IAHR Journal of Hydraulic Research Vol. 41, No. 5 (2003). pp.

513-520
© 2003 International Association of Hydraulic Engineering and Research

^ AIRH

Study of the influence of air holes along length of convergent-divergent passage

of a venturi device on aeration
Etude de 1'influence sur 1'aeration d'un dispositif de trous d'aeration le long du
convergent-divergent d'un venturi
M. EMIN EMIROGLU and AHMET BAYLAR, Firat University, Civil Engineering Department, Elazig-Turkey

ABSTRACT
One of the most cited water quality parameters in the freshwater hydrosphere is dissolved oxygen. The oxygen concentration in surface waters is a
prime indicator of the quality of that water for human use as well as use by the aquatic biota. When a water jet impinges a pool of water at rest, air
bubbles may be entrained and carried a way below the pool free surface. This process is called plunging water jet entrainment and aeration. In this
paper, air entrainment rate and oxygen transfer efficiency of venturi device with air holes along the length of the convergent-divergent passage was
studied experimentally, and in particular, the effect of varying numbers, positions, and open/close status of the air holes. A negative pressure drew
air in through holes at the convergent-divergent passage of the venturi device. This phenomenon affected the water jet expansion, the air entrainment
rate, and the bubble penetration depth and hence the oxygen transfer efficiency. It was demonstrated that the values of air entrainment rate and the
oxygen transfer efficiency of the venturi device were significantly higher than those of the circular nozzle.

RÉSUMÉ
Un des paramètres les plus cités de qualité de 1'eau dans le monde de 1'eau douce est 1'oxygène dissous. La concentration en oxygène dans les eaux
de surface est un indicateur primordial de la qualité de cette eau pour 1'usage domestique comme pour le monde aquatique. Quand un jet d'eau frappe
une masse d'eau au repos, des bulles d'air peuvent être entraïnées et emportées au-dessous de la surface libre. Ce processus s'appelle : entraïnement
et aeration par un jet d'eau plongeant. Dans eet article, le taux d'entraïnement d'air et 1'efficacité du transfert de 1'oxygène dans un dispositif de
venturi avec des trous d'aeration le long du passage convergent-divergent ont été étudiés expérimentalement, et en particulier, 1'effet du nombre, des
positions, et de 1'état d'ouverture ou fermeture des trous d'air. Une depression aspire 1'air par des trous au passage convergent-divergent du venturi.
Ce phénomène affecte 1'expansion du jet d'eau, le taux d'entraïnement d'air, et la profondeur de penetration de bulle et par conséquent 1'efficacité du
transfert d'oxygène. On a ainsi démontré que le taux d'entraïnement d'air et 1'efficacité du transfert d'oxygène étaient sensiblement meilleurs avec ce
dispositif de venturi que dans le cas d'une buse circulaire.

Keywords: Air entrainment rate; dissolved oxygen; aeration; water jet; venturi; nozzle.

Introduction A substantial number of research workers have studied air

One of the most important water quality parameters is the dis­
solved oxygen (DO) content. The DO content is a prime indicator
of the quality of the water. Many naturally occurring biological
and chemical processes use oxygen, thereby diminishing the DO
concentration in the water. The physical process of oxygen trans­
fer or oxygen absorption from the atmosphere acts to replenish
the used oxygen. This process has been termed re-aeration or
aeration. Water jet aeration is a very attractive way of aeration.
A water jet passing through the surrounding air entrains a sub­
stantial amount of air bubbles into the receiving water, and creates
a large air-water contacting area. Within the last few years there
has been a growing interest in the aeration by water jets plung­
ing into pools. This process is energetically attractive as a means
straightforward contacting mechanism in fouling or hazardous
environments.
entrainment and oxygen transfer efficiency by plunging water
jets. Experimental studies on air entrainment by plunging water
jets were carried out by van De Sande and Smith (1973, 1976),
McKeogh and Ervine (1981) and Sene (1988). Kusabiraki et al.
(1990a,b) studied the effect of nozzles having various values of
length-to-diameter ratio on the air entrainment rate QA . These and
the other related studies were reviewed by Bin (1993). Recently,
Oguz (1998) and Zhu et al. (2000) and Ohl et al. (2000) have
been reported the role of surface disturbances in the entrainment
of bubbles by water jets. Yamagiwa et al. (2000) investigated
the effect of nozzle contracted angle on air entrainment rate of a
vertical plunging water jet. Yamagiwa et al. (2001) studied the
effects of liquid property on air entrainment of plunging liquid
jet. Baylar and Emiroglu (2002) investigated sharp-crested weirs
having different cross-sectional geometry and their effect on the
air entrainment rate. Experimental studies on the oxygen transfer

