United States Patent
`
`[19]
`
`Clark
`
`[11]
`
`[45]
`
`4,039,439
`
`Aug. 2, 1977
`
`[54] METHOD FOR DESTRATIFYING BODIES
`OF WATER
`
`[76] ' Inventor:
`
`John w. Clark, 205 Hoagland, Las
`Cruces, Dona Ana, N. Mex. 88001
`
`[21]
`
`[22]
`
`[631
`
`[51]
`[52]
`
`[58]
`
`[56]
`
`Appl. No.: 511,007
`
`Filed:
`
`Oct. 1, 1974
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 282,930, Aug. 23,
`1972, abandoned.
`
`Int. Cl.2 ........................... C028 1/00; C02C 5/12
`US. Cl. ...................................... 210/14; 210/170;
`61/6; 261/121 R
`Field of Search ...................... 61/6; 204/149—152,
`204/ 129; 210/15, 63, 170, 192, 220, 221, 14,
`199, 243; 261/1, 77, 121 R, 122—124
`References Cited
`
`,
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3,336,220
`3,347,537
`3,505,213
`3,510,001
`
`8/1967 Neidl .................................... 2 10/243
`10/1967 Morgan .......................... 210/14
`
`4/1970 Anthony et a1. ............... 210/15
`5/1970 Baer et al.
`............................ 210/192
`
`3,671,022
`3,684,703
`3,782,701
`3,794,303
`
`Laird et a1.
`..... 210/170
`6/1972
`..... 204/149
`8/1972 Marmo
`
`1/1974 Hunt ................ 210/220
`2/1974 Hirshon ................................ 261/123
`
`Primary Examiner—Thomas G. Wyse
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Samuel Meerkreebs
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A method for generating hydrogen bubbles electrolyti-
`cally in the lower reaches of a body of water which is
`normally highly saturated with hydrogen; controlling
`the bubble size of the hydrogen bubbles within a range
`of from 100 to 600 microns so the hydrogen bubbles
`function as a vehicle to raise the oxygen deficient water
`to the surface, but the hydrogen bubbles substantially
`remain in the water near the surface of the body of
`water, moving along the surface thereof and move out-
`wardly in a path therealong exposing the water so car-
`ried to natural aeration and sunlight; the range of the
`bubbles size being such as not to adhere to solid materi-
`als and carry them to the water surface to eliminate
`turbidity and the formation of floc.
`
`3 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures
`
` i
`
`iTiT—WWT FTTTT:
`
`_._._'
`
`
`
`Tennant Company
`Exhibit 1106
`
`Tennant Company
`Exhibit 1106
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 2, 1977
`
`Sheet 1 of 4
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`4,039,439
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`. US. Patent Aug.2,1977
`
`Sheet20f4
`
`.
`
`4,039,439
`
` FIG.8 T0POWER
`
` 6'\
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 2, 1977
`
`Sheet 3 of4
`
`4,039,439
`
`.II‘
`
`
`
`.RESERVOIR
`
`
`
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`

`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 2, 1977
`
`Sheet4 of4
`
`4,039,439
`
`0.50
`
`CONVENTIONAL MECHANICAL
`MIXING EQUIPMENT
`
`ELECTROLYTIC GAS PUMP
`
`0.40
`
`0.30
`
`0.20
`
`0.l0
`
`0,005
`
`ENERGYANDMAINTENANCEWSTS
`
`FOOTPERYEAR
`DOLLARSPERACRE
`
`50
`
`IOO
`
`5,000
`
`I0,000
`
`25,000
`I5,000
`20, 000
`‘
`VOLUME IN ACRE FEET
`OPERATING COSTS
`PER
`UNIT VOLUME OF R SERVOIR
`
`
`30,000
`
`35,000
`
`40,000
`
`FIG. 13
`
`WATER SURFACE
`
`
`
`DEPTHOFWATER--PERCENT
`
`onO
`
`WITH ELECTROLYTIC
`GAS PUMP
`
`0
`
`IO
`
`3O
`20
`DISSOLVED
`
`70
`60
`50
`40
`OXYGEN - PERCENT SATURATION
`OXYGEN PROFILE
`
`80
`
`90
`
`FIG. 14
`
`

`

`1
`
`4,039,439
`
`METHOD FOR DESTRATIFYING BODIES OF
`WATER
`
`This application is a continuation-in-part of copend~
`ing application Ser. No. 282,930 filed Aug. 23, 1972 and
`titled Method and Apparatus for Destratzfiiing Bodies of
`Water, now abandoned.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`A method for destratifying substantially layered qui-
`escent bodies of water to improve natural exposure
`conditions and to supplement the oxygen content; the
`quality of the water is improved and the quiescent char-
`acter of the body of water is substantially maintained
`through relatively inexpensive apparatus and installa-
`tions.
