Airlift pump with helical flow pattern

Abstract

The airlift pump with helical flow pattern includes a nozzle body having a fluid passage therethrough. A plurality of air or gas injector nozzles surrounds the central passage. The outward side of each nozzle is tangent to the fluid passage wall through the body to produce circumferential flow in the fluid passage. Each of the air injector nozzles is also inclined in the direction of flow through the body, the tangential inclination resulting in a helical flow pattern through the body. The centrifugal force generated by the circumferential and helical flow through the body results in a pressure decrease through the core of the fluid passage, thereby enhancing entrainment of fluid into the device to increase its efficiency. The fluid passage through the nozzle body is devoid of any structure, and the inlet end of the passage is smoothly radiused to further increase the efficiency of the device.

1 . An airlift pump with helical flow pattern, comprising:
 a nozzle body having an inlet end and an outlet end opposite the inlet end, the nozzle body defining a concentric fluid flow passage through the body, the fluid flow passage extending from the inlet end to the outlet end of the nozzle body and having a passage wall defining a fluid flow passage diameter;   a plurality of air injection nozzles extending into the nozzle body for the injection of air into the fluid flow passage, each of the air injection nozzles having an inlet end and an outlet end opposite the inlet end, each of the air injection nozzles having an axis wherein the outlet end of each of the nozzles communicates with the fluid flow passage at a non-zero angle away from tangent to the passage wall of the fluid flow passage, each of the air injection nozzles having an axis being inclined vertically, laterally, and radially within the nozzle body in order to produce non-tangential helical flow of liquids through the fluid flow passage from the inlet end to the outlet end of the nozzle body, the outlet end of each of the nozzles being oriented toward the outlet end of the nozzle body;   a riser receptacle disposed within the outlet end of the nozzle body, the riser receptacle having a larger internal diameter than the fluid flow passage; and   a riser pipe having a lower end disposed within the riser receptacle of the nozzle body and extending upward therefrom, the riser pipe having a smooth and uniform internal diameter equal to the diameter of the fluid flow passage.   
     
     
         2 . The airlift pump with helical flow pattern according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the nozzles has a wall having an outward side, the outward side of the nozzle wall being tangent to the wall of the fluid flow passage at the outlet end of each of the nozzles. 
     
     
         3 . The airlift pump with helical flow pattern according to  claim 1 , wherein the inlet end of the fluid flow passage is smoothly radiused and has a curved contour. 
     
     
         4 . The airlift pump with helical flow pattern according to  claim 1  wherein the diameter of the fluid flow passage is smooth and uniform from the inlet end to the outlet end of the nozzle body, the fluid flow passage being devoid of internal structure. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The airlift pump with helical flow pattern according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a circumferential O-ring groove disposed within the riser receptacle; and   an O-ring disposed within the O-ring groove, the O-ring sealing the riser pipe within the riser receptacle.   
     
     
         7 . The airlift pump with helical flow pattern according to  claim 1  wherein the plurality of air injection nozzles comprises four air injection nozzles, the nozzles being evenly spaced circumferentially about the nozzle body. 
     
     
         8 . An airlift pump with helical flow pattern, comprising:
 a nozzle body having an inlet end and an outlet end opposite the inlet end, the nozzle body defining a concentric fluid flow passage extending through the nozzle body, the fluid flow passage extending from the inlet end to the outlet end of the nozzle body and having a passage wall defining a fluid flow passage diameter;   a plurality of air injection nozzles extending into the nozzle body for injection of air into the fluid flow passage, each of the air injection nozzles having an inlet end and an outlet end opposite the inlet end, each of the air injection nozzles having an axis wherein the outlet end of each of the nozzles communicates with the fluid flow passage, each of the nozzles having a wall having an outward side, the outward side of the nozzle wall communicating with the fluid flow passage at a non-zero angle away from tangent to the passage wall of the fluid flow passage at the outlet end of each of the nozzles, each of the air injection nozzles having an axis being inclined vertically, laterally, and radially within the nozzle body in order to produce non-tangential helical flow of liquids through the fluid flow passage from the inlet end to the outlet end of the nozzle body;   a riser receptacle disposed within the outlet end of the nozzle body, the riser receptacle having a larger internal diameter than the fluid flow passage; and   a riser pipe having a lower end disposed within the riser receptacle of the nozzle body and extending upward therefrom, the riser pipe having a smooth and uniform internal diameter equal to the diameter of the fluid flow passage.   
     
     
         9 . The airlift pump with helical flow pattern according to  claim 8 , wherein the outlet end of each of the air injection nozzles is oriented toward the outlet end of the nozzle body. 
     
     
         10 . The airlift pump with helical flow pattern according to  claim 8 , wherein the inlet end of the fluid flow passage is smoothly radiused and has a curved contour. 
     
     
         11 . The airlift pump with helical flow pattern according to  claim 8 , wherein the diameter of the fluid flow passage is smooth and uniform from the inlet end to the outlet end of the nozzle body, the fluid flow passage being devoid of internal structure. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The airlift pump with helical flow pattern according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a circumferential O-ring groove disposed within the riser receptacle; and   an O-ring disposed within the O-ring groove, the O-ring sealing the riser pipe within the riser receptacle.   
     
     
         14 . The airlift pump with helical flow pattern according to  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of air injection nozzles comprises four air injection nozzles, the nozzles being evenly spaced circumferentially about the nozzle body. 
     
     
         15 . An airlift pump with helical flow pattern, comprising:
 a nozzle body having an inlet end and an outlet end opposite the inlet end, the nozzle body defining a concentric fluid flow passage extending through the nozzle body, the fluid flow passage extending from the inlet end to the outlet end of the nozzle body and having a passage wall defining a fluid flow passage diameter;   four air injection nozzles extending into the nozzle body, the nozzles being evenly spaced circumferentially about the nozzle body, each of the air injection nozzles having an inlet end and an outlet end opposite the inlet end, each of the air injection nozzles having an axis wherein the outlet end of each of the nozzles communicates with the fluid flow passage at a non-zero angle away from tangent to the passage wall of the fluid flow passage, the inlet end of the fluid flow passage being smoothly radiused and having a curved contour, each of the air injection nozzles having an axis being inclined vertically, laterally, and radially within the nozzle body in order to produce non-tangential helical flow of liquids through the fluid flow passage from the inlet end to the outlet end of the nozzle body;   a riser receptacle disposed within the outlet end of the nozzle body, the riser receptacle having a larger internal diameter than the fluid flow passage; and   a riser pipe having a lower end disposed within the riser receptacle of the nozzle body and extending upward therefrom, the riser pipe having a smooth and uniform internal diameter equal to the diameter of the fluid flow passage.   
     
     
         16 . The airlift pump with helical flow pattern according to  claim 15 , wherein the outlet end of each of the air injection nozzles is oriented toward the outlet end of the nozzle body. 
     
     
         17 . The airlift pump with helical flow pattern according to  claim 15 , wherein each of the nozzles has a wall having an outward side, the outward side of the nozzle wall being tangent to the wall of the fluid flow passage at the outlet end of each of the nozzles. 
     
     
         18 . The airlift pump with helical flow pattern according to  claim 15 , wherein the diameter of the fluid flow passage is smooth and uniform from the inlet end to the outlet end of the nozzle body, the fluid flow passage being devoid of internal structure. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The airlift pump with helical flow pattern according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a circumferential O-ring groove disposed within the riser receptacle; and   an O-ring disposed within the O-ring groove, the O-ring sealing the riser pipe within the riser receptacle.