Revision received May 16. 2003. Open for discussion till February 29, 2004.

513
514 M. Emin Emiroglu and Ahmet Baylar

by water jets were carried out by Ahmed (1974), van de Sande
and Smith (1975), van de Donk (1981), Tojo and Miyanami
(1982). Tojo et al. (1982). Bin and Smith (1982), Bonsignore
etal. (1985), Ohkawa et al. (1986), Bin (1988), Funatsu et al.
(1988), Yamagiwa et al. (2001).
As the factors affecting the air entrainment characteristics of a
water jet, there are four operating variables that earlier researchers
have adopted: (1) nozzle diameter, (2) water jet velocity, (3) jet
length, and (4) jet angle. However, it is insufficient to investi­
gate or discuss the characteristics of a water jet only by these
four factors. An important factor that cannot be overlooked is
the difference in nozzle shape. Reviewing existing studies on
inclined water jets, most of these works were carried out in circu­
lar nozzles. Thus, much useful information is available on the air
entrainment characteristics in such systems using circular nozzle.
However, it seems that there is not any study where the various
characteristics of water jets were investigated by using a differ­
ent shaped nozzle such as venturi device. The objective of this
paper is to study air entrainment rate QA and the oxygen transfer
efficiency OE in the venturi device, and especially, the effect of
varying numbers, positions, and open/close status of the airholes
along the convergent-divergent passage (Fig. 1).
Mechanisms of air entrainment
McKeogh and Ervine (1981) suggested three mechanisms for air
entrainment depending on jet turbulence. Laminar jets (Fig. 2(a))
are relatively smooth and form an oscillating annulus at the plung­
ing point. The annulus typically extends several jet diameters
beneath the pool surface. Entrainment occurs when the annu­
lus breaks apart from the jet. When the jet characteristics are in
transition between laminar and turbulent (Fig. 2(b)) the intermit­
tent vortex mechanism occurs. In this case an indentation of the
pool surface appears around the jet periphery. The indentation is
caused by a combination of the downward jet flow and the pres­
sure of the air within the boundary layer surrounding the jet. The
intermittent vortex indentation does not extend beneath the sur­
face as far as the oscillating annulus, and is not as sharply curved.
A free vortex causes an inward radial flow (Fig. 2(b) inset). It is
difficult to define the exact range of Reynolds numbers within
which this type of entrainment occurs since the laminar proper­
ties of the jet are not only dependent on the Reynolds number but
also on the shape of the nozzle. Finally, McKeogh and Ervine
(1981) described a mechanism for jets which have reached full
turbulence. As a fully turbulent jet impinges on the pool (Fig.
2(c)) the indentation on the surface becomes highly irregular in
form because of the rough jet periphery. The intense water surface
roughness and the impact point entraps ambient air.
Koga (1982) indicated that the intermittent vortex mechanism
described by McKeogh and Ervine (1981) is similar in angled
water jets. There are however, some differences between vertical
jets operating in the intermittent regime and the acute jets stud­
ied by Koga (1982). Jets impinging at 90° and operating in the
intermittent vortex regime have a cylindrically symmetric inden­
tation similar to the indentation observed by Koga (1982). But,

Converging Throat Diverging

cone / cone
25 16 89~~
Positions of A B C D E F G H .1 K
Direction of flow a j r holes
(from point 1 to point 2)
.. =*: l
Direction of flow
(from point 2 to point 1)
All dimensions y~ -*—t—*—k- -t—*-
inmm 20 12 14 15 15 15 15 15 15 20
Figure 1 Dimensions of venturi device and positions of air holes.

