Design of small paddle wheel aerators

Abstract The oxygen-transfer rate and power input to the aerator shaft were determined for paddle wheel aerators of different paddle wheel diameters (61–91 cm), paddle wheel lengths (15–75 cm), paddle depths (8–18 cm), and paddle wheel rotational speeds (75–125 rev min −1 ). These data allowed selection of the best design criteria for 0·25-, 0·33-, 0·5-, 0·75-, 1·0-, 1·5-, and 2·0-hp paddle wheel aerators. These aerators had standard aeration efficiencies of 2·0–2·6 kg O 2 kW h −1 . Small paddle wheel aerators made according to this design would be slightly less efficient in transfering oxygen to pond water than large wheel aerators commonly used in channel catfish ponds, but they would be more efficient than most other types of small aerators.