LIMNO

Hypolimnetic aeration

In continental water bodies Eutrophication phenomenonis self-sustaine by the solution of Phosphorus stored in the sediments during anoxic episodes.

The objective of Hypolimnetic aerator LIMNO® is to maintain a dissolved oxygen content inside the hypolimnion above 4-5 mg/l (thereshold of release of reduced compounds).

In addition to improvement of the lake's ecosystem through oxygenation of the bottom layers of the water body, LIMNO® allows :

 

FOR DRINKING WATER PRODUCTION:

• To improve the raw waterbody quality to meet the standards of treatability accepted by the European community.
• To guarantee to drinking water industry a more homogeneous and easy to treat raw water at an optimal cost.
• To maintain a correct sanitary quality of the waterbody either for drinking water consumption and aquatic recreation.
• To tend reduction of waterbody turbidity, or even in the best case to reduce peaks in algal biomass.
• To secure better water quality, and a good balance of the ecosystem favorable to fish life, in summer.

 

ALL OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS ARE ENSURED BY:

•  Maintaining thermal stratification of the waterbody mean while the chemical stratification is reduced.
• Maintaining a minimum dissolved oxygen concentration inside the deep layers of the hypolimnion greater than 5 mg/l.
• Minimizing the action of the eutrophication-initiating factor: the phosphorus that can be easily mobilized by algae. Oxidation blocks the phosphous use circle by precipitating it as a hydroxidphosphorus inside the lake sediment.
• Reducing the ammonia and sulphate content by preventing its formation in the deep layers of the lake.
• Preventing by oxidation the metals release trapped inside the sediment, such as iron and manganese. 

Maintaining a dissolved oxygen content of more than 5 mg/l at the bottom of the reservoir allows:

• Limit the release of iron and manganese from the sediment,
• Knock down ammonia, hydrogen sulphide, and methane concentrations,
• Reduce the release of bio-available phosphorus and thus limit the eutrophication of the reservoir.

 

 

1. EQUIPMENT PRINCIPLE

 

This patented device consists of a ten meter high dome made of flexible material. This structure is confining the oxygenation process to avois any break of the thermocline water body.

The water circulation inside the device is managed thru an air lift pump process.

This device is installed on the lake bottom inside the hypolimnion water body. The LIMNO is fed with compressed air by a compressor installed on the shore bank.

The calculation of a hypolimnetic aeration plant is not only based on the oxygen demand of the hypolimnion but alos residual oxygen content inside the hypolimnion water and its renewal. The LIMNO® hypo limnetic aeration plant is specially designed to prevent any thermal mixing of cold deep water with warmer surface water.

 

2. SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM

 

LIMNO® acts like a large air lift pump, working by the ascent of an intimate blend of air bubbles and water of lower density than water.

The compressed air is fed under pressure through a primary diffuser placed on the basement device .

The air bubbles are rising along the central chimney of the unit and are carrying a huge volume of water by air lift effect .

Collected waters are simultaneously oxygenated by contact with the bubbles during their ascent. Flow returns downwards through double peripheral partitions, before being horizontally discharged to the outside through nozzles at highspeed.

The air excess, undissolved, escapes from the water through a top vent over the unit, which passes through the thermocline and opens onto the surface of the lake.

 

 

 

In order to increase LIMNO’s efficiency, these units can be equipped with a secondary diffuser (not shown in the diagram) installed at the basement of the double partitions, above the discharge nozzles.

Countercurrent air bubbles are diffusing slowly into the downward flow of water, increasing the contact time between air and water, and consequently increasing the oxygenation capacity of the unit.