(a)
Rippled
Oscillating -•—Smooth jet jet surface
annul u: Surface Inward flow of
bubbles— surface bubbles
, Ascending Descending
bubbles bubbles
Descending, (1-2 mm dia.)
bubbles \ Large
*X— penetration
\ depth. Dp

-•—Rough jet
"Boils" Inward flow of
(emergent surface bubbles
bubbles)

Closely
packed
bubbles
(2 mm dia. approx.)

Figure 2 Mechanisms of air entrainment.

 Study of the influence of air holes along length of convergent-divergent passage of a venturi device on aeration 5 15

the indentation is not cylindrically symmetric at acute angles. In (7)

N, pQwVr
angled water jets, a flow is observed which returned surface bub­ 2
bles to the plunging point (Fig. 2(d)). The cylindrical symmetry where C* = saturation concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO)
no longer exists at acute angles, but there is a similar surface at standard conditions (mg/L); p = density (kg/m ); Q w = water
flow. Figure 2(d) (inset) illustrates the path of surface bubbles discharge (mVs); andVj = water jet velocity at nozzle exit (m/s).
for acute jets. The dashed lines outline the region where bubbles
surface. The arrows indicate the path taken by surface bubbles
approaching the plunging point. Experimental

Apparatus
Aeration at water jets
Aeration experiments were conducted using an experimental
apparatus in the Hydraulic Laboratory at the Engineering Faculty
The material balance equation relating the instantaneous rate of
of Firat University, Elazig. Turkey. A schematic representation
change in DO concentration (dC/dt) to the rate of oxygen mass
of the experimental set-up is shown on Fig. 3. The experimental
transfer between air and water is
set-up consists of a water tank, a water pump, a water rotameter,
dC A
— =K, -(G, C) (1) a thermometer, a DO meter, a DO probe, a venturi device, an air
dt V
rotameter, a bubble trap, a release valve, and a scale. All jet exper­
where KL = bulk liquid film coefficient. The values of C s and C
iments were carried out in 1.8 m■ water tank, made of glass-wall
are the saturation concentration of oxygen in water at prevailing
(0.75 m wide x 2.0 m long x 1.2m high). The water in the exper­
ambient conditions and the actual concentration of oxygen in
imental set-up was circulated by a water pump through a water
the water at time t - the difference being proportional to the
rotameter. The venturi device used in experiments was manu­
concentration gradient. The term A is the air-water contact area
factured in clear plastic material. Details of the venturi device
and V is the volume of water associated with this. The term A/V
are shown in Table 1 and Figure I. Inlet and outlet diameter of
is often called the specific surface area, a, or surface area per unit
the venturi device was 19.5 mm and the diameter of the circular
volume.
nozzle was also 19.5 mm.
The integrated form of Eq. (1) is obtained by integrating
The residence time of entrained air bubbles in a water body
between the limits of C = C„ and C = C and t = 0 and t = t as
directly affects aeration performance. The residence time is
follows
related to the bubble flow path and hence penetration depth. Dp,
rc dc r (2)
of the bubbles produced by the jet, which was defined as the
vertical distance from the water surface to the lower end of the
which, when solved yields submerged biphasic region in the water. Below the entrance point
of the jet two distinct bubble regions occur: an inner cone where
In I J" J 1 =-(K,a)t (3) there is high turbulence with freely dispersed bubbles and an
,C-C, '
outer region where larger bubbles are escaping from the cone
where C„ and C, = oxygen concentrations in the water at the start and rising towards the free water surface. Aeration and oxygen
and time t of aeration; and (K L a) = mass transfer coefficient. transfer will increase with air bubble penetration until buoyancy
Eq. (3) shows that values of K L a can be obtained by using a prevails and bubbles rise. In this study, bubble penetration depth
semilogarithmic plot of ln(C, — C,)/(C S — C„) versus time t. To was measured by a scale fitted to the tank wall and the water
provide a uniform basis for comparison of different systems, K L a depth was selected greater than bubble penetration. Moreover,
is often normalized to a 2()°C standard. Equation (4) describes
the influence of temperature (Eckenfelder and Ford, 1970)

