Mamutka (air-lift pump)

Indicative water flow and air demand for an air-lift pump using two methods.

Mamutka (air-lift pump)

Indicative calculation of water flow and air demand for an air-lift pump. First block: theoretical density-based calculation, second block: empirical estimate using Aquatext / Airlift tables.

Theoretical air-lift calculation

Indicative calculation based on mixture density in the riser tube, assuming a flow coefficient of about 0.6.

Water density ρᵥ [t/m³]

Submergence depth h₂ [m]

Total pipe height h [m]

Hydraulic losses z [m]

Mixture velocity vₛ [m/s]

Riser pipe diameter d [mm]

Atmospheric pressure p₀ [kPa]

Pressure increase at mid-pipe Δp [kPa]

Mixture density ρₛ [t/m³]

0.863

Water volume fraction [–]

0.785

Water flow Qᵥ [L/s]

2.36

Water flow Qᵥ [m³/h]

8.48

Mid-pipe pressure pₛ [kPa]

100.00

Air demand Qₐ [L/s]

2.62

Air demand Qₐ [L/min]

157.08

Air demand Qₐ [m³/h]

9.42

Empirical flow estimate – Aquatext correlation

Empirical correlation taken from Aquatext / Airlift calculator. Results are indicative for typical air-lift configurations.

Total pipe length L [m]

Submerged length Lᵢ [m]

Pipe diameter d [mm]

Length above water [m]

0.80

Pipe part above water [%]

28.6

Water flow Qᵥ [L/min]

119.69

Water flow Qᵥ [L/s]

1.995

Water flow Qᵥ [m³/h]

7.181

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