Fine Bubble Aeration

Fine bubble aeration is one of the efficient technology used for the aeration in wastewater treatment plants. In wastewater treatment, air is introduced into the water through aeration. Aeration provides an aerobic environment, which helps in the microbial degradation of organic matters. The purpose of aeration offers two benefits : One is to supply the necessary oxygen to the metabolizing microorganisms and other is to help mixing so that the microorganisms come into contact with the dissolved and suspended organic matter.

 

There are two known aeration systems : Subsurface and Mechanical. The subsurface systems use diffusers or other equipment submerged in the wastewater, while mechanical systems use various means (e.g. propellers, blades, or brushes) to agitate the wastewater and introduce air from the atmosphere.

 

How it enhances the efficiency of the plant?
Fine bubble aeration is a subsurface form of aeration in which very small air bubbles are introduced through fine pore diffusers. Most of the wastewater treatment plants use fine bubble aeration to increase oxygen transfer and treatment efficiency. It reduces the power costs as well. Those plants which use coarse bubble diffusers , face the problem of inadequate oxygen transfer and excessive power consumption. Due to the energy crisis in most parts of the world there has been increased interest in fine pore diffusers as a competitive system due to its high oxygen transfer efficiency (OTE). The fine pore diffusers introduce smaller bubbles, resulting in more bubble surface area per unit volume and greater OTE.

 

Factors Affecting the Fine Bubble Aeration
Fine bubble aeration systems help in reducing the power costs and increase the efficiency of treatment plant. The oxygen transfer efficiency of an aeration system is a vital factor in determining the efficiency of the plant. It is the ratio of the amount of oxygen that actually dissolves into the water to the total amount of oxygen pumped into the water. The dissolved oxygen is useful for the plant as only it is available for treatment, and oxygen that does not dissolve is a waste of energy and money. The oxygen transfer efficiency of fine bubble diffusers is usually greater than coarse bubble systems. Another factor, which contribute to the efficiency of plants is the Alpha factor. Alpha is the ratio of oxygen transfer in a generic wastewater to oxygen transfer in clean water.

Tags:- Fine Bubble Aeration Systems, Fine Bubble Aeration Technology

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