GB2233245A

GB2233245A - Injecting gas into liquid

Info

Publication number: GB2233245A
Application number: GB8914702A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lian Seng Lee; Kim Teck Tew
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-06-27
Filing date: 1989-06-27
Publication date: 1991-01-09
Also published as: GB8914702D0

Abstract

A device for injecting gas into a liquid. comprises a tube (2) through which the liquid can flow and having at or near an end thereof one or more tubes (4) through which the gas can flow, the flow of liquid through the tube (2) for the liquid causing gas to be drawn through the tube or tubes (4) for the gas to mix with the liquid to form a gas-liquid mixture. The device further comprises means whereby further gas can be drawn through holes (10) into the gas-liquid mixture leaving the end of the tube (2) to mix therewith. The device may be used for aerating a fish tank. <IMAGE>

Description

DEVICE FOR INJECTING GAS INTO LIOUID This invention relates to a device for injecting gas into liquid, such as a device for injecting air into water, e.g. a device for aerating a fish tank.

According to the present invention, there is provided a device for injecting gas into a liquid, comprising a tube through which the liquid can flow and having at or near an end thereof one or more tubes through which the gas can flow, the flow of liquid through the tube for the liquid causing gas to be drawn through the tube or tubes for the gas to mix with the liquid to form a gas-liquid mixture; the device further comprises means whereby further gas can be drawn into the gas-liquid mixture leaving the end of the tube to mix therewith.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a partially-sectional view of a device of the invention; Figure 1A is a sectional view along line A-A of Figure 1; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the device of Figure 1 when in use; Figures 4A, 4B and 4C are views of alternative nozzle arrangements of the device of Figure 1; and Figure 5 is a sectional view of a modified device of the invention.

Referring to Figure 1, the device has a housing 1 in which are housed a water tube 2 leading to a nozzle arrangement 3 fixed.to the inside of the housing 1, and one or more air tubes 4 extending from an air chamber 5 (into which air can enter via holes 6) to the end of the nozzle arrangement 3.

The flow of water through the nozzle arrangement 3, as shown by the large arrow, causes air to be drawn through the air tubes 4, as shown by the solid arrows, and to mix with the water, the air-water mixture then being discharged through outlet 7. This mixing is thus a first stage mixing.

In addition, the flow of air-water mixture from the end of the nozzle arrangement 3 to the outlet 7 causes air to be drawn, from the chamber 5, through holes 10 in the nozzle arrangement 3, between the air tubes 4 and the housing 1, as shown by the dotted arrows, to mix with the air-water mixture. This mixing is thus a second stage mixing.

The combination of the first stage mixing and the second stage mixing produces a final air-water mixture that contains many small air bubbles, whereby a high amount of air will dissolve in the air.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device shown in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a view of the device when floating in water. As can be seen, the device may be provided with a buoy 8 (not shown in Figure 1) to assist in causing the device to float at the desired angle of about 300C to the horizontal. The buoy 8 can be filled with foam to render it buoyant.

Figures 4A, 4B and 4C are views taken from the end of the device, showing respectively devices having two, three and four air tubes 4.

The device shown in Figure 5 (in which like parts have the same reference numerals as in Figures 1 to 3) is modified in that the air chamber 5 is divided into two chambers 5A and 5B by a partition 9.

This partition 9 is provided with holes similar to the holes 10 in the nozzle arrangement 3. The partition 9 supports the air tubes 4, and can be fixed at any desired position along the device. Similarly, the air tubes 4 can be of any desired length.

The tube 2 may be fed with pumped water or with gravity-fed water from a tank.

Claims

1. A device for injecting gas into a liquid, comprising a tube through which the liquid can flow and having at or near an end thereof one or more tubes through which the gas can flow, the flow of liquid through the tube for the liquid causing gas to be drawn through the tube or tubes for the gas to mix with the liquid to form a gas-liquid mixture; the device further comprises means whereby further gas can be drawn into the gas-liquid mixture leaving the end of the tube to mix therewith.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said end of the tube for the water is in the form of a nozzle.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tube or tubes for the gas extend from the nozzle to a gas chamber surrounding the tube for the liquid.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the nozzle is surrounded by a housing, and wherein gas is able to flow, from the gas chamber to the end of the nozzle, through a gap between the nozzle and the housing.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, substantially as shown in the drawing.