His Majesty King BhumibolAdulyadej was highly concerned about the sufferings and, on many occasions, traveled to inspect the water pollution problems at various locations in and outside of Bangkok, including its peripheral areas. During those visits, His Majesty granted several initiatives to solve the water pollution.
Upon the realization that the natural methods were no longer adequate to tackle the problem, His Majesty graciously granted an initiative to invent an aerator that was economical and Thai-made. He modified the aerator from the function of Luk, a device made from local wisdom used by farmers to scoop water into paddy fields. This initiative truly reflected His Majesty’s strong desire to share the burden of the government in mitigating polluted water.
For that matter, His Majesty authorized the Chaipattana Foundation to provide financial support for the study and research to develop his invention. With the cooperation of the Royal Irrigation Department, a machine for polluted water treatment was then created and is widely recognized today as the Chaipattana Aerator.
Project administration
The Chaipattana aerator treats polluted water by enhancing the amount of oxygen to boost the function of bacterium in decomposing any organic matters in the water, clearing away the cause of deterioration. The aerator has been designed to allow the water to have some contact with the air. Each of its spraying paddles plunges into the water and lets it seep through the holes as the paddles rotate upwards into the air. Such rotation helps add the amount of oxygen and thus purify the water.
Qualifications
The Chaipattana Aerator, formally known as the Chaipattana Low Speed Surface Aerator, Model RX-2 (Royal Experiment Model 2), is capable of transferring oxygen up to 1.2 kilograms per horsepower per hour. Not only is the aerator effective in improving the quality of water, it is also easy to install and transport from one location to another. The Chaipattana Aerator is capable of adapting to fluctuations in the water levels and It is suitable for treating waste water in natural water areas like ponds, swamps, creeks, and canals in which the depth is more than one meter and the width more than three meters.
Social benefits
The citizens of Thai owe a great deal to this royal invention, as the procedure effectively alleviates the problem making the water became clearer, less foul and higher in oxygen amount. Likewise, aquatic animals, for example turtles, soft-shelled turtles and fish can survive when the water quality meets the standard. The capacity of the aerator to treat water pollution with practical and cost-effective technology has been widely accepted, both nationally and internationally. This royal invention is greatly and utterly beneficial to mankind and the environment.
Patent
It is an overwhelming joy for all Thais upon learning that the Chaipattana Aerator has been considered and received a patent in His Majesty the King’s name on February 2, 1993. The aerator is the world’s ninth mechanical aeration device to be patented and the first to be registered as well issued a patent to a Monarch. This patent signifies His Majesty the King as “the first Monarch in the Thai and world history to receive a patent.”