Below are different types of coarse bubble diffusers from various manufacturers.

The control of fouling, as previously mentioned, is primarily undertaken using coarse bubble aeration.

Coarse bubble diffusers are a pollution control technology used to aerate and or mix wastewater for sewage treatment.

Currently, coarse bubble diffusers are the mainstay solution.

The larger air release openings of a coarse bubble diffuser helps to facilitate a higher oxygen transfer rate and bacterial growth.

The submerged configuration relies on coarse bubble aeration to produce mixing and limit fouling.

Diffusers use either rubber membranes or ceramic elements typically and produce either fine or coarse bubbles.

Other varieties of coarse bubble diffusers exist, though it is generally accepted that all of them perform similarly with respect to mass oxygen transfer.

Coarse bubble aeration

Manufacturers of diffused aeration systems claim that converting from coarse bubble to fine bubble system should yield a 50 percent energy cost savings.

Coarse bubble diffusers typically provide half the mass transfer of oxygen as compared to fine bubble diffusers, given the same air volume.

In comparison to other aeration techniques, coarse bubble aeration is very inefficient in the way of transferring oxygen.

Also, they do not possess the ability to mix as well as other aeration techniques, such as coarse bubble aeration.

Types of Coarse Bubble Diffusers

Coarse bubble diffusers are more commonly used in activated sludge tanks (generally a side process in waste water management) or in the flocculation stages.

Any coarse bubble diffuser that eliminates these problems would deliver a huge cost-savings, not only in product replacement, but in system downtime to facilitate their exchange.

Coarse bubble diffusers, produce 1/4 to 1/2 inch bubbles which rise rapidly from the floor of a wastewater treatment plant or sewage treatment plant tank.

Coarse bubble aeration is a type of subsurface aeration wherein air is pumped from an on-shore air compressor.

Fine bubble diffusers have largely replaced coarse bubble diffusers and mechanical aerators in most of the developed world and in much of the developing world.

The unit expels coarse bubbles (more than 2mm in diameter), which release oxygen when they come into contact with the water, which also contributes to a mixing of the lake#s stratified layers.

However, over the past two decades, coarse bubble diffusers have been used less frequently, primarily due to the ever increasing cost of energy and the availability of more reliable, highly efficient fine bubble diffusers.

Specifically, in aeration tanks, a system that utilizes coarse bubble diffusers requires 30 to 40 percent more process air than a fine bubble diffused air system to provide the same level of treatment.

Often in non-Newtonian or pseudoplastic fluids, such as a digester with high solids concentration, it does make sense to use coarse bubble diffusers rather than fine bubble diffusers, due to the larger bubbles' ability to shear through more viscous wastewater.

passing air through the liquid by means of the Venturi tube, aeration turbines or compressed air which can be combined with diffuser(s) air stone(s), as well as fine bubble diffusers, coarse bubble diffusers or linear aeration tubing.