A vacuum airlift system for treating an aqueous effluent includes an upflow liquid portion, where the upflow liquid portion is configured to retain a fluid, and a fluid inlet, the fluid inlet being fluidly coupled with the upflow liquid portion, where the fluid inlet is positioned at about a bottom of the upflow liquid portion. The vacuum airlift system can also include a downflow liquid portion, where the downflow liquid portion is fluidly coupled with the upflow liquid portion, and a fluid outlet, the fluid outlet being fluidly coupled with the downflow liquid portion, where the fluid outlet is positioned at about a bottom of the downflow liquid portion. The vacuum airlift system can also include a photobioreactor fluidly coupled with the downflow liquid portion such that the fluid is configured to pass through the upflow liquid portion, into the downflow liquid portion, and into the photobioreactor.

A bubble generator including a container having a side wall and a top wall defining a cavity. An insert is located within the cavity defining a gas path with a trap portion. The gas path being in communication with an exit in the container. The cavity including an opening receiving a gas accumulating within the cavity, the gas path allowing the accumulating gas to escape through the exit once the accumulating gas reaches a predetermined level proximate the trap portion.

The invention relates to the design of an enclosure for a membrane aeration module, which incorporates a reversible, low-pressure, air-lift pump to encourage a vertical water flow through and between the membranes in the module. These enclosed membrane modules are suitable for use in membrane aerated biofilm reactors, which are used to treat water or wastewater.

An energy efficient aquaculture system combining mixed-cell and raceway configurations. The system comprises a raceway tank, a raceway channel, a first water purification subsystem, and a second water purification subsystem. The system may include one or more of a hatching subsystem, a nursery subsystem, a feeding subsystem, a finishing subsystem, and a fish pumping system for transfer of fish between raceway tanks. A method of growing fish for commercial production using the aquaculture system is also provided.

A method of treating waste activated sludge. More specifically, the disclosure concerns treating waste activated sludge by a membrane aerated sludge digester to reduce of volatile soluble solids (VSS) concentration in the sludge to obtain aerobically treated sludge.

The invention in one form is directed to an airlift pump that is optimized to transfer large volumes of water using very low pumping head. Specifically, the airlift pump is comprised of a pump inlet and outlet which are both located below pond's surface. The pumping force driving the water flow is supplied by the weight of the volume of water displaced by pressurized air into a vertical pipe, and this energy is dissipated by the friction of the rising bubbles pipe entrance head, plus the frictional effects of the inner pipe wall and the energy contained in the water's exit velocity.

The invention in one form is directed to an airlift pump that is optimized to transfer large volumes of water using very low pumping head. Specifically, the airlift pump is comprised of a pump inlet and outlet which are both located below pond's surface. The pumping force driving the water flow is supplied by the weight of the volume of water displaced by pressurized air into a vertical pipe, and this energy is dissipated by the friction of the rising bubbles pipe entrance head, plus the frictional effects of the inner pipe wall and the energy contained in the water's exit velocity.

The invention is a system of raising an effluent level of a septic system drainfield. The system includes an outer housing comprising an inlet in fluid communication with a septic tank. The housing further includes an outlet that enables the effluent to exit the system at a higher elevation. The housing interior includes a hollow insert that extends above a bottom surface of the housing. A baffle is positioned within the interior of the housing to surround the insert, dividing the housing interior into two compartments with insert passing therethrough. In use, wastewater effluent enters the housing interior from a septic tank and gravity falls into the bottom of the housing. An air pump can then be initiated to pump air into the system, which lifts the effluent into the housing upper compartment, where it will exit the system at a higher elevation.

A vacuum airlift system for treating an aqueous effluent includes an upflow liquid portion, where the upflow liquid portion is configured to retain a fluid, and a fluid inlet, the fluid inlet being fluidly coupled with the upflow liquid portion, where the fluid inlet is positioned at about a bottom of the upflow liquid portion. The vacuum airlift system can also include a downflow liquid portion, where the downflow liquid portion is fluidly coupled with the upflow liquid portion, and a fluid outlet, the fluid outlet being fluidly coupled with the downflow liquid portion, where the fluid outlet is positioned at about a bottom of the downflow liquid portion. The vacuum airlift system can also include a plurality of aerators fed by one or more fluidic oscillators; the plurality of aerators being coupled to the upflow liquid column.

The invention relates to water regeneration in a fish breeding complex combining closed and flow-through water supply systems. A module of a biological filter in a water regeneration system comprises a reservoir, an aerator, a channel for sludge accumulation and discharge and a reservoir bottom sloped in direction of the water movement and, with the water surface, forming a diffuser providing for circulation of water and filler in the biological filter. Fish breeding complex comprises fish breeding pools and a water regeneration system comprising a mud settler-denitrificator, a device for water lifting and aeration, a biological filter, degassing and disinfection units. Each fish breeding pool comprises water oxygenation and disinfection systems, dosage units, water discharge systems and insoluble residues collecting and discharge systems. In the water flow-through mode, water regeneration system is switched off and water supply from an outside source and wastewater discharge are switched on.