34 The circulation and di~fusion of the water in lower laYer is caused as shown in Fig 6.
~nd the pumped water flows between the guide platcs 14 and 14a as shown by arrows 68 in Fig. 10 and dif~uses as shown bY arrows 69 therein, and fl~ws back as shown by arrows 16. 17, 18 and 19 from near the separa-tor 24 toward the bottom as shown in Fig. 6. Shown at 20, 21 and 22 in Fig. 6 are the upper pumping cylinder, the surface o-f the large amount of water and an embankment, respectivelY. The air accumulating in the air chamber 34 pushes down the level of the water therein as shown in Fig. 10 similarly to the other air chamber 23. When the level of the water is pushed down to a position shown bY a chain line 70 in Fig. 10.

lhe air is ~lisel~ e(l inlo tllc uppcr water pulnpinR cYlin(ler 20 through the spaccs 44 an(l ~12 an(l lhe walcr passa~e holes 90. 41 and 43 as shown by arrows 71. 72 and 73 in lig. 10. so Ihat llle air forms a large bubl)le 74. whicll ascends in the cylinder 20 as shown by an arrow 75 in l;ig. 7. Water sucked into the upper walcr pumping cylinder 20 through the waler sucti()rl pipes 35 as sh()wn by arrows 76 in Fig. 7 is pumped up as shown by an arrow 75 in lig. 7 and l;ig. 8. 'I'he pumped water is discharged From the upper end of the uPPer water pumping cylinder 20 as shown by an arrow 77 in Figs. 6 and 7 and mixes with the water at and near the sur~ace thereoF as the discharged water di~fuses and flows back as shown by arrows 78. 79 and 80 in Fig. 6.
In this embodiment the water quality o~ upper laYer can be improved by the operation o~ the upper water pumping cylinder and the water quality o~ lower laYer can be improved bY the operation of the lower water pumping cylinder respectively. In ~eneraily in a dam.
a lake a pond or the like having a considerable depth. a quantitY of water is considerably di~ferent between the upper layer and the lower laYer of tlle water. So the improvement can be effectively and rationallY conducted by controlling the quantity or the concentration o~ alkaline high concentralion water. ~or example large quanti-tY or more concentrated alkaline water is supplied to lower layer.
The upper and lower water pumping cylinders 20 and 13 are kept upright by a weight 81 and the ~loats 36.
l'he water oF hi~h alkaline concentration is supplied as shown bY
an arrow 8Z in Fig. 9 so that the water enters into the short cylinder 52 lhrough the small watcr passage holes 5~ mixes with the pumped waler and asccnds lS Sh()Wrl by an arrow ~3 in l;ig. 9. As a result. the water Or high alkaline concentration rlows back along with the ascent and di~fusion of the pumped waler as shown by tlle arrows 16 17 1~ and 19 in lig. 6 so that the water quality in the deep layer n~ the large amuunt of water is ~radtlally improved. Tlle water quality of the lar~e amount of water is thus imprùved.
~ Ithùugh the water of high alkaline concentration is supplied into the lowér water pumping cylinder 13 in the embodiment. the present invention is not confined thereto but may be otherwise embodied so that the water o~ high alkaline concentration is supplied to the upper water ~umpinR cYlinder 20 as well if necessary.
Although the intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit in the embodiment is made o~ the uPPer and the lower water pumping cylinders the present invention is not conrined thereto but maY be otherwise embodied so that the pumping unit is made of a single air and water pumping cYlinder or a pluralitY of air and water Pumping cylinders bundled together.
~ urther the water o~ high alkaline concentration in the present embodiment alternatively changed to the water of high oxygen content.
(Embodiment 4) The yet another embodiment o~ the present invention is herea~ter described with re~erence to Fig. Il. The difference o~ the embodiment from the embodiment 3 is that the air chamber is equiped with the upper intermittent pneumatic wa-ter pumping unit and the lower intermittent '?~

