Abstract
An apparatus was constructed for testing the influence of paddle shape and depth and paddle wheel speed and diameter on oxygen-transfer characteristics of paddle wheel aerators. Paddles triangular in crosssection were more efficient than other paddle shapes. Standard oxygen transfer rate (SOTR) increased with increasing paddle depth and paddle wheel speed while standard aeration efficiency (SAE) declined. For a particular depth and speed, SOTR increased with increasing paddle wheel diameter. The greatest SAE (2·96 kg O 2 kWh −1) was achieved with a 91 cm diameter paddle wheel with triangular paddles operated at 77 rev min −1 and 12·5 cm paddle depth. Three companies made floating, 7·5 kW electric paddle wheel aerators according to design specifications developed in this research. These commercial aerators had high values for SOTR (18·8–21·8 kg O 2 h −1) and SAE (2·7–2·9 kg O 2 kWh −1) and were much more efficient than other aerators used in channel catfish farming.
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