AGA Group - Fisheries Management - Need for Aeration

Paddle Wheel aerators

Different aeration techniques are used to suit different purposes; paddle wheels offer a simple solution to aeration problems and can be used in a number of situations. The concept is simple and works in much the same way that paddle driven boats used to operate. Due to the design, paddle wheels also offer the advantage of increasing circulation in a stillwater so can help with circulation if stratification is a problem, they are therefore more commonly used in larger ponds.

Electric paddle wheel aerators are usually mounted on floats and anchored to the pond bank. Large-diameter paddlewheels obviously transfer more oxygen than smaller diameter aerators, and flat paddles are less effective than other designs. For a given design, oxygen transfer can be increased by increasing paddle depth and hub rotation speed.

Increasing the diameter, paddle depth and speed can increase the power required for operation but also the rate of oxygen introduced. Paddle wheels are not very energy efficient and are viewed as more of an emergency measure to increase dissolved oxygen content rapidly. They are more however more flexible than other aerator designs. Due to the fact they are portable, they can be moved from pond to pond as needed and placed anywhere along the bank.

The A.G.A Group has helped to install a number of these devices and can offer expert advice on the suitability of a number of aeration techniques.

Last Updated on Thursday, 16 September 2010 12:29