pnt'Um(l l i C wa tcr punlpin~ ~Inil, respeclively, and a pressuri7.ed air is supplied inlermil,terltly to lhe up~cr and lower unit ~rom each individual air chalnber respeclivelY. So that tlle upper and lower air chanlbers 88 arld 23 o~ the intermitl;ent pneumatic water pumpin~ unit in this embodiment are the same as eacil ol;her in constitution. Therefore, two intermitlent pnewnatic water pumpin~ units which llaYe same constitution are combined in vertically through a separator. In the embodiment 4, the lower air chamber 23 is provided outside the lower portion of a lower water pumping cylinder 13. a short cylinder 52 is connected to the lower end of the lower water pumpin~ cylinder 13, and a high alkaline concentration water feeder 52a for supplYing water of high alkaline concentration to the short cylinder 52 is provided. A ring a4 is secured to the upper end o~ the lower water pumping cylinder 13.
~ number Or support rods 85 extend upward from the ring 84 and support a guide Plate 86 on the upper ends o~ the rods. 'I'he guide plate 86 has a central Proiecting Portion 86a. A number o~ support legs 87 are provided along a circle on the pro.jecting portion 86a. A short cylinder is coupled to the upper ends of the support legs fl7 and connected to the lower end o~ an upper water pumPing cYlinder 20. 'I'he air chamber 88 is provided at the lower end of an upper water pumping cylinder 20. Air feed hoses 56 and 59 are connected to the air chambers 23 and 88, respectivelY, to supply pressurized air continuously thereto so that air bubbles are intermittently discharged from the air chambers into the upper and the lower water pumping cYlinders 20 and 13, respectively, and ascend therein. As a result, water is pumped up.

Lr~
~ o the cirt,ml.ltion an(l difrusiorl in the larl~e amounl Or water is caused at Ihe Uppel` layer an~l at the lower layer respectivelY deFined bY
the horizonl;al level Or separator ~6. Ihe circulalion and diffusion of mixed water pumped by u~lper and lower inlermitterlt pneumatic water punlpin~ unit is described as same as Embodiment 4 and as shown in Fig. 6.
Although the hi~ll alkaline concentration water feeders 52a and 90 are provided at the lower ends of the air chambers 23 and 88, respec-tively, in the ernbodiment 3, the present invention is not confined thereto but maY be otherwise embodied so that the feeders are provided at the middle-height portions of the lower and the upper water pumping cylinders 13 and 20 to supplY water of high alkaline concentration into the middle-height portions of water pumping cylinders.
Further, the water oF high alkaline concentration in the present embodiment alternatively changed to the water of high oxygen content.
~ Ithough the intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit in this embodiment is made of a single water pumping cylinder, the presenl invention is not confined thereto but may be otherwise embodied so that the pumping~unit is made o~ water pumping cylinders bundled together or a multi stage unit more than double stage to four-th sta~e.
(Embodiment 5) Yet another embodiment of the present invcntion is hereafter described with reference to Figs. 12, 13, 14, 16 and 16. In an apparatus which is the embodimen-t and is for improvin~ the quantitY of dissolved oxygen in a large amount of water, Fig. 12 shows a dia~ram describing the high-oxygen-content water supply, some of the water is pumped up 9~g~3,7~ L~
Irl3m a la~ amt)ur)l ol water to ~)c ~)rocessed Lo a water processirlg vesse! 4 througtl a waler take l)ipe 2 by a pump 3, and air is supplied to an air processing vessel 6 by a Pump 5. Nitrogen is adsorbed from the air in thc air prncessing vessel 6 so that lhe air is changed into air o~ high oxygen contenl such as ~0%. The air of hi~h oxygen content is suPPlied, under pressure, from the a;r processing vessel 6 to the water processing vessel 4 through an air feed pipe 7 as shown by an arrow 8 in Fig. 12. A portion o~ the air, which is supplied to the air processing vessel ~, is obtained lhrough a suction pipe I for the pump 5. and the other portion of the air is obtained through an air passage pipe 9 from the water processing vessel 4. In the vessel 4.
the air Or high oxygen content and drops of the water are put into contact with each otller in a conventional manner so that the oxYgen oF
the air is dissolved into the drops of the water to change the water into water oF high oxygen content such as 4û mg/Q. Alter the dissolu-tion of the oxygen. tlle remaining air is sent back to the suction side oF the pump 5 though the air passage pipe 9. The waler Or high oxygen content is sent. under pressure, to the lower portion oF an intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit 12 by a pump 10 as shown by an arrow 11 in Fig. 12. so that the water is mixed with pumped water. For example.
when water of hi8h oxYgen content of 40 mg/ Q is sent by 5 tons per minute to the lower portion of the pumping unit 12 and mixed with the pumped water, 40 tons of water of 5 mg/ Q in oxygen content is obtained.
In that case, the quantity of dissolved oxygen in 2,400 tons of water per hour or in 77,600 tons of water per daY is imProved. The water f'~

