Aerator and carbon dioxide separator

Abstract

An apparatus (100) for the aeration of a fluid and the separation of carbon dioxide from the fluid is disclosed. The apparatus comprises at least first and second screen gears (101, 102), the first and second screen gears (101, 102) comprising a number of screen windows (203) in the form of openings. The shape and / or distribution of the screen windows (203) on the first and second screen gears (101, 102) is such that when the first and second screen gears (101, 102) are connected, at least 20%, preferably at least 25%, more preferably at least 30% of the screen windows (203) of the first screen gear (101) are distributed asymmetrically with respect to the screen windows (203) of the second screen gear (102).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for aeration of a fluid and separation of carbon dioxide from the fluid.

[0002] The present invention also relates to a system and method for aeration of a fluid and separation of carbon dioxide from the fluid.

Background Art

[0003] For fish breeding in an aquarium with an emphasis on sustainability, it is most important that the system is a closed system and minimizes emissions to the surrounding environment.

[0004] In the case of a conventional closed system, the water in the aquarium is led outside and then traditionally filtered by a drum filter, disk filter, or biofilter system to purify the water. Thereafter, the water is often aerated and carbon dioxide is separated from the water before returning to the aquarium.

[0005] Conventional aerators and carbon dioxide separators typically consist of an air supply system that generates bubbles to move the water. However, this type of air supply system suffers from the drawback of low efficiency. They also suffer from the drawback of strong biological growth on the surface of the aerator.

[0006] Other known types of aerators can be made of thin plastic blocks with built-in passages for generating thin water streams that come into contact with the ambient air. These blocks are stacked to form a stack, but they suffer from the drawback that over time, as the blocks are not kept clean and are covered with biological growth, the efficiency decreases over time due to the expanded biological growth.

[0007] Other aerators may include a screen gear and may suffer from the drawback that the screen gear does not provide a sufficiently high efficiency.

[0008] Most of the current known aerators do not incorporate the aeration of fluids and the separation of carbon dioxide from the fluids into one device or system. For example, in US2633343, a solution regarding a fluid mixing device, in particular, a solution regarding a device for generating a flow of liquid containing bubbles throughout the system, is described. Furthermore, in US6270022, an aeration device for a plurality of jet showers is described. The purpose of the aeration device is to provide a more comfortable feeling.

Summary of the Invention

[0009] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of aerators and carbon dioxide separators that are troubled by biological growth and low efficiency that can decline over time.

[0010] According to the present invention, this is achieved by providing a device for the aeration of fluids and the separation of carbon dioxide from the fluids, said device comprising at least first and second screen gears, the first and second screen gears comprising several screen windows in the form of openings, the shape and / or distribution of said screen windows on the first and second screen gears being such that when the first and second screen gears are connected, at least 20%, preferably at least 25%, more preferably at least 30% of the screen windows of the first screen gear are distributed asymmetrically with respect to the screen windows of the second screen gear, where being distributed asymmetrically means that when looking down from above with the first and second screen gears connected, the edge surrounding the screen window of the first screen gear does not overlap 100% with the edge of the screen window of the second screen gear.

[0011] According to one aspect, at least 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or 100% of the screen windows of the first screen gear are distributed asymmetrically with respect to the screen windows of the second screen gear.

[0012] According to one aspect, when the first and second screen gears are connected, they can be rotated 90° or 180° relative to each other. In this regard, it should be noted that these degrees of rotation are only understood as possible options according to the present invention.

[0013] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the device comprises at least three screen gears, and when connected to each other, the coating area of the screen material in the vertical Z direction with respect to the at least three screen gears is at least 70%, preferably at least 80%. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the device comprises at least four screen gears, and when connected to each other, the coating area of the screen material in the vertical Z direction with respect to the at least four screen gears is at least 80%, preferably at least 90%.

[0014] The present invention provides an apparatus for fluid aeration and separation of carbon dioxide from a fluid, which is capable of obtaining a high level of coating area of the screen material in the vertical Z direction while having a high level of total free area for each screen gear. This provides both a long contact time and a long contact distance for aeration of the water flow and separation of carbon dioxide from the water flow according to the present invention, while providing a high level of total free area and ensuring a large volume of water flow and air flow through the apparatus, which is suitable for achieving a high yield of aeration and separation of carbon dioxide.

[0015] Accordingly, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the total free area of each screen gear defined by the sum of all screen windows is at least 50%, preferably at least 70% with respect to each screen gear.