(K L a) 2(1 = (K l .a) l (l.024) ( 2 °- T ) (4)

where (KLa)2o = mass transfer coefficient at standard conditions

(1/h); (K L a) T = mass transfer coefficient at T°C (l/h); and T =
water temperature (°C).
The aeration performance of water jets often is expressed in
II -
terms of the oxygen transfer efficiency OE (kg 0 2 / k W h), as
defined in Eq. (5).
OR V
OE (5)
N,
where OR = oxygen transfer rate (mg/L/h) at 20°C and 1 atmo­
Figure 3 Schematic representation of experimental apparatus: (1) water
sphere (standard conditions); V = aerated volume of water (m 3 );
tank; (2) water pump; (3) water rotameter; (4) thermometer; (5) do meter:
and Nj = water jet power (W). OR and Nj can be expressed as
(6) do probe; (7) venturi device; (8) air rotameter; (9) bubble trap; (10)
OR = (K,.a) 20 C* (6) release valve; (11) scale.
516 M. Eirün Emiroglu and Ahmet Baylar
Table 1 Diameter of cross-section in air holes
on venturi device.
Air Hole No. Diameter of cross section (mm)
A 26.00
B 23.20
C 18.40
L) 16.00
E 16.80
F 18.47
G 20.16
H 21.84
.1 23.53
K 25.24
L 26.00
the values of water jet expansion Je in the circular nozzle and
venturi devices with and without air holes were measured with
stainless steel digital caliper.
Since air entrainment by plunging water jets occurs as a local­
ized phenomenon at the plunging point, basically two groups of
methods of entrained airflowrate measurements were developed:
(1) catching air after it has been entrained into the pool water;
(2) measuring the removal of air from a gaseous space above the
pool surface around the plunging point. To the first group belong
experiments with inclined water jets and those in which bubble
traps have been used. The second group is used in experiments
with vertical water jets. The gaseous space above the pool in the
vicinity of the plunging point is in this case separated from the
ambient, and a supplementary air is let into this space through
an appropriate flow rate device (orifice, rotameter, anemome­
ter or from volumetric and time readings). Traps or air removal
arrangements may interfere with the fluid flow in the pool. How­
ever, since the air entrainment phenomenon depends mainly on
the flow in the direct neighborhood of the plunging point, an
appropriate submergence and geometry of the trap should not
greatly affect the amount of entrained air. In this study, a bubble
trap for which the plan-view dimensions were 0.70 x 0.75 m, was
used to obtain the values of QA using an air rotameter installed
on its surface.
DO concentrations were measured using calibrated portable
HANNA Model HI 9142 oxygen meter at the location identified
in Fig. 3. DO meter was calibrated daily, prior to use, by the air
calibration method. Calibration procedures followed those rec­
ommended by the manufacturer. The calibration was performed
in humid air under ambient conditions.
Experimental procedure
In a typical plunging water jet three different regions of oxygen
transfer can be distinguished: (i) oxygen transfer to the turbulent
free water jet passing through an air layer; (ii) oxygen trans­
fer to the free water surface of the pool; (iii) oxygen transfer
between bubble dispersion and the pool water. According to esti­
mates (Bin, 1977), the contribution of the first region of oxygen
transfer is less than 1% under typical hydrodynamic conditions.
The contribution of the second region depends upon the jet tur­
bulence and geometry of the pool. For the pools hitherto studied,
this contribution is at most several percent of the total. Thus, the
contribution of the third region is significantly more than the first
two regions.
In this paper, a series of laboratory experiments were run on
venturi device with and without air holes and circular nozzle to
predict the variation of the air entrainment rate and the oxygen
transfer efficiency in the third region. A vacuum (air suction)
occurs at air holes of venturi device. This is accomplished when
a minimal amount of differential pressure (AP) exists between
the inlet and outlet sides of the venturi device. When a pressurized
operating (motive) fluid, such as water, enters the venturi device
inlet, it constricts toward the throat portion of venturi device and
changes into a high velocity jet stream. The increase in velocity
through the throat portion of venturi device, as a result of the
differential pressure, results in a decrease in pressure in the throat
portion. This pressure drop enables air to be injected through the
air holes and is dynamically entrained into the motive stream.
As the jet stream is diffused toward the venturi device outlet,
its velocity is reduced and it is reconverted into pressure energy
(but at a pressure level lower than venturi device inlet pressure).
The venturi devices are high efficient, requiring less than 20%
differential to initiate suction.
Each nozzle configuration was tested under water jet veloc­
ity Vj varying from 2.5 to 15 m/s in step of 2.5 m/s. The water
jet length Lj, from the nozzle outlet to the plunging point of a
water jet on the water surface of the tank was 0.30 m. The plunge
angle of water jet was used 45° in experiments of air entrainment
and 45° and 60° in experiments of oxygen transfer efficiency. At
eleven points along the length of the convergent-divergent pas­
sage of the venturi device, air holes were drilled in 2 mm diameter
into the wall, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The larger number of the air
holes on this venturi device were intended to show the locations
of negative pressure (below atmospheric pressure, i.e. a vacuum)
along the length of the convergent-divergent passage. Negative
pressure occurred at three air holes (i.e. points D, E, and F) for
flow from point 1 to point 2 and at an air hole (i.e., point D) for
flow from point 2 to point 1. Negative pressure didn't take place
at the other air holes (i.e. points A, B, C, G, H, J, K, and L).
Air entrainment rate and oxygen transfer efficiency by the ven­
turi device were studied in circumstances that all air holes were
closed and one or several of air holes in points D, E, and F were
opened. Moreover, the values of air entrainment rate and oxygen
transfer efficiency of the circular nozzle were studied to compare
with those of the venturi device.
Tap water was used for all of the experiments reported in
this paper. Each experiment was started by filling the water tank
with the tap water. Sodium sulfite (Na2SOi) and cobalt chloride
(C0CI2) were added to the tap water to reduce the DO concen­
tration to Omg/L. 7.9mg/L of Na2SO} was added to remove
1 mg/L of DO. Based on the DO of the test tap water, the approx­
imate Na2SO} requirements were estimated (a 10-20% excess
was used). 3.3 mg/L of C0CI2 was added as catalyst for the
deoxygenation reaction.
 Study of the influence of air holes along length of convergent-divergent passage of a venturi device on aeration 517

