Importance

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Abstract

This disclosure relates to aeration, especially biological treatment of wastewater with fine pore diffusers and in situ cleaning of these diffusers with liquid and/or gaseous cleaning fluids supplied to the diffusers through cleaning fluid channels that respectively have separate and direct connections to plural diffusers. Aeration and cleaning of fine pore diffusers is described in which cleaning fluid is conducted from a source of such fluid to a multiplicity of diffusers via a flow path which is separate from a flow path which conveys aeration gas to the diffusers. Methods of fabricating aeration gas distribution assemblies are also disclosed. One such method involves securing to an aeration gas distribution conduit at least a portion of a cleaning fluid distribution channel which includes one or more cleaning fluid distribution conduits and further includes connectors coupled to the cleaning fluid distribution conduits. The connectors are spaced longitudinally along the cleaning fluid distribution conduits at the same intervals as, and are connected to, the plenums. Another method comprises fabricating a cleaning fluid conduit having longitudinally spaced tee connectors coupled thereto. An aeration gas conduit having longitudinally spaced plenums secured thereto is fabricated, and such plenums are have holes for receiving the tee connectors coupled to the cleaning fluid conduit. The invention effectively and economically brings cleaning fluid in contact with diffusion elements without lengthy interruptions in wastewater treatment, complicated processing sequences and back-flow of wastewater through the elements, and can be used with diffusers having back-flow prevention capabilities, including membrane diffusers.

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First Claim