Low-turbulent aerator and aeration method

Abstract

A low-turbulent aspirating type aerator, introduced into a body of liquid, comprising of: a gas conveyance tube having a gas inlet end and a gas outlet end; a gas-liquid mixture chamber incorporating; an impeller affixed to a rotatable shaft, at the least one gas intake opening and at the least one gas-liquid discharge opening at or near bottom end of gas-liquid mixture chamber. Rotation of the impeller creates a low-pressure zone (vacuum) allowing gas conveyed via gas conveyance tube to come into contact with rotating impeller forming a gas-liquid mixture at the impeller interface wherein bubbles are formed. Gas-liquid mixture chamber confines gas bubbles thereby allowing the action of impeller and liquid shearing force to produce and discharge micro-sized gas bubbles of predominantly less than 0.85 millimeters. The micro-sized gas bubbles generated have an long residence or gas hold up time within the body of liquid, wherein gas within bubble can, based on a concentration gradient, diffuse into liquid thereby providing the capacity to provide a high gas (oxygen) transfer rate.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . An aerator, comprising:
 a gas conveyance tube having a gas inlet end and a gas outlet end;   a substantially vertically oriented gas-liquid mixture chamber having an upper end and a bottom end, and the upper end having a gas intake opening that is in communication with the outlet end of the gas conveyance tube;   at least one liquid intake at or near the bottom end of the gas-liquid mixture chamber providing all liquid intake to the gas-liquid mixture chamber;   at least one gas bubble discharge opening at or near the bottom end of the gas-liquid mixture chamber;   at least one impeller affixed to a rotatable shaft and housed within the gas-liquid mixture chamber below the gas intake opening; and   a motor for activating rotation of the shaft connected to which the at least one impeller is affixed, whereby rotation of the at least one impeller creates a low-pressure zone or vacuum that allows gas introduced into the gas conveyance tube to be drawn into the gas-liquid mixture chamber and into contact with the rotating impeller.   
     
     
         16 . An aerator comprising:
 a gas conveyance tube having a gas inlet end and a gas outlet end;   a substantially vertically oriented gas-liquid mixture chamber having an upper end and a bottom end, and the upper end having a gas intake opening communicating with the outlet end of the gas conveyance tube;   at least one liquid intake adjacent the bottom end of the gas-liquid mixture chamber for providing all liquid intake to the gas-liquid mixture chamber;   at least one gas bubble discharge opening adjacent the bottom end of the gas-liquid mixture chamber;   at least one impeller affixed to a rotatable shaft and housed within the gas-liquid mixture chamber below the gas intake opening; and   a motor for rotating the shaft and the at least one impeller such that rotation of the at least one impeller creates a low-pressure zone or vacuum that allows gas, introduced into the gas conveyance tube, to be drawn into the gas-liquid mixture chamber and into contact with the rotating impeller.