Results of experiments 1 O.U

*
*
ft
Water jet from the venturi device and the circular nozzle plunged 150.0 -
*
through the atmosphere, impinged on the water tank below and
*
entrained air bubbles. In this study, the values of QA and OE were c 125.0 - *
X
obtained depending on water jet velocity at nozzle exit (Vj) and
E ft
i
nozzle type (i.e. venturi device and circular nozzle). Experimen­ e •
100.0- * A
■
tal values of Q A were measured by using the air rotameter. For s 1
experiments of OE, sodium sulfite and cobalt chloride were added X
A ♦
(U
75.0-
to the water to reduce the DO concentration to 0 mg/L. Then, the * ■ ♦
♦
water in the water tank to approach 100% oxygen saturation was "-> I
$ 50.0- ♦
re-circulated using a pump. Thus, (KLa)2o was determined by
using a semilogarithmic plot of — ln(C s — C t )/(C S — C 0 ) versus i ♦
* *
25.0- * *
time t and OE values were calculated using Eq. (5). The following
sections discuss free water jet expansion at impact point J e , air
1
entrainment rate QA , bubble penetration depth produced by water i 1 1 1 ! i '
0.0 2.5 5.0 7.5 10.0 12.5 15.0 17.5
jet Dp, and the oxygen transfer efficiency results OE, which are Water jet velocity (m/s>
shown to vary with the water jet velocity V, in Figs. 4, 5, 6(a)
^ All air holes closed in venturi device (flow from I to 2)
and (b), and 7(a) and (b).
W\ Air hole D opened in venturi device (flow from I to 2)
The change in water jet expansion of the venturi device and W Airholes Dand E opened in venturi device (flow from I to 2)
the circular nozzle was measured as a function of the water jet A Air holes D, B. and F opened in venturi device (flow from 1 to 2;
velocity Vj and effect of Vj on water jet expansion is shown in 'W All air holes closed in venturi device (flow from 2 to 1)

