Non-clogging airlift pumps and systems and methods employing the same

A non-clogging airlift pump powered mixer, comprising:

• an enclosed air tank;
• a gas input line operatively passing into the enclosed air tank;
• a hollow cylinder located within the enclosed air tank, the hollow cylinder having an open top and a bottom wall wherein the open top is disposed within the enclosed air tank;
• a drain port passing through the bottom wall of the hollow cylinder;
• and
• a substantially vertically oriented discharge pipe passing in a sealed manner through a top wall of the enclosed air tank, an intake end of the discharge pipe being within the hollow cylinder above the bottom wall of the hollow cylinder and below the top wall of the enclosed air tank;
• a gas accumulation region is defined by a region between the top wall of the enclosed air tank and the intake end of the discharge pipe;
• wherein gas passes into the gas accumulation region from the gas input line and accumulates in the gas accumulation region forcing a liquid level in the gas accumulation region downward away from the top wall of the enclosed air tank, the accumulated gas is discharged through the discharge pipe only when the accumulated gas reaches the intake of the discharge pipe, wherein the discharge pipe is not co-axial with the hollow cylinder.