[0016] Furthermore, in relation to the above combination, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus comprises at least three screen gears, and when connected to each other, the coating area of the screen material in the vertical Z direction for the at least three screen gears is at least 70%, preferably at least 80%, and the total free area of each screen gear defined by the sum of all screen windows is at least 50%, preferably at least 70% for each screen gear.

[0017] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus comprises a plurality of screen gears that are stacked on top of each other and provide a tube having outer openings only at both ends. One such example is shown in FIG. 10A. It can be seen that the screen gears stacked on top of each other are configured as a tube with openings only at both ends. Such a tube provides an improvement in the air flow in the apparatus for aeration of the fluid and separation of carbon dioxide from the fluid according to the present invention. Furthermore, it should also be noted that preferably, when the stacked screen gears are connected and stacked, they are rotated relative to each other, for example, by 90° or 180°, as described above and below.

[0018] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the screen window is in the shape of a triangle, rectangle, square, pentagon, hexagon, heptagon, and / or octagon, preferably in the shape of a rectangle or square.

[0019] According to another aspect, each of the first and second screen gears comprises a frame and a grid.

[0020] According to one aspect, the screen windows of the first and second screen gears are located on the grid.

[0021] According to one aspect, the area of the screen window is larger for one of the screen gears than for the other screen gear.

[0022] According to one aspect, the grid of the first screen gear is spaced from the grid of the second screen gear by a distance of 10 to 250 mm.

[0023] According to one aspect, the side of the screen gear with the smaller screen window faces the fluid when the fluid contacts the first and second screen gears.

[0024] According to one aspect, at least one side of the screen window has a length of 10 to 50 mm, preferably 20 mm.

[0025] According to one aspect, the frames and grids of the first and second screen gears are detachable from each other.

[0026] According to one aspect, the frames and grids of the first and second screen gears are locked together by a first locking device.

[0027] According to one aspect, the first locking device is of the snap-fit type.

[0028] According to one aspect, the first and second screen gears are locked together by a second locking device for locking in at least one direction.

[0029] According to one aspect, the device can be locked to at least another device by a third locking device.

[0030] According to one aspect, the first and second screen gears are provided with means for attaching the second locking device.

[0031] According to another aspect, the first and second screen gears are composed of a non-porous substrate, preferably plastic or metal.

[0032] According to one aspect, the fluid is water, preferably water in an aquarium.

[0033] According to one aspect, the screen windows of the first and second screen gears are distributed in at least three parallel rows, and the width of at least one such row of screen windows is different from the width of at least one of the remaining at least two rows of screen windows.

[0034] According to one aspect, there is further provided a system for aeration of a fluid and separation of carbon dioxide from the fluid, comprising the apparatus according to the present invention.

[0035] According to one aspect, the system further comprises a fan for removing the separated carbon dioxide from the system.

[0036] According to one aspect, the system may further comprise at least one inlet chute for uniformly dispersing the fluid over the first and / or second screen gears.

[0037] According to a further aspect, there is also provided a method for aerating a fluid and separating carbon dioxide from the fluid using the apparatus according to the present invention, the method comprising the steps of supplying the fluid to the apparatus, enabling the fluid to be transported through the apparatus by gravity, and collecting the fluid with a reduced amount of carbon dioxide and / or an increased amount of oxygen.

[0038] According to one aspect, the fluid is water, preferably water in an aquarium. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039]

Figure 1

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Figure 6A

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Figure 6C

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Figure 10A

Figure 10B

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0040] Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. The terms used in the detailed description of the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings are not intended to limit the present invention. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements.

[0041] The terms used herein are for the purpose of describing particular aspects of this disclosure only and are not intended to limit this disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0042] It should be noted that the word “comprising” does not necessarily exclude the existence of elements or steps other than those described, and the words “a” or “an” preceding an element do not exclude the existence of a plurality of such elements. Further, reference numerals are not intended to limit the scope of the claims in any way, exemplary aspects may be implemented at least in part by both hardware and software, and it should be noted that several “means,” “units,” or “devices” may be represented by the same hardware device.

[0043] When the screen window of the first screen gear is “asymmetrically” distributed with respect to the screen window of the second screen gear, the edge surrounding the screen window of the first screen gear does not overlap 100% with the edge of the screen window of the second screen gear when viewed from above with the first and second screen gears connected.

[0044] At least 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or 100% of the screen window of the first screen gear may be distributed asymmetrically with respect to the screen window of the second screen gear.