~nln~ped up by l,hc ~uml)in~ Ul-it and conlains the high oxygen content waler is circulaled and diffused in the large amount Or water as shown in Fig. 6. Ihe water oF higll oxygen content is applied to the lower l)ortion of the lowcr water PUmPing cylinder 13 oF the pumping unit 12 as shown by the arrow 11 in Fig. 12, ascends togcther with the pumped water as shown by an arrow 15, is discharged in between guide plates 14 and 14a, and circulatively rlows in the deeP la.Yer of the large amount of water as shown by arrows 16, 17, 1~ and 19 in Fig~ ~, so that the quantity of dissolved oxygen in the deep layer is improved. The operation of this embodiment is herea~ter described with reference to Figs. 13, ]4, 15 and 16. In the embodiment, water of no oxygen content in a lake 91 is pumped up to a water processing vessel 4 through a water intake pipe 2 by a pump 3, as shown in Fig. 14. Air is supplied to an air Processing vessel 6 bY a pump 5. In the air Processing vessel 6, nitrogen is absorbed from the air so that the air is changed into air of high oxygen content such as oO%. The air o-f high oxYgen content is introduced, under pressure, into the water processing v.essel 4 as shown by an arrow 92. In the water processing vessel 4, the air of high oxygen content and drops o-f the water are put into contact with each other in a conventional manner so that the oxygen of the air is dissolved in-to the water drops. The water is thus quicklY changed in-to water of high oxygen content such as 40 mgt ~. After the dissolution, the remaining air is sent back to the suction side of the pump 5. The water of high oxygen content is sent, under pressure, to a water dispersion Pipe 95 by a pump 93 as shown by an arrow 94 in Fig. 14.

and is dis~)erse(l from l,he Pipe, so lhal lhe water nuicklY mixes with low-oxy~en-c()ntent wai,er flowin~ into the lake 91 as shown bY an arrow 96 in Fig. 14. I;or examPle. when the low-oxygen-content water Flows by ~10 tons per second into the lake 91 and has an average oxygen content oF 0.5 mg/ Q arld the water Or high oxYgen content is dispersed by 10 tons per sec()nd ~rom thc dispersi()n pipe 95, the oxygen content oF all the water flowing into the lake 91 is chan~ed to about 5 mg/ Q, Since the low-content-oxygen water flowing into the lake 91 usually flows to the centrai Portion thereoF along the bottom Or the lake as shown bY
arrows 97 and 9~ in Fig. 13, a large number oF intermittent pneumatic water pumping units 99, 99a and 99b are alternately disposed in three rows and operated respectively so that upward and downward water Flows are caused around each of the pumping units. As a result. the low-oxygen content water flowing into the lake 91, saturated-oxygen-content water at and near the surface of the lake and no-oxYgen-content or low-oxygen-content water in the int;ermediate--depth layer of the lake are mixed with each other so that theY are all changed into processed and improved water of prescribed oxygen content.
Each of the intermittent pneumatic water pumping units 99, 99a and 99b includes a water pumping cylinder 100. an air chamber 101. a float 102, and a fastening member 103 such as an anchor. as shown in Figs. 13 and 15. Although the water pumping cylinder 100 is a single cylinder.
it maY be substituted by a plurality (two to ten and several ) of single cylinders bundles together or be substituted by a combination of an upper and a lower water Pumping cylinders. IF the water pumping cylinder 3 ~

