How does it work?
The vortex shapes the flow of water passing through it
A vortex is generated by the flow inside the FlowMixer causing a low pressure in the centre of the vortex. This low pressure is connected to the surface via the air hose, sucking in a lot of air.
The air is mixed with the water and finely distributed, and later, it goes with the flow into the bulk of the water. As the air bubbles enter the water, oxygen in the air starts to dissolve into the water. The finer the bubbles, the better the transfer of oxygen.
FlowMixer based on vortex process technology is very different from traditional approaches such as low cascades, jet fountains, spray nozzles, blowers, submerged perforated pipe and porous plates or tubes. The most common wastewater aeration process in use today is the air diffusion process
Air diffusion is introduced from blowers through diffusion tubes or diffuser plates in the bottom of the aeration tanks. The drawbacks are high maintenance cost and high energy usage
In contrast the FlowMixer creates both an extremely high volume of micro-bubbles and a fluid flow based on the Coanda effect that further mixes the fluid.
Efficient Aeration is a function of the volume of air in contact with the water, and the surface area of water exposed to the air. The FlowMixer maximizes both air volume and surface area of water because it creates, due to the internal vortex design a “fog” of micro-bubbles and can effectively introduce CO2, O3, and other gasses into an industrial process.
Different sizes of FlowMixer depending on your aeration needs
FlowMixer10 | FlowMixer50 | |
|---|---|---|
Material: | PA 2200 | PA 2200 |
Max pressure (inlet water: | 6 bar/ 87 PSI | 6 bar/ 87 PSI |
Flow Water Min – Max: | 5-11 m3/h | 25-50 m3/h |
Flow Air Min – Max: | 5-11 m3/h | 25-50 m3/h |
Flow Air Min – Max with additional fan | 15-33 m3/h | 75-150 m3/h |
Length: | 349 mm / 13.7 inch | 700 mm / 27.5 inch |
Width: | 153 mm / 6 inch | 329 mm / 12.95 inch |
Weight | 1.4 kg / 3 lbs | 10 kg / 22 lbs |
Max temperature: | 100°C | 100°C |
Max depth: | 1.5 – 2.0m | 1.5 – 2.0m |
Inlet water connected to | ISO 228-G2” | ISO 228-G4” |
Air Inlet connected to | ISO 228-G1” | ISO 228-G2” |
Powering the system
The FlowMixer units are powered by submersible pumps to create the water flow needed. In a case study comparing FlowMixer with propeller agitators, the FlowMixer skid was powered by 2 Pedrollo pumps at 7.5kW each, 15kW in total.
This setup enabled the FlowMixer to circulate and aerate around 2,000m3 of water per hour, pulling in the same amount of air (2000m3). This means the required entry input needed to draw in 1m3 of air through the FlowMixer application is 0.0075kW.
Tests have shown that around 20 times more water is involved than what is pumped through the system. For example, if every second 100 litres of water are flowing through the FlowMixer, some 2000 litres of water is circulated at the same time.
Benchmarking FlowMixer Skid
- FlowMixer skid can do the same work or better i.e. circulating and aerating around 2,000 m3 per hour but using 50% less energy.
- FlowMixer skid can operate in shallow water down to 0.5m
- FlowMixer is an easy solution with a low maintenance level. The units can very easily be disconnected, brought to the surface, divided, cleaned, and mounted back again, on the spot.
- FlowMixer has increased oxygen transfer because of the finer bubbles it is able to produce.
- FlowMixer offers great freedom of usage: It can be used in ponds against algae growth without any tangling of long algae treads, and can be powered by renewable electricity sources.
- FlowMixer is safe for humans and animals. There are no sharp rotating propellers causing accidents if someone falls into the water body or kills animals in the water.
Characteristics
- Good chemical resistance * (report on request)
- Excellent consistent long-term behavior
- Equipment containing stabilizers against oxidation
- Numerous finishing possibilities (powder painting, metallization)
- Bio-compatible according to EN ISO 10993-1 and USP level 121C
- Approved for direct food contact European Directive 2002/72 / EC
- Freeform ® Manufacturing process
Learn more:
FlowMixer impact on Dommeln River (case study and European Union evaluation project)
Ozone drinking water study (The University of Massachusetts) on the vortex process technology’s performance as a hydraulic device for increasing oxidation efficiency and an enhanced chemical feed apparatus, especially for ozone
Definition Coanda Effect: When a surface is brought close to the water jet, this restricts the entrainment in that region. As flow accelerates to try balance the momentum transfer, a pressure difference across the jet results and the jet is deflected closer to the surface – eventually attaching to it. Even if the surface is curved away from the initial direction, the jet tends to remain attached. This effect can be used to change the jet direction.