Characterization of a Multi-Diffuser Fine-Bubble Aeration Reactor: Influence of Local Parameters and Hydrodynamics on Oxygen Transfer

Fine-bubble aeration is a core process in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). However, the physical mechanisms linking bubble plume hydrodynamics to oxygen transfer performance remain insufficiently quantified under configurations representative of full-scale installations. This study presents a local multi-sensor experimental characterization of a multiple bubble plume system using a 4 × 4 array of commercial membrane diffusers in a pilot-scale aeration tank (2 m3), emulating WWTP diffuser density and geometry. Airflow rate was varied to analyze its effects on mixing and oxygen transfer efficiency. The experimental methodology combines three complementary measurement approaches. Oxygen transfer performance is quantified using a dissolved oxygen probe. Liquid-phase velocity fields are then mapped using Acoustic Doppler Velocimetry (ADV). Finally, local two-phase measurements are obtained using dual-tip Conductivity Probe (CP) arrays, which provide bubble size, bubble velocity, void fraction, and Interfacial Area Concentration (IAC). Based on these observations, a zonal hydrodynamic model is proposed to describe plume interaction, wall-driven recirculation, and the formation of a collective plume core at higher airflows. Quantitatively, the results reveal a 29% reduction in Standard Oxygen Transfer Efficiency (SOTE) between 10 and 40 m3/h, driven by a 41% increase in bubble size and an 18% rise in bubble velocity. Bubble chord length also increased with height, by 33%, 19%, and 15% over 0.8 m for 10, 20, and 40 m3/h, respectively. These trends indicate that increasing airflow enhances turbulent mixing but simultaneously enlarges bubbles and accelerates their ascent, thereby reducing residence time and negatively affecting oxygen transfer. Overall, the validated multiphase datasets and mechanistic insights demonstrate the dominant role of diffuser interaction in dense layouts, supporting improved parameterization and experimental benchmarking of fine-bubble aeration systems in WWTPs.