Patent ID: 6877726

Claim:
A saturation vessel for use in the treatment of waste water, comprising: a body member having an inner chamber and closed upper and lower end portions; a fluid inlet formed in the upper end portion of said body member for supplying fluids to the upper end portion of said body member; a perforated screen member positioned within the inner chamber of said body member; a diffuser assembly, having upper and lower end portions, positioned within said screen member; said diffuser assembly comprising a plurality of diffuser plates positioned one above the other; at least one of said diffuser plates comprising an open central throat portion having upper and lower surfaces, having upper and lower ends, and a plate portion having upper and lower surfaces extending laterally therefrom adjacent the lower end thereof; said central throat portion of said at least one of said diffuser plates being tapered downwardly and outwardly; and a fluid outlet formed in the lower end portion of said body member for purging fluids from the lower end portion of said body member.