IP Library Granted Patent US 7,648,640
Granted Patent B2
US 7,648,640 · App. 12/177,467 · Granted Jan 19, 2010

Directional microporous diffuser and directional sparging

Assignee: ThinkVillage-Kerfoot, LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,648,640
App. No.
12/177,467
Granted
Jan 19, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for treating contaminates includes delivering a stream of a fluid to a directional microporous diffuser that has a sidewall with microscopic openings and has a partitioned interior region to effect discharge of microbubbles from less than the entire sidewall portion of the directional microporous diffuser at any particular interval of time. The directional microporous diffuser described include an elongated member providing the sidewall, the sidewall defining an interior portion of said member and coupled to the first inlet port and a partition member that divides the interior of the elongated member into plural, mutually isolated regions. End caps are disposed to seal ends of the directional microporous diffuser.

Claims (32)

1. A method of sparging, comprising:

delivering a stream of a fluid or a gas to a directional microporous diffuser that has a sidewall with microscopic openings and has a partitioned interior chamber forming mutually isolated chambers, wherein the fluid or the gas entering each chamber is discharged through the sidewall of that chamber.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the directional microporous diffuser comprises

an elongate member providing the sidewall, the sidewall defining an interior portion of said member and coupled to a first inlet port;

a partition member that divides the interior of the elongate member into plural, mutually isolated chambers; and

end caps to seal ends of the directional microporous diffuser.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the elongate member is a cylinder.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein one of the caps supports the first inlet port and additional plural inlet ports.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising arranging the first inlet port and additional plural inlet ports to be in fluid communication with corresponding ones of the mutually isolated chambers of the directional microporous diffuser.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising coupling a solenoid-controlled distribution valve to the first inlet port and additional plural inlet ports.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein delivering a fluid or a gas comprises:

delivering the fluid or the gas to a first partitioned interior chamber of the directional microporous diffuser for a first period of time to effect discharge of fluid or gas from a first quadrant of the microporous diffuser and;

delivering the fluid or the gas to a second, partitioned interior chamber to effect discharge of fluid or gas from a second quadrant of the sidewall of the directional microporous diffuser over an interval of time.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising driving the directional microporous diffuser into the ground.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising disposing the directional microporous diffuser in a well.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising emitting microbubbles having a size in a range of 1 to 200 microns.

11. The method of claim 2 wherein the partitioning member divides the interior of the elongate member into four quadrants.

12. A method, of sparging comprising:

delivering a stream of a fluid or a gas to an elongate member having a sidewall with microscopic openings, wherein an interior chamber of the elongate member is partitioned into plural, mutually isolated chambers, so that discharge of microbubbles directionally emanates from a quadrant of the elongate member.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising connecting

a first inlet port and end caps to the elongate member.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising attaching the first inlet port and additional plural inlet ports to one of the end caps.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising arranging the first inlet port and additional plural inlet ports to be in fluid communication with corresponding mutually isolated chambers of the elongate member.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the elongate member is a cylinder.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising coupling a solenoid-controlled distribution valve to the first inlet port and additional plural inlet ports.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein delivering the fluid or the gas comprises:

delivering the fluid or the gas to a first partitioned interior chamber of the directional microporous diffuser for a first period of time to effect discharge of fluid or gas from a first quadrant of the microporous diffuser and;

delivering the fluid or the gas to a second, partitioned interior chamber to effect discharge of the fluid or gas from a second quadrant of the sidewall of the directional microporous diffuser over an interval of time.

19. The method of claim 12 further comprising driving the elongate member into the ground.

20. The method of claim 12 further comprising disposing the elongate member in a well.

21. The method of claim 12 further comprising emitting microbubbles having a size in a range of 1 to 200 microns.

22. The method of claim 12 further comprising dividing the interior chamber of the elongate member into four quadrants with a partitioning member.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2015
From: THINKVILLAGE-KERFOOT, LLC
To: KERFOOT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 035834/0089 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 11, 2009
From: KERFOOT, WILLIAM B.
To: KERFOOT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 022380/0043 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 11, 2009
From: KERFOOT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: THINKVILLAGE-KERFOOT, LLC
Reel/Frame 022380/0050 →
Continuity (2)
Division 1074593900 · Dec 24, 2003
Related Publication 20080290043A1 · Nov 27, 2008