1()0 is made ol rnllr mutually bun(lled cylinders each having a diameter of 70 cm, the cross-sectional area of the water pulnping cylinder is 1.5 m2. If waler is pumped up at tl-e rate of 1.5 m per second through the water pumping cYlinder lOn made of the four mutually bundled cylinders, the water is pumped up by about 200,000 tons per day. 1~
thirtY water pumping cylinders each made of such four mutually bundled cylinders are installed, water is pumped Up by about 6,000,000 tons per day or by about 500,000,000 tons in eighty days. Ilowever, since the pulnped water mixes with water about ten times as much as the -former in reality, the pumped water maY be less than the above-mentioned quantity.
In each Or the intermittent pneumatic water pumpin~ units, pressurized air is introduced, under pressure, into an air chamber 101 through an air -feed hose In3 as shown by an arrow 10~ in l;ig. 15, to push down the level 105 of water in the air chamber. When the level 105 of water is pushed down to water passa~e holes 106. the air enters into the water pumpin~ cylinder 100 through the water passage holes 106 and 106a as shown by arrows 107 and 10~ in Fig. 15, so that the air forms a large bubble 109, which ascends in the cylinder to push up or suck up the ~later therein. For that reason, the water around the lower end of the water pumping cylinder 100 is also sucked up into it as shown by arrows 110 in Fig. 15. so that the water is pumped up to the surface of the lake 91. The water pumped up to the surface of the lake 91 mixes quickly with the water between the upper end of the water pumping cylinder 100 and the sur~ace of the lake. Since the speed of the pumped water in the cylinder 100 decreases from the diametrally central r~

,)(~, li ("", r the e y Ii n(le, I (lo tow.llul tlle diamci.rllly peripheral porlion Iherc()~. Ihe water asc(nds thereirl lo re(eive exlernal forces which cause the w.lter lo curve outward From the upper end Or the cYlinder as shown bY arrows 111 and 112 in l~ig. Ifi. I;or that reason the pumped water going out oF the cYlinder IOU mixes quickly with the water around the cYlindel. Since lhe dif~erence between lhe specific gravity of the water at and near the bottom of the lake 91 and that of the water at and near the surface thereof is decreased by the quick mixing oF the pumped water with the other water. the mixed water diffuses without quickly descendin~ so that the mixed water can often spreads by several hundred meters to several thousand meters around from the water pumping cylinder 100. Ilowever if the water pumping units 99 99a and 99b are alternately disposed at intervals of 100 m each. the mixed water spreads by about a half Or ttle interval from each water pwnping cylinder due to mutual interference. I:or that reason the mixed water performs upward and downward flows as shown by arrows 113 and 114 in ~iX. 13.
Also the high-oxYgen-content water may alternatively changed to the water of high alkaline concentration to improve the water quality by adiusting the pH level.
(Embodiment 6) Yet another embodiment of the present invention is hereafter described with reference to Figs. 17 and 18. Althougtl the water of high oxygen content is mixed with the water flowing into the lake 91 and the water is ~lowed and circulated up and down by an intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit to increase the quantity of dissolved 3~L~

oxygen in all l,he wat,er of the lake in lhe emb()diment 15, water oE high oxy~en-cor1tcnt is released into water at thc bottom of tl)e lake 91 and the mixed water is sub,jected to upward and dowrlward ~lows by an inter-mittent pneunlatic water pumping units to increase the quantitY oF
dissolved oxygen in all the water of the lake in the embodiment 6. In this embodimerlt. a water intake pipe 2 and a water dispersion Pipe 95 are provided near the bottom of the lake 91, and no-oxYgen-conter;t water sucked into the intake pipe is sent to a water processing vessel 4 by a pulnp 3. Air of high oxygen content of about 80% is supPlied into the vessel 4 so that oxYgen is dissolved into the no-oxygen-content water. 'l'he no-oxygen-content water is thus ch~nged into water oF high oxygen content of 40 mg/Q. The water oE high oxygen content is sent back to the bottom of the lake through the water dispersion pipe 95 by a pump 93. Interrnitten-t pneumatic water pumping units 99 and 99a cause the water to perForm upward and downward Elows for eEEicient agitation to uniformize the quantity of dissolved oxygen in all the water of the lake 91, similarly to -the embodiment 5.' Also, the high-oxygen-content water may alternatively changed to the water o-f high alkaline concentration.
(Embodiment 7) Yet another embodiment o~ the Presen-t invention is hereafter described with reference to ~ig. 19. In the embodiment. water of high oxygen content and/or and water with slaked lime dissolved therein can be suPplied to the water pumping cylinder of an intermittent Pneumatic water pumping unit, depending on the quantitY of dissolved oxygen in processed water and the p~l level and nuaiity thereof, so thaL the water o~ higtl oxygen content and/or the water with the slaked lime dissolved therein mixes with pumped water. The equipment in this embodiment is described above as to the embodiments 1. 3. 4. 5 and 6.

