Understanding Aeration for Marine Livewells & Baitwells Pt.4

Flow-Rite Livewell and Aeration Information Blog Article

The Power Jet Plus Aerator;
Empirical Test Results

Here we see a snapshot of the Power Jet Plus Aerator in action. Though 1200 gph pump is the highest power pump, we can see the 8 lpm aspiration goal is reached.

Flow-Rite Power-jet-plus-aerator-1

A series of comparative empirical assessments will follow below.

Flow-Rite Power-jet-plus-aerator-2-comparison

Above, we see a 2x Improvement over one of the better performing aeration products on the market. Plume penetration is reduced which also reduces livewell turbulence – a goal of the new design and patent.

From the patent: The conventional aerator requires excessive water velocity to create adequate aspiration . . . larger pumps and more power consumption, resulting in more tank turbulence. Tank turbulence should be avoided because it can damage costly bait and/or game fish.

First impression might leave the viewer with a positive feeling regarding how the aeration "looks" with the performance on the left. This plume's bubbles are distributed across the tank. However, upon closer scrutiny one must consider the exit velocity required to project buoyant bubbles across the tank. Further, the bubble plume from the Power Jet Plus Aerator's new design presents a cloud of finer bubbles with half the forced penetration into the tank, thus giving more air and less turbulence . . . A win -win!

Comparison 1 - Same Power; Better To The Best

The performance envelope goal of 7 – 9 lpm aspiration at an installation depth range of 6-12 inches.

(“Better” Aerator on the market, using a 1200 GPH Pump)

Flow-Rite Power-jet-plus-aerator-comparison-3

The Vena Contracta design reaches the performance envelope when installed from 6 to 9.8 inches depth. There may be physical limitations with naturally aspiration venturi tubes that prevent a full 12 inch installation depth.

(New Power Jet Plus Aerator, using a 1200 GPH Pump) 

Current industrialization patent fails to achieve necessary application targets!

Comparison 2 - Less Power; Better To The Best

(New Power Jet Plus Aerator, using a 800 GPH Pump)

Flow-Rite Power-jet-plus-aerator-comparison-5

New Power Jet Plus Aerator achieves a flight path within the target aspiration performance envelope with less power (needed in a pump?).

Comparison 3 - Better To Best, Power At Depth

Looking at graph 1, we see that depending on the gph pump used, current aeration products do not fully meet the now understood 7-9lpm aspiration rate.

PowerJetPlusAerator-Graph1-power at depth

The Power Jet Plus Aerator design achieves success with both the 800 and 1200 gph pumps down to 200 mm installation depths.

An important finding is that in no case should 500 gph pumps be used for aerators to achieve proper aspiration values.

The Power Jet Plus Aerator - Final Performance

Looking again at the overall performance of the Power Jet Plus Aerator, we see all requirements are met with the added benefit of soft plume to help keep fish calm and happy.

(Line 1: showing current best-in-class in aerator vs. Line 2: Flow-Rite’s Power Jet Plus Aerator.)

Power-jet-plus-aerator-final-comparisons at depth

Advantages & Benefits

Power-jet-plus-aerator-final-performance-main benefits

Final Thoughts On This Research

This new design stands upon the shoulders of the Campau invention US Patent 5,876,639.

• New research in the biology of livewell management coupled with well understood water chemistry revealed current venturi-based aspiration aerators are not presently up to the task of now understood needs.

• The Power Jet Plus Aerator design doubles the aspiration whilst reducing the aerator jet speed thus increasing oxygen with less turbulence upon the fish.

• The Power Jet Plus aerator brings next level performance while simultaneously reducing power requirements and providing a significantly healthier environment for fish.

 

Research, Data, & Lab Testing By:
Hank Bonnah | Chief Scientist & Principal Engineer

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