`
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`Various systems, methods and apparatus for oscillat—
`ing, stirring, aerating bodies of water have been previ-
`ously considered; see, for example, the following prior
`art U.S. Pat. Nos.: GROSS, 3,109,288, Nov. 5, 1963;
`SMITH, 3,320,928, May 23, 1967; SARE, 3,373,821,
`Mar. 19, 1968; WELLS, JR., 3,521,864, July 28, 1970;
`MENDELSON, 3,540,222 Nov. 17, 1970.
`.
`Because of the magnitude of the problem including
`moving huge bodies of water, energy that must be sup-
`plied, maintenance and repair of relatively expensive
`noisy equipment, excessive disturbance of the body of
`water at the bottom where natural purification pro-
`cesses are disturbed and a multitude of various factors,
`none of the prior art proposals appear to prove practi-
`cal. The general approach of the prior art has been an
`attempt to areate the water premised on disolving oxy-
`gen in the water by introducing air; the installation of
`huge or banks of compressors add another environmen-
`tal factor (increased noise level) as well as the failure to
`take into consideration the available natural energy
`forces that most effectively function to afford the en-
`ergy for the type of water treatment that is most practi-
`cal on a massive scale.
`
`GENERAL BACKGROUND OF THE PROBLEM
`
`Water masses in lakes, ponds, or other bodies of water
`are in delicate vertical and horizontal balance and their
`responses to external forces is consequently more sensi-
`tive and variable. FIG. 1, the epilimnion 1, the warmer
`layer of the water in the surface in summer, generally
`has better water quality except for higher temperature.
`The colder layer of the water on the bottom, the hypo-
`limnion 3, has a lower temperature. The primary disad-
`vantage here is that the oxygen content of the hypolim-
`nion 3 is depleted through microbial activity. Since
`there is no opportunity for reaeration, anaerobic condi-
`tions set in with an increase in iron, carbon dioxide,
`manganese, hydrogen sulfide, and teaste and odor. All
`of these reactions are potentially detrimental to water
`quality.
`This problem is further complicated where waste
`discharges are released into a lake or other body of
`water. The waste water contains food used by the bac—
`teria and the oxygen supply is depleted more rapidly
`and the waste water tends to stagnate in layers depen-
`dent upon the temperature of the waste water and the
`temperature of the receiving water.
`Wind provides some mixing in lakes as shown by
`FIG. 2. The degree of mixing and the depth to which
`
`5
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`mixing takes place is a function of both wind velocity
`and the decrease in temperature with water depth. The
`greater the decrease in temperature with depth,
`the
`greater is the resistance to mixing and the more the
`mixing will be confined to the upper layer of water.
`When winter ends and spring begins, waters near the
`surface begin to warm up. Until the temperature of
`maximum density is reached, 4" C, surface water being
`more dense, sinks to the bottom. Similar conditions take
`place at other times of the year. These are rapid changes
`and produce too rapid a mixing in the lake so that bot-
`tom sediments and other undesirable qualities are pro-
`duced in the water. As spring turns into summer, the
`surface water becomes progressively warmer. Soon
`lighter water overlies denser water once again and a
`stratification condition sets in for the summer period
`similar to FIG. 1. In effect, we normally have two lakes,
`one superimposed upon the other, with different quali-
`ties of water. These two lakes are rapidly mixed two or
`three times during the year with a resultant deteriora-
`tion in total water quality.
