The invention relates to a ventilation element for the introduction of a gas into a liquid, having at least one gas port, having at least one carrier plate and having at least one elastically deformable diaphragm which is connected to the at least one gas port and/or to the at least one carrier plate. A space that can be formed between the at least one diaphragm and the at least one carrier plate is connected in terms of flow to the gas port. The at least one carrier plate has a multiplicity of gas outlet openings, and at least one diaphragm is composed at least in sections of a material with a lower density than water, or is equipped with at least one float body which has a lower density than water.

A bubble generator includes a diaphragm, a piezoelectric vibrator, and a light source. The diaphragm includes multiple micro apertures, a first surface to be in contact with the water in the water tank and a second surface to be in contact with the gas. The diaphragm transmits ultraviolet light. The piezoelectric vibrator vibrates the diaphragm. The light source emits ultraviolet light to the water in the water tank from a side region of the diaphragm near the other surface.

A bubble generator includes a diaphragm, a tube, and a piezoelectric vibrator. The tube includes a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion, and the tube is connected to the diaphragm at the first end portion so as to support the diaphragm. The piezoelectric vibrator is fixed to a ring-shaped collar extending radially outward from the tube at a position in a vicinity of the second end portion of the tube, and the piezoelectric vibrator vibrates the tube. The first end portion of the tube is joined to the water tank.

A container assembly includes a flexible bag having an interior surface bounding a chamber and an opposing exterior surface. The bag has a bottom end wall that includes a first sparger and a second sparger. The first sparger and the second sparger each have a flexible first sheet overlying a flexible second sheet, the first sheet and the second sheet being secured together so as to form a sparging area bounded between the first sheet and the second sheet, at least a portion of the first sheet overlying the sparging area being gas permeable so that gas can pass from the sparging area, through the first sheet, and into the chamber.

A container assembly includes a flexible bag having an interior surface bounding a chamber and an opposing exterior surface. The bag has a bottom end wall that includes a first sparger and a second sparger. The first sparger and the second sparger each have a flexible first sheet overlying a flexible second sheet, the first sheet and the second sheet being secured together so as to form a sparging area bounded between the first sheet and the second sheet, at least a portion of the first sheet overlying the sparging area being gas permeable so that gas can pass from the sparging area, through the first sheet, and into the chamber.

A diffuser assembly includes a flexible diffuser membrane and a diffuser body. The flexible diffuser membrane defines a perimeter edge bead along four edges. The diffuser body defines an underlying body portion underlying the flexible diffuser membrane, and a perimeter edge frame covering a covered portion of the perimeter edge bead. The edge frame defines an inside surface that conforms to an outside shape of the covered portion of the perimeter edge bead. The perimeter edge frame is integral to the underlying body portion.

A diffuser assembly includes a flexible diffuser membrane and a diffuser body. The flexible diffuser membrane defines a circumferential bead. The diffuser body defines a circular plate underlying the flexible diffuser membrane, and an edge ring covering a covered portion of the circumferential bead. The edge ring defines an inside surface that conforms to an outside shape of the covered portion of the circumferential bead. The edge ring is integral to the diffuser body. Such a diffuser assembly may provide a disposable diffuser assembly option with many advantages over conventional technologies such as improved ease of installation, lower weight, and lower cost.

A disposable material processing apparatus, useable as a bioreactor or fermenter, includes a hollow tank (101) and a mixing paddle (110) disposed within the interior of the tank and adapted to mix contents therein. The paddle may be isolated within a flexible sleeve (140). Various functional elements, such as a sparger, sensor, material extraction conduit, material addition conduit, and/or heat exchange element may be provided, and optionally arranged to travel with the paddle within the tank interior. Baffles may protrude into a mixing tank to enhance mixing. A tank and/or sleeve may comprise polymeric film materials.

A dual-action water aerator includes structure that generates fine, fizz-type bubbles and structure that generates larger, more roiling bubbles that cause circulation within a body of water in which the aerator is submerged. The disclosed embodiments include a ring-shaped hub with a central aperture, with a central tube extending axially from the aperture. A number of fine-bubble-producing members extend outwardly from the hub and may be attached to the hub using a twist-lock connection designed to facilitate rapid assembly and deployment of the aerator. An internal air chase extends circumferentially around the aperture. A portion of air supplied to the air chase flows into the fine-bubble-producing members and fizzes out through the members, and another portion of air that is supplied to the air chase flows into the central tube and bubbles up out of the tube in a roiling manner to cause circulation in the body of water.

The invention relates to a diffusor for adding of gases into water, said diffusor comprising a perforated tube (1) and at least one supply tube (2), said the at least one supply tube (2) is at one end coupled to a source for supplying gas and at the other end in fluid communication with the perforated tube (1), the gas is supplied to the perforated tube (1) through at least one inner supply tube (4; 5; 15) extending from the supply tube (2) to the perforated tube (1). The invention is distinctive in that at the least one inner supply tube (4; 5; 15) is a non-perforating tube and has at least one outlet (4a, 5a, 15a) situated at a free end of the at least one inner supply tube (4, 5, 15), said gas is adapted to be distributed into the perforated tube (1) through the at least one outlet (4a, 5a, 15a).