FINE BUBBLE AIRLIFT DEVICE
The present invention relates to an aeration device for use in a liquid medium. The device includes a housing adapted to float within the medium such that a top portion thereof remains above a top surface of the medium. The housing has a bottom portion and an open side portion. The device further includes a hose affixed to the bottom portion of the housing substantially parallel to the surface of the liquid medium. The hose has a wall with a plurality of pores formed therein. The device further includes a gas-supplying pipe affixed to the hose and means for supplying a gas to the pipe such that the gas passes through the pipe and into the hose.
1 . A process for the aeration of a body of liquid medium having a bottom surface comprising providing a housing adapted for flotation within said liquid medium, mounting a hose to a predetermined location in said housing substantially parallel to the surface of said liquid medium at a predetermined first distance from said surface of said liquid medium and at a predetermined second distance from said bottom surface, said hose having a wall with a plurality of pores formed therein, supplying a gas to said hose at a predetermined gas supply rate in order to aerate said liquid medium at a standard aeration efficiency of greater than about four pounds of oxygen per hour per horsepower in fresh water.
2 . The process of claim 1 wherein said predetermined gas supply rate is between about 1/10 and 10 SCFM per linear foot of hose.
3 . The process of claim 2 wherein said predetermined gas supply rate is between about 0.2 and 1.0 SCFM per linear foot of hose.
4 . The process of claim 1 wherein said hose comprises a plurality of hose sections disposed in a parallel array.
5 . The process of claim 4 wherein said plurality of hose sections are regularly spaced apart a distance of between about one and five inches between the centers of said parallel array of hose sections.
6 . The process of claim 5 wherein said plurality of hose sections are regularly spaced apart a distance of about two inches between the centers of said parallel array of hose sections.
7 . The process of claim 1 wherein said predetermined first distance is between about 6 inches and 48 inches.
8 . The process of claim 7 wherein said predetermined first distance is between about 29 inches and 48 inches.
9 . The process of claim 8 wherein said predetermined first distance is at least about 36 inches.
10 . The process of claim 1 wherein said predetermined second distance is at least about four inches.
11 . The process of claim 10 wherein said predetermined second distance is at least about 18 inches.
12 . The process of claim 11 wherein said predetermined second distance is at least about 24 inches.
13 . The process of claim 1 wherein said standard aeration efficiency is greater than about six pounds of oxygen per hour per horsepower in salt water.
14 . A process for the aeration of a body of liquid medium having a bottom surface comprising providing a housing adapted for flotation within said liquid medium, mounting a hose to a predetermined location in said housing substantially parallel to the surface of said liquid medium at a predetermined first distance from said surface of said liquid medium and a predetermined second distance from said bottom surface, said hose having a wall with a plurality of pores formed therein, supplying a gas to said hose at a predetermined gas supply rate in order to aerate said liquid medium at a standard oxygen transfer rate of greater than about four pounds of oxygen per hour in fresh water.
15 . The process of claim 14 wherein said predetermined gas supply rate is between about 1/10 and 10 SCFM per linear foot of hose.
16 . The process of claim 14 wherein said hose comprises a plurality of hose sections disposed in a parallel array.
17 . The process of claim 16 wherein said plurality of hose sections are regularly spaced apart a distance of between about one and four inches between the centers of said parallel array of hose sections.
18 . The process of claim 17 wherein said plurality of hose sections are regularly spaced apart a distance of about two inches between the centers of said parallel array of hose sections.
19 . The process of claim 14 wherein said predetermined first distance is between about 6 and 48 inches.
20 . The process of claim 19 wherein said predetermined first distance is between about 29 and 48 inches.
21 . The process of claim 20 wherein said predetermined distance is at least about 36 inches.
22 . The process of claim 14 wherein said predetermined second distance is at least about four inches.
23 . The process of claim 22 wherein said predetermined second distance is at least about 18 inches.
24 . The process of claim 23 wherein said predetermined second distance is about 24 inches.
25 . The process of claim 14 wherein said standard oxygen transfer rate is greater than about six pounds of oxygen per hour in salt water.
26 - 59 . (canceled)