`Because molecular diffusion is relatively slow, ther-
`mal gradients of lakes and similar bodies of water are
`gradients in the concentration of dissolved gases. The
`water surface is both a window through which radiant
`energy from the sun is received and a lung through
`which oxygen is taken in and carbon dioxide and other
`dissolved gases are released. The oxygen absorbed at
`the surface is distributed by the water circulation. The
`gases of decomposition produced in the hypolimnion 3
`are released by contact with the air overlying the water
`surface.
`
`Seasonal movements in otherwise quiescent bodies of
`water cannot be totally controlled but the effects of
`these movements can be greatly reduced and total pro-
`ductivity and average water quality significantly in-
`creased by providing continuous low level mixing
`throughout the year.
`Additionally, in sewage lagoons, small inlets for boats
`or harbor installations, during freezing of the surface
`water, natural aerobic purification process can no
`longer occur because of surface ice; removing or pre-
`venting ice formation must be accomplished mechani-
`cally, for example, eith the attendent costs and loss of
`time; and heating is not only impractical and disturbs
`the ecological balance which has its resultant detrimen-
`tal effect on the animal life dependent on a balanced
`system.
`Over 50‘million people in the United States are sup-
`plied by municipal water from reservoirs and many of
`the water suppliers are presently providing some form
`of artificial destratification. Present knOWn art tech-
`niques use either compressed air, mechanical pumps,
`mechanical mixing apparatus etc. Purchase and installa-
`tion costs of known devices costs about $1.00 per acre-
`foot per year. All the known mechanical equipment has
`a relatively short mechanical-life since the equipment
`must function continuously.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`A method for improving the quality of large bodies of
`water so that the general overall quality thereof is im-
`proved comprising emplacing in the lower reaches of a
`large body of water means for generating hydrogen and
`utilizing the bouyancy of the hydrogen as a vehicle to
`carry the hydrogen-saturated water to the surface and
`thereacross so that
`the hydrogen-saturated water is
`subjected to natural aeration and sunlight without the
`
`

`

`3
`vehicular hydrogen‘substantially leaving the surface of
`the body of water.
`The method as set forth above in which the hydrogen
`is produced electrolytically in conjunction with oxygen
`and in which the‘hydrog'en bubble sizes are controlled
`within a range of from 100 .to 600 microns and secon-
`dary benefits are provided in that the oxygen generated
`combines with the hydrogen-saturated water in the
`lower reaches of the body of water to tend to improve
`bacterial conditions in the lower reaches ‘of the body of
`water.
`‘
`v
`‘
`
`, BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
`
`FIG. 1 is a diagramatic [profile illustrating the natural
`stratification of a quiescent body of water;
`FIG. 2 is a diagramatic profile, similar to FIG. 1,
`. showing the manner in which mixing occurs in a large
`body of water through wind action;
`FIG. 3 shows, in theory, how water near the bottom
`of a reservoir or large body of water, normally low in
`oxygen content or has none in solution, is carried to the
`surface to obtain surface treatment and areation, as well
`as illustrating the bacterial action-cycle;
`FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic profile illustrating, on an
`enlarged scale, the path of movement of water in which
`the electrolysis pump means of the invention is installed;
`FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 utilizing a preferred
`embodiment of the electrolysis pump means;
`FIG. 6 is a top plan view, on a larger scale, of the
`electrolysis pump of FIG. 5;
`FIG. 7 is a side elevation of FIG. 6;
`FIG. 8 is a section taken on the plane of line 8—8 of
`FIG. 6;
`FIG. 9 is a diagramatic illustration showing another
`mode of installation of the electrolysis pump of FIG. 5;
`FIG. 10 is another diagramatic illustration showing
`another mode of installation of the electrolysis pump of
`FIG. 5;
`FIG. 11 is a diagramatic section of a quiescent body
`of water showing electrolysis pumps installed using the
`modes of both FIGS. 9 and 10;
`FIG. 12 is a diagramatic plan view illustrating an
`electrolysis pump system installed in a reservoir behind
`a dam, i.e. where the pumps are installed only in deepest
`water where the major disbenefits to water quality oc-
`cur;
`FIG. 13 is a graphic showing of operating costs per
`unit volume of reservoir and comparing “conventional
`mechanical mixing equipment” and the “electrolytic
`gas pump” of the invention; and
`FIG. 14 is a graphic comparison of the oxygen profile
`of water “without a gas pump” as compared with a
`body of water incorporating an electrolytic gas pump.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS AND METHOD
`
`As has been pointed out above in the “General Back-
`ground of the Problem,” the problem conditions with
`respect to stratified water bodies have been set forth,
`and the problems occurring due to seasonal changes are
`also set forth. Further, the optimum, “water window”
`surface for water treatment is brought out. Further,
`presently installed mechanical equipment, of the prior
`art, requires about 0.004 HP/acre-foot of reservoir, on
`the average; contrary to the prior art, the apparatus,
`system and method of the present invention, utilizes the
`natural energy provided 'by nature (to its greatest ad-
`vantage) and uses the natural phenomena and physical
`
`4,039,439
`
`4
`characteristics of water, sunlight, surface aeration, etc.
