Economics: Viability of the Zero Energy Input Waterwheel Aerator

This is a reply to someone in a forum which can also be a discussion on the viability of this Zero Energy Input Waterwheel Aerator (click BACK button to get back to this page).

Hi Richard,

Thanks for the interest. The concept is good - use waste surplus energy for something useful, the problem is economics, the low price of electricity. As mentioned on the site, it can put 3.3 - 4kg of oxygen per annum per meter square of surface area. A plate has 2 sides, so per sq. meter of plate can get about 6.6-8kg of oxygen. This from the table for efficiency

Efficiency of Aeration System (click BACK button to get back to this page).

The least efficient uses 1.10 - 1.64kWh per kg oxygen
Cost of electricity depend on which country or location you are in. Some ideas may be obtained from

Basic Electricity Statistics (data for 2005 except where noted)

According to that site, cost to industry=5.13 US cent. That means the device can save max 40 US cent per annum. If we aim for cost recovery in 5 years, the device has to cost less than US2.00 per sq meter plate.

However, note that the cost of energy, especially petroleum and gas, is constantly increasing, and what may not be viable today may be viable in the future when the cost of energy (electricity) is sky high.