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AERATION AND AIR STRIPPING 5.17

To atmosphere
T
Packed column

Spray
header
Plastic
media

High service
vertical
.___Air turbine pumps Finished
---~Blower ~ I water to
assembly system
.t----r.
i II '~

Clearweli

Well
FIGURE 5.8 Packed tower aeration system. (Source: Cook College Office of Continuing Professional
Education/SOTC. )

from the wells to the top of the column. Treated water is collected at the bottom of the
column in a clearwell, from which it is usually pumped directly to the distribution sys-
tem. The principal facility elements of a packed column include the following:
• Column and internal parts
• Packing material
• Blower
• Clearwell
• Booster pumps

The column is basically a tank usually constructed from fiberglass-reinforced plastic,
aluminum, stainless steel, or concrete. Where stainless steel is used, chlorination of the
incoming water should be avoided because of the aggressive nature of chlorinated, aer-
ated water on stainless steel.
A demister is usually installed at the top of the tank to prevent objectionable clouds
of moisture from coming off the column. Near the top of the column, piping is installed
to distribute influent water evenly over the top of the packing material.