`to their greatest advantage.
`In FIG. 1 the epilimnion contains the warmer layer of
`water in the surface during the summer season and
`generally has better quality water except for its higher
`temperature. The cooler layer on the bottom, the hypo-
`limnion, has a lower temperature. During the condition
`illustrated, the primary disadvantage here is that the
`oxygen content of the hypolimnion is depleted; at the
`very lower region of the lake or reservior, since oxygen
`is limited, and there is no opportunity for reaeration,
`anaerobic conditions occur with an increase in iron,
`carbondioxide, manganese, hydrogen, sulfide, and un-
`desirable taste and odor; all of these elements are factors
`lending to potentially undesirable water quality. The
`discharge of waste into a lake, harbor, lagoon or other
`bodies of relatively still water further complicates fac-
`tors lending to poor quality of the epilimnion.
`As illustrated in FIG. 2, the wind provides some
`mixing-however, the degree of mixing that takes place
`is a function of both wind velocity and the decrease of
`temperature with depth;
`the greater the decrease in
`temperature with depth, the greater is the resistance to
`mixing and the greatest portion of mixing is confined to
`the upper layer.
`With the changing seasons, i.e. winter to spring, as the
`water near the surface warms up and reaches the tem-
`perature of maximum density, 4° C, the surface water
`which becomes more dense sinks to the bottom; similar
`conditions occur at other times of the year, however,
`these are relatively sudden changes and generally pro-
`duce too rapid a mixing so that bottom sediments and
`other undesirable qualities are produced in the water.
`Progressive warming results in the lighter water sub-
`stantially attaining a stratified condition and in effect
`defines superimposed lake layers which rapidly mix two
`or three times a year with resultant deterioration of the
`total water quality.
`Of course, seasonal movements of normally quiescent
`bodies of water cannot be totally controlled but the
`effects of these movements can be radically reduced and
`total productivity and average water quality signifi-
`cantly increased by providing continuous,
`low level
`mixing throughout the year. The optimum would gen-
`erally be if the lowermost portions of the hypolimnion
`were to contain sufficient oxygen and the present inven-
`tion lends itself toward the ultimate goal of attaining
`this optimum.
`In FIG. 3, there is illustrated how the water near the
`bottom of the reservoir or lake is slowly carried to the
`surface. Gases produced near the bottom are released to
`the surface atmosphere and oxygen is transferred from
`the surface atmosphere to the water.
`In the present invention, an electrolytic pump or
`water motive means generates gas (molecular oxygen
`and hydrogen) in which some of the oxygen is absorbed ,
`and released (near the bottom) and the remaining hy-
`drogen and oxygen bubbles carry the water at the bot-
`tom to the surface, cause an increase of surface reaera-
`tion of the water in the reservoir, lake, etc., improves
`the overall water quality along with increasing lake
`biologic productivity to support the more beneficial
`forms of life such as fish. Just as important is the very
`gentle mixing achieved by the fine bubbles generated by
`the relatively noiseless electrolytic pump means, this
`lending itself to attain the goal toward producing a
`homogeneous mixture rather than the characteristic
`stratification.
`
`10
`
`15
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`25
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`45
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`
`

`

`5
`It is very important to understand that this method is
`not one of substituting gas produced by electrolysis for
`air in conventional aeration devices. In this method, the
`oxygen produced by electrolysis1s not critical to the
`aeration process. The principal source of oxygen is from
`the atmosphere through theincrease of natural re-aera-
`tion brought about by the method.
