Air sparger for agitating solid-liquid suspensions

A sparger system for mixing the contents of a substantially cylindrical container including a liquid wherein, when the container is in a reference position, a longitudinal axis of the container extends in a substantially horizontal direction directly above a bottom center line of the container, the system comprising:

• an inner wall of the container defining a chamber for receiving the liquid;
• a sparger pipe which extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container so that a centerline of the sparger pipe is separated from the inner wall of the container by a first distance and wherein a first end portion of the sparger pipe extends through a first wall of the container and includes a first end of the sparger pipe;
• a first flange member releasably coupled to the first end portion of the sparger pipe so that, when the first flange member is coupled to the first end portion of the sparger pipe, the first end of the sparger pipe is sealed;
• a fluid passage coupled to the sparger pipe, the fluid passage having an opening which is above a maximum level of the liquid to be stored in the container;
• and
• a plurality of orifices disposed substantially in a line along the sparger pipe, the plurality of orifices being oriented so that, when a pressurized gas is introduced into the sparger pipe, the gas leaves the orifices directed toward the bottom center line.

A sparger system for mixing the contents of a container including a liquid comprising:

• a container including a liquid holding chamber formed by a substantially cylindrical inner wall wherein, when the container is in a reference position, a longitudinal axis of the container extends in a substantially horizontal direction directly above a bottom center line of the container, the container including first and second end walls coupled to the inner wall to seal first and second ends of the liquid holding chamber, respectively;
• a sparger pipe extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container, wherein a centerline of the sparger pipe is separated from the inner wall of the container by a first distance and wherein a first end portion of the sparger pipe including a first end of the sparger pipe extends through the first end wall;
• a first flange member releasably coupled to the first end portion of the sparger pipe so that, when the first flange member is coupled to the first end portion of the sparger pipe, the first end of the sparger pipe is sealed;
• a fluid passage coupled to the sparger pipe, the fluid passage having an opening which, when the container is in the reference position, is above a maximum level of the liquid to be stored in the container;
• and
• a plurality of orifices disposed substantially in a line along the sparger pipe, the plurality of orifices being oriented so that when a pressurized gas is introduced into the sparger pipe, the gas leaves the orifices directed toward the bottom center line.