Prediction of alpha factor values for fine pore aeration systems

2008 ◽  
Vol 57 (8) ◽  
pp. 1265-1269 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Gillot ◽  
A. Héduit

The objective of this work was to analyse the impact of different geometric and operating parameters on the alpha factor value for fine bubble aeration systems equipped with EPDM membrane diffusers. Measurements have been performed on nitrifying plants operating under extended aeration and treating mainly domestic wastewater. Measurements performed on 14 nitrifying plants showed that, for domestic wastewater treatment under very low F/M ratios, the alpha factor is comprised between 0.44 and 0.98. A new composite variable (the Equivalent Contact Time, ECT) has been defined and makes it possible for a given aeration tank, knowing the MCRT, the clean water oxygen transfer coefficient and the supplied air flow rate, to predict the alpha factor value. ECT combines the effect on mass transfer of all generally accepted factors affecting oxygen transfer performances (air flow rate, diffuser submergence, horizontal flow).

2021 ◽  
pp. 174425912098418
Author(s):  
Toivo Säwén ◽  
Martina Stockhaus ◽  
Carl-Eric Hagentoft ◽  
Nora Schjøth Bunkholt ◽  
Paula Wahlgren

Timber roof constructions are commonly ventilated through an air cavity beneath the roof sheathing in order to remove heat and moisture from the construction. The driving forces for this ventilation are wind pressure and thermal buoyancy. The wind driven ventilation has been studied extensively, while models for predicting buoyant flow are less developed. In the present study, a novel analytical model is presented to predict the air flow caused by thermal buoyancy in a ventilated roof construction. The model provides means to calculate the cavity Rayleigh number for the roof construction, which is then correlated with the air flow rate. The model predictions are compared to the results of an experimental and a numerical study examining the effect of different cavity designs and inclinations on the air flow rate in a ventilated roof subjected to varying heat loads. Over 80 different test set-ups, the analytical model was found to replicate both experimental and numerical results within an acceptable margin. The effect of an increased total roof height, air cavity height and solar heat load for a given construction is an increased air flow rate through the air cavity. On average, the analytical model predicts a 3% higher air flow rate than found in the numerical study, and a 20% lower air flow rate than found in the experimental study, for comparable test set-ups. The model provided can be used to predict the air flow rate in cavities of varying design, and to quantify the impact of suggested roof design changes. The result can be used as a basis for estimating the moisture safety of a roof construction.


2004 ◽  
Vol 50 (7) ◽  
pp. 61-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Sahlmann ◽  
J.A. Libra ◽  
A. Schuchardt ◽  
U. Wiesmann ◽  
R. Gnirss

The efficiency of the aeration system in a full-scale activated sludge basin with 3 separately controlled aeration zones was improved for the low loading period in summer. The air flow rate to each aeration zone is currently regulated to hold a preset dissolved oxygen concentration (DO). Four different DO setpoint combinations were tested, each one for a one week period, using dynamic off-gas testing to measure the standardised oxygen transfer efficiency (αSOTE). As the DO setpoints were lowered, the total air flow rate to the basin decreased initially. A low DO in the first zones slowed biomass activity and pushed the load towards the end of the aeration basin. The relationship between αSOTE and the specific diffuser flow rate qD is different for each zone. In Zone 1 there was a strong decrease in αSOTE as qD increased, while Zones 2 and 3 were fairly independent of qD, Zone 2 at a higher level than Zone 3. Aeration costs were reduced by 15% for the most efficient combination. To achieve even more savings, a control strategy adjusting oxygen transfer rates over the aeration basin to the necessary oxygen transfer rates is suggested. It is based on changing the DO setpoints to reach the lowest total air flow rate while meeting the effluent requirements.


1975 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 94-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. A. AZI ◽  
A. G. MEIERING ◽  
C. L. DUITSCHAEVER ◽  
A. E. READE

A novel fermentor is described in which aeration is achieved by air induction through a hollow impeller system: no air pump is required. Air flow into the vessel increased with rotor speed, impeller diameter and height of liquid above the impeller. Although longer impellers increased the air flow rate. oxygen transfer was favored by shorter impellers. The presence of a draft tube in the vessel creates a vertical flow pattern in the medium which increases gas hold-up and, therefore, oxygen transfer. Biological tests on the system using a mold and a yeast showed that performance compared favorably to conventional fermentor systems using separate aerators and agitators.


Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei He ◽  
Pengkun Yu ◽  
Zhongting Hu ◽  
Song Lv ◽  
Minghui Qin ◽  
...  