`Oxygen and hydrogen are produced by electrolysis
`from electrodes placed near the bottom of a body of
`water. The oxygen normally goes into solution and is
`helpful but not as important to the method as the hydro-
`gen. Hydrogen is less soluble in water than oxygen and
`the water in a stratified body of water is usually near
`saturation with hydrogen because of the release of hy-
`drogen in anaerobic processes in this region ofthe water
`depth and from the bacterial activity in mud and sedi-
`ment layers of the bottom of the body of water. As
`hydrogen gas is produced by electrolysis the volume of
`water in the immediate vicinity of the electrodes be-
`comes bouyant and rises to the surface. As this” volume
`of water reaches the surface, all of the vehicular hydro-
`gen is not released to the atmosphere but some hydro-
`gen remains suspended in the volume of water and due
`to continued bouyancy this water floats on top of the
`body of water, moving away from the point of vertical
`rise above the electrodes. Therefore,
`this volume of
`water from the bottom of the basin now floats along the
`surface of the water and natural reaeration is immedi-
`
`ately increased as oxygen moves from the atmosphere
`to reach equilibrium with the new oxygen deficient
`(hydrogen-saturated) water at the surface. This process
`continues until all of the water is saturated with oxygen.
`The size of the hydrogen bubble is critical in this
`method. If the hydrogen bubble is too large, the bubble
`leaves the surface of the water immediately above the
`electrode and does not cause the bottom water to spread
`out over the water surface. If the bubble is too small,
`little mixing occurs and the water near the electrodes
`merely becomes super saturated with hydrogen and this
`produces a flotation effect on particulate material sus-
`pended in the water in the vicinity of the electrodes.
`Due to super saturation, small bubbles form on the
`surface of particulate material and causes the material to
`be raised to the water surface. For the method to be
`
`effective, the size of the hydrogen bubble must be con-
`trolled between 100 and 600 microns. When the hydro-
`gen bubbles are larger than 600 microns in diameter, the
`bubbles leave the surface too rapidly and the newly
`raised water volume does not continue to float across
`the water surface.» If the hydrogen bubbles are less than
`100 microns in diameter, little mixing surface exposure
`occurs and the natural reaeration is not as significantly
`increased.
`
`Projected costs and available data reveal that prior art
`mechanical installations (although not presently satis-
`factory) cost about $1.00 per acre-foot for 50,000 acre-
`foot reservoir, while cost for the electrolysis pump
`system would be about $0.50 per acre-foot; accordingly,
`cutting installations costs in 'half. Operating costs in
`mechanical installations are about $0.25, annually, per
`acre-foot per year, while the electrolysis pump system
`contemplates about-$0.03 per acre-foot per year under
`the same conditions.
`,
`The maintenance and noise problems cannot be over-
`looked in mechanical systems, while the projected
`maintenance and noise is relatively nilin the electrolysis
`pump system; the noise problem is completely elimi-
`nated, as compared with mechanical compressdrs in-
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`4,039,439
`
`6
`stalled in banks along a recreational reservoir, for exam-
`ple.
`The electrolysis pump system provides another im-
`pdrtant benefit or result since oxidation of ferrous iron
`results in ferric iron and consequent chemical percipita-
`tion of phosphorous by the insoluble ferric iron and the
`formation of a barrier of insoluble iron-phosphate com-
`plexes in the top layer of the reservoir'sediments which
`accordingly decreases the rate of defusion of chemicals
`from the bottom sediments. It is important that mixing
`be gentle to deter phosphate concentration of the over-
`lying water as often happens in mechanical mixing con-
`trary to that which occurs in the electrolysis pump
`system of the present invention.
`The suppressing of phosphates is extremely important
`because of the major problems of lake enrichment re-
`sulting from detergent soaps, for example. The model
`analysis, using lake bottom sediments, at the end of 6
`weeks, the orthophosphate content of the water with-
`out mixing was 2.10 mg/liter, while using the electroly-
`sis pump system mixing, orthophosphate content was
`reduced to 0.15 mg/liter. The ferrous iron, during the
`same model analysis was 0.41 mg/liter, and with the
`electrolysis pump system mixing was 0.15 mg/liter dur-
`ing the same period of time.