[0045] The various aspects, alternatives, and embodiments of the invention disclosed herein can be combined with one or more of the other aspects, alternatives, and embodiments described herein. Two or more aspects can be combined.

[0046] As described above, the present invention relates to an apparatus 100 for aeration of a fluid and separation of carbon dioxide from the fluid, the apparatus comprising at least first and second screen gears 101, 102, the first and second screen gears 101, 102 comprising some screen windows 203 in the form of openings. When the first and second screen gears 101, 102 are connected, the shape and / or distribution of the screen windows 203 on the first and second screen gears 101, 102 are such that at least 20%, preferably at least 25%, more preferably at least 30% of the screen windows 203 of the first screen gear 101 are distributed asymmetrically with respect to the screen windows 203 of the second screen gear 102. This can be confirmed when looking from above at the state where the first and second screen gears 101, 102 are connected, as shown in FIG. 5. As described above, the apparatus comprises at least first and second screen gears 101, 102, and more preferably at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 6, at least 7, at least 8, at least 9, at least 10, at least 15, at least 20, at least 30, or more first and second screen gears 101, 102. The effects of aeration and carbon dioxide separation increase as the number of the first and second screen gears 101, 102 increases. For example, an apparatus 100 comprising 10 first and / or second screen gears 101, 102 provides better aeration of a fluid such as water and separation of carbon dioxide from the fluid than an apparatus 100 comprising two first and second screen gears 101, 102.

[0047] The first and second screen gears 101, 102 of the device 100 can be rotated 90° or 180° relative to each other when the first and second screen gears 101, 102 are connected. Each of the first and / or second screen gears 101, 102 may include several screen windows 203, preferably at least 3, more preferably at least 4, at least 5, at least 6, at least 7, at least 8, at least 9, at least 10, at least 20, at least 30, at least 40, at least 50, at least 60, at least 70, at least 80, at least 90, at least 100, at least 150, at least 200, at least 250, at least 500, at least 1000, at least 5000, or more screen windows 203. The screen windows 203 may be triangular, rectangular, square, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, and / or octagonal in shape, preferably rectangular or square in shape.

[0048] The first and second screen gears 101, 102 may each include a frame 201 and a grid 202. The screen windows 203 of the first and second screen gears 101, 102 may be located on the grid 202.

[0049] The area of the screen window 203 can be larger on one side of the first and second screen gears 101, 102 than on the other side of the first and second screen gears 101, 102. The side of the first and second screen gears 101, 102 having a smaller area of the screen window / plural windows 203 is preferably facing the fluid when the fluid first contacts the first and / or second screen gears 101, 102, that is, the side with the smaller area of the screen window 203 faces upward, while the side with the larger area of the screen window 203 faces downward. The fact that the screen window 203 is tapered as described above creates a diffuser effect that contributes to increasing the throughput per surface area of the device 100. The total surface area of the screen windows 203 of the first and second screen gears 101, 102 is, when the screen window is tapered, on the side of the first and / or second screen gears 101, 102 with the smaller area of the screen window 203, or when the screen window 203 is not tapered, on any side of the first and / or second screen gears 101, 102, preferably 60 to 90% of the total area of the first and / or second screen gears 101, 102, more preferably about 70%.

[0050] The grid 202 of the first screen gear 101 may be spaced from the grid 202 of the second screen gear 102 by a distance of 10 to 250 mm.

[0051] At least one side of the screen window 203 may have a length of 10 to 50 mm, preferably about 20 mm. When the screen window 203 is square-shaped, it preferably has dimensions of 10×10 mm to 50×50 mm, including a preferred dimension of 20×20 mm. The depth of each screen window 203 is preferably in the range of 5 to 40 mm.

[0052] The frames 201 and grids 202 of the first and second screen gears 101, 102 may be detachable from each other. This is shown in FIG. 4 which illustrates the frame 201 with the grid 202 removed from the frame 201. The frames 201 and grids 202 of the first and second screen gears 101, 102 may further be locked together by a first locking device 301. The first locking device 301 may be of the snap-fit type. This is shown in FIG. 6.

[0053] The first and second screen gears 101, 102 may be locked together by a second locking device 302 for locking in at least one direction. The second locking device 302 may also serve as a handle for facilitating the handling and transportation of the first and second screen gears 101, 102. The first and second screen gears 101, 102 may be provided with means for attaching the second locking device 302 to the first and second screen gears 101, 102.

[0054] The first and second screen gears 101, 102 are preferably perpendicular, or substantially perpendicular, to the flow direction of the fluid that impinges on and passes through them.

