Case Study: Advanced Circulation Technology Combined With Solar Power Cuts Expensive Aerator Run-Time And Provides Efficient Mixing In Wastewater Treatment Ponds

By Joel Bleth, President, SolarBee Inc.

The energy and maintenance costs associated with mechanical aeration are compelling managers of municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) to find alternate technologies. The goal is to provide more efficient wastewater aeration and mixing by reducing high operation and maintenance costs associated with mechanical aerators.

The biggest inefficiency—and therefore cost—of mechanical aeration is related to the use of an excessive number of units in an attempt to mix the entire pond. This means operating (and paying for) more horsepower than is necessary to aerate.

Two ways to significantly reduce energy costs in treatment ponds are to improve mixing efficiency and to use solar energy as a primary power source. A unique circulation technology from SolarBee Inc. conserves dissolved oxygen by mixing and distributing saturated surface water throughout the pond. The technology combines solar power with long-distance near-laminar-flow circulation, providing radial, horizontal and vertical pond mixing.