`In order to evaluate the operation of the electrolytic
`gas pumping device, the following tests were run:
`all tests were conducted on a tank 20 ft. wide by 40 ft.
`long and approximately 6 ft. deep, with a depressed
`bottom drain of about 9 ft. deep at the center;
`a 6 mill plastic sheet with slits at measuring stations
`was used to cover the water surface between runs;
`the dissolved oxygen was removed from the water by
`the addition of sodium sulfite with cobalt chloride
`added as a catalyst;
`the tank was completely mixed during the addition of
`chemicals with a closed pumping device. The tests
`were conducted starting on a one day and contin-
`ued'through the next day.
`The current was adjusted to 4 amps. in each test but
`the surface area of the electrodes was changed to vary
`bubble sizes;
`at the completion of each test, the plastic sheet was
`replaced and the dissdlved oxygen profile measured
`with a standard D.O. probe. From this information
`the oxygen added by reaeration was calculated.
`
`'
`
`Depth
`ft.
`
`Test No. 1
`
`DC. at start:
`Temp.:
`Bubble Size:
`
`1.2 mg/l.
`19° C
`160 Microns
`STATION
`8
`7
`6
`4
`5
`3
`2
`8.6
`8.7
`8.7
`8.9
`8.9
`8.8
`8.7
`8.6
`8.6
`8.5
`8.7
`8.7
`8.6
`8.6
`7.8
`7.7
`8.6
`8.2
`8.6
`8.2
`8.0
`6.7
`7.0
`7.1
`6.8
`7.2
`6.7
`6.7
`4.0
`3.9
`4.0
`4.0
`4.0
`3.9
`3.9
`1.5
`1.4
`1.5
`1.5
`1.5
`1.5
`1.7
`
`1.2
`1.2
`1.3
`1.3
`1.2
`1.2
`1.2
`
`1
`8.7
`8.6
`8.0
`6.8
`4.1
`1.8
`1.2
`
`
`RUN No. 2
`
`1.2 mg/l.
`19° C
`
`DC. at start:
`Temp:
`No Electrolysis
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`8.6
`8.6
`8.6
`8.6
`8.6
`8.6
`8.6
`8.6
`1.3
`1.3
`1.3
`1.3
`1.3
`1.3
`1.3
`1.3
`1.2
`1.2
`1.2
`1.2
`1.2
`1.2
`1.2
`1.2
`1.2
`1.2
`1.2
`1.2
`1.2
`1.2
`1.2
`1.2
`
`0.1
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`
`0.1
`1
`2
`3
`
`

`

`4,039,439
`
`8
`
`Run No. 4
`
`7
`
`-continued
`
`fopm
`'
`
`‘5:
`6
`
`1:
`1:2
`
`1':
`1:2
`
`i:
`1:2
`
`1:
`1:2
`
`1:
`1:2
`
`110mm“;
`Bubble Size=
`Temp":
`
`RUN No. 3
`1,1 mg/i.
`70941010115
`19 C
`STATION
`6
`4
`5
`3
`2
`1
`9.3
`9.7
`9.6
`9.1
`8.6
`8.6
`if
`2:;
`3:;
`H H i;
`1.1
`8.2
`8.3
`1.1
`1.1
`1.1
`H H H 2:;
`2:; H
`1.1
`1.1
`1.1
`4.3
`4.1
`1.1
`
`1: 1:
`1:2
`1:2
`
`1':
`1:2
`
`Run number 4 was conducted with the electrodes
`reduced in size and using a high current density. The
`5 bubbles were formed so rapidly that they were about
`900 microns in diameter before they left the electrode
`surface. By comparison, the smallest bubbles using air
`diffusion devices are about 1,000 microns in diameter.
`Considerable mixing was evident in the'immediate vi-
`10 cinity above the electrodes but the bubbles were so
`large that they left the water upon reaching the surface.
`8 1
`7
`Horizontal movement of the bubbles at the surface did
`8.6
`8.6
`, not reach the walls of the tank. This was evidenced by
`if H
`both the dissolved oxygen profiles and the diffusion of
`1.1
`1.1
`H
`H 15 the dye. Reaerat1on was increased by 1.1 lbs. of oxygen
`1.1
`1.1
`1n 1 hour.