[0055] The device 100 may be locked to at least another device 100 by a third locking device 303. The third locking device 303 preferably locks one device 100 to another device in at least two directions.

[0056] The first and second screen gears 101, 102 of the device 100 are preferably made of a non-porous substrate, preferably plastic or metal, in order to prevent the penetration of fluids such as, for example, water, and to make it difficult for biological growth to occur. Biological growth in the device 100 is also hindered by the strong turbulence caused by the flow of the fluid, preferably water.

[0057] The fluid contemplated by the present invention is preferably water, more preferably water in an aquarium.

[0058] The screen windows 203 of the first and second screen gears 101, 102 may be distributed in at least three parallel rows, and the width W1 of at least one such row of screen windows 203 may be different from at least one width W2 of the at least two remaining rows of screen windows 203. As a result of the width W1 being different from the width W2, when the first and second screen gears 101, 102 are connected and the first screen gear 101 is rotated 90° or 180° relative to the second screen gear 102, the screen windows 203 of the first screen gear 101 may be distributed asymmetrically with respect to the screen windows 203 of the second screen gear 102.

[0059] The present invention also relates to a system for aeration of a fluid and separation of carbon dioxide from the fluid. This system comprises the device 100 according to the above. This system may comprise a fan for removing carbon dioxide separated from the system. This system may further comprise at least one inlet chute for uniformly dispersing the fluid over the first and / or second screen gears 101, 102.

[0060] The present invention also relates to a method for aerating a fluid and separating carbon dioxide from the fluid using the device 100 according to the above. This method may include the steps of supplying the fluid to the device 100, enabling the fluid to be transported through the device 100 by gravity, and collecting the fluid with a reduced amount of carbon dioxide and / or an increased amount of oxygen. The fluid may be water, preferably water in an aquarium.

[0061] For optimal efficiency, the inflow of the fluid, preferably water, may be dispersed through a specific inlet chute configured to uniformly disperse the fluid over the device 100. The inflow of the fluid, preferably water, from the inlet chute onto the device 100 is preferably through a perforated chute so that the water is uniformly dispersed over the device 100.

[0062] When the fluid flows down through the first and second screen gears 101, 102 of the device 100, the fluid flow is accompanied by a large amount of air, and this air is mixed with the fluid when it collides with the first and second screen gears 101, 102 during the process of the fluid falling to the bottom surface of the device 100.

[0063] Preferably, the chute for feeding the fluid to the device 100 according to the present invention is narrower / smaller than the widths of the first and second screen gears 101, 102, so that a free space is created along the side surface, and air can be drawn into the device 100 without the fluid being obstructed. Preferably, the chute for feeding the fluid to the device 100 covers about 60% of the area of the first and / or second screen gears 101, 102 close to the chute, and the remaining about 40% of the surface of the screen gear 101 is not covered, enabling air to be drawn through the device 100.

[0064] During the process of the fluid flowing down through the device 100, strong turbulence and a certain amount of free fluid surface, preferably water droplets, generated when contacting the first and second screen gears 101, 102 result in very efficient aeration and, at the same time, efficient carbon dioxide release. The carbon dioxide is preferably removed from the device 100 along the side surfaces of the first and second screen gears 101, 102, or after passing through the first and second screen gears 101, 102, at the bottom surface of the device 100. It is important that the site where the device 100 is installed is well-ventilated, or alternatively, the carbon dioxide separated from the fluid is led through a ventilation system to be removed from the site. A fan can be used to remove the separated carbon dioxide from the device 100.

[0065] To avoid the movement / loss of small droplets of the fluid from the fluid flow, the air passing through the fan is led through a droplet separator to remove the droplets and enable the droplets to return to the fluid flow, and the influence of humidity on the surrounding system can be reduced.

[0066] The amount of carbon dioxide separated from the fluid by the apparatus 100 according to the present invention is about 45 to 70%, typically 60%, of the carbon dioxide present in the fluid.

Claims

1. Apparatus (100) for aeration of a fluid and separation of carbon dioxide from a fluid, comprising at least first and second screen gears (101, 102), wherein the first and second screen gears (101, 102) each comprises several screen windows (203) in the form of openings, and the shape and / or distribution of the screen windows (203) on the first and second screen gears (101, 102) is such that when the first and second screen gears (101, 102) are coupled, the first screen gear (101) Apparatus (100), wherein at least 20%, preferably at least 25%, and more preferably at least 30% of the screen window (203) of the second screen gear (102) is distributed asymmetrically with respect to the screen window (203) of the second screen gear (102), where asymmetric distribution means that when the first and second screen gears are connected and viewed from above, the edges surrounding the screen window of the first screen gear do not overlap 100% with the edges of the screen window of the second screen gear.

