Aeration device, a use thereof, and water purification installation with such an aeration device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9844760-B2
Application number	US-201314407285-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 18, 2013
Priority date	Jul 5, 2012
Publication date	Dec 19, 2017
Grant date	Dec 19, 2017

Abstract

An aerator for aerating water comprises a distribution system for distributing air below the water surface and a compressor with an air inlet and at least one air outlet. The compressor is configured to be placed below the water surface. The infiltration of water at the air inlet is prevented by an intake pipe with one open end above the water surface and the other open end has a watertight connection to the compressor. The distribution system has a watertight connection to the air outlet and, due to its nature or by at least one valve, can hold back water. The housing is in thermal contact with the water to cool the compressor. The compressor is a centrifugal compressor that comprises an impeller that is driven by a shaft that it is mounted on air bearings, magnetic bearings or both.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An aerator for aerating water that comprises a distribution system for distributing air below a water surface and a compressor with an air inlet and at least one air outlet, whereby the compressor is configured to be placed below the water surface in that the compressor is provided with a closed housing configured to prevent an infiltration of the water into the compressor, whereby the infiltration of the water at the air inlet is prevented by an intake pipe being provided of which a first open end is above the water surface and a second open end has a watertight connection to the compressor, whereby the infiltration of the water at the at least one air outlet is prevented by the distribution system having a watertight connection to the at least one air outlet and, due to the watertight connection of the distribution system or by having at least one valve, the housing is closed to hold back the water and whereby the housing is in thermal contact with the water to cool the compressor, wherein the compressor is a centrifugal compressor that comprises an impeller that is driven by a shaft that is mounted on air bearings,
wherein a portion of pressurized air from the action of the impeller also flows to the air bearings and then to the intake pipe, and
wherein at least one the of the air inlet and/or the air outlet of the compressor is positioned under the motor and/or the impeller such that an air bubble will be enclosed in the compressor to hold back the water in the event of a leak when the compressor is placed below the water surface.

2. The aerator according to claim 1 , wherein the distribution system comprises at least one diffuser.

3. The aerator according to claim 2 , wherein at least one distribution arm is provided with a sidelong branch that is equipped with at least one diffuser.

4. The aerator according to claim 2 , wherein the distribution system comprises at least two distribution arms leading away from the compressor, each distribution arm equipped with at least two diffusers.

5. The aerator according to claim 1 , wherein the distribution system comprises at least two distribution arms leading away from the compressor, each distribution arm equipped with at least two diffusers.

6. The aerator according to claim 1 , wherein the shaft is provided with a cavity extending in the length of the shaft, and that the compressor is provided with an air channel that runs from a pressure side to the intake pipe via the cavity.

7. The aerator according to claim 1 , wherein the compressor and the distribution system are arranged so that the compressor and the distribution system are configured to rotate around a vertical axis.

8. The aerator according to claim 7 , wherein the distribution system is equipped with a nozzle with a direction that has at least a component perpendicular to the radial direction.

9. The aerator according to claim 1 , wherein the aerator can be taken out of the water as a whole by using a handle that is attached on top of the aerator.

10. The aerator according to claim 9 , wherein the distribution system is connected to the compressor in a way that is self-supporting, or wherein support means are provided on the aerator to support the distribution system.

11. The aerator according to claim 1 , wherein connections between the compressor and the intake pipe and between the at least one air outlet and the distribution system are detachable, whereby a valve in each of the intake pipe and the distribution system prevents the infiltration of water.

12. The aerator according to claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises at least one condensate outlet at a bottom of the housing.

13. The aerator according to claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises cooling fins on the housing.

14. A water purification plant that comprises at least one basin for water that has to be aerated, wherein a component of the water purification plant is an aerator according to claim 1 .

15. A use of an aerator according to claim 1 for introducing air into wastewater to be purified.

16. An aerator for aerating water that comprises a distribution system for distributing air below a water surface and a compressor with an air inlet and at least one air outlet, whereby the compressor is configured to be placed below the water surface in that the compressor is provided with a housing configured to prevent an infiltration of the water into the compressor, whereby the infiltration of the water at the air inlet is prevented by an intake pipe being provided of which a first open end is above the water surface and a second open end has a watertight connection to the compressor, whereby the infiltration of the water at the at least one air outlet is prevented by the distribution system having a watertight connection to the at least one air outlet and, due to the watertight connection of the distribution system or by having at least one valve, the housing is closed to hold back the water and whereby the housing is in thermal contact with the water to cool the compressor, wherein the compressor is a centrifugal compressor that comprises an impeller that is driven by a shaft that is mounted on air bearings, magnetic bearings or both,
wherein the compressor and the distribution system are arranged so that the compressor and the distribution system are configured to rotate around a vertical axis, and
wherein the aerator rests on a turntable that is configured to rest on the bottom of a reservoir in which the water is located.

17. An aerator for aerating water that comprises a distribution system for distributing air below a water surface and a compressor with an air inlet and at least one air outlet, whereby the compressor is configured to be placed below the water surface in that the compressor is provided with a closed housing configured to prevent an infiltration of the water into the compressor, whereby the infiltration of the water at the air inlet is prevented by an intake pipe being provided of which a first open end is above the water surface and a second open end has a watertight connection to the compressor, whereby the infiltration of the water at the at least one air outlet is prevented by the distribution system having a watertight connection to the at least one air outlet and, due to-the watertight connection of the distribution system or by having at least one valve, the housing is closed to hold back the water and whereby the housing is in thermal contact with the water to cool the compressor, wherein the compressor is a centrifugal compressor that comprises an impeller that is driven by a shaft that is mounted on air bearings,
wherein a portion of pressurized air from the action of the impeller also flows to the air bearings and then to the intake pipe,
wherein at least one the of the air inlet and/or the air outlet of the compressor is positioned under the motor and/or the impeller such that an air bubble will be enclosed in the compressor to hold back the water in the event of a leak when the compressor is placed below the water surface,
wherein the distribution system comprises at least two distribution arms leading away from the compressor, each distribution arm equipped with at least two diffusers, and
wherein at least one distribution arm is provided with a sidelong branch that is equipped with at least one diffuser.

18. An aerator for aerating water that comprises a distribution system for distributing air below a water surface and a compressor with an air inlet and at least one air outlet, whereby the compressor is configured to be placed

Assignees

• Atlas Copco Airpower Nv

Inventors

• Fabry Erik Paul

Classifications

• C02F3/205 Primary

  Moving, e.g. rotary, diffusers; Stationary diffusers with moving, e.g. rotary, distributors · CPC title

• F16C32/0402

  combined with other supporting means, e.g. hybrid bearings with both magnetic and fluid supporting means · CPC title

• F04D29/057

  hydrostatic; hydrodynamic · CPC title

• C02F7/00 Primary

  Aeration of stretches of water · CPC title

• C02F1/74

  with air (aeration of stretches of water C02F7/00) · CPC title