Home - Aeration & Mixing Systems - Retrofitting Diffusers

Stainless Steel Tube Replacement

Operators Replacing SS Tubes;
Note Bent & Deflected Tubes
from Sludge Blanket Loading

SS Tube Mixing Pattern;
Clogged diffusers with poor mixing

Tideflex Mixing Pattern
after Replacing SS Tubes

 

Tideflex Non-Clogging Diffusers

• Cycle Blowers On & Off
• Immerse Diffusers in Sludge Blanket
• Bottom Discharge Eliminates Solids Accumulation
• Durable EPDM Elastomer

Cycling Blowers On & Off
Requires New Technology
For Air Diffusers

    Before the mid 1990's sludge holding and treatment processes were operated at around a 1% to 1.5% solids concentration and diffused air was applied to maintain an aerobic condition and/or achieve some volatile solids reduction. The type of diffusers utilized were coarse bubble type because of the mixing energy they provided as well as the oxygen demand was less than the primary treatment processes. The only type of coarse bubble diffusers available were 'open pore' type which consisted on small fixed orifice holes along the diffuser. Since these units had no mechanical means of preventing the sludge liquid from flowing backward into the diffuser and piping when the blowers were shut-off the blowers were required to operate 24 hours a day. Sludge processes contain heavier solids such as grit particles which settle more rapidly to the tank floor, these particles have biomass attached and will accumulate in a layer at the tank floor. This grit layer can cause clogging of open pore diffusers, therefore many of the manufacturers of these style diffusers mounted them 24" to 30" above the floor to delay the clogging process. This created a zone below the diffusers which had little mixing interaction and resulted in anaerobic decay of the biosolids in this zone.

    Process operations for sludge holding and treatment today have become more complex involving cyclying of blowers on and off to induce denitrification, thicken the sludge through decanting, and general power saving. Increasing the period of blower shutdown and increasing the solids concentration of the sludge has significantly increased the clogging potential of open pore diffusers as well as the maintenance required to keep the tanks operational. Many facilities are accepting the increased maintenance because of the cost savings in optimizing the sludge process and final disposal volumes. THIS INCREASED MAINTENANCE CAN BE ELIMINATED.

    The Tideflex Coarse Bubble Diffusers are inherently a check valve that closes when the internal pressure (provided by the blower) is shut-down preventing the sludge and process liquid from entering the diffuser and manifold piping. Hydrostatic pressure loads the external portion of the elastomer diffuser forcing the unit to close even tighter. These diffusers can be oriented downward with the tip just above the tank floor to provide complete mixing and re-suspension of settled solids after a decanting cycle. Loading the diffusers within a settled sludge blanket of 1%, 2%, 3%, 4% or even a 5% solids solution will not induce clogging of the unit and with adequate airflow will resuspend this sludge blanket and return the porcess to a homogeneous solution.

Stainless Steel Tube Replacement

    Stainless Steel coarse bubble diffusers come in 12" and 24" lengths and are manufactured by numerous companies, all are open pore type and will clog in sludge processes. Tideflex provides a direct replacement "check valve" diffuser for these units and is equipped with a 45 degree elbow for increasing the submergence of the diffuser tip and a 3/4" npt threaded connector. Please contact your local Tideflex Technologies Sales Representative or the Tideflex Corporate Office for diffuser sizing and purchasing.

Download Product Sheet for Retrofit Assembly
A-105.04.017

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Installation Testimonial

Mr. Wade Fisher
Superintendant of the Prairie du Chien WWTF

Tideflex Patented Applications

    Tideflex Diffusers and Diffuser Systems are patented in the United States and Canada; individual diffuser sales are only available to end users and facility owners for the purpose of replacement of existing diffuser units. Tideflex Technologies designs and provides complete diffused aeration systems consisting of all the internal piping, piping supports, diffuser assemblies and ancillary equipment. Design of a complete system incorporating Tideflex coarse bubble diffusers shall only be conducted by Tideflex Technologies and provided by Tideflex Technologies as covered within the associated patents. Individual diffusers shall not be resold and incorporated within a sold piping system without the consent of Tideflex Technologies. Contact Tideflex corporate offices for requested O.E.M. affiliations with this product line.

Review Tideflex Patent Notice

US Patent No. 6,016,839 / 6,193,220 / 6,372,140 / 6,702,263
Canada Patent No. 2,366,252 / 2,385,902; United Kingdom Patent No. 2,326,603