Flowmaker mixers are used in wastewater treatment systems to optimize results from the treatment process, improving overall performance. The purpose of flowmaker mixers is to ensure the contents of the wastewater tanks are continuously mixed thoroughly. However, there are differences in performance when comparing anaerobic tanks and aerobic reactors.
Flowmaker Mixers in Wastewater Treatment
Flowmaker mixers play an important role in the wastewater treatment process. They are key to ensuring wastewater is blended efficiently. This is important for preventing sediment from sinking to the bottom of the tank, and for efficiently blending treatment additives.
Flowmaker mixers are designed with a combination of axial and radial flow patterns, which is how they’re able to create a homogenous mixture inside the tank. The dual action of axial flow, which is movement parallel to the axis of rotation, and radial flow, which is movement perpendicular to the axis, helps to facilitate the breakdown of organic matter and enhances biological activity.
The end result is wastewater that is treated more efficiently. This includes the benefits of maximizing treatment capacity, reducing overall energy consumption, and the ability to handle a range of flow rates and viscosities.
Anaerobic Tanks Vs Aerobic Reactors
Anaerobic tanks and aerobic reactors are two very different types of wastewater treatment systems. Both are used to break down organic matter and remove contaminants from wastewater, but how they work is different.
Anaerobic wastewater tanks operate in the absence of oxygen. This makes it possible to use microorganisms to break down organic matter and produce biogas as a byproduct. Anaerobic treatment is ideal for industrial wastewater, and the methane sourced from the biogas can be used for renewable energy. Overall, anaerobic wastewater treatment is more energy efficient than aerobic reactors.
Aerobic reactors require oxygen to promote the growth of the microorganisms that work to break down organic matter. When the organic matter is broken down, it produces a treated effluent. This process is more often used in low-strength and municipal wastewater treatment. While less energy-efficient, aerobic reactors can be more effective at removing certain nutrients and pathogens.
The Role of Flowmaker Mixers in Anaerobic Tanks and Aerobic Reactors
Flowmaker mixers are essential for distributing heat and nutrients evenly, which is important for both anaerobic tanks and aerobic reactors. In anaerobic tanks, the mixer helps to evenly distribute both nutrients and heat, which allows the microorganisms to break down the organic matter more efficiently.
In aerobic reactors, instead of distributing heat with the nutrients, the flowmaker mixer distributes oxygen, which helps the microorganisms break down organic matter and produce a treated effluent.
Here’s a comparison of the benefits of flowmaker mixers in both anaerobic tanks and aerobic reactors.
Benefits of Flowmaker Mixers in Anaerobic Tanks
- Increased treatment efficiency for anaerobic tanks
- Energy-efficient – both reduces energy consumption and creates byproducts that can be used as renewable energy sources
- Maximized mixing and distribution of heat and nutrients
- Improved biogas production
Benefits of Flowmaker Mixers in Aerobic Reactors
- Improved treatment efficiency for aerobic reactors
- Reduced energy consumption
- Greater mixture and distribution of oxygen and nutrients
- Optimized removal of nutrients and pathogens
Comparison of Flowmaker Mixers in Anaerobic Tanks and Aerobic Reactors
While flowmaker mixers are used in both anaerobic tanks and aerobic reactors, there are some key differences in how they perform in each system.
Anaerobic Tanks
The mixing objective from a flowmaker mixer is to prevent stratification and to evenly distribute nutrients throughout the tank to maximize microorganism activity. In anaerobic tanks specifically, flowmaker mixers generally offer a lower energy consumption due to how they reduce mixing requirements.
When used in anaerobic tanks, flowmaker mixers are designed to minimize the amount of oxygen that’s introduced to the tank. This enhances biogas production and noticeably reduces the accumulation of sludge. Sludge is an issue with industrial water treatment, which is why flowmaker mixers are often chosen for the capabilities in sludge reduction.
Aerobic Reactors
The primary mixing objective of flowmaker mixers in aerobic tanks is to maximize and maintain optimal oxygen levels. They also do an excellent job of ensuring even microorganism distribution throughout the reactor. The result is an improvement in biomass growth and a higher level of effluent quality and purity.
In general, there is a higher energy consumption demand for flowmaker mixers in aerobic vs anaerobic environments. This is primarily due to the increased mixing demands required for adequate oxygen distribution.
While flowmaker mixers perform well in both aerobic and anaerobic environments, regular maintenance is key. Both systems require a dedicated maintenance and upkeep plan, along with monitoring to ensure the flowmaker mixer is performing at an optimal level. Neglecting to do so can compromise the water treatment process.
Flowmaker Mixers Bring Efficiency to Wastewater Treatment
Flowmaker mixers play an important role in both aerobic reactors and anaerobic tanks in the wastewater treatment industry. They are highly efficient at effectively mixing the wastewater to provide the highest level of treatment results.
Flowmaker mixers improve treatment efficiency and reduce energy consumption. By understanding the role of flowmaker mixers and the benefits they offer, wastewater treatment facilities can utilize their power to improve their overall performance in the long term. Contact Lakeside Equipment to learn more.
