Effective ultrasonic frequencies for algae control on large water surface areas.
Specific ultrasonic programs
Environmentally friendly technology
Without release of algal toxins
Safe for fish and other aquatic organisms
Buoyancy regulation plays a key role in the metabolism of planktonic algae. The ultrasonic pressure produced by LG Sonic influences the buoyancy regulation of the algae. As a result, algae are no longer capable to obtain sufficient sunlight and nutrients.
The ultrasound creates a sound barrier in the upper layer of the water. This affects the vertical movement of algae.
Due to limited movement, algae do not absorb enough sunlight and nutrients. Therefore, they are not able to perform photosynthesis.
Ultrasound does not cause direct cell lysis, so no toxins are released in the water. Algae sink to the bottom and decompose over time.
LG Sonic uses ultrasonic programs that can vary in wave form, frequency, pause and amplitude that are optimized to the algae type, growth stage and application. These programs are based on specific algorithms developed after years of research.
In addition, each MPC-Buoy system that acquires water quality data sends this to the same server, optimizing the algorithms even further.
Ultrasound is effective only through the choice of suitable ultrasonic frequency programs, based on algae type, their growth stage and the water quality characteristics.
Each ultrasonic program emitted by LG Sonic is designed to stay under the cavitation limit and is therefore safe for humans and other (aquatic) organisms.
Algae are highly adaptive organisms, and different types can bloom in a water body. This is why we remotely measure water quality, and based on this, our algorithm selects a specific ultrasound frequency program to regulate and prevent algae growth.
The parameters used to continuously measure water quality are:
Research has proven that broad-spectrum ultrasonic systems that do not adapt their ultrasonic programs can lead to the growth of resistant algal species.
Planktonic algae rely on their buoyancy to obtain sufficient sunlight at the water surface. Some do this through synthesis of gas vesicles, while others use the presence of lipids within the cell to regulate their buoyancy.
By impacting the buoyancy of algae, LG Sonic ultrasound prevents them from performing photosynthesis, while beneficial aquatic organisms can grow back.
Specifically, blue-green algae travel up and down the water column; they go to the surface to absorb sunlight for photosynthesis and to the bottom for nutrients. LG Sonic ultrasound fixes the algae in the water column, preventing them from making these movements and restricting their metabolic activities. By doing this, water quality parameters improve, such as pH and light penetration, allowing other aquatic organisms such as benthic plants to regrow and absorb nutrients.
The effects on the aquatic ecosystem of any water treatment must be tested and secured. Different universities have investigated the impacts of LG Sonic ultrasound technology, and it has been proven to be safe for fish, plants and Zooplankton.
The University of Portsmouth in UK, the University of Catania (UNICT) in Italy, the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia, and University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences BOKU in Austria carried out studies on the impact of ultrasound frequencies on aquatic ecosystems. You can access the studies through the following links:
LG Sonic’s ultrasound can control different types of algae such as Cyanobacteria (blue-green), green algae and diatoms. LG Sonic works in various sizes of water bodies, from ponds to large lakes and reservoirs, with an area of several square kilometers.
MPC-Buoy has a treatment range of up to 500-meter diameter and can cover 20 hectares (50 acres) of water. Through the use of several systems, a complete treatment can be reached for each lake.
Studies show that control of external nutrient sources often does not decrease the nutrient loads, and algal blooms in water bodies. Lakes seem to respond very slowly to nutrient-control interventions.
This is because the nutrients remain in deposits for a long term. They replenish algal blooms and trigger further eutrophication. A more efficient restoration method is to control algal growth, which helps prevent further accumulation of nutrients in the deposits.
Reducing external nutrient loading is important but, in many cases, very difficult to achieve adequately even in a long term.
The effectiveness of ultrasound is based on real-time data, which allows us to continuously adapt our ultrasonic programs.
Different parameters are continuously monitored to measure water quality that can be used to determine and predict an algal bloom. This enables us to predict and react days before a potential bloom could occur and respond with the most optimal ultrasonic program.
This prevents the growth of ultrasound-resistant algae and is the reason why LG Sonic treatment is the most efficient algae control treatment in the world.
Different types of algae can grow in a body of water. Generally, the type of algae that blooms depends on the temperature of the water and the hours of sunshine. As a result, algae species can change several times during a season.
It is important to know that these distinct sizes and shapes of algae respond to different optimal frequencies. Therefore, to effectively control algae and address seasonal changes in algae species, LG Sonic selects a frequency program that is specific and variable.
Algae are the foundation of the food chain in ponds, lakes and reservoirs. LG Sonic technology uses low-power ultrasound to affect the algae mobility. It works continuously to stop their spread and prevent the release of toxins and their consequences in a sustainable way. Controlling algal growth without negatively affecting other organisms in the water will lead to better light penetration in the water column and lower pH levels. This in turn allows regrowth of benthic plants, with increased levels of dissolved oxygen as a result. Due to these effects, bacteria in the sediment in charge of organic decomposition operate more efficiently, leading to a restoration of the ecosystem in a sustainable manner.
LG Sonic developed the MPC-Buoy specifically for large water surfaces such as lakes and reservoirs.
Monitor, predict and control planktonic algae without using chemicals
Proven safe for fish, plants and other aquatic life such as Zooplankton
Complying with NPDES regulations In the search of an eco-friendly and effective solution to comply with NPDES discharge regulations, NIPSCO installed 5 MPC-Buoy systems at R. M. Schahfer Generating Station in Indiana, USA. High TSS and pH are mainly caused by algal blooms which are now treated with the ultrasound technology of LG Sonic. NIPSCO uses a large reservoir for settling out suspended solids prior to discharging the water back…
Control Cyanobacteria concentration Four solar-powered algae control systems were installed in the Aquadrome in Rickmansworth (UK) to control the cyanobacteria concentration in two lakes. Two systems were installed in a lake used for water skiing and fishing, and two additional unites were installed in June 2017 in a lake used for sailing. To ensure that the concentration of cyanobacteria remained at an acceptable level at a popular public open space…
Addressing episodic taste and odor events Four solar-powered algae control buoys were installed in the Canoe Brook Reservoir #1 in Short Hills, NJ to assess the impact of the system for controlling algae and cyanobacteria in the raw water reservoir. The four buoys operated for five months in the spring/summer 2014. As an alternative to copper-based algaecides, the use of ultrasonic treatment can be used to control algae. Ultrasonic treatment uses high frequency sound waves to attack the algal cells….