Aerator device, filter system including an aerator device, and method of aerating a filter using an aerator device

A filter system comprising:

• a filter;
• an aerator device arranged below the filter, the aerator device being spaced apart from the filter and movable relative to the filter, the aerator device comprising:
• a housing comprising at least one side wall, and a top wall connected to the at least one side wall to define an interior cavity of the housing;
• a first plate in the interior cavity and extending from an upper end to a lower end, each of opposite sides of the first plate extending to a side wall of the at least one side wall, the first plate defining a first cavity portion and a second cavity portion of the interior cavity, the upper end being spaced apart from the top wall to define a first opening, the first cavity portion and the second cavity portion being in communication with each other through the first opening, a bottom of the first cavity portion adjacent to the lower end of the first plate being open to an outside of the first cavity portion;
• a second plate in the interior cavity and extending from an upper end to a lower end, the second plate being between the first plate and a first side wall of the at least one side wall and defining a first chamber and a second chamber of the second cavity portion, the upper end of the second plate being connected to the top wall, the first chamber and the second chamber being in communication with each other below the lower end of the second plate;
• and
• a third plate extending between the lower end of the first plate and the first side wall of the at least one side wall, the third plate being spaced apart from the lower end of the second plate to define a second opening extending from the lower end of the second plate to the third plate, the first chamber and the second chamber being in communication with each other through the second opening,
• wherein the housing has an inlet opening in communication with the first cavity portion, and an outlet opening in communication with the second chamber, wherein the inlet opening is an inlet through which a gas is flowable into the first cavity portion, and the outlet opening is arranged below the filter to release gas bubbles out of the aerator device from the second chamber toward the filter when the gas is flowed into the first cavity portion, and wherein the inlet opening to receive the gas into the interior cavity of the aerator device is located at a bottom portion of the housing such that the gas rises to a top of the first cavity portion,
• the outlet opening is formed through the top wall, and
• wherein the first plate and the second plate are straight and the outlet opening is a slot extending parallel to the first plate and the second plate, or the first plate and the second plate are curved;
• and
• a gas supply connected to the inlet opening and configured to supply the gas to the first cavity portion such that the gas passes from the first cavity portion through the first and second openings to the second chamber,
• wherein the filter system is submergible in a liquid medium.

A method of aerating a filter using an aerator device having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, the method comprising:

• providing the aerator device including:
• a housing comprising at least one side wall, and a top wall connected to the at least one side wall to define an interior cavity of the housing;
• a first plate in the interior cavity and extending from an upper end to a lower end, each of opposite sides of the first plate extending to a side wall of the at least one side wall, the first plate defining a first cavity portion and a second cavity portion of the interior cavity, the upper end being spaced apart from the top wall to define a first opening, the first cavity portion and the second cavity portion being in communication with each other through the first opening, a bottom of the first cavity portion adjacent to the lower end of the first plate being open to an outside of the first cavity portion;
• a second plate in the interior cavity and extending from an upper end to a lower end, the second plate being between the first plate and a first side wall of the at least one side wall and defining a first chamber and a second chamber of the second cavity portion, the upper end of the second plate being connected to the top wall, the first chamber and the second chamber being in communication with each other below the lower end of the second plate;
• and
• a third plate extending between the lower end of the first plate and the first side wall of the at least one side wall, the third plate being spaced apart from the lower end of the second plate to define a second opening extending from the lower end of the second plate to the third plate, the first chamber and the second chamber being in communication with each other through the second opening,
• wherein the housing has the inlet opening in communication with the first cavity portion, and the outlet opening in communication with the second chamber, wherein the inlet opening is an inlet through which a gas is flowed into the first cavity portion, and the outlet opening releases gas bubbles out of the aerator device from the second chamber, and wherein the inlet opening to receive the gas into the interior cavity of the aerator device is located at a bottom portion of the housing such that the gas rises to a top of the first cavity portion,
• the outlet opening is formed through the top wall, and
• wherein the first plate and the second plate are straight and the outlet opening is a slot extending parallel to the first plate and the second plate, or the first plate and the second plate are curved;
• submerging the filter and the aerator device in a liquid medium;
• arranging the aerator device below the filter, the aerator device being spaced apart from the filter and movable relative to the filter;
• and
• supplying the gas to the first cavity portion of the aerator device such that the gas passes from the first cavity portion through the first and second openings to the second chamber,
• wherein the outlet opening is arranged below the filter to release the gas bubbles out of the aerator device from the second chamber toward the filter when the gas is flowed into the first cavity portion.