Idea on how to "atomize" a gas into a million little bubbles?

[fuzzybabybunny]

I'm working on a device and I need to get a column of air and break it down into as many tiny gas bubbles as possible as it is forced into a liquid.

I'm currently thinking about forcing that gas through a sheet metal mesh or sieve. I would want to space the tiny holes far enough apart so that the tiny bubbles don't immediately reform into big bubbles when they exit the mesh.

Does anyone know if any other simple designs to accomplish this?

 

[TonyB]

what you're describing is common in the reef aquarium hobby. they use such a device to create the bubbles in their protein skimmers to remove fish waste from the water. There are a couple skimmer heads used, venturi needle, beckett head, or even just an air stone.

here's a vid

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEzmVqlCqbQ&feature=related

 

[linuxboy]

You mean like what is done to micro-oxygenate wine?

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Nuke it in space

 

[SlitheryDee]

 

[Capt Caveman]

An air diffuser. You can get an aquarium air stone to do it.

http://www.aquariumguys.com/air-stones.html

Air stones break the stream of air produced by your pump into thousands of tiny micro-bubbles, which help aerate your tank

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

what you're describing is common in the reef aquarium hobby. they use such a device to create the bubbles in their protein skimmers to remove fish waste from the water. There are a couple skimmer heads used, venturi needle, beckett head, or even just an air stone.

here's a vid

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEzmVqlCqbQ&feature=related

I see. Well, a few caveats.

1. There is no water flow, so venturis and becketts are unfortunately out of the question because those are driven by water flow.

2. There is no *pushing* of air, only *pulling*. So no air pump to push air through a air stone. The air needs to be pulled through whatever aerator I use.

3. Whatever aerator is used will get clogged from time to time, so it needs to be easily cleaned.

So I'm thinking just a plate with tiny holes? A cylinder with tiny holes? And then just experiment with the hole spacing, the hole size, and the actual hole design (lipped/unlipped, in which direction, etc).

 

[Toastedlightly]

It sounds like you are trying to make a bong that makes smaller bubbles to give a more "clean" inhale?

 

[Tim]

OP, you're going to need an Atomizer 3000.

 

[0roo0roo]

so which microsoft headquarters are you targeting?

 

[Dr. Zaus]

Your lack of lung-cancer will thank me later:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180896049635+&catId=26395&item=180896049635

 

[Imp]

Ceramic diffuser. They use them to aerate shit water in treatment plants.

 

[SagaLore]

Why do you need this? :hmm:

 

[randay]

ah all the wacky posts make complete sense now...

 

[sao123]

double-yew tee eff?

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

It sounds like you are trying to make a bong that makes smaller bubbles to give a more "clean" inhale?

I don't smoke. Or even drink for that matter.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Ceramic diffuser. They use them to aerate shit water in treatment plants.

Anyone know why a mesh screen wouldn't work? Does it need to be a solid 3D ceramic diffuser / air stone?

 

[Pulsar]

I would use a 10 micron nozzle at a 90 degree angle, and spin it in the fluid. The spinning action will act to force the air to come out of the nozzle, and the shear as the tip of the nozzle moves through the fluid will break off the smallest possible bubble for the given nozzle size.

Of course, I have a feeling what you're trying to do is a lot more mundane than the high filtration systems I work with, so.....

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

I would use a 10 micron nozzle at a 90 degree angle, and spin it in the fluid. The spinning action will act to force the air to come out of the nozzle, and the shear as the tip of the nozzle moves through the fluid will break off the smallest possible bubble for the given nozzle size.

Of course, I have a feeling what you're trying to do is a lot more mundane than the high filtration systems I work with, so.....

Right, that's very clever. I'm still going for something that is as passive as possible though. If there's a way to just use natural pressure differentials, a vacuum, that would be ideal. No forced inwards air, no forced water, no motors or pumps, basically. Would air sucked through an aeration stone produce the same bubble size and bubble volume?

 

[BladeVenom]

Explosives!

 

[Pulsar]

Right, that's very clever. I'm still going for something that is as passive as possible though. If there's a way to just use natural pressure differentials, a vacuum, that would be ideal. No forced inwards air, no forced water, no motors or pumps, basically. Would air sucked through an aeration stone produce the same bubble size and bubble volume?

It's going to depend on your pressure differential. How are you creating the suction?

 

[Dr. Zaus]

It's going to depend on your pressure differential. How are you creating the suction?

Also your 90degree mini noel will work by spinning itself as the air comes through the liquid; no problem there.

 

[Howard]

Why are you trying to hide your application?

 

[Imp]

Low power... passive... some sort of domestic "lab"?

 

[Red Squirrel]

Does it have to be suction? Since you could hook up an air compressor to a sprinkler (preferably the type that just spins) and put it inside the liquid. I imagine that would create a decent amount of bubbles.

Electrolysis also works, but it depends what this liquid is. It could create potential toxic gases.