INVESTIGADORES
FERNANDEZ Rocio Luz
artículos
Título:
Effects of bubbling operations on a thermally stratified reservoir: implications for water quality amelioretion.
Autor/es:
FERNANDEZ, ROCIO LUZ; BONANSEA, MATIAS; COSAVELLA, ANA; MONARDE, FERNANDO; BRESCIANO, JUAN
Revista:
WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Editorial:
I W A PUBLISHING
Referencias:
Año: 2012 vol. 66 p. 2722 - 2730
ISSN:
0273-1223
Resumen:
Artificial thermal mixing of the water column is a common method of addressing water quality
problems with the most popular method of destratification being the bubble curtain. The air or
oxygen distribution along submerged multiport diffusers is based on similar basic principles as those
of outfall disposal systems. Moreover, the disposal of sequestered greenhouse gases into the ocean,
as recently proposed by several researchers to mitigate the global warming problem, requires
analogous design criteria. In this paper, the influence of a bubble-plume is evaluated using full-scale
temperature and water quality data collected in San Roque Reservoir, Argentina. A composite system
consisting of seven separated diffusers connected to four 500 kPa compressors was installed at this
reservoir by the end of 2008. The original purpose of this air bubble system was to reduce the
stratification, so that the water body may completely mix under natural phenomena and remain
well oxygenated throughout the year. By using a combination of the field measurements and
modelling, this work demonstrates that thermal mixing by means of compressed air may improve
water quality; however, if improperly sized or operated, such mixing can also cause deterioration.
Any disruption in aeration during the destratification process, for example, may result in a reduction
of oxygen levels due to the higher hypolimnetic temperatures. Further, the use of artificial
destratification appears to have insignificant influence on reducing evaporation rates in relatively
shallow impoundments such as San Roque reservoir.