Bubble Generation by Solid Membrane Spargers for Activated Sludge Wastewater Treatment Application

Current endeavor experimentally studies the initial bubble size distribution from the stainless steel diffusers and needle spargers with very fine orifice diameters range from 30 to 200 µm. To evaluate the performance of these spargers, the results where compared with four industrial rubber membranes in terms of Sauter mean diameter, pressure drop and frequency of bubble formation. Outcomes of current study showed that, the stainless steel perforated plates impose their superiority over the flexible membranes, by generating 50% smaller bubbles, and 70% higher bubble generation frequency at 60% less pressure drop. Moreover, the perforated stainless steel plates are able to produce bubble sizes in the same class as needles at 40% of the pressure drop caused by needle spargers and average of 60% higher bubble generation frequency.