Strip diffuser

A wastewater treatment plant comprising a water impound having positioned and held in place therein strip diffusers comprising:

• A. synthetic resinous pipe having
• 1. a longitudinally extending central axis,
• 2. a longitudinally extending gas flow enclosing peripheral wall and
• 3. Included in that wall, at least one elongated, thickened region
• a. integral with the pipe wall and
• b. extending in the same direction as the central axis,
• B. a membrane support member that
• 1. is elongated in the direction of the central axis and
• 2. has a connecting portion that
• a. is positioned at an upper portion of the pipe,
• b. is integral with the pipe,
• c. comprises at least one of said thickened regions,
• d. has an upper surface which includes an upper surface of the pipe thickened region and
• e. comprises a plurality of lateral portions that
• i. are integral with the connecting portion and
• ii. extend
• (a) laterally from the connecting portion on opposite sides of the pipe apex and
• (b) longitudinally with the connecting portion in the same direction as the pipe axis,
• C. the pipe being integral with the membrane support over approximately the entire length of the support,
• D. the peripheral wall of the pipe having an inner surface, and the connecting portion being, when viewed in transverse cross-section along a portion of the length of the inner surface which the connecting portion adjoins, thicker than the remainder of the peripheral wall along most of the length, or combined length, as the case may be, of a portion or portions of the length of the inner surface which the remainder adjoins,
• E. at least parts of the lateral portions having beneath them underlying open spaces that are free of braces connecting those parts with the pipe,
• F. the support lateral portions each having upper surfaces with longitudinally extending edges and longitudinally extending membrane securing grooves inward of the edges and having mouths located in the under-sides of the lateral portions below their upper surfaces, and
• G. a membrane diffusion element that
• 1. is elongated in the direction of the central axis,
• 2. has ends and longitudinally extending marginal portions and
• 3. is connected in sealing engagement with the support by the marginal portions of the membrane extending into the grooves and being engaged therein by a securing member.

A strip diffuser comprising

• a membrane support member,
• said support member including
• a pipe having
• a central axis and
• a connecting portion integral with the pipe,
• the connecting portion having a thickened region adjacent
• the pipe, the connecting portion further having lateral
• portions integral with and extending laterally from the thickened region thereof,
• each lateral portion having a longitudinally extending
• edge parallel to the central axis of the pipe and each
• edge having a longitudinally extending groove,
• a membrane having
• edge portions,
• each edge portion seated in a groove,
• and a securing member to clamp the membrane directly within the groove.