WO2021176260A1

WO2021176260A1 - An apparatus for generation of an air bubble and a method thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2021176260A1
Application number: PCT/IB2020/053695
Authority: WO
Inventors: Arun Ganesaraman; Ashwin RAJVEL G.A
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-03-06
Filing date: 2020-04-19
Publication date: 2021-09-10
Anticipated expiration: 2022-09-06

Abstract

An apparatus for generation of an air bubble is provided. The apparatus includes a top part which receives a pre-determined amount of air via an air nozzle, the top part includes a top opening. An outer cylinder, of a first pre-determined diameter, receives the pre-determined amount of air from the top part. A middle cylinder, of a second pre-determined diameter, is positioned within the outer cylinder. A bottom part receives a first pre-determined amount of liquid upon immersion into a liquid body, and a second pre-determined amount of liquid into the middle cylinder and the outer cylinder, wherein at least one of the outer cylinder and the bottom part comprises a plurality of openings. An inner cylinder, of a third pre-determined diameter, is positioned within the middle cylinder. The inner cylinder ejects the pre-determined amount of air via the pressure from the second pre-determined amount of liquid.

Description

AN APPARATUS FOR GENERATION OF AN AIR BUBBLE AND A

METHOD THEREOF

This International Application claims priority from a complete patent application filed in India having patent application number 202041009677, filed on March 06, 2020 and titled “AN APPARATUS FOR GENERATION OF AN AIR BUBBLE AND A METHOD THEREO”.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to improving efficiency of aeration and mixing, and more particularly to, an apparatus for generation of an air bubble and a method thereof.

BACKGROUND

Aeration is a simple operation of blending air and water. Airlift pumps can be used to enhance circulation and mixing of this air and water. The purpose of an airlift pump is a pump that has low suction and moderate discharge of liquid and entrained solids. The pump injects compressed air at the bottom of the discharge pipe which is immersed in the liquid. The compressed air mixes with the liquid causing the air-liquid mixture to be less dense than the rest of the liquid around it and therefore is displaced upwards through the discharge pipe by the surrounding liquid of higher density. Solids may be entrained in the flow and if small enough to fit through the pipe, will be discharged with the rest of the flow at a shallower depth or above the surface. Airlift pumps are widely used in aquaculture to pump, circulate and aerate liquid in closed, recirculating systems and ponds.

In a particular scenario, whenever a compressible fluid such as gas is introduced within an incompressible fluid such as liquid, gas bubbles are formed. Gas bubble forming devices can be used in various ways for different applications and typically function via the introduction of a continuous flow of gas-directed into; 1) a vertical column having an open upper end and most often an open bottom end, these are typically termed as a static tube aerator; 2) a distribution manifold or diffuser comprising of orifices; 3) a venturi type fixture that functions with a continuous flow of pressurized liquid moving through a restriction generating a slight vacuum that can draw gas into the liquid thereby forming gas bubbles to be entrained within the liquid and released into the bulk liquid. The gas bubbles once released into the liquid will change the density of the liquid within the area of discharge and thereby provide a means for generating flow and or mixing the liquid as is the case of a static tube type process.

A continuous flow of gas for the purpose of pumping liquid via an ‘airlift’ process is inefficient since they have a small lift capacity and suction or flow velocity as compared to mechanical pumping devices. Therefore, their use is limited to pumping liquid only vertically a short height above the liquid surface level. In cases where continuous gas flow ‘airlift’ type pumps are applied within liquid containing particulates or sludge, the limited suction or flow velocity can further lead to clogging problems.

Therefore, in order to overcome the aforementioned problems, there exists a need for an improved apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

In accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure, an apparatus for generation of an air bubble is provided. The apparatus includes a top part configured to receive a pre-determined amount of air via an air nozzle, the top part including a top opening. The apparatus also includes an outer cylinder including a first pre-determined diameter, wherein the outer cylinder is configured to further receive the pre determined amount of air from the top part. The apparatus also includes a middle cylinder including a second pre-determined diameter, wherein the middle cylinder is positioned within the outer cylinder, thereby forming a first pre-determined gap between the middle cylinder and the outer cylinder. The apparatus also includes a bottom part configured to receive a first pre-determined amount of liquid upon immersion into a liquid body, and a second pre-determined amount of liquid into the middle cylinder and the outer cylinder, wherein at least one of the outer cylinder and the bottom part comprises a plurality of openings. The apparatus also includes an inner cylinder including a third pre-determined diameter, wherein the inner cylinder is positioned within the middle cylinder, thereby forming a second pre-determined gap between the inner cylinder and the middle cylinder, the inner cylinder configured to eject the pre-determined amount of air via the pressure from the second pre determined amount of liquid.

In accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure, a method for generating an air bubble is provided. The method includes receiving a first predetermined amount of liquid through a plurality of openings into an outer cylinder, a middle cylinder and an inner cylinder, upon immersion in a liquid body. The method also includes receiving a pre-determined amount of air via a top part coupled to the outer cylinder to flow up to a pre-determined first position in the middle cylinder, the pre-defined amount of air having a pre-defined amount of air pressure. The method also includes ejecting a first air bubble from the inner cylinder via the pre-defined amount of air flowing from the middle cylinder to the inner cylinder, thereby resulting in remnant air within the inner cylinder, middle cylinder and outer cylinder. The method also includes receiving a second pre-determined amount of liquid at a pre-determined amount of liquid pressure through the bottom part. The method also includes ejecting a second air bubble from the inner cylinder due to the pre-determined amount of liquid pressure acting on the remnant air inside the outer, middle and inner cylinders. The ejection of first bubble and second bubble is continuous joining them together without a gap.

To further clarify the advantages and features of the present disclosure, a more particular description of the disclosure will follow by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the appended figures. It is to be appreciated that these figures depict only typical embodiments of the disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting in scope. The disclosure will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the appended figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of an apparatus for generation of an air bubble in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric view of the apparatus for generation of an air bubble in accordance with an embodiment of FIG. 1 of the present disclosure; FIG. 3 illustrates an isometric view of the apparatus for generation of an air bubble in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates an isometric view of the apparatus for generation of an air bubble in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a flow chart representing steps involved in a method for FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and may not have necessarily been drawn to scale. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the figures by conventional symbols, and the figures may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the figures with details that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the figures and specific language will be used to describe them. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. Such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the disclosure as would normally occur to those skilled in the art are to be construed as being within the scope of the present disclosure.

The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process or method that comprises a list of steps does not include only those steps but may include other steps not expressly listed or inherent to such a process or method. Similarly, one or more devices or sub-systems or elements or structures or components preceded by "comprises... a" does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other devices, sub-systems, elements, structures, components, additional devices, additional sub-systems, additional elements, additional structures or additional components. Appearances of the phrase "in an embodiment", "in another embodiment" and similar language throughout this specification may, but not necessarily do, all refer to the same embodiment.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this disclosure belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are only illustrative and not intended to be limiting.

In the following specification and the claims, reference will be made to a number of terms, which shall be defined to have the following meanings. The singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of an apparatus for generation of an air bubble in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The apparatus includes a top part (102), an outer cylinder (108), a middle cylinder (106), an inner cylinder (104) and a bottom part (110).

In one embodiment, the top part (102) is cylindrically shaped of a pre-determined diameter. The top part (102) includes a top opening (102a) positioned in the centre of the top part (102). The top part (102) also includes an air nozzle (112) positioned at a pre-determined distance from the top opening (102a) on the top part (102). The air nozzle (112) is configured to receive a pre-determined amount of air having a pre determined amount of air pressure.

In one embodiment, the bottom part (110) is cylindrically shaped of a pre-determined diameter. The bottom part (110) includes a plurality of openings (114) on the cylindrical surface of the bottom part (110). The bottom part (110) includes a protrusion coupled to the inner base of the bottom part (110). The bottom part (110) is configured to receive a first pre-determined amount of liquid upon submerging the apparatus (200, 300, 400) in a liquid body, via the plurality of openings (114). In one embodiment, the liquid may be, including but not limited to, oil and water.