Found in some specific scenarios, drinking water is hard for people to get, such as during expeditions and scientific investigations. First, a novel water generator with only two thermoelectric coolers (Model A) is designed for extracting water from atmospheric vapor and then experimentally studied under a small inlet air flow rate. The impact of operating conditions on surface temperatures of cold/hot sides and water yield are investigated, including the air flow rate and humidity. Alternately, to determine the super performance of Model A, a comparative experiment between Model A and a reference model (Model B) is carried out. The results suggest that both the cold/hot temperature and water yield in Model A increases with the humidity and air flow rate rising. Seen in comparisons of Model A and Model B, it is found that, at an air humidity of 90% and air flow rate of 30 m3/h, the total water yield was increased by 43.4% and the corresponding value reached the maximum increment of 66.7% at an air humidity of 60% and air flow rate of 30 m3/h. These features demonstrate the advantage of Model A especially in low air humidity compared to Model B.


1998 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 35-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Déronzier ◽  
Ph. Duchène ◽  
A. Héduit

The influence of design parameters on the transfer of oxygen was studied in different ring ditches equipped with fine bubble membrane air diffusers and separate mixing. The results produced evidence that the oxygen transfer efficiency (OTE) decreases when the air flow rate per diffuser increases. OTE increases asymptotically with the horizontal water flow (50% for velocity up to 0.5 m/sec). It increases also when the diffuser modules are brought closer together. Theoretical analysis enabled ranking of the impact of the design parameters on which the oxygen transfer is dependent, namely the interfacial area (a) and the oxygen transfer coefficient (Kl). The increase in the air flow rate per diffuser essentially reduces the interfacial area by an increase in the diameter of the initial air bubbles and by a reduction of the contact time due to an acceleration of the “spiral flows” (vertical rotation of water flow). The horizontal rotation of water increases the interfacial area most probably by decreasing the diameter of the initial air bubbles and by a lengthening of the contact time resulting from a reduction in the large spiral flows. Bringing the diffuser modules closer together makes longer the contact time by a reduction in the large spiral flows.


2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 507-516
Author(s):  
Fa-Li Ju ◽  
Liying Liu ◽  
Xiaoping Yu

Based on air flow rate testing of each branch fan in a distributed fan ventilation system under different branch air duct inlet static pressures, the conclusion can be drawn that there is a branch fan air flow rate deviation phenomenon. The air flow rate of the branch fan increases with the branch air duct inlet static pressure at the same branch fan speed, and the branch fan hinders the air flow rate in some cases. In this study, a theoretical expression of the deviation of the branch air duct design air flow rate was established, and the influencing factors of the deviation were determined to include the branch air duct resistance characteristics, branch fan performance, and branch air duct inlet pressure ratio. A graphic analytical method for determining the deviation of the branch fan design air flow rate was also proposed. Both methods can provide a theoretical basis for calculating and analysing the deviation of the branch fan design air flow rate in a distributed fan ventilation system. Practical application: This paper provides new data on the performance of a distributed fan ventilation system. Our results could be used to evaluate the impact of distributed zone fans on the air flow rate in a mechanical ventilation system. Crucially, we not only propose two types of methods that can be applied to predict deviations of the air flow rate in a distributed fan ventilation system caused by the branch air duct inlet static pressures but also obtain the factors that are important for understanding the true impact of the deviation of the branch fan air flow rate. This study lays an important foundation for the design and operation of building mechanical ventilation systems.


2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anil R. Kommareddy ◽  
Gary A. Anderson ◽  
Stephen P. Gent ◽  
Ghazi S. Bari

1998 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin R. Wagner ◽  
H. Johannes Pöpel

The main factors of fine bubble aeration systems in uniform arrangement in clean water are the air flow rate, the depth of submergence of the diffusers, and the diffuser density. While the influence of the air flow rate on the oxygen transfer parameters is known, knowledge of the influence of the depth of submergence and the diffuser density on the specific oxygen transfer efficiency SOTE [%/m] and on the specific oxygen absorption SOA [g/m3·m at STP] is very limited. Both parameters are of great importance in dimensioning fine bubble aeration systems. Therefore, a literature review was conducted to show the influence of the diffuser submergence and density and the type of blower on oxygen transfer and aeration efficiency. The main review results are, that higher values of specific oxygen absorption can be obtained at higher diffuser density; secondly, the volumetric oxygen transfer rate VOTR [g/m3·h] is higher with increasing depth of submergence at the same air flow rate. Also it can be stated that with greater depth of submergence the specific oxygen absorption [g/m3·m at STP] is reduced. Dependent on the air flow rate and the pressure head, the energy consumption [Wh/m3·m at STP] of the blowers used in wastewater treatment plants is different. For example, the energy consumption varies from 4.3 [Wh/m3·m at STP] (positive displacement blower) to 3.0 [Wh/m3·m at STP] (turbo-compressors) at a pressure of 10 m and an air flow rate of 5,000 m3/h at STP. From the results of the literature review the following conclusions can be drawn: (1) High specific oxygen absorption values (SOA) [g/m3·m at STP] can be achieved applying shallow tanks, high diffuser densities and low specific air flow rates; (2) High aeration efficiencies (AE) [kg/kWh] can be obtained by applying high volumetric oxygen transfer rates and adequate selection of the blowers used at the wastewater treatment plants.


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