External CO2 reactor design

Re: External CO2 reactor design

They will bypass the chamber if the chamber's capcity is exceeded, the contact time is too low, the design is too narrow and does not allow the bubbles to flat up or stay suspended long enough etc.

You can reduce the flow or expand the reactor tube length, shape or diameter. You can also increase the bubble size. That does not help responsiveness(reduces it), but increases the efficiency.

If you change the tube size and add more flow, more contact time, you will have more responsiveness and efficency, but then you have a big device.

Not bad if it's outside the tank. For the intenal designs, this seldom matters much. The DIY internal is very good on tanks up to about 40-50 gallons, if you use a Rio 180-200 and a 6" tube near the outflow of a filter, this will be fine for larger tanks also. You can also use 2 small ones on a large tank etc.

I'm not sure about the External, I'll get to it shortly, I have many things going on these days. I'm just happy to get the new software for the sitre up and Greg is being worked like a slave on a Viking Row boat.

It works very well efficiency wise, removes the O2(or excess CO2) automatically as the levels falls in the reactor chamber. This reduces efficiency at the expense of maintaining good contact with CO2 and repsonsiveness/reducing gas lock back pressure.

So it will bubble out some fine mist but not much since the venturi recirculates and the size and diameter of the tube is larger than the 2" sizes for the internals(You can get the larger sizes for the internals, but then they get big in the tank, outside the tank, the size and length issue is not a big deal).

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

Re: External CO2 reactor design

I keep the flow rate high as possible and then good mixing as it leaves the reacting chamber with tank water(place near a spray bar etc).

Regards,
Tom Barr