The outer cylinder (108) is of a first pre-determined diameter- ‘y’. The outer cylinder (108) includes a top outer cylinder end (108a) and a bottom outer cylinder end (108b). The top outer cylinder end (108a) is coupled to the top part (102), and the bottom outer cylinder end (108b) is coupled to the bottom part (110). The middle cylinder (106) is of a second pre-determined diameter- ‘x”, wherein the middle cylinder (106) is positioned within the outer cylinder (108). The middle cylinder (106) includes a top middle cylinder end (106a) and a bottom middle end (106b). The bottom middle cylinder end (106b) is coupled to a protrusion of the bottom part (110). In one embodiment, the second pre-determined diameter is small compared to the first pre determined diameter, thereby creating a first gap between the outer cylinder (108) and the middle cylinder (106). The inner cylinder (104) is of a third pre-determined diameter- ‘x’, wherein the inner cylinder (104) is positioned within the middle cylinder (106). The inner cylinder (104) includes a top inner cylinder end (104a) and a bottom inner cylinder end (104b). The top inner cylinder end (104a) is coupled to the top opening (102a) of the top part (102).

FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric view of the apparatus (200) for generation of an air bubble in accordance with an embodiment of FIG. 1. In addition to the aforementioned description of the apparatus in FIG. 1, the bottom part (110) is operatively coupled to multiple fasteners (202) which are used to keep the apparatus (200) fixed to the bed of the liquid body. The bottom inner cylinder end (104b) terminates at a first pre determined position (204)- ‘z”, prior to the bottom part (110). The top middle cylinder end (106a) terminates at a second pre-determined position (206)- ‘z’, prior to the top part (102).

In one embodiment, the pre-determined amount of air is received into the outer cylinder (108) and into the middle cylinder (106), via the second pre-determined position (206) until, wherein the pre-determined amount of air pushes the first pre determined amount of liquid downwards towards the bottom part (110) by the pre determined amount of air pressure. In one embodiment, a part of the pre-determined amount of air is ejected out of the top opening (102a) of the top part (102) via the first pre-determined position (204) and through the inner cylinder (104), thereby leaving behind remnant air in the inner cylinder (104), middle cylinder (106), outer cylinder (108) and forming an air bubble in the liquid with the ejected air. In order to eject the remnant air inside the cylinders, the second pre-determined amount of liquid having a pre-determined liquid pressure rises upwards towards the top part (102) through the outer cylinder (108) and into the middle cylinder (106) via the second pre-determined position (206) up until the first pre-determined position (204) and into the inner cylinder (104), thereby ejecting the remnant air into the air bubble by the pre determined amount of liquid pressure acting on the remnant air, increasing the diameter of the air bubble which rises up to the surface of the liquid body due to the buoyancy of the air bubble, thereby commencing a new cycle. The third pre- determined diameter of the inner cylinder (104) aids with the velocity of the air bubble release during each cycle.

In one embodiment, the bubble size is determined as:

(p (y/2)². z - p (x/2)². z} in cubic feet per minute (if the measurement unit is in feet) The bubble velocity is determined as:

{p (y/2)² . z - p (x/2)². z } / {p (x/2)²}

In one embodiment, a predefined cubic feet of air is ejected through a predefined square feet area of the inner pipe, during the ejection time, but the ejection time is about a second. Therefore, the velocity value should be feet per second (approximately) or feet per ejection time. y: the first pre-determined diameter of the outer cylinder (108); x: the third pre-determined diameter of the inner cylinder (104); x': the second pre-determined diameter of the middle cylinder (106); z': the first pre-determined position at which the bottom inner cylinder end (104b) terminates; and z: the second pre-determined position at which the top middle cylinder end (106a) terminates.

Using the aforementioned formulae, different sizes of bubble and velocity can be obtained by changing the diameters of x and y and height z. In an alternative embodiment, FIG. 3 illustrates an isometric view of the apparatus (300) for generation of an air bubble in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The apparatus (300) includes the top part (102), the out cylinder, the middle cylinder (106), the inner cylinder (104) and the bottom part (110). The middle cylinder (106) as aforementioned in FIG. 1, is operatively coupled to the bottom part (110) as shown in FIG. 3. In one embodiment, the bottom middle cylinder end (106b) is operatively coupled to the centre of the bottom part (110). The bottom part (110) is a circular- shaped disc having the plurality of openings (114) positioned at a pre determined distance from the centre of the bottom part (110), along the perimeter of the bottom part (110). The bottom outer cylinder end (108b) as aforementioned in FIG. 1 is operatively coupled to the bottom part (110). The plurality of openings (114) on the bottom part (110) is configured to receive the first pre-determined amount of liquid and the second pre-determined amount of liquid. In one embodiment, the bottom outer cylinder end (108b) is operatively coupled to multiple fasteners (202) which are used to keep the apparatus (300) fixed to the bed of the liquid body.

