Aquaculture Paddle Wheel Aerator

A paddle wheel aerator is an aquaculture pond aerator that is used for the circulation of water. It uses an electric motor mounted to a float to create a vortex-like stream of water. It is commonly installed in shallow ponds to create circulation. It has been widely used in aquaculture ponds for shrimp farming.

It is used for moving surface water, reducing turbidity, and increasing DO concentration. It is also used to improve water quality. It can increase dissolved oxygen levels in water, promote aquatic product growth, and achieve high yield. A typical unit is a two-hp aerator. It can be used for a variety of aquaculture pond applications, but it is best suited for fish ponds.

1HP 2 impeller paddle wheel aerator is a paddle wheel aerator that has been widely adopted in aquaculture ponds in Southeast Asia. It can increase water current output to more than ten times the amount that a centrifugal-force aerator could produce. It is manufactured by Wenling Seafull Machinery Co., Ltd. The aerator has a flawless gearbox and a high-performance electric motor.

In Indonesia, paddle-wheel aerators are used in commercial shrimp ponds during the dry season. It is estimated that by 2024, the world will require two million paddlewheels to fulfill the demand. There are a few disadvantages to using this type of aerator, including noise and erosion of the pond bottom. Nevertheless, the aerator provides a good ecological environment for breeding and it reduces power costs. It is still used in many applications, including raceway ponds and algae culture.

It is important to know the benefits and disadvantages of using a paddle wheel aerator. The most common disadvantage is the resulting large splashing and noise. Other disadvantages include the tendency to erode the pond bottom, the possibility of creating turbidity, and the potential for waste energy generation. In some cases, the paddle-wheel aerator can be shielded with a metal plate or other emergency aeration equipment.

In addition, it is possible to create secondary circulation in a paddle wheel aerator. This circulation occurs when the shaft of the aerator is driven with high speeds. The rotation of the paddles causes the water to flow away from the surface, and to radially circulate around the shaft. This induces the formation of a layer of horizontally circulating water that expands and thickens in the direction of the shaft. The volumetric flux induced by a CWS is lower than that induced by a paddle wheel aerator, but it is still relatively effective.

To evaluate the effectiveness of the aerator, time-varying DO was measured in aquacultural ponds. The optimum volumetric flux is estimated to be 920 m3/hr by the original patent. This means that it is fairly efficient. However, it is not expected to provide secondary circulation. It is therefore necessary to study the effects of a paddle-wheel aerator on water circulation and the distribution of DO. This research could help determine an intelligent design for paddlewheel aerators.

Another problem is the cost of running the aerator. The energy consumption of a paddle wheel aerator is higher than that of a standard aerator. The total cost of the aerator can be ten times greater than that of a centrifugal-force pond aerator. In addition, a larger aeration system can induce suspension of organic detritus and can cause shoreline erosion.

1HP 2 impeller paddle wheel aerator