Solar-Powered Airlift:
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Solar-Powered Airlift Oxygenation
Our new solar-powered Airlift system is the newest development of the Floating StreamBed. It brings together three best-in-class technologies to reverse Harmful Algae Blooms (HABs) and inhibit methane emissions from lakes. It consists of a high-volume, energy-efficient airlift blower mounted on a robust BioHaven platform, along with solar panels and battery storage to provide low-cost operating power. The original StreamBed uses the airlift simply to raise water and transport it across an open channel, where it picks up air from the atmosphere and flows out at surface level. The Airlift Oxygenation system comprises an airlift blower, which can be up to 300 hp in size, heavy-duty, 12-inch diameter piping to transport water to and from the blower, and a directional flow system for efficiency. The pipe is in 3 joined sections, shaped like a staple, with a horizontal pipe on top and a vertical pipe at either end (intake and outflow) reaching down into the water to the desired depth. The blower is mounted on top of the floating island (or dock, or dam), where it inserts air into the intake pipe, causing water to be displaced and redirected into the horizontal pipe on top. Here, additional air is pumped into the water before it enters the outflow pipe and descends to the desired depth. This injection of air can come from nanobubbles, micro bubbles or macro bubbles, using advanced aeration technology at the surface. It can be implemented in remote, off-grid spots, wastewater lagoons, and ponds and lakes of all shapes and sizes. Low-growing hyperaccumulator plants can be added to facilitate the removal of extreme pollutants if desired.
Airlift Benefits
- An affordable and highly effective off-grid aeration system that can be used in freshwater lakes.
- A floating island “filter”, optimized by advanced aeration for enhanced biological nutrient removal, to prevent harmful algae blooms and tons of methane emissions.
- A flow of injected oxygen that will promote fish growth and health.
- Placement of pipes to prevent destratification (mixing) where desired.
- A Water Resource Recovery (WRR) tool for decreasing sludge in impaired waterbodies and wastewater systems, lowering power and dredging costs.
- A scalable system that could combine with large floating photovoltaic (FPV) projects that deliver power and clean water at the same time for the ultimate WRR project.
Why Airlift Aeration?
BioHaven Floating Islands remove the nutrients that cause HABs by cycling them into biofilm and periphyton and absorbing them into the food web. They work well passively but, when aeration is added, their performance improves fourfold. Standard aeration consists of pumping bubbles into water which then rise and burst at the surface, forcing water to circulate and absorb oxygen from the atmosphere. The airlift system provides hypolimnetic aeration without disturbing the layer that separates the aerobic water from the anaerobic zone. This means the anaerobic zone only needs to be treated, rather than the whole waterbody. Besides, when used to prevent methane release from the sludge, only a tiny amount of oxygen is needed - but it needs to reach the very bottom. This can be controlled by ensuring the depth and temperature of the outflow matches the depth and temperature of the inflow.
Controlling the temperature is especially important in winter as this is where the warmest water occurs, where fish live to survive the cold. The oxygen boosts the the bio-digestion of organic solids, while the fish receive a life-saving boost of pure air in their survival layer.
The BioHaven provides a necessary synergy with the aeration. It both filters water by reducing Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and provides the surface area needed for the development of periphyton (which algae is cycled into), a natural food source for fish.
An airlift oxygenation system mounted on a BioHaven platform is extremely mobile and can readily be moved to different positions in a lake as needed. Being solar powered, the operating costs are low. They are deployable in lakes that have no grid power and can be brought directly to the problem area of the lake.
A solar-powered Airlift Oxygenation system:
Controlling the temperature is especially important in winter as this is where the warmest water occurs, where fish live to survive the cold. The oxygen boosts the the bio-digestion of organic solids, while the fish receive a life-saving boost of pure air in their survival layer.
The BioHaven provides a necessary synergy with the aeration. It both filters water by reducing Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and provides the surface area needed for the development of periphyton (which algae is cycled into), a natural food source for fish.
An airlift oxygenation system mounted on a BioHaven platform is extremely mobile and can readily be moved to different positions in a lake as needed. Being solar powered, the operating costs are low. They are deployable in lakes that have no grid power and can be brought directly to the problem area of the lake.
A solar-powered Airlift Oxygenation system:
- restores the recreational, habitat and quality-of-life values to a precious lake or waterbody
- takes the treatment to where it is most needed
- contributes massive surface area to expand the treatment efficacy
- supports solar panels to power the system
- provides an exceptionally cost-effective treatment and methane prevention option.
Ideal applications for Airlift Oxygenation:
Harmful Algae Blooms (HABs)
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Wastewater LagoonsHow we bring BioHaven treatment to wastewater lagoons while providing economic and social opportunities
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Implementation
The Airlift is constructed with BioHaven Floating Breakwater modules, our specialized wave-dampening modules deployed for shoreline control. They are reinforced by a rigid platform on which the system is mounted. Two racks of solar panels are fixed to the platform on a custom racking, which features an adjustable angle of tilt that is kept stable by the BioHaven. Battery storage is suspended beneath the platform to protect it from temperature variations and to provide ballast.
The Airlift island may be planted with low-growing hyper-accumulator plants that provide a dense root mass to enhance the treatment surface area without occluding the solar panels. The performance of the plants may be further enhanced by the application of patented endophytes.
The unit is typically anchored with helical anchors driven into the bottom structure of the lake (where permitted). Alternative anchors include dead-weight anchors and tethers, and occasionally pilings. We may specify bungy-style tethers where there are significant fluctuations in water level.
The Airlift island may be planted with low-growing hyper-accumulator plants that provide a dense root mass to enhance the treatment surface area without occluding the solar panels. The performance of the plants may be further enhanced by the application of patented endophytes.
The unit is typically anchored with helical anchors driven into the bottom structure of the lake (where permitted). Alternative anchors include dead-weight anchors and tethers, and occasionally pilings. We may specify bungy-style tethers where there are significant fluctuations in water level.
Solar power delivery will be monitored via a data logger incorporated into the solar array.
It will record:
1. Watt-hours produced by the solar panels
2. Battery charging/discharging current and voltage
3. Motor on/off cycling
4. Motor current draw (starting and running)
5. Air temperature
It will record:
1. Watt-hours produced by the solar panels
2. Battery charging/discharging current and voltage
3. Motor on/off cycling
4. Motor current draw (starting and running)
5. Air temperature
Routine inspections of the fixtures and connections should be made frequently and always after a weather event.
Extreme Pollutants
Heavy metals, PFAS, petroleum... biological removal, mechanical sequestration and phytoremediation work together to remove most contaminants of concern. Hyperaccumulator plants are our secret weapon for removing contaminants that even wetlands can't, such as chlorides.
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For pond and stormwater management, fisheries enhancement and shoreline protection using BioHaven Floating islands, please visit Floating Island International
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Extreme Pollutants
BioHaven Floating Islands prevent thousands of superior-quality plastic drinking-water bottles ending up in the landfill every month