Abstract |
Induced air mixing of large bodies of water was investigated. The objective was to conduct a pilot-scale study to estimate the effects of variables such as the air flow rate, geometry of the body of water, energy input, size of air bubbles, and the pumping capacity of the air plume on the time of mixing. The latter was defined as the time required to reach 90% of the equilibrium concentration of the KCl tracer. In the study emphasis was put on the direction and relative magnitudes of the variables in order to obtain guidelines for large-scale investigation. Considerable time was spent on the development of the various experimental techniques. The tests were conducted in a plexiglas tank of 180 gallons capacity. It is stressed that the induced air system was investigated only from the viewpoint of its mixing performance. Its effect on aquatic life was not considered. (Author) |