System and method for aeration by air infusion

An apparatus for aerating a body of fluid that includes water, the apparatus comprising:

• a motor configured to drive a water pump impeller and a turbo blower via a single shaft;
• a downdraft tube including an inlet opening and an outlet opening vertically above the inlet opening, the downdraft tube configured to submerge below a surface of the body of fluid and carry fluid from inlet opening to the outlet opening;
• the water pump impeller coupled to the outlet opening and configured to draw fluid into the inlet opening and provide the drawn fluid into a discharge pressure manifold as a fluid stream;
• the turbo blower configured to inject air into the discharge pressure manifold;
• and
• the discharge pressure manifold coupled to the turbo blower and including a center portion and an end portion at opposite ends of the center portion, the center portion having a larger diameter than the end portions, the discharge pressure manifold configured to:
• reduce pressure of the fluid stream at a center of the discharge pressure manifold, and
• within the end portions, receive the air injection into the pressure-reduced fluid stream thereby infusing the injected air into the fluid steam,
• forcibly discharge the air-infused fluid stream down toward the body of fluid.

A method for aerating a body of fluid that includes water, the method performed by an air-infusion aeration system that includes a downdraft tube submerged below a surface of the body of fluid, wherein the downdraft tube includes an inlet opening and an outlet opening vertically above the inlet opening, the method comprising:

• drawing, by a water pump impeller coupled to the outlet opening, fluid into the inlet opening;
• carrying, by the downdraft tube, the drawn fluid from inlet opening to the outlet opening;
• providing, by the water pump impeller, the drawn fluid into a discharge pressure manifold as a fluid stream;
• injecting, by a turbo blower, air into the discharge pressure manifold, the discharge pressure manifold coupled to the turbo blower and including a center portion and an end portion at opposite ends of the center portion, the center portion having a larger diameter than the end portions;
• reducing, by the discharge pressure manifold, pressure of the fluid stream at a center of the discharge pressure manifold;
• within the end portions, receiving the air injection into the pressure-reduced fluid stream thereby infusing the injected air into the fluid steam;
• and
• forcibly discharging, by the discharge pressure manifold, the air-infused fluid stream down toward the body of fluid.