`
`0.1
`i
`3
`‘5‘
`'6'
`
`Depth
`fee!
`
`-
`
`Dissolved Oxygen,
`Temp:
`
`.
`3“” 5‘“
`
`Depth
`ft.
`
`1
`8.5
`1:;
`1.3
`1.3
`1;
`
`2
`8.5
`‘3
`1.3
`1-3
`ii
`
`3
`8.7
`g?
`4.2
`1.4
`i;
`
`0.1
`%
`3
`4
`g
`
`RUN No.4
`13 mg/L
`19° C .
`90° mama
`STATION
`4
`5
`8.8
`8.8
`2-:
`3;
`8.5
`3.3
`8-7
`8-3
`g;
`g'g
`
`6
`8.8
`3:8
`4,1
`1-5
`i;
`
`1
`Ru" No.
`»
`With run number 1 the bubbles were maintained at
`20 about 160 microns in diameter. In this range of bubble
`size there was considerable mixing and the horizontal
`movement of the water at the surface reached the tank
`wall in 15 minutes. This was evidenced both by the dye
`8
`7.
`study and by dissolved oxygen profiles. It is believed
`8.5
`8.5
`fig 3 25 that; if the tank surface had been larger, there would
`1,3
`1.3
`have been a much greater difference between the
`1.3
`1-3
`amount of oxygen added by natural reaeration as the
`:3
`B
`effective width of the tank was reached in 15 minutes
`with run number 1 and was not reached in 1 hour by the
`30 other runs. Natural reaeration added 1.35 lbs. of oxygen
`to the tank in 1 hour with the bubbles maintained at
`about 160 microns size.
`. By maintaining the hydrogen bubble diameter be-
`tween 100 and 600 microns natural reaeration can be
`substantially increased in bodies of water by this elec-
`trolyic gas pumping device. The surface area of influ-
`ence is increased several fold for ice removal or preven-
`tion and a general benefit is observed in the natural
`water quality.
`Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6, in FIG. 4, electrodes are
`installed on a suitable support base 10 with the cathode
`12 and anode '14 being spaced about é inch apart and
`comprising 0.06 centimeter diameter platinum wire.
`The relatively Close spacing of the electrodes, within
`operational
`limits, minimizing current flow; and at
`depths of 114.5 feet of water, current densities from less
`than 0.05 amps per square centimeter to 6.0 amps per
`square centimeter of electrode surface are applied. Ulti-
`mate bubble size will be constant for a relatively wide
`range of current densities about 0.4 amperes per square
`centimeter of electrode surface. This produces a bubble
`of about 1.0 millimeters in diameter which rises at the
`rate of 0.9 to 1.0 feet/sec. At current densities above 1.5
`amperes per square centimeter of electrode surface,
`increasing numbers of larger bubbles (greater than 5
`millimeters diameter) are formed and these larger bub-
`bles tend to produce turbulence and have a rather er-
`ratic vertical assent path. Through the use of electrodes
`having a circular cross section, disposed horizontally,
`the bubbles rise uniformly, in a vertical path, apparently
`do not collide with each other (where bubble from a flat
`plate electrode combine and’form too large a bubble
`with accompanying erratic paths and turbulence). With
`ascendancy using current ranges from 0.4 amp/sq. to
`1.5 amp/sq. centimeter of electrode, uniform, non-tur-
`bulent bubbles of molecular oxygen and hydrogen are
`produced, and the bubbles apparently develope with
`relative position with respect to each other at about 1
`
`Dye, studies were made under each condition and
`visual inspection of the dye movement continued the
`mixing indicated by the dissolved oxygen profiles.
`Conclusions from these and other studies, it was de-
`termined that if hydrogen bubbles are too small (less
`than 100 microns) little mixing occurs and the principal
`effect is flotation produced vertically above the imme-
`diate vicinity of the electrodes. If the hydrogen bubbles
`are too large (greater than 600 microns) the bubbles
`leave the water surface immediately above the elec—
`trodes and the horizontal movement of the lifted water
`at the surface does not take place. This is the heart of
`the method, the hydrogen bubbles must be large enough
`to produce mixing and small enough so that a significant
`percentage of the bubbles remain in and on the water in
`order ,to maintain the bouyancy and cause the lifted
`water to float on the surface, moving away from the
`point of surfacing.
