Sedimentation Lecture No. 6 1.

Purpose
Probably the most common waste and wastewater treatment process. Also known as clarification Sedimentation is defined as the separation of a suspension into a clarified fluid and a more concentrated suspension. The more concentrated suspension is typically known as sludge. The sedimentation process is designed to remove a majority of the settleable solids by gravity. Sedimentation is an efficient process; in addition, downstream processes have to deal with less load. Sedimentation is divided into two classifications ! grit chambers, plain sedimentation, Type ", discrete, unhindered settling ! sedimentation tanks, clarifiers, Type "", hindered settling The key to successful settling is proper upstream coagulation and flocculation. #ain configurations of the settling tanks ! hori$ontal, rectangular basins, , favored ! upflow sedimentation tanks ! upflow reactor clarifiers

2. Considerations
A. Overall Treatment Process. "f there are big particles in the water, %&'um, as might be found in river water, a grit chamber is in order. A conservatively designed sedimentation basin should be used to obtain a settle water turbidity of ()*T+. The sedimentation would *,T do it alone, but in combination with chemicals, filtration etc. "n the filter unit, the -uality of the output water is proportional to the -uality of the input water. See ../.).'!&, p.&0&. 12ample
3iven .inal filtered water -uality of .'*T+ .ind 4ater -uality of settled. .rom ../.).'!&, p.&0&. Anywhere from 1-6 units, silica scale

Sedimentation, Page. No.2 B. Nature of Suspended Matter. 5aw water contains ) basic types of suspended matter discrete 6nonflocculable7 such as sand and silt and colloidal suspensions such as clay, microorganisms and substances that cause color. 8iscrete particles are relatively easy to remove and removal strategies include grit chamber, plain sedimentation, cyclone separator.

C. Settlin !elocit" of t#e Particles. The sedimentation process is based on the gravitational settling of the particles. Type " settling can be described by Stokes 9aw v : 6s ! 7d) "n which v:settling velocity, fps or m;s s : mass density of the particle, kg;m/ : mass density of the fluid, kg;m/ d : diameter of the particle, ft or m 12ample
3iven An alum floc .ind &.7specific gravity ).7particle si$e in mm /.7"f the settling rate is .<0fpm, convert this value to gpm;ft). .rom T/.).'!&. p.&0/. &.7 specific gravity specific gravity 1.!!1 ).7particle si$e in mm particle si"e 1-#mm /.7"f the settling rate is .<0fpm, convert this value to gpm;ft ). .<0ft;min 2 =.0>gal;ft/ : .$!gpm%ft2

The efficiency of an ideal hori$ontal flow sedimentation tank is a function of the settling velocity, v<, the surface area of the tank, A, and the flow, ?, through the tank. v< is commonly referred to as the surface loading or overflow rate with units of gpm;ft). According to @a$en, the efficiency, removal rate, of a tank is independent of depth and detention time. "n practice, a shallow tank will have better removal rates and a longer detention time favors flocculation. v< : ?;A 12ample
3iven A tank 9:&<<A, 4:)<A, 8:&)A, ?:&<#38 .ind v< ,gpm;ft) v< : ?;A : &<#38 2 BC0.0gpm;#38; 6)<A2&)A7 v! 2&.'$ gpm%ft2

"deal settling involves the following elements ! Type ", discrete settling ! 1ven distribution of flow entering the basin

Sedimentation, Page. No.$ ! / $ones inlet, outlet and sludge ! +niform distribution of particles throughout the depth of the entrance $one. ! Particles that enter the sludge $one stay in the sludge.

