Air Lift Technology for small recirculating systems?

[adam harwood]

Can air lift technology  replace the water pump in a small system?

Also how much CFS do you need to push 30 gallons per minute?

2 " (sch 40)  pipe is enough?

Who has the best air stones?

[RupertofOZ]

Air lifts can move a lot of water/watt... compared to water pumps....

 

But only at low head.... probably 4-6" would be the max...

[Rob Nash]

here is one i built with a chamber, it did make larger gulps, but didnt improve volume as much as they claim it does.

i was at 5 gpm, with a 40L pump

[RupertofOZ]

Was that designed along the lines of a "geyser" pump Rob??

[matthew ferrell]

larger pipes move more water/ less height

small pipes more water higher/ less volumn

small bubbles work better than big bubbles
more air volume causes more water flow.

The lower you inject the air the higher the water will go.

[matthew ferrell]

how high do you want to go?

[matthew ferrell]

If you want air lift help let me know.  I love them.

Rob Nash said:

here is one i built with a chamber, it did make larger gulps, but didnt improve volume as much as they claim it does.

i was at 5 gpm, with a 40L pump

[Ryan Chatterson]

IME small bubbles work better to diffuse Oxygen but large bubbles work better for moving water with air lifts. A larger bubble will rise faster and displace a larger volume of water giving you more lift. We typically inject through a collar without an airstone (again, b/c we want a larger bubble).

Gyser pumps are pretty sweet Rupe but I havent seen anyone selling them over here in a few years. Just need a ton of weight to hold them down if you are using a big one. Great for solids removal if centered in a circular tank.

[matthew ferrell]

That might because you were restricting flow with your diffuser.  I assure you, more water will move with little bubbles.

We have made whole pond airlifts.

[Ryan Chatterson]

Sorry Matt, I was thinking more in terms of vertical lift but you are correct (didn't word it all that well). Cfm for cfm, smaller bubbles over a wider area will move more water. We make synergistic airlift diffusers for ponds as well so I hear ya. 

matthew ferrell said:

That might because you were restricting flow with your diffuser.  I assure you, more water will move with little bubbles.

We have made whole pond airlifts.

[matthew ferrell]

No worries.  I thank Dr. Allen Davis of Auburn for a wonderful airlift lab one day.  Best lab ever.

[Tom McLemore]

Can I lift water 4 feet with an air lift?

[matthew ferrell]

Yes.  But not well or in any sort of volume.