3~

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

(1) A method of improving the quality of a large amount of water, characterized in that water with slaked lime dissolved therein is supplied into water pumped by an intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit. so that the pH level of said large amount of water is adjusted along with the diffusion and circulation of said pumped water.
(2) A method of improving the quality of a large amount of water, characterized in that water with slaked lime dissolved therein is supplied into water pumped by an intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit, so that a calcium and phosphorus compound is produced in said quality-improved water and the pH level thereof is adjusted, along with the diffusion and circulation of said pumped water.
(3) A method according to the claim 1 or 2, wherein the water is injected into a dissolution vessel containing slaked lime; and the water with calcium dissolved therein is taken out from said vessel and supplied into water pumped by an intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit, so that the pH level of said large amount of water is adjusted along with the diffusion and circulation of said pumped water.
(4) A method of improving the quality of a large amount of water, characterized in that water with slaked lime dissolved therein is supplied into water pumped by multi stage intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit, so that the pH level of said large amount of water at any depth layer or at specific depth layer is adjusted along with the diffusion and circulation of said pumped water.
(5) A method according to claim 4, wherein the pH level of the large amount of water is adjusted at the shallow depth layer and/or deep depth layer.
(6) A method of improving the quality of a large amount of water.
characterized in that slaked lime is provided in the place where water pumped by an intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit is spouted; and water with said lime dissolved therein is mixed with said large amount of water along with the diffusion and circulation of said pumped water when said pumped water flows and dissolves said slaked lime.
(7) A method of improving the quantity of dissolved oxygen in a large amount of water, characterized in that water of high oxygen content, which is generated in advance, is supplied into water pumped by an intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit, so that the quantity of dissolved oxygen in said large amount of water is improved along with the diffusion and circulation of said pumped water.
(8) A method of improving the quantity of dissolved oxygen in a large amount of water, characterized in that a portion of water is taken out from said large amount of water and changed into water of high oxygen content. which is supplied into said large amount of water: and an intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit is operated in said large amount of water to discontinuously cause said large amount of water to flow and circulate up and down to diffuse said water of high oxygen content therein.
(9) A method of improving the quantity of dissolved oxygen in a large amount of water characterized in that water of high oxygen content is supplied into water pumped by multi stage intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit so that the quantity of dissolved oxygen in a large amount of water at any depth layer or at specific depth layer is improved along with the diffusion and circulation of said pumped water.
(10) A method according to claim 9 wherein the quantity of dissolved oxygen in a large amount of water is improved at the shallow depth layer and/or deep depth layer.
(11) A method according to any one of claims 7, 8, 9 or 10.
wherein the water of high oxygen content is generated by supplying air of high oxygen content into the portion of water taken out from the large amount of water.
(12) A method of improving the quality of a large amount of water and the quantity of dissolved oxygen in said water characterized in that water with slaked lime dissolved therein and water of high oxygen content. which is generated in advance are supplied into water pumped by an intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit so that said water with said lime dissolved therein and said water of high oxygen content are diffused in said large amount of water along with the diffusion and circulation of said pumped water to adjust the pH level of said large amount of water and improve said quantity of dissolved oxygen in said large amount of water.
(13) A method of improving the quality of a large amount of water and the quantity of dissolved oxygen in said water, characterized in that water with slaked lime dissolved therein and water of high oxygen content, which is generated in advance, are supplied into water pumped by an intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit, so that said water with said lime dissolved therein and said water of high oxygen content are diffused in said large amount of water along with the diffusion and circulation of said pumped water to improve the quality of said large amount of water by producing a calcium and phosphorus compound in said large amount of water and by adjusting the pH level thereof and to improve said quantity of dissolved oxygen in said large amount of water.
(14) A method Or improving the quality of a large amount of water and the quantity of dissolved oxygen in said water, characterized in that water is injected into a dissolution vessel containing slaked lime so that the water with calcium dissolved therein is taken out From said vessel: and water of high oxygen content, which is generated in advance, are supplied into water pumped by an intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit.