!% #ori&ontal $% inlet $ !s% settlin Slud e L Outlet

vs or v< is the settling velocity of the smallest particle si$e that is &<<D removed. 5emoved means captured in the sludge layer. A smaller particle will be lighter and therefore will settle at a velocity slower than v<. A smaller, slower particle will have a shallower, less steep slope and be inclined to be removed via the outlet. 4hen such a light particle, v(v<, starts below the top of the water line at the inlet a portion of such light particles will be removed. "f a particle is heavier than v<, v%v<, its slope will be steeper than the v< and &<<D of these heavier particles will reach the sludge layer. 8etention time. t : @;Es : 9;Eh Eh : 9;t but Eh : ?;A2!section A2!section : @4 A2!section :@4 Eh : ?;@4 Substituting 9;t : ?;@4 t : 9@4;?, 9@4:E t (%) ,verflow rate t : @;Es : 9@4;? therefore, Es : ?;94, 94:Plan area, Ap, also known as the surface area. (s )%Ap Shows that the overflow rate is e-uivalent to the settling velocity of smallest particle that is &<<D removed. 12ample
3iven ) tanks, :&<<A, d:&<A, ?:&0#38 .ind t, ,5 &.7 t t : E;? : )tanks 2 &<<) 2 &<A ; &0#3;&<Bgal 2

Sedimentation, Page. No.#

t .!&$&&days 2.!1hours 12!.&min ).7 ,5 ,5 : ?;Ap : &0#38 2 &<Bgal;#3 ; 6)tanks 2 &<<7) *+ &'1., gpd%ft2

5emoval rates .or v%v<, &<<D removed .or v(v<, some will be removed, but how much fraction of particles removed : v&;v< : @&;@ mathematically, fraction removed : 6&!Fs7 G 6&!Fs7 : fraction of the particles with v%v<, all of these particles will be removed.

vdx
<

Xs

vdx
<

Xs

: fraction of the particles with v(v<, a portion will be removed.

1.( fraction of particles 'it# less t#an ) t#e stated velocit" ( )s 1*)s 1((+ removed

!,!( ! !(

!% settlin velocit"

12ample
3iven A settling basin is designed to have a surface overflow rate of /).B m;day : ./=mm;s 6><<gpd;ft)7. .ind The overall removal obtained for a suspension with the si$e distribution given below. The specific gravity of the particles is &.) and T:)< H. :&.<)=, :<.CCC= Particle si"e, mm -eight fraction greater than si"e, percent -eight fraction less than si"e, percent <.&< &< <.<> &' <.<= 0< 0<D of the particles % .<= B< <.<B =< <.<0 C/ <.<) CC <.<& &<< &<<D of the particles % .<& <

C< C<D of the particles pass the . &< sieve

>'

/<

= =D of the particles pass the . <0 sieve

&

Sample calculations for the table below v, Stokes 9aw v : 6s ! 7d) : 6&.) ! .CC=7d) v : &<=.B)d) for d:.&<mm

Sedimentation, Page. No..

v : &<=.B)6.&<7) v:&.<=B say &.<> for d:.<0 v : &<=.B)6.<07) v:.&=) 5eynolds number, if the *r ( .', Stokes 9aw applies. *r:v; : 6.&<mm 2 &.<>mm;s7 ; &.<&&2&< !Bm;s 2 6&<<<mm;m7 ) *r:.&<

-eight fraction, / v, mm%s, from a0ove calc. Nr, -eight fraction remaining /

&<.<

&'.<

0<.<

=<.<

C/.<

CC.<

&<<

1.!&

!.6&'

!..2,

!.$&,

!.1,2

!.!#$

!.!11

.&< '!.!

<.<' &..!

<.<0 6!.!

<.<) $!.!

<.<& ,.!

<.<<& 1.!

<.<<<& !

Plot the above numbers v vs. weight fraction remaining , e.g. &.<>, C<.<; <.B>C,>' etc.

1.( fraction of )s-.2. particles 'it# less t#an ) t#e stated velocit" ( 1*)s 1((+ removed

!,!( !(-./.mm,s01(( al.da"%ft22 !% settlin velocit" !

All particles with a settling velocity greater than ./=mm;s will be &<<D removed. .rom the graph, the fraction 6&!Fs7 is e-ual to <.=/ or =/D; a portion of the remaining )=D will be removed, graphically this is the area above the settling curve, but below the Fs line. ,ne way to obtain this desire area is to assume increments of 2, say <.<0, and pick off the corresponding v, velocity, from the graph. The resulting product 26v7 is the area for that increment. The increments are then summed to obtain the total area.