In another alternative embodiment, FIG. 4 illustrates an isometric view of the apparatus (400) for generation of an air bubble in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The apparatus (400) includes the top part (102), the outer cylinder (108), the middle cylinder (106), the inner cylinder (104) and the bottom part (110). The top part (102) as aforementioned in FIG. 1, is operatively coupled to the outer cylinder (108) as shown in FIG. 4, wherein the top outer cylinder end (108b) is operatively coupled to the top part (102) and the bottom outer cylinder end (108b) is operatively coupled to the bottom part (110). The outer cylinder (108), towards the bottom outer cylinder end (108b), on the surface, includes the plurality of openings (114) configured to receive the first pre-determined amount of liquid and the second pre-determined amount of liquid. The bottom part (110) is a circular shaped disc to which the bottom middle cylinder end (106b) is operatively coupled, as shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 illustrates a flow chart representing steps involved in a method for FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method (500) includes receiving a first predetermined amount of liquid, in step 502. The method (500) includes submerging a top part, a bottom part, an outer cylinder, a middle cylinder and an inner cylinder. Upon submerging, the first pre-determined amount of liquid is received into the outer cylinder, the middle cylinder and the inner cylinder via a plurality of openings. In one embodiment, the plurality of openings is positioned in the bottom part. In an alternative embodiment, the plurality of openings is positioned on the outer cylinder.

The method (500) includes receiving a pre-determined amount of air, in step 504. In one embodiment, the method (500) includes receiving the pre-determined amount of air via an air nozzle coupled to the top part from an air supply unit into the outer cylinder and the middle cylinder, wherein the pre-determined amount of air has a pre determined amount of air pressure. The first pre-determined amount of liquid is pushed downwards into the outer cylinder and the middle cylinder until a first pre-determined position. The first pre-determined position represents a bottom inner cylinder end terminating at a position prior to the bottom part. The method (500) includes ejecting a first air bubble, in step 506. The method (500) includes ejecting the pre-determined amount of air from the first pre-determined position through the inner cylinder via a top opening of the top part into the liquid, thereby resulting in remnant air within the inner cylinder, middle cylinder and outer cylinder.

The method (500) includes receiving a second pre-determined amount of liquid, in step 508. In one embodiment, the method (500) includes receiving the second pre determined amount of liquid sequentially instantaneous to ejecting the first air bubble in step 506. The method (500) includes receiving the second pre-determined amount of liquid having a pre-determined amount of liquid pressure, via the plurality of openings into the outer cylinder. Due to the pre-determined amount of liquid pressure, the remnant air is pushed upwards into the outer cylinder and into the middle cylinder via a second pre-determined position. The second pre-determined position represents a position where a top middle cylinder end terminates prior to the top part. The method (500) includes ejecting a second air bubble from the inner cylinder, in step 510. In one embodiment, the method (500) includes ejecting the second sir bubble from the inner cylinder simultaneously with receiving the second pre-determined amount of liquid as mentioned in step 508. The method (500) includes ejecting all the remnant air through the inner cylinder via the pre-determined amount of liquid pressure. The remnant air, when ejected into the liquid, combines with the first air bubble, thereby increasing the diameter of the first air bubble, which rises up to the liquid surface at high velocity due to buoyancy of the second air bubble. In one embodiment, the ejecting of the first bubble is in continuation with the receiving of the second pre-determined amount of liquid and ejecting the second sir bubble from the inner cylinder.