Fig. 4. It was observed from Fig. 4 that variation in Je is closely >T Air hole D opened in venturi device (flow from 2 to I)
Tfc Circular nozzle (D= 19.5 mm)
related to numbers, positions and open/close status of the air
holes on venturi device. The water jet expansion Je increased as Figure 4 Variation in water jet expansion with water jet velocity for
Vj increased in all experiments. The increase in Je with increase venturi device and circular nozzle.
in Vj may be ascribed to air quantity trapped within the water
jet, angles of converging and diverging cone, and flow rate of air
entering air holes on venturi device. The values for the venturi
device were greater than those for the circular nozzle. The venturi
50U
device in which only the air hole D was opened and flow was from *
400-
point 2 to point 1 had the greatest values of J e . The values of Je *
of the venturi device for flow from point 2 to point 1 were better
300- • ■
* A

than those for flow from point 1 to point 2. 200- » ■ *

9
All experiments indicated that the positions and open/close x ■ ♦
status of the air holes on venturi device were the most important •
§ 100 —
factor influencing the values of Q A . It was observed that the m ♦

values of QA increased as the water jet velocity increased over the 5

— *
whole range of experiments (Fig. 5). The increase in Q A with the * ♦
*
•
increase in Vj may be ascribed to the increased momentum of the 1 *
jet flow. Moreover, water jet expansion J e was closely related to *
♦
QA- The results showed that Q A increased with increasing water
jet expansion J e . This is resulted from not only the increased *
contacting perimeter in impact point but also the increased jet I
surface roughness. The venturi device in which only the air hole ♦
10 — *
D were opened and for flow from point 2 to point 1 was found to 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
have greater values of QA than those for the other circumstances. 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 20
Water jet velocity (m/s)
The circular nozzle was shown to have the lowest values of Q A
♦ All air holes closed in venturi device (flow from 1 to 2)
among all circumstances. It was demonstrated that the values of Hj Air hole D opened in venturi device (flow from 1 to 2)
Q A of the venturi device for flow from point 2 to point 1 were O Air holes D and E opened in venturi device (flow from 1 to 2)
better than those for flow from point 1 to point 2, as shown in A Air holes D. E, and F opened in venturi device (flow from 1 to 2)
Fig. 5. 7f^ Circular nozzle (D = l9.5 mm)

Bubbles following the momentum field penetrated the pool to >T Air hole D opened in venturi device (flow from 2 to 1)

some distance and then started to rise to the pool surface moving W All air holes closed in venturi device (flow from 2 to 1)

along a resultant trajectory. The shape of the biphasic region Figure 5 Variation in air entrainment rate with water jet velocity for
resembled a bowl. Figures 6(a) and (b) show the typical results venturi device and circular nozzle.
518 M. Emin Emiroglu and Ahmet Baylar