1 v 12v3

<.<0 <.<B <.<<)0

<.<0 <.&B <.<<B0

<.<0 <.)) <.<<>>

<.<0 <.)B <.<&<0

<.<0 <./< <.<&)<

<.<0 <./0 <.<&/B

.<)= <./= .<<CC

Total 26v7 : .<B/' The overall removal is fraction removed : 6&!Fs7 G

vdx
<

Xs

Sedimentation, Page. No.6

fraction removed : <.=/ G &;./=6<.<B/'7 fraction removed .&'& &'.'/

3. 4lo' S#ort Circuitin Three types ! improper design poor inlet design, short distance between the inlet and the outlet. ! when floc is carried over the filter the influent tends to dive down at the inlet and rise at the outlet carrying much floc with it. ! density flow severe type of the second, typically caused by switching from one source of water supply to another. Han be minimi$ed by installing intermediate diffuser wall perpendicular to the flow direction in the middle or at two!thirds of the tank length. The magnitude to the density current can by evaluated via @arlemanAs formula v : I>g J.' units p.&0= or
v : I)g J.' units p.&0=

The temperature difference involved density flows are <.)!<.'H and the flow velocity of the density flow is ).B!Bfpm with a design or intended flow velocity of &./fpm.

5. T"pe of Sedimentation Tan6 The types include upflow clarifiers, reactor clarifiers and hori$ontal rectangular. +pflow clarifiers, reactor clarifiers are susceptible to hydraulic and solids shock loadings. #ost large water treatment plants use hori$ontal rectangular clarifiers primarily because of the fle2ible performance, predictable settling efficiency and minimum maintenance cost. 8esign criteria include T/.).'!), p.&'<

Surface loading ./0!& gpm;ft); 0C<!&00< gpd;ft) 4ater depth /!' m; &<!&B ft 8etention time; &.'!/ hours 4idth length ratio % & ', minimum 0 & 4idth depth ratio / & with a ma2imum of B & .reeboard )ft 4eir loading (&'gpm;ft; )&,B<< gpd;ft

Sedimentation, Page. No., The preferred configuration of the multiple rectangular tanks is common wall construction all connected to a common inlet and outlet.

4. 7nlet and Outlet of t#e Basin .low imbalance at the inlet will lead to flow short!circuiting, jetting, turbulences and hydraulic instability. The most simple and effective method for distributing the water from the flocculation tanks to the sedimentation tanks is a perforated baffle wall whose re-uirements are as follows

! The wall should cover the entire cross section of the basin ! The wall should be uniformly perforated ! A ma2imum of ports should be provided to minimi$e jets and dead $ones ! The headloss through an individual port should be .&)!./'K ! The headloss through an individual port should be less than .0K to prevent floc breakage. ! The si$e of the ports should be uniform in diameter, /!>K to avoid clogging ! The ports should be placed no more than appro2imately &<!)<K on center to avoid compromising the structural strength of the wall. ! The flow should be directed at the basin outlet. The water e2iting the basin should be uniformly collected across an area that is perpendicular to the proper flow direction. Perforated baffles are not recommended for the outlet because they are not effective in dealing with density currents. E!notched weir plates are used for the outlets and are generally attached to the launders. 9aunders are long troughs which channel the water to an outlet. 9ong launders have major advantages the water level of the tank remains substantially constant; wave action is minimi$ed; weirs and modules are easily attached to the launders. 8. S#ape of t#e Tan6 5ectangular basins that are both wide and deep tend to hydraulically unstable and foster density flow patterns. Lasins that are narrow, shallow and long have flow stability and minimi$e short circuiting. .low characteristics of the sedimentation basin can be estimated by the 5eynolds, *5, and .roude, *., numbers *5 : v5; ( )<,<<< *. : v);g5 % &<!' units p.&B& An ordinary basin has *5 %&',<<< and *. (&<!B both of which indicate an inferior condition. ,ne of the least desired shapes has &>< turn at its midlength because they are inefficient due to turbulence and dead spots at the turn.

