I also meant to add that 1.25 inch pipe has it all over 2 inch pipe for eff=
icacy. If you use the 160 to 200 type PVC 1.25" it has an inside diameter o=
f 1.5" and it is cheap cheap
Tim
--- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com, "Tim Wilson" <thegoodjob_at_...> wrote:
>
> Will,
>
> I'm a little lost in this discussion as to what your design entails. If y=
ou email me directly through my webpage I'll help you out.
>
> Basically if I'm following, you are correct that the diffuser should be a=
t the bottom of the riser pipe to apply air lift dissolved oxygen principle=
s. The best way to do this is with a 90 Tee at the base of each airlift and=
pvc parts configured so that the one side of the Tee interfaces with the w=
ater flowing out of the cone, the other side of the tee has a pipe extensio=
n and the diffuser inserted horizontally from outside the tank and the upwa=
rds side of the Tee is connected to your riser pipe which is returning wate=
r to your tank. Keeping the tank full within a few inches of the return noz=
zles is critical. In this style the pressure exerted by the water in the ta=
nk equalizes (or almost) the back pressure exerted on the diffusers and pum=
p, therefore the usual physics about back pressure stopping air flow does n=
ot apply but the physics of the air lift principle increasing your dissolve=
d oxygen capacity of the pump by up to 10 fold does still apply. I think I'=
m correct, as my US patent for this process has just been approved.
>
> Salutations,
> Tim
>
> --- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com, Will Buck <willbuck76_at_> wrote:
> >
> > Thank Bobbie for your input. I have seen most of your videos and I wil=
l review
> > the link you have posted. Your work is largely what motivated me to go=
Vortex.
> > Not so much that I am into biodynamics but I like the elegance of the m=
achine.
> > And who doesn't like staring into the vortex, it is like watching fire.
> >
> > While I have spent a fair amount of time researching this by reviewing =
your
> > videos and reading Tim Wilson's page among others. But I approached th=
is
> > knowing that constructing Vortex brewer on a larger scale had its risks=
because
> > there is not much info relating to DO during the brew cycle. And yes =
I am
> > trying to brew AACT.
> >
> > Back to the design. I can move the stones up and down the up feed tube=
s very
> > easily. If I understand you correctly you are suggesting putting the s=
tones
> > near the bottom. I have about 8 feet of upfeed to play with. It also =
appears
> > that I am getting slow flow and I want a better vortex. So any advise =
in terms
> > of increasing flow would be appreciated.
> >
> > The pump I purchased is called the ecoplus 7 and it produces about 7 CF=
M however
> > it is very hard to find any performance curve on this pump. I suspect i=
t looses
> > preformance with any back pressure. I think the sweetwater SL 170 or 1=
90
> > produce considerably more air at depth but they are expensive. If I go=
with Tim
> > Wilson's suggestion of .05 CFM of air per gallon of water I am looking =
at
> > needing at least 12 CFM
> >
> > thanks
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ________________________________
> > From: Bobby Grimes <biodynamichawaii_at_>
> > To: "compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com" <compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com>
> > Sent: Tue, May 24, 2011 10:25:42 AM
> > Subject: Re: [compost_tea] Vortex Brewer.
> >
> >
> > Bobby here. Imagine you cut your upfeed tube in half, while the tank an=
d tubes
> > are full of water. The water will flow out very aggressively until it e=
qualizes.
> > Stones at the bottom slow the surface exchange. There can be no stagnan=
t water
> > in this tank. Please watch my brewer, 350 gallons, 10 min run time.
> > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjXFh_ICxic&feature=youtube_gdata_pl=
ayer
> >
> > Mahalo Bobby G
> > Sent from my iPhone
> >
> > On May 24, 2011, at 6:41 AM, "Stephen Steyn" <ssteyn_at_> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> > >Wrong again. Bobby is right on the money. Don’t go to deep wit=
h the air source
> > >as all your doing is heating up your pump and reducing the amount of a=
ir it can
> > >put out due to backpressure. Convection will oxygenate all the fluid. =
No real
> > >point in going down more than a metre, just let the vortex tubes draw =
from near
> > >the bottom.
> > >Also be sure to keep your pump above the liquid level so that it doesn=
’t fill
> > >with water when you switch off.
> > >SS
> > >
> > >From:compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com [mailto:compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com] =
On Behalf
> > >Of soilfoodweb_at_
> > >Sent: 24 May 2011 16:40
> > >To: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com
> > >Subject: Re: [compost_tea] Vortex Brewer.
> > >
> > >
> > >Putting the air at the bottom of the tank is critical to get the water=
at the
> > >bottom of the tank to mix and not be stagnant.
> > >
> > >
> > >Sent via DROID on Verizon Wireless
> > >
> > >
> > >-----Original message-----
> > >From: Bobby Grimes <biodynamichawaii_at_>
> > >To: "compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com" <compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com>
> > >Sent: Tue, May 24, 2011 02:47:03 GMT+00:00
> > >Subject: Re: [compost_tea] Vortex Brewer.
> > >
> > >Will, I would put the stones in the upfeed tubes right where the tank =
goesfrom
> > >90 deg to your 45 or 60 deg angle. At the bottom the water flows of it=
own
> > >accord and then you just pick up where that slows down and stones/air =
lift it
> > >from there.
> > >I would use the Sweetwater SL170 or the next smaller linear air pump.=
> > >Bobby
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >Sent from my iPhone
> > >
> > >On May 23, 2011, at 12:20 PM, "Will Buck" <willbuck76_at_> wrote:
> > >
> > >>Hi, I am in the process of building a 240 gallon Vortex brewer.
> > >>
> > >>My first brew went anaerobic almost immediately. Clearly I have under=
sized the
> > >>air supply and while I would appreciate advise on which pump I should=
purchase
> > >>(I used an Eco7 that allegedly provides7 cfm, it appears that I need =
to at least
> > >>double that rate), my question is more about the properties of an air=
lift pumps
> > >>so I can maximize the amount of DO.
> > >>
> > >>My design is similar to Bobby Grimes. I purchased a cone bottom tank =
that I
> > >>mounted on a stand so the tank is about 4 feet off the ground (ideal =
for gravity
> > >>filling the spray rig). The manifold is attached to the base of the s=
tand and
> > >>there are three 2 inch pipes that return water over the top of the ta=
nk via air
> > >>lift from a 17 inch air stones.
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>My question is at what depth should I put the air stones in the pipes=
? If I put
> > >>the stones near the bottom of the pipe I thought this would be ideal =
because the
> > >>air bubbles would be in contact with the water for a longer period of=
time as
> > >>they rose up the pipe thus increasing DO. But of course the deeper th=
e air stone
> > >>the lower the performance of the air pump because the resistance pres=
sure is
> > >>greater. In other words, is there any rule of thumb regarding the dep=
th of the
> > >>air stone?
> > >>
> > >>This question becomes very important as I look at purchasing a new pu=
mp as
> > >>regenerative blowers loose performance very quickly the more pressure=
they are
> > >>working under.
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>I would really appreciate any help or ideas, thanks in advance.
> >
>
Received on Wed May 25 2011 - 16:00:45 EDT