l.U
* increasing V,. The reason of this may be due to the increased
momentum of the jet. However, it was shown from the results
* Dp decreased with increasing Je and Q A (Figs. 4, 5 and 6). This
0.8- may be attributed to the increased buoyant forces of the entrained
* bubbles as a result of the increase in the air entrainment rate, QA,
- ♦
ft
which may have caused by the increase of jet surface roughness
0.6- * ■ and contacting perimeter in impact point. It was observed from
t •■
Figs. 6(a) and (b) that the values of D P in plunge angles of 60°
* ♦
•■
A were higher than those of Dp in plunge angles of 45°. The smaller
•
0.4 - ♦
1 * amount of air carried down by the circular nozzle permitted a
A *
1 * ö deeper penetration of the jet. D P in plunge angles of 45° and 60°
I ♦
f
*
*
ft * was the greatest with the circular nozzle and the lowest with the
0.2 — 5 venturi device in which only the air hole D was opened and flow
was from point 2 to point 1. The values of D P of the venturi device
for flow from point 1 to point 2 were better than those for flow
10.45"!
1
from point 2 to point 1.
1 1 1 I 1 '
0.0 2.5 5.0 7.5 10.0 12.5 15.0 17.5 It can be pointed out that numbers, positions and open/close
Water Jet Velocity (m/s) status of the air holes on the venturi device were an important
♦ All air holes closed in venluri device {flow from 1 to 2) factors influencing the values of OE. It was observed that the
ffi Air hole D opened in ventiiri device (flow from 1 to 2) values of OE decreased as the water jet velocity increased in all
0 Air holes D and E opened in ventnri device (flow from 1 to 2) experiments tested (Figs. 7(a) and (b)). Although the values of
A Air holes D, E, and F opened in ventnri device (flow from 1 to2)
Dp in plunge angles of 60° were higher than those of D P in plunge
^ All air holes closed in ventnri device (flow from 2 to 1)
angles of 45°, the values of OE were generally similar with each
M Air hole D opened in ventnri device (flow from 2 to I)
7^ Circular nozzle (D = 19.5 mm)
other. It was observed from Figs. 7(a) and (b) that the circular
nozzle in plunge angles of 45° and 60° was found to have the lower
values of OE than the other circumstances tested. Although the
* values of the water jet expansion and the air entrainment rate of
the venturi device for flow from point 2 to point 1 were better than
X
1.00- those for flow from point 1 to point 2, the values of the oxygen
♦
- * 1 transfer efficiency of the venturi device for flow from point 1 to
A
♦ point 2 were observed greater than those for flow from point 2 to
0.75 - 1 *
X ♦
point 1. This is because, as pointed out earlier, the values of D P
A
1 of the venturi device for flow from point 1 to point 2 were better
• * than those for flow from point 2 to point 1. The reason of the
m ft
0.50 — * * differences in OE can be found by variations in Q A , J c , and Dp.
*
* * The direction of flow affected the values of the water jet expan­
ca * ft sion, the air entrainment rate, and the bubble penetration depth
0.25 — 1 and hence the oxygen transfer efficiency. The reason for these
cases was found to be the variation in the angles of converging
1 e=«)°l cone and diverging cone depending on the direction of flow. In
1
I 1 1 1 1 1 ' other words, as the angle of converging cone was greater than
0.0 2.5 5.0 7.5 10.0 12.5 15.0 17.5 that of diverging cone (i.e. flow from point 1 to 2), the oxygen
Water Jet Velocity (m/s)
transfer efficiency became higher.
All air holes closed in venturi device (How from 1 to 2)
Air hole D opened in venturi device (flow from I to 2)
Air holes D and H opened in venturi device (flow from 1 to 2) Conclusions
Air holes D. Ü. and F opened in venturi device (flow from 1 to 2)

* All air holes closed in venturi device (flow from 2 to 1)

In this study, a series of laboratory experiments were carried out
Air hole D opened in venturi device (flow from 2 to 1)
Circular nozzle (D = 19.5 mm)
to obtain the values of the air entrainment rate and the oxygen
transfer efficiency of the venturi device and the circular nozzle.
Figure 6 Variation in bubble penetration depth with water jet velocity
Based on the findings of this study, the following conclusions can
for venturi device and circular nozzle (a) 6 = 45°; (b) 6 = 60°.
be drawn:

of Dp depending on nozzle types as a function of V,. Figures 6(a) • Numbers, positions, and open/close status of air holes on the
and (b) show that variation in D P is closely related to numbers, venturi device were observed to be the most important parame­
positions and open/close status of the air holes on venturi device. ters influencing the water jet expansion and the air entrainment
It was found from the results that D P tended to increase with rate, the penetration depth, and the oxygen transfer efficiency.
 Study of the influence of air holes along length of convergent-divergent passage of a venturi device on aeration 519