The present disclosure provides various advantages, including but not limited to, no wear and tear as the apparatus does not include any moving parts, all parts include characteristics such as, including but not limited to, long life and non-corrosive plastics, the number of bubbles released per unit time can be varied by controlling the air flow. In fine pore aeration application, no separate blower is needed and can be connected with existing diffuser air grid. In aeration application, the agitation induced by the bubbles, creates large sized activated sludge granules, thereby improving settling efficiency drastically. In biogas application, produced biogas can be used as feed gas for mixing the tank contents thereby increasing the gas production many times. In mixing application, the apparatus can be employed even in very large tanks with multiple units connected to a single blower placed outside the tanks. Vertical mixing of bubbles is more efficient than horizontal mixing of conventional systems

While specific language has been used to describe the disclosure, any limitations arising on account of the same are not intended. As would be apparent to a person skilled in the art, various working modifications may be made to the method in order to implement the inventive concept as taught herein. The figures and the foregoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment. For example, the order of processes described herein may be changed and are not limited to the manner described herein. Moreover, the actions of any flow diagram need not be implemented in the order shown; nor do all of the acts need to be necessarily performed. Also, those acts that are not dependant on other acts may be performed in parallel with the other acts. The scope of embodiments is by no means limited by these specific examples.

Claims

I/WE CLAIM:

1. An apparatus (200, 300, 400) for generation of an air bubble, comprising: a top part (102) configured to receive a pre-determined amount of air via an air nozzle (112), the top part (102) comprising a top opening (102a); an outer cylinder (108) comprising a first pre-determined diameter, wherein the outer cylinder (108) is configured to further receive the pre-determined amount of air from the top part (102); a middle cylinder (106) comprising a second pre-determined diameter, wherein the middle cylinder (106) is positioned within the outer cylinder (108), thereby forming a first pre-determined gap between the middle cylinder (106) and the outer cylinder (108); a bottom part (110) configured to receive a first pre-determined amount of liquid upon immersion into a liquid body, and a second pre-determined amount of liquid into the middle cylinder (106) and the outer cylinder (108), wherein at least one of the outer cylinder (108) and the bottom part (110) comprises a plurality of openings; and an inner cylinder (104) comprising a third pre-determined diameter, wherein the inner cylinder (104) is positioned within the middle cylinder (106), thereby forming a second pre-determined gap between the inner cylinder (104) and the middle cylinder (106), the inner cylinder (104) configured to eject the pre determined amount of air via the pressure from the second pre-determined amount of liquid.

2. The apparatus (200, 300, 400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pre determined amount of air is provided to the air nozzle (112) from an air supply.

3. The apparatus (200, 300, 400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a top inner cylinder end (104a) is operatively coupled to the top opening (102a) of the top part (102).

4. The apparatus (200, 300, 400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a bottom inner cylinder end (104b) terminates at a first pre-determined position (204) prior to the bottom part (110).

5. The apparatus (200, 300, 400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a top middle cylinder end (106a) terminates at a second pre-determined position (206) prior to the top part (102).

6. The apparatus (200, 300, 400) as claimed in claim 1, comprising the plurality of openings (114) of lower outer cylinder (108) surface.

7. The apparatus (200, 300, 400) as claimed in claim 1, comprising the plurality of openings (114) on a lower bottom part (110) surface.

8. The apparatus (200, 300, 400) as claimed in claim 1, comprising the plurality of openings (114) on a surface of the bottom part (110).

9. A method (500) for generating an air bubble comprising: receiving (502) a first predetermined amount of liquid through a plurality of openings into an outer cylinder, a middle cylinder and an inner cylinder, upon immersion in a liquid body; receiving (504) a pre-determined amount of air via a top part coupled to the outer cylinder to flow up to a pre-determined first position in the middle cylinder, the pre-defined amount of air having a pre-defined amount of air pressure; ejecting (506) a first air bubble from the inner cylinder via the pre-defined amount of air flowing from the middle cylinder to the inner cylinder, thereby resulting in remnant air within the inner cylinder; receiving (508) a second pre-determined amount of liquid at a pre-determined amount of liquid pressure through the bottom part; and ejecting (510) a second air bubble from the inner cylinder due to the pre determined amount of liquid pressure acting on the remnant air.

10. The method (500) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the outer cylinder, the middle cylinder, the inner cylinder, the top part, the bottom part and the air nozzle are immersed in the liquid body.