Author(s): Maggie Ntombifuthi Bingo; Muthumala Jayasooriya Dasun Lahiru; Sean Mulligan; Stefan Felder; Matthias Kramer And Eoghan Clifford
Linked Author(s): Eoghan Clifford, Stefan Felder, Maggie Ntombifuthi Bingo, Sean Mulligan
Keywords: Eration efficiency dual-tip probes plunging jets wastewater treatment viscosity effects
Abstract: Aeration is a key factor in wastewater treatment influencing operational costs, system performance, and regulatory compliance. While the primary objective of aeration design is to maximize oxygen transfer, contaminants inherent in wastewater alter the fluid properties of the wastewater and significantly change oxygen transfer efficiency. This change is described by the elusive 'alpha' (α) factor, which is used to estimate the change in oxygen transfer efficiency in environments with diverse impurities. While surfactants significantly affect the α-factor, other contributors, such as turbulence and microbial activity, also play crucial roles. Understanding these influences is essential for optimizing aeration system design and performance. This study investigated how fluid properties, particularly viscosity, influence air entrainment and aeration performance. A plunging jet system under controlled conditions is used to explore bubble dynamics, dissolved oxygen evolution, and their interaction with fluid viscosity to evaluate aeration efficiency. The findings provide critical data for calibrating and validating numerical models, enhancing their accuracy in simulating real-world wastewater treatment scenarios.
Year: 2025