An apparatus has a plurality of gas transfer membranes. The apparatus floats in water with the membranes submerged in the water. To treat the water, a gas is supplied to the membranes and is transferred to a biofilm supported on the membranes or to the water. Gas is also used to supply mixing or membrane scouring bubbles to the water. The mixing or scouring bubbles can be provided by a cyclic aeration or other gas supply system, which optionally provides gas at a variable pressure to the membranes in parallel or series with an aerator. Condensates can be removed from the membranes, and exhaust gasses from the membranes can be monitored, optionally through one or more dedicated pipes.

An apparatus has a plurality of gas transfer membranes. The apparatus floats in water with the membranes submerged in the water. To treat the water, a gas is supplied to the membranes and is transferred to a biofilm supported on the membranes or to the water. Gas is also used to supply mixing or membrane scouring bubbles to the water. The mixing or scouring bubbles can be provided by a cyclic aeration or other gas supply system, which optionally provides gas at a variable pressure to the membranes in parallel or series with an aerator. Condensates can be removed from the membranes, and exhaust gasses from the membranes can be monitored, optionally through one or more dedicated pipes.

A bag assembly for use with a heat exchanger includes a flexible bag having of one or more sheets of polymeric material, the bag having a first end that bounds a first compartment and an opposing second end that bounds a second compartment, a support structure being disposed between the first compartment and the second compartment so that the first compartment is separated and isolated from the second compartment. A first inlet port, a first outlet port, and a first drain port are coupled with the flexible bag so as to communicate with the first compartment. A second inlet port, a second outlet port, and a second drain port are coupled with the flexible bag so as to communicate with the second compartment.

A bag assembly for use with a heat exchanger includes a flexible bag having of one or more sheets of polymeric material, the bag having a first end that bounds a first compartment and an opposing second end that bounds a second compartment, a support structure being disposed between the first compartment and the second compartment so that the first compartment is separated and isolated from the second compartment. A first inlet port, a first outlet port, and a first drain port are coupled with the flexible bag so as to communicate with the first compartment. A second inlet port, a second outlet port, and a second drain port are coupled with the flexible bag so as to communicate with the second compartment.

An apparatus (12) for treating water, in particular for removing surfactants from waste water, includes a vessel (14), defining an inlet (16) for receiving waste water containing air bubbles, and an outlet (20) for the exit of water, following treatment. Inside the vessel there is at least one tubular member (50) having a lower open end (52) into which the flow of waste water from the inlet may be directed in use. The tubular member (50) extends from the inlet towards a top of the vessel where an upper exit (54) from the tubular member is defined. In use, most un-aerated water entering the vessel through the inlet can exit the tubular member at the lower open end. Foam formed in the water by the air bubbles may travel up the tubular member to the upper exit, which is preferably located above the water level (60) in the vessel.

A stirrer having a motor; a hollow shaft that is drivable via the motor and is provided with at least one additive outlet opening, via which an additive passed through the hollow shaft can be discharged; and a rotor arranged on the hollow shaft and having rotor blades, characterized in that a second rotor having rotor blades is provided on the hollow shaft at a distance from the first rotor, and in that the at least one additive outlet opening is provided between the two rotors, wherein the rotors are designed and drivable such that, during operation, a negative pressure and a centrifugal force are generated in the intermediate space defined between the rotors.

A system for oxygenating a biological culture includes a container bounding a compartment and having a top wall, a bottom wall, and an encircling sidewall extending therebetween; a tubular member projecting into the compartment of the container and terminating at a terminal end; a gas supply coupled with the tubular member and being configured to blow gas through the tubular member; and a mixing element disposed within compartment of the container at a location between the terminal end of the tubular member and the bottom wall of the container, the mixing element being configured to mix the liquid.

An assembly for selectively aerating and heating or cooling a beverage. The assembly includes a body that receives the beverage, a heat transfer element having a control temperature, a diverter in communication with and coupled to the body, and an aerator in communication with the diverter, the aerator including a plurality of flow features and an outlet. The heat transfer element carried by the body, such that the heat transfer element is arranged to change a temperature of the beverage in the body using the control temperature. When the diverter is in a first position, the flow features are accessible and the beverage flows through the body portion, along the plurality of flow features, and through the outlet. When the diverter member is in a second position, the flow features are not accessible and the beverage flows through the body portion and through the outlet while bypassing the flow features.

An apparatus for producing nano-bubbles in a volume of liquid is described. The apparatus includes a motor having a rotatable shaft, an axially rotatable permeable member couplable to a gas inlet, and a rotatable tube support coupled to the rotatable shaft of the motor and having an inner cavity that houses the axially rotatable permeable member. When rotated, the axially rotatable permeable member is rotated so that the surface velocity of the rotatable permeable member simulates axial turbulent flow above the turbulent threshold in the liquid that allows the liquid to shear gas from the outer surface of the axially rotatable permeable member, thereby forming nano-bubbles in the liquid.

A system for separating a volatile hydrocarbon from a water stream includes a lead mixer-injector device that receives an untreated water stream including a volatile hydrocarbon, injects compressed air into the untreated water stream and mixes the injected air with the untreated water stream to form a first injected fluid stream. A shear mixing device receives the first injected fluid stream from the mixer-injector device and shear gas bubbles within the received first injected fluid stream so that a frothed stream is formed. A lead degas separator receives and separates the frothed stream from the shear mixing device into a volatile hydrocarbon stream and a partially treated water stream based on difference in density. A compressor directs clean and oil free compressed air to the lead mixer-injector device.