# US 8,771,507 B2 · Directional microporous diffuser and directional sparging > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,771,507 B2 - Document ID: US8771507B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/534,662 - Filed: 2009-08-03 - Published: 2009-12-10 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2003-12-24 - Assignees: ThinkVillage-Kerfoot, LLC - Applicants: William B. Kerfoot - Inventors: William B. Kerfoot - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771507B2 ## CPC - B09C 1/002: {involving in-situ ground water treatment} - B09C 1/00: Reclamation of contaminated soil - E21B 43/168: {Injecting a gaseous medium} - B01F 23/23123: {consisting of rigid porous or perforated material} - B01F 23/231265: {being tubes, tubular elements, cylindrical elements or set of tubes} - Y10T 137/85938: Non-valved flow dividers - B09C: RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL (gatherers for removing stone or the like from the soil A01B43/00; sterilising soil by steam A01G11/00; removing undesirable matter, e.g. rubbish, from the land E01H15/00) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - B01F: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING (mixing paints B44D3/06) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A method for treating contaminants includes emitting plural streams of a fluid into a soil formation with the streams having different radii of influences in different directions. A directional microporous diffuser directionally emits microbubbles. Solenoid controlled valves control fluid or air distribution to inlets to provide directional control of bubble emanation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A directional microporous diffuser comprising: a first elongated member including at least one sidewall having a plurality of microscopic openings, said sidewall defining an interior hollow portion of said member; a second elongated member having a second sidewall having a plurality of microscopic openings, said second elongated member being disposed through the interior hollow portion of said first elongated member; two or more first partitioning members disposed inside and along a length of the first elongated member to provide a first plurality of isolated chambers; a second partitioning member disposed inside and along a length of the second elongated member to provide a second plurality of isolated chambers; an end cap to seal a first end of the directional microporous diffuser; and an inlet cap disposed at a second end of the directional microporous diffuser for receiving inlet fittings. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The directional microporous diffuser of claim 1 wherein a region defined between the first and second elongated members of the directional microporous diffuser is filled with a catalyst suspension material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The directional microporous diffuser of claim 1 wherein the two or more first partitioning members and the second partitioning member are aligned to provide the first plurality of isolated chambers aligned to the second plurality of isolated chambers. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The directional microporous diffuser of claim 1, further comprising: multiple inlet fittings supported on the inlet cap, a first portion of the multiple inlet fittings in fluid communication with the first plurality of isolated chambers, and a second portion of the multiple inlet fittings in fluid communication with the second plurality of isolated chambers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The directional microporous diffuser of claim 1, comprising three or more first partitioning members disposed inside and along the length of the first elongated member to provide the first plurality of isolated chambers. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The directional microporous diffuser of claim 5, comprising four first partitioning members disposed inside and along the length of the first elongated member to provide the first plurality of isolated chambers. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The directional microporous diffuser of claim 1, comprising two second partitioning members disposed inside and along the length of the second elongated member to provide the second plurality of isolated chambers. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The directional microporous diffuser of claim 1, wherein the first elongated member is a cylinder. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The directional microporous diffuser of claim 1, wherein the second elongated member is a cylinder. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The directional microporous diffuser of claim 1, wherein the plurality of microscopic openings of the sidewall of the first elongated member have pore diameters selected from the range of 1 to 200 μm. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The directional microporous diffuser of claim 1, wherein the plurality of microscopic openings of the sidewall of the first elongated member have pore diameters selected from the range of 1 to 50 μm. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The directional microporous diffuser of claim 1, wherein the plurality of microscopic openings of the sidewall of the first elongated member have pore diameters selected from the range of 5 to 20 μm. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The directional microporous diffuser of claim 1, wherein the plurality of microscopic openings of the sidewall of the second elongated member have pore diameters selected from the range of 1 to 200 μm. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The directional microporous diffuser of claim 1, wherein the plurality of microscopic openings of the sidewall of the second elongated member have pore diameters selected from the range of 1 to 50 μm. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The directional microporous diffuser of claim 1, wherein the plurality of microscopic openings of the sidewall of the second elongated member have pore diameters selected from the range of 5 to 20 μm. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The directional microporous diffuser of claim 1, comprising a sparging arrangement including a source of liquids and catalysts and/or nutrients, the source positioned in fluid communication with the first plurality of isolated chambers. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The directional microporous diffuser of claim 1, further comprising a gas stream directed through one or more of the second plurality of isolated chambers.