Aeration
Types of Aerators
Aeration
- Aeration removes odour and tastes due to volatile gases like hydrogen sulphide and due to algae and related organisms.
- Aeration also oxidise iron and manganese, increases dissolved oxygen content in water, removes CO2 and reduces corrosion and removes methane and other flammable gases.
- Principle of treatment underlines on the fact that volatile gases in water escape into atmosphere from the air-water interface and atmospheric oxygen takes their place in water, provided the water body can expose itself over a vast surface to the atmosphere. This process continues until an equilibrium is reached depending on the partial pressure of each specific gas in the atmosphere.
Types of Aerators
- Gravity aerators
- Fountain aerators
- Diffused aerators
- Mechanical aerators.
Gravity Aerators (Cascades): In gravity aerators, water is allowed to fall by gravity such that a large area of water is exposed to atmosphere, sometimes aided by turbulence.
Fountain Aerators : These are also known as spray aerators with special nozzles to produce a fine spray. Each nozzle is 2.5 to 4 cm diameter discharging about 18 to 36 l/h. Nozzle spacing should be such that each m3 of water has aerator area of 0.03 to 0.09 m2 for one hour.
Injection or Diffused Aerators : It consists of a tank with perforated pipes, tubes or diffuser plates, fixed at the bottom to release fine air bubbles from compressor unit. The tank depth is kept as 3 to 4 m and tank width is within 1.5 times its depth. If depth is more, the diffusers must be placed at 3 to 4 m depth below water surface. Time of aeration is 10 to 30 min and 0.2 to 0.4 litres of air is required for 1 litre of water.
Mechanical Aerators : Mixing paddles as in flocculation are used. Paddles may be either submerged or at the surface.
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