In a practical situation, economic considerations will establish

the appropriate compromise involving tank size, jet diameter
and flow rate, venturi and air hole geometry, which will lead
to optimum oxygen transfer efficiency.
The oxygen transfer efficiency decreased as the water jet veloc­
ity increased in all experiments tested. The oxygen transfer
efficiency at low water jet velocities was very high. However,
this is especially disadvantageous when deep pools have to be
aerated. The reason of this can be explained with the decrease
of bubble penetration depth at low water jet velocities.
I At low jet velocities, venturi device had significantly bet­
ter the oxygen transfer efficiency than circular nozzle. The
venturi device may find application as a high rate reactor for
wastewater treatment or fermentation.
Although the air entrainment rate of the venturi device is
i ' i ' r greater than for the circular nozzle, the bubble penetration
5.0 7.5 10.0 12.5 17.5
Water Jet Velocity (m/s) depth of the venturi device is lower than for the circular noz­
♦ All air holes closed in venturi device (flow from 1 to 2) zle. This could make the venturi device an attractive alternative
in situations where DO levels in shallow receiving pools need
■ Air hole D opened in venturi device (flow from I to 2)

• Air holes D and C opened in venturi device (flow from 1 to 2) to be raised.

▲ Air holes D. E. and F opened in venturi device (flow from 1 to 2)
• All air holes closed in venturi device (flow from 2 to 1)

A Air hole D opened in venturi device (flow from 2 to 1)

Acknowledgments
■
Circular nozzle (D !!c).5 mm)

The financial support of this work was provided by Firat

U.U
University Scientific Research Projects (FUBAP).
•
8.0- A

s Notation
«
A = air-water surface area contained in the volume V (m 2 )
6.0 — ■ a = the specific surface area (A/V). or surface area per
♦
• unit volume (m 2 /m 3 )
i
C = DO concentration in water (mg/L)
■
4.0- ♦ •
A

c„ = oxygen concentration in the water at the start of

* A

» A aeration (mg/L)
** 1 cs = saturation concentration of oxygen in water (mg/L)
!
2.0-
*
c* =saturation concentration of oxygen in water at stan­
*
■ *

dard conditions (mg/L)

Mo°l oxygen concentration in the water at the time t of
1
l 1 1 1 1 i ' aeration (mg/L)
0.0 5.0 7.5 10.0 12.5 15.0 17.5 D : diameter of circular nozzle (m)
Water Jet Velocity (m/s)
bubble penetration depth (m)
♦ All air holes closed in venturi device (flow from 1 to 2)

H Air hole D opened in venturi device (flow from 1 to 2) Je = free water jet expansion width at impact point (m)
0 Air holes D and E opened in venturi device (flow from 1 to 2) K L : bulk liquid film coefficient (m/h)
A Airholes D. E. and F opened in venturi device (flow from I to 2) (K L a) : mass transfer coefficient (1/h)
"^ A l l air holes closed in venturi device (flow from 2 to 1)
( K L a ) 2 0 : mass transfer coefficient at standard conditions (1/h)
w Air hole D opened in venturi device (flow from 2 to I)
( K L a ) T = : mass transfer coefficient at T °C (1/h)
M Circular nozzle ( 0 = 19.? mini
Lj = ; length of water jet (m)
Figure 7 Variation in oxygen transfer efficiency with water jet velocity
Nj = ; water jet power (W)
for venturi device and circular nozzle (a) 6 = 45°; (b) 9 = 60°.
O E : ; oxygen transfer efficiency (kg Oi/kW h)
O R : : oxygen transfer rate (mg/L/h)
• In all circumstances tested, the venturi device had significantly Q A : : air entrainment rate (nrVs)
the higher values of the air entrainment rate and the oxygen Q w : : water discharge ( m / s )
transfer efficiency than the circular nozzle. The venturi device t: : time (h)
should therefore be recommended for aeration instead of the T : : water temperature (°C)
circular nozzle. 3
V : : volume over which C and A are measured (m )
520 M. Emin Emiroglu and Ahmet Baylar

Vj = water jet velocity at nozzle exit (m/s) 14. OGUZ, H.N. (1998) "Role of Surface Disturbances in the
AP = differential pressure (Pa) Entrainment of Bubbles by a Liquid Jet," J. Fluid Meek,
p = density (kg/m 1 ) 372, 189-212.
9 = plunge angle of water jet (deg.) 15. OHKAWA, A., KUSABIRAKI, D., SHIOKAWA, Y, SAKAI, N.
and FUJII, M. (1986). "Flow and Oxygen Transfer in a
Plunging Water System using Inclined Short Nozzles and
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