`
`Run No. 2
`
`Run number 2 was conducted without the electrolysis
`cell with all other conditions similar. Natural reaeration
`contributed 0.19 lbs. of oxygen to the surface of the
`liquid in 1 hour.
`
`Run No. 3
`
`Run number 3 was conducted with the hydrogen
`bubbles averaging about 70 microns in diameter. Most
`of the hydrogen bubbles were too small to provide
`effective circulation. This resulted in super saturation
`around the electrodes with these small bubbles attach-
`ing to particulate matter in suspension and floating this
`fine'material to the water surface. A foam froth formed
`at the water surface immediately over the electrodes.
`Some of the bubbles were larger than 70 microns and
`contributed to reaeration at the water surface, 0.77 lbs.
`of oxygen was added to the tank by natural reaeration in
`. a 1 hour period.
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`

`

`4,039,439
`
`9
`foot above electrodes. The bubbles of molecular oxygen
`generated at the low reaches of the reservoir are sub-
`stantially absorbed and do not always ascend to the
`surface. The molecular hydrogen bubbles rise in a uni-
`form path, and upon reaching thersurface change the
`relative specific gravity of the water surrounding the
`source of the bubbles.
`.
`'
`‘
`In‘FIG. 5, the electrolytic pump means comprises in
`addition to a support base 10', pairs of cathodes and
`anodes 12', 114’ are suitably supported in a mutually
`insulated relation within a tubular collar 16 in a gener-
`ally polygonal relationship at the periphery within the
`collar and including a plurality of diametrical transverse
`supports 118—22. The utilization of a collar 16, will cause
`a defined circuit of flow of water through the bottom of
`the cylinder (due to rising gas bubbles) replacing the
`bubbles moving upwardly through the cylinder which
`causes a pressure differential in the cylinder resulting in
`the water circulation adjacent the bottom of the reser-
`voir etc.
`
`The cathode-anode pair providing the electrolytic
`action, is connected through suitable conductors 24 to a ,
`power source, the details of the power source are con-
`ventional. The current being applied as DC, utilizing
`conventional means for reversing current flow to main-
`tain the electrodes free to deposits etc.
`In FIG. 9, the cylindrical type electrolysis pump is
`anchored at 26 and includes a flotation collar 28 to
`which is attached a marking bouy and line 30; this per-
`mitting ready location of the electrolysis pumps (facili-
`tating relocation) depending upon conditions of the
`body of water in which they are installed;
`In FIG. 10, there is shown vertical post 32, embedded
`in the bottom of the reservior etc., upon which the
`electrolytic pump is mounted.
`In FIG. 11, there are shown the various types of
`supports, discussed above, and showing theoretically
`how the gas bubbles generated cause circulation of the
`character desired to obtain destratification of the char-
`acter desired.
`
`In FIG. 12, the plan view of a typical dam is illus-
`trated, and the general location of electrolytic pumps
`are shown at 34, it being noted that only about 25 per-
`cent of the body of water need incorporate the electro-
`lytic pumps; these being located in the deepest reaches,
`i.e. immediately behind the dam.
`Comparing the theoretical energy requirements for
`destratification of a body of water utilizing conven-
`tional mechanical equipment and electrolytic gas pump
`generating means, the following clearly illustrates the
`unusual advantages from a cost and dissolved oxygen
`standpoint.
`The theoretical energy requirement is the work that
`must be done to a body of water to lift the entire weight
`of the body of water the vertical distance between the
`center of gravity when the body of water is in a given
`state of stratification and the center of gravity when the
`body of water is isothermal. Or it may be thought of as
`the minimum energy required to mix completely a strat-
`ified body of water when the water is assumed to be an
`ideal liquid.
`This value is dependent upon the temperature varia-
`tion within the reservoir and the actual shape of the
`reservoir. Assuming a typical shape and temperature
`profile for a natural stratified 1,200 acre foot body of
`water varying from 28° C at the surface to 9° C at the
`bottom with a 28 ft. average depth,
`it would require
`about 10 kw hrs. of energy of mixing. Naturally the
`
`10
`work required will always be more than this because
`this calculation assumes water to be an ide