2. The apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein the first and second screen gears (101, 102) are rotated 90° or 180° relative to each other when the first and second screen gears (101, 102) are connected.

3. The apparatus (100) according to claim 1, comprising at least three screen gears, wherein when connected to each other, the covering area of ​​the screen material (204) in the Z-direction perpendicular to the at least three screen gears is at least 70%, preferably at least 80%.

4. The apparatus (100) according to claim 1, comprising at least four screen gears, wherein when connected to each other, the covering area of ​​the screen material (204) in the Z-direction perpendicular to the at least four screen gears is at least 80%, preferably at least 90%.

5. The apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein the total free area of ​​each screen gear defined by the sum of all screen windows (203) is at least 50%, preferably at least 70%, with respect to each screen gear.

6. The apparatus (100) according to claim 1, comprising at least three screen gears, wherein when connected to each other, the covering area of ​​the screen material (204) in the perpendicular Z direction to the at least three screen gears is at least 70%, preferably at least 80%, and the total free area of ​​each screen gear defined by the sum of all screen windows (203) is at least 50%, preferably at least 70% for each screen gear.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 (100), comprising a plurality of screen gears stacked on top of each other to provide tubes having outer openings only at both ends.

8. The apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein the screen window (203) is triangular, rectangular, square, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, and / or octagonal in shape, preferably rectangular or square.

9. The apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second screen gears (101, 102) comprises a frame (201) and a grid (202).

10. The apparatus (100) according to claim 9, wherein the screen windows (203) of the first and second screen gears (101, 102) are located on the grid (202).

11. The apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein the area of ​​the screen window (203) is larger for one of the screen gears (101, 102) than for the other screen gear (101, 102).

12. The apparatus (100) according to claim 9, wherein the grid (202) of the first screen gear (101) is spaced 10 to 250 mm apart from the grid (202) of the second screen gear (102).

13. The apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein the area of ​​the screen window (203) is larger on one of the screen gears (101, 102) than on the other of the screen gears (101, 102), and the side of the screen gear (101, 102) having a smaller screen window (203) faces the fluid when the fluid first comes into contact with the first and second screen gears (101, 102).

14. The apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein at least one side of the screen window (203) has a length of 10 to 50 mm, preferably 20 mm.

15. The apparatus (100) according to claim 9, wherein the frames (201) and grids (202) of the first and second screen gears (101, 102) are detachable from each other.

16. The apparatus (100) according to claim 9, wherein the frames (201) and grids (202) of the first and second screen gears (101, 102) are locked together by a first locking device (301).

17. The apparatus (100) according to claim 16, wherein the first locking device (301) is of the snap-fit ​​type.

18. The apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein the first and second screen gears (101, 102) are locked together by a second locking device (302) for locking in at least one direction.

19. The apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus (100) can be locked to at least another apparatus (100) by a third locking device (303).

20. The apparatus (100) according to claim 18, wherein the first and second screen gears (101, 102) are provided with means for attaching the second locking device (302) to the first and second screen gears (101, 102).

21. The apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein the first and second screen gears (101, 102) are made of a non-porous substrate, preferably plastic or metal.

22. The apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein the fluid is water, preferably water in a tank.

23. The apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein the screen windows (203) of the first and second screen gears (101, 102) are distributed in at least three parallel rows, and the width (W1) of at least one such row of screen windows (203) is different from the width (W2) of at least one of the remaining two rows of screen windows (203).

24. A system for aeration of a fluid and separation of carbon dioxide from a fluid, comprising the apparatus (100) described in claim 1.

25. The system according to claim 24, further comprising a fan for removing the separated carbon dioxide from the system.

26. The system according to claim 24, further comprising at least one inlet chute for uniformly distributing the fluid over the first and / or second screen gears (101, 102).

27. A method for aerating a fluid and separating carbon dioxide from the fluid using the apparatus (100) described in claim 1, A step of supplying fluid to the apparatus (100), A step of enabling the fluid to be transported through the apparatus (100) by gravity, A process of collecting a fluid in which the amount of carbon dioxide has decreased and / or the amount of oxygen has increased. A method that includes this.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the fluid is water, preferably water in a tank.

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