AERATION · DIFFUSED AIR SYSTEMS

DIFFUSED AERATION
SYSTEMS

Fine and coarse bubble diffusers in disc and tube formats — engineered for oxygen transfer efficiency, and available as retrievable grids that lift out without draining the tank.

Fine & coarse

Bubble sizes for transfer or mixing duty

Disc & tube

Both diffuser formats manufactured

EPDM

Membrane – silicone, polyurethane (PU) & PTFE optional

0

Tank draining for retrievable systems

Fine & coarse

Bubble sizes for transfer or mixing duty

Disc & tube

Both diffuser formats manufactured

EPDM

Membrane – silicone, polyurethane (PU) & PTFE optional

0

Tank draining for retrievable systems

WHY BUBBLE SIZE MATTERS

SMALLER BUBBLES,
MORE OXYGEN TRANSFERRED

Oxygen moves from air into water across the bubble surface. For a given volume of air, many small bubbles present far more surface area than a few large ones — and they rise more slowly, giving longer contact time.

That is why fine bubble diffusion delivers markedly higher oxygen transfer efficiency, and why blower power — usually the largest single energy cost in a treatment plant — falls with it.

Higher OTE
Lower blower power
Longer contact time

MULTI-SCREW PRESS

SUREFLO DIFFUSERS

FINE BUBBLE DIFFUSION

SURFACE AREA
IS EVERYTHING

Many small bubbles carry far more air-water interface than a few large ones, and rise more slowly — so more oxygen transfers per unit of blower power.

THE RANGE

FOUR DIFFUSER TYPES

Format and bubble size are selected on the duty: oxygen transfer for biological treatment, or mixing and scouring where solids must be kept in suspension.

FINE BUBBLE

DISC DIFFUSERS

Membrane discs on a fixed grid, producing a dense column of fine bubbles across the tank floor. The standard choice for aeration basins in municipal STPs and industrial ETPs.

  • Highest oxygen transfer efficiency
  • Even distribution across the floor area
  • Perforated membrane closes when air stops, resisting backflow

FINE BUBBLE

TUBE DIFFUSERS

Membrane tubes give more diffuser surface per unit of floor area — useful in narrow or deep tanks, and where grid layout has to work around existing structures.

  • Greater active area per floor unit
  • Suits narrow, deep or irregular tanks
  • Simple to extend an existing grid

COARSE BUBBLE

COARSE DISC & TUBE

Where the duty is mixing, scouring or aeration of a high-solids or aggressive liquor, coarse bubble diffusers trade transfer efficiency for robustness and resistance to fouling.

  • Mixing, scouring and channel aeration
  • Tolerant of high solids and difficult liquors
  • Minimal clogging risk

SYSTEM

RETRIEVABLE SYSTEMS

The diffuser grid is mounted on lifting assemblies so a whole run can be raised for inspection, cleaning or membrane replacement — without draining the tank or taking the basin out of service.

  • No tank dewatering to service the grid
  • No confined-space entry
  • Basin stays in service during maintenance

THE HARDWARE

BUILT TO BE SERVICED

Membrane, hub and saddle are separate replaceable parts — a worn membrane does not mean a new grid.

MAINTENANCE WITHOUT A SHUTDOWN

LIFTS OUT,
TANK STAYS FULL

Each run sits on a lifting assembly. Raise it, inspect or re-membrane it, and drop it back — with no dewatering, no confined-space entry and the basin still in service.

Aeration Retrievable Plant

RETRIEVABLE GRID

SPECIFICATIONS

MATERIALS & CONSTRUCTION

Diffuser formats Disc and tube
Bubble types Fine bubble and coarse bubble
Membrane material EPDM standard; silicone, polyurethane (PU) and PTFE available for demanding liquors
Body & hub Polypropylene / ABS, corrosion resistant
Grid pipework uPVC, HDPE or stainless steel to duty
Mounting Fixed grid or retrievable lifting assemblies
Non-return Membrane seals on air shut-off, resisting liquid backflow
Applications Municipal STP, industrial ETP, equalisation and aerated lagoons

DESIGN & LAYOUT

Diffuser count, spacing and grid layout are calculated from the oxygen demand, tank geometry and required alpha factor. Send us the plant capacity, tank dimensions and BOD/COD load and our engineers will produce a grid layout and air demand figure.

APPLICATIONS

WHERE DIFFUSED AERATION IS USED

MUNICIPAL STP

Activated sludge aeration basins in sewage treatment plants, where blower energy dominates operating cost.

INDUSTRIAL ETP

Biological treatment of industrial effluent, including liquors that demand silicone or PTFE membranes.

EQUALISATION TANKS

Coarse bubble mixing to keep solids in suspension and balance the load ahead of treatment.

AERATED LAGOONS

Large-area aeration where a retrievable grid greatly simplifies maintenance access.

RETROFIT & UPGRADE

Replacing worn or fouled grids in existing basins, often lifting transfer efficiency and cutting blower load.

CHANNEL AERATION

Coarse bubble aeration and scouring duty in channels and pre-treatment structures.

FOULED DIFFUSERS COST
YOU BLOWER POWER.

We also clean aeration grids in situ — restoring transfer efficiency without draining the tank.