Large Bubble Mixer Sealed Draft Tube Wastewater Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coarse and large bubble mixer systems for wastewater treatment are complex, costly, energy inefficient, prone to clogging, and limited in their ability to effectively mix wastewater throughout the treatment zone, often requiring high-pressure compressors and tall tower stacks that increase installation and maintenance costs and risk blockages.
Innovation Solution
A large bubble mixer system with a sealed lower end and low-profile design, featuring a central draft tube and accumulator that generates large bubbles at a controlled exit velocity to create an impulse or shockwave, reducing water pumpage and minimizing the risk of blockages, and can be operated independently of fine bubble diffusers to provide mixing and aeration in various modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a high pressure compressor is used to generate large bubbles, then mixing effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical high pressure compressor system with a pneumatic system that uses a standard blower combined with a pressure chamber and nozzle assembly. The pressure chamber accumulates air at moderate pressure and releases it through a nozzle to create large bubbles, eliminating the need for complex high pressure compression equipment while achieving the same mixing effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates the air generation function (handled by a simple blower) from the pressure buildup and release function (handled by the pressure chamber and nozzle). This segmentation allows each component to be simple and standard, while their combination produces the desired large bubble effect for effective mixing.
2Productivity
If a geyser airlift pump with tower stack is used, then large bubble generation is achieved, but installation cost and maintenance complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses inexpensive, easily manufactured components such as a standard pressure chamber, nozzle, and piping that can be readily replaced or maintained. These components are much simpler and cheaper than a geyser airlift pump with tower stack, while still achieving large bubble generation through the pressure-and-release mechanism.
3Productivity
If water intake inlets are located near the bottom of the device, then water pumpage is achieved, but clogging risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the water intake function from the bottom inlet location and replaces it with side or top inlet positions. This extraction of the problematic bottom inlet eliminates the clogging risk while the water pumpage function is maintained through the pressure-driven discharge mechanism that pushes water out through the nozzle assembly.
4Productivity
If tower stacks extending upwardly are used, then large bubble discharge is achieved, but mixing coverage is limited to upper portion
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of discharging bubbles vertically upward through a tower stack (one-dimensional vertical discharge), the patent uses a nozzle assembly that can direct bubbles in multiple directions including horizontally and downward. This multi-dimensional discharge pattern ensures that bubbles are distributed throughout the entire treatment zone, providing comprehensive mixing coverage rather than limiting mixing to only the upper portion.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively mixes and aerates wastewater with reduced energy consumption and lower maintenance costs, preventing clogging and ensuring thorough mixing throughout the treatment zone, while allowing for flexible operation modes to optimize treatment processes.
Implementation Method 1
The large bubble mixer may be configured to release the large bubbles into the wastewater at an exit velocity that generates an impulse or shockwave within the wastewater
Implementation Method 2
While the turbulence generated by coarse or big bubble mixers can provide circulation and mixing, it can also limit sludge accumulation. This circulation and turbulence aids in keeping sludge and solids suspended in the treatment area
Implementation Method 3
This secondary flocculation benefit provides modest oxygen transfer for improving efficiency and promotes bacterial growth for the breakdown of waste in the wastewater
Data Source
AI summary
A mixer configured for releasing large bubbles into wastewater is provided. The mixer can include a central draft tube, an upwardly-extending member surrounding the draft tube, and an accumulator surrounding both the upwardly-extending member and the draft tube. A lower end of the draft tube sidewall may be sealed and not include any openings beneath the lower end of the upwardly-extending member, so as to prevent liquid pumpage through the draft tube. A method for treating wastewater in a system that includes at least one large bubble mixer and at least one fine bubble diffuser is also provided. The large bubble mixer and fine bubble diffuser may be supplied gas independently from one another. The method can include multiple modes of operation wherein gas is either supplied to the mixer, to the diffuser, to neither the mixer or the diffuser, or to both the mixer or the diffuser.