Air sparger for agitating solid-liquid suspensions

摘要

A sparger system for mixing a solid/liquid suspension in a cylindrical container comprises a sparger pipe which extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container. The sparger pipe is separated from an inner wall of the container by a first distance and a first end portion of the sparger pipe extends through a side wall of the container. A first flange member is 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. The flange member may be removed from the first end portion of the sparger so that pressurized liquid may be introduced directly into the sparger pipe to clean the sparger pipe and the container. A fluid passage is coupled to the sparger pipe and extends to an opening which is above a maximum level of liquid to be stored in the container. A plurality of orifices formed substantially in a line along the sparger pipe are oriented so that when a pressurized gas is introduced into the sparger pipe, the gas leaves the orifices directed toward the bottom center line.