[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: [compost_tea] Micro bubbles + water pump...



Bob,
 
The bubbles you described are too large.  Think 20 microns in size.  Look at the aerob-a-jet.com web site.  Those ponds are a lot bigger than any compost tea brewer, yet aerobic bacteria do just fine in those sewage ponds for as long as they have food.  Those devices put micro bubbles into suspension in the water.  That technology has been around for a long time and is more than adequate to keep oxygen available over the long haul. 
 
As I said, a venturi that produces 20 micron size bubbles is also available and coupled with a water pump that doesn't beat up the fungi and bacteria might just solve the problem of having enough air present so the tea never runs out of disolved oxygen. 
 
And it could solve the situation of running out of oxygen after the tea is brewed and before it is applied... very simple.. mix the tea with water that is already saturated with the micro bubbles.  You wouldn't even have to aerate the liquid after that because the micro bubbles will sustain everything untill the tea is applied.  I'm not trying to work out every engineering detail on this list, but this technology of generating micro bubbles appears that it could solve the DO needs of CT once and for all.  I am bringing this up because most of the people on the list have never heard of this sort of technology before.  I think the "how to do" is just an engineering issue that could be solved and not end up having to be an expensive solution.  Micro bubbles of 20 microns stay in solution for a long time and their production could very well solve all the CT / DO problems. 
 
Heaters have been around in the aquarium industry for a lot of years.  I bet they have a solution that would fit.  In line heater?  Maybe, maybe not... it was just a suggestion.  Take a look at the products in the aquarium industry for heating water.  They have already solved this particular problem.  It's a matter of matching up products with tank size etc.  We are basically saying similar things, Bob.  There's lots of ways to solve these problems and get the costs down so a lot of people can buy your product as a result. 
 
Elaine said a while back that a couple of people have identified water pumps that will work with compost tea.  It appears that they do not want to share that info on this list.  Why not?  I think the reasons are called "fear" and "money".
 
--Thomas Giannou
http://www.tandjenterprises.com
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, April 28, 2003 10:08 PM
Subject: Re: [compost_tea] Micro bubbles + water pump...

I wonder Thomas, if the drawing i made in my head from your words is the drawing you had in your mind as you wrote.  Close maybe?
 
 
An in line water heater-  Copper or what pipe?
                                   gently heat.  Pipe is gonna be 100+F to deliver many BTU to a larger tank.  Bugs go from 70 to 100+ and back to 70 repeatedly.  will they object?  I don't know.
Design for a 5 minute clean it cycle.  Pmp innards and pipe and elbows and all is just part of a system to clean.  Sounds complex, expensive and hard to clean.  As simple as possible is a good rule.  
 
MICRO Bubbles   When I see micro bubble it is as water pressure is dropped suddenly as water pours from the city water system into my glass.  Disolved air in micro bubbles is releaded as the pressure drops.  My glass always clears up in a matter of a few minutes.  Micro bubbles bust to the surface.   I am not familiar with bubbles so small they become suspended in water.  I see them in heavier more viscous liquids. like emulsions or taffy.  I am interested in that concept.  It would have value .   However even the small air bubbles don't promise long term O2.  If the microbes breath the micro air they will use the O2 and give off CO2 ( root beer) so O2 may not follow the TEA as long as the bubbles.  This is so unknow to me i need to listen and look not debate.  Tell me more.
 
Water Pump   In the Bob's line I use rising air bubbles as the water pump and to agitate & extract during the cycle.  This is still possible and productive  even if there
is a micro bubbler in the system   The advantage of the air driven circulation is low cost, gentle action and ease of cleaning the system.
as well as it furishes all  the O2 we find needed in O2 testing. .
I tend to stay by my suggestion of using a separate water heater to get the water to the right temp at the start.  When the ambient temps are ok to apply TEA the brewer will not lose enough heat to matter diring the brew cycle.  
 
I departed a complex brewer that cost me $ 5,000 to make one I sell now for  $685  with 5 times the capacity, 1/10th the time to clean, makes the same or better quality TEA with less compost.  I don't need a fork lift to move mine around or a warehuse to store it.  Brewing needs to be simple as well as effective.  Them bugs are complex enough.   Bob. 

Yahoo! Groups Sponsor

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
compost_tea-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com



Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.