The concentration of dissolved oxygen is an important indicator of water quality because aquatic life lives on the dissolved oxygen in the water. Aeration can increase dissolved oxygen when levels become deficient. Hydraulic structures can significantly improve dissolved oxygen levels by creating turbulent conditions where small air bubbles are carried into the bulk of the flow. Recent researches have focused on developing measurement and predictive techniques for oxygen transfer at hydraulic structures to maintain and enhance water quality. However, reviewing existing studies on aeration performance of hydraulic structures, it seems that there are not too many studies on venturi aeration. The present paper shows applications of venturi principle to water aeration systems. The aeration characteristics of venturi nozzle, venturi conduit and venturi weir are analyzed. The results indicate that venturi aeration might contribute significantly to air entrainment and aeration efficiency. Therefore, venturi device can be used as highly effective aerator in aeration processes.

Abstract-As the water passes through a restriction in a pipe, it forms a vacuum at the end of the restriction. A hole bored into the pipe at a point where this vacuum occurs will cause air to be drawn into the main flow. One example of this mechanism is seen in the venturi tube. When a minimal amount of differential pressure exists between the inlet and outlet sides of the venturi tube, a vacuum occurs at suction holes of the venturi tube. Venturi aeration is a method of aeration that has become popular in recent years. In present paper, air injection rates of venturi tubes are analyzed using Computational Fluid Dynamics modeling. These analyses are carried out by means of the program FLUENT V6.2 that uses finite volume theory. There is a good agreement between the measured air injection rates and the values computed from FLUENT CFD program.

The venturi system creates a pressure differential that forms a vacuum. As water flows through the tapered venturi orifice, a rapid change in velocity occurs. This velocity change creates a reduced pressure (vacuum), which draws air and liquid to be injected into the system. The air and liquid injection rates vary with the pressure differential across the venturi. Typical applications of venturi tubes are for injecting fertilizers, chemicals, ozone gas, air or oxygen into pressurized water systems. In this paper, experimental studies were conducted to investigate the effects of inlet and throat diameters of the venturi tube, pipe length downstream of the venturi tube, diameter of the suction pipe at the throat portion of the venturi tube, angle of the pipe downstream of the venturi tube, flow velocity at the inlet portion of the venturi tube and density and viscosity of the liquid injected into the venturi tube on air and liquid injection rate. It was observed from the results that venturi tubes had high air and liquid injection efficiencies.

The ecological quality of water depends largely on the amount of oxygen that the water can hold. The higher the level of dissolved oxygen, the better the quality of a water system. By measuring dissolved oxygen, scientists determine the quality of water and health of an ecosystem. Oxygen enters water by entrainment of air bubbles. Many industrial and environmental processes involve the aeration of a liquid by such entrainment of air bubbles. Venturi aeration is a method of aeration that has become popular in recent years. When a minimal amount of differential pressure exists between the inlet and outlet sides of a venturi tube, a vacuum (air suction) occurs at the suction holes of the venturi tube. The present paper describes the effect of Reynolds Number, air inlet hole diameter, inlet diameter, pipe length, and angle of pipe downstream of the venturi tube, on the air injection rate. It is observed from the results that venturi tubes have high air injection efficiencies. Therefore, venturi tubes can be used as highly effective aerators in ponds, lakes, fish hatcheries, water treatment plants, etc.

The primary purpose of water aeration is to increase the oxygen saturation of the water. This can be achieved by using hydraulic structures because of substantial air bubble entrainment at these structures. This paper reviewed the literature on hydraulic structures used in water aeration processes. The hydraulic structures were divided into two groups as the high-head flow systems and the free-surface flow systems. The high-head flow systems were circular and venturi nozzles, pipe with venturi tube, and high-head conduit, and the free-surface flow systems were weir, stepped cascade, and free-surface conduit. Air/water flow ratio and aeration efficiency in circular nozzles with air holes and venturi nozzles were significantly high. Pipes with venturi tubes showed high aeration efficiency although they had low air/water flow ratio. In high-head and free-surface conduits, almost full oxygen transfer, up to the saturation value, occurred. Forty-five degrees triangular sharp-crested weir had significantly better air/water flow ratio and aeration efficiency than other sharpcrested weir shapes. Stepped cascades, in particular nappe flow regime, were very efficient means of aeration.