Airing down water

The department of mechanical
engineering at the Regional Engineering College in Kurukshetra,
Haryana, has developed a portabJe
aerator which combines the supply
of air and the mixing of water ina
single unit. It operates by directing
surrounding air to the top of a
marine propeller. The propeller
agitates and efficiently mixes
oxygen with polluted water.
Through aerobic reaction, the
impurities are oxidised and their
toxic effects neutralised. The deVice
consumes 0.37 kw of electricity and
in the absence of electricity,
kerosene can be used to run the
motor. The 33 kg-aerator costs
Rs 2,500 and can be used to treat
industrial effluents and municipal
and city discharges.