Experimental determination of void fraction in surface aeration using image processing technique

In this paper, a new method for determination of void fraction in surface aeration process is presented and discussed. The proposed method is based on the image processing technique. The experimental setup has been designed to create various surface aeration conditions in the water. Void fraction has been calculated for the wide range of water height, impeller immersion depth and rotational speed. Experiments have been performed in an open cubic tank with side length of 60 cm, equipped with one Rushton disk turbine. Moreover, the void fraction has been measured with level gauge method. The results showed that the image processing technique provides more accurate results than the level gauge measurements for void fraction calculation in surface aeration especially in low void fraction aeration. In addition, the experimental data revealed that increase in impeller immersion depth and rotational speed increase void fraction and oxygen transfer rate in surface aeration process.