(15) A method of improving the quality of a large amount of water and the quantity of dissolved oxygen in said water, characterized in that water with slaked lime dissolved therein and water of high oxygen content are supplied into water pumped by multi stage intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit, so that the pH level of said large amount of water is adjusted and the quantity of dissolved oxygen in a large amount of water is improved at any depth layer or at specific depth layer Or said large amount of water along with the diffusion and circulation of said pumped water.
(16) A method according to claim 15. wherein the PH level Or the large amount of water is adjusted and the quantity of disolved oxygen in a large amount of water is improved at the shallow depth layer and/or deep depth layer of said large amount of water.
(17) A method according to any one of claims 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16, wherein the water of high oxygen content is generated by supplying air of high oxygen content into a portion of water taken out from the large amount of water.
(18) An apparatus for improving the quality of water characterized in that the downstream end of a water feed pipe is connected to the lower portion of a dissolution vessel containing slaked lime: the upstream end of water conveyance pipe is connected to the upper portion of said vessel: and the downstream end of said water conveyance pipe is connected to the water suction cylinder of an intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit.
(19) An apparatus for improving the quality of water characterized in that the downstream end of a water feed pipe is connected to the lower portion of a dissolution vessel containing slaked lime: the upstream end of water conveyance pipe is connected to the upper portion of said vessel; and the downstream end of said water conveyance pipe is connected to all or some water pumping cylinders of multi stage intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit.
(20) An apparatus for improving the quality of water. characterized in that a water passable container containing slaked lime is Provided in a pumped water diffusion passage at the upper portion of the water pumping cylinder Or an intermittent pneumatic waler pumping unit having an air chamber for supplying a specific volume or air into the water pumping cylinder at specific intervals at the lower Portion of said cylinder.
(21) An apparatus for improving the quantity of dissolved oxygen in a large amount of water, characterized in that a high-oxygen-content water feeder is connected to a high-oxygen-content water generator to which a water intake means is connected; and the water feed means of said feeder is coupled to the water suction cylinder of an intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit.
(22) An apparatus for improving the quantity of dissolved oxygen in a large amount of water, characterized in that a high-oxygen-content water Feeder is connected to a high-oxygen-content water generator to which a water intake means is connected: and the water feed means of said feeder is coupled to all or some water pumping cylinders of multi stage intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit.
(23) An apparatus for improving the quantity of dissolved oxygen in a large amount of water, characterized in that a water dispersion means for supplying water of high oxygen content into said large amount of water. a high-oxygen-content water generator. a water intake means for taking out a portion of water from said large amount of water, and an intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit for causing said large amount of water to flow and circulate up and down are connected to each other (24) An apparatus according to any one of claims 21, 22 or 23, wherein the high-oxygen-content water generator has a generation cylinder ?illed with a nitrogen adsorbent and having an air reed Port in a side of said cylinder and a high-oxygen-content air takeout port in another side of said cylinder; and said takeout port is connected to a water processing vessel.
(25) An apparatus according to any one of claims 21, 22, 23 or 24, wherein the water intake means is made of a pump, a water suction pipe connected to said pump, and a water discharge pipe connected to said pump.
(26) An apparatus according to any one of claims 21, 22, 23, 24 or 25, wherein the water feed means is made of a pump and a water conveyance Pipe.
(27) An apparatus for improving the quality of a large amount of water and the quantity of dissolved oxygen in said water, characterized in that the downstream end of a water conveyance pipe for supplying water with slaked lime dissolved therein is connected to the water suction cylinder of an intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit: and the downstream end of a water conveyance pipe For supplying water of high oxygen content is connected to said cylinder.
(28) An apparatus for improving the quality of a large amount of water and the quantity of dissolved oxygen in said water, characterized in that the downstream end of a water conveyance pipe for supplying water with slaked lime dissolved therein is connected to all or some water pumping cylinders of multi stage intermittent pneumatic water pumping unit: and the downstream end of a water conveyance pipe for supplying water of high oxygen content is connected to all or some said cylinders.