A mixing aerator is disclosed that includes a housing defining a chamber having a bottom end and a top end, the housing having at least one inlet and at least one outlet; and a longitudinally extending diffuser disposed within the chamber and configured to deliver air bubbles into the chamber when the chamber is filled with liquid. The diffuser includes (a) a tubular elastomeric membrane having a plurality of perforations and, within the tubular elastomeric membrane, (b) an air pipe having a plurality of openings, the openings being larger and fewer than the perforations, and the tubular membrane having upper and lower ends that are sealed against an outer surface of the air pipe.

An elongate diffuser is disclosed comprising a diffuser body and a membrane attached to the diffuser body. The membrane is connected to the diffuser body so that introduction of gas at a working pressure into the diffuser displaces part of the membrane from contact with the diffuser body to provide an elongate sealed compartment between the membrane and a surface of the diffuser body. The compartment has a first lateral side interface region where the membrane contacts the diffuser body, a laterally intermediate region where the membrane is spaced apart from the diffuser body and a second lateral side interface region where the membrane contacts the diffuser body. The diffuser body surface which bounds the compartment comprises a recessed portion which is recessed away from the membrane between the first second lateral side interface regions.

An air diffusion device is provided. The device includes a base coupled to an air supply pipe for supply of air. The base has an air discharge hole for discharge of air supplied from the air supply pipe. The device further includes a perforated cover in the form of a multi-layered stepped plate the height of which is reduced stepwise from the center to the edge. The perforated cover has a plurality of through-holes for discharge of air, and it is coupled to an upper surface of the base to cover the air discharge hole, thus defining an air guide chamber between the perforated cover and the base. The device further includes a securing mechanism configured to secure the perforated cover to the base.

An aeration element for gasification or aeration of liquids includes an essentially flattened, rigid support element having a substantially oval cross-section and corrugated outer surfaces, the corrugated outer surfaces including ridges defining grooves therebetween; a threaded opening for receiving a cooperating fitting for connection to an air supply; and a flexible membrane of elastomeric material disposed around the support element. An assembly bracket includes upper and portions that can be cooperatingly attached to one another about the aeration element for securing the aeration element to a floor of a tank or pool. The assembly bracket includes through-going passages for enabling water to circulate around the bracket and reduce buoyancy of the assembly. Two aeration elements of shorter lengths can be positioned adjacent two one another, secured within assembly brackets, and connected at adjacent ends, so that one of the aeration elements functions as a conduit to the other aeration element when air is supplied into one of the aeration elements.

A device for gassing liquids, in particular for aerating sewage and the like, includes a lower housing element, which has a substantially round opening area and a gas inlet port, a disc-shaped upper housing element, corresponding to the opening area, for covering the opening area, the upper housing element having an upper side facing away from the lower housing element, a number of gas through-openings provided in the vicinity of a peripheral edge of the upper housing element, passing through the upper side, and a perforated gassing membrane, covering over the upper side of the upper housing element.

An apparatus is presented that includes a body and a membrane. The body defines an externally hemispherical body portion with an orifice, as well as a channel passing through the body and terminating in the orifice. The membrane is formed at least in part of an elastomeric material and overlies a portion of the externally hemispherical body portion. The membrane defines a plurality of holes therein, and a plug that is inserted into the orifice and the channel. When submerged at the bottom of a wastewater treatment tank and in gaseous communication with a distribution conduit providing compressed gas, the apparatus may function to release bubbles into the wastewater. When the compressed gas is turned off, the apparatus acts as a check valve that stops water from entering the diffuser and the distribution conduit.

A container system includes a bag comprised of one or more sheets of flexible polymeric material, the bag having an interior surface at least partially bounding a chamber, the chamber being adapted to hold a fluid. A flexible sparging sheet is secured to the interior surface of the bag so that a compartment is formed between the interior surface of the bag and the sparging sheet, at least a portion of the sparging sheet allowing gas to pass therethrough. A tubular port or tube is secured to the bag so that a passage bounded by the tubular port or tube communicates with the compartment. A mixing element is disposed within the chamber of the bag, the mixing element being spaced apart from the flexible sparging sheet.

An exemplary wastewater treatment system includes a pipe, a diffuser mount, and four disc diffusers. The diffuser mount includes a mount-to-pipe connection portion attached to the pipe, four distribution conduits arranged in a cross shape and in gaseous communication with the mount-to-pipe connection portion, and four curved mount-to-diffuser attachment slots located above the four distribution conduits. Each of the four disc diffusers occupies one of the four curved mount-to-diffuser attachment slots and is attached to one of the four distribution conduits. Configured in this manner, each of the four disc diffusers is in gaseous communication with an interior of the pipe and can be used to generate plumes of bubbles in wastewater for aerobic wastewater treatment applications.

An apparatus for producing nano-bubbles in a moving liquid carrier includes a conduit through which a liquid carrier can flow, a gas diffuser disposed on an inner surface of the conduit, and a funnel comprising: (i) a first open end having a first cross-sectional area that receives a moving liquid carrier; (ii) a second open end opposite the first open end defining a second cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area and fluidly coupled to the opening of the conduit; and (iii) a wall extending from the first open end to the second open end. The funnel is configured to create turbulent flow above the turbulent threshold in the absence of external energy that allows the liquid carrier to shear gas from the outer surface of the diffuser, thereby forming nano-bubbles in the liquid carrier.

A sparger assembly (700) for a bioprocessing system includes a base plate (710) and at least one aeration manifold (712, 714) removably connected to tire base plate. Each aeration manifold includes at least one inlet for receiving a gas and a plurality of gas outlet openings for delivering tire gas to a fluid within the bioprocessing system. An impeller assembly (740) fora bioprocessing system includes a hub and at least one blade (742) operatively connected to the hub. The at least one blade includes a first portion connected to the hub and extending generally vertically, and a second portion extending at an upward angle from tire first portion.