Sedimentation, Page. No.& $. Slud e Collection S"stem Hhoices include chain and flight; traveling bridge with s-ueegees; traveling bridge with suction; float supported sludge suction; underwater bogies with s-ueegee. Any thing with moving parts such as the traveling bridge should not be used in very cold, ice prone parts of the country. The chain and flight can service a ma2imum length of )<<ft, B<m. The traveling bridge can service any length of tank; but it is effective if the length e2ceeds )B<!/<<ft, ><!C<m. The speed is typically &fpm. The underflow rate associated with sludge removal of the hori$ontal flow and long rectangular basins is typically .&!.)D of the plant flow. The concentration of solids in the sludge is .)!'D.

7. 3etailed 3esi n Criteria See T/.).'!), p.&'< and p.&=& for detailed design criteria for grit chambers, rectangular sedimentation tanks and sedimentation tanks with high!rate settler.

/. Operations and Maintenance

.loc settling. The majority of the floc should settle in the first half of the tank. Eisual observation is important. "f the water is clear in the middle and full of floc at the end, a density flow is indicated. Abnormal phenomena. sludge floating 6bulking7; scum; fly larvae; algae; corrosion. ,ptimi$ation of the sludge withdrawal process.

9. 5:ample Pro;lems
3iven 3rit Hhamber 8esign, ?:>'#38, .&'mm minimum si$e to be removed, &< H. Honsult the grit chamber criteria on page &=&. 4:/'ft. d:&<A .ind &.7 The number and shape of the tanks ).7 Tank dimensions /.7 t 0.7 surface loading &.7 The number and shape of the tanks 4wo rectangular tan5s. "f one goes down for a problem or maintenance, the other is still available to do the job. An alternative for a smaller plant is one tank and a by!pass channel. ).7 Tank dimensions The settling velocity of the .&'mm sand from T/.).'!&. v< : &'mm;s : /.<fpm .rom page &B< water depth : &<!&Bft, say &<ft. ? : >'#38 2 &.'0=cfs;#38 ? : &/&.'cfs 2 B<s;min : =>C< cfm ?;tank : =>C< cfm ; )

Sedimentation, Page. No.'

?;tank : /C0' cfm A : 48 : &<A2 /'A A : /'<ft) v : ?;A : /C0' cfm ; /'<ft) v : &&.)=fpm 9 : M6h; v<7v, where M:&.', e-uation from rear end of author. 9 : &.'6&<;/.<7&&.)= 9 : 'B./'ft say 'B.'A 6 .6..ft, 7 1!ft, - $.ft check ratios .rom p. &=& 49 is from & 0 to & > 89 is a minimum of & > 4;9 : 'B.'A;/'A 4;9 : & &.B&0, *3 9;8 : 'B.';&< : '.B' &, *3 /.7 t t:E;? : 948;? : 'B.'ft 2&<ft 2/'ft ; /C0' cfm t ..!1min, p.16! should 0e 0etween 6-1., N8 0.7 surface loading ,5 : ?;A : /C0' cfm ; 94 : /C0'cfm 2 ; 6'B.'ft 2 /'ft7 *+ 1#.'2gpm%ft2, p.16! should 0e #-1!, therefore N8.

8o over e1ample pro0lems in 0oo5, p.1,1, especially part iii, 0affle wall design
9*:;-*+< No. 6, Sedimentation 5ead Hhapter / pp. &/C!&C0 Problems 6A. 3iven .inal filtered water -uality of & *T+ .ind 4ater -uality of settled. 6=. 3iven A silt and clay floc, si$e.<Bmm .ind &.7specific gravity ).7mesh si$e /.7"f the settling rate is .='fpm, convert this value to gpm;ft). 6>. 3iven The 4eymouth .iltration Plant has a flow of /<<#38 using s-uare tanks to a depth of &)N. 8T:)hours. .ind &.7The volume and surface area ).7 The number of s-uare tanks such that no dimension e2ceeds )<<N which is an e-uipment limitation. 67. 3iven 8epth:&<N, overflow rate:.<0&=fps and the settling data below. .ind The overall removal percentage assuming Type ", discrete settling time re?uired portion of particles (s 2fpm3

Sedimentation, Page. No.1! to settle 1!@ 2minutes3 /.// '.< &<.< with velocity less than those indicated B<D 0<D )<D (s distance%time &<;/.//:/ &<;'.<:) &<;&<:&

6;. 3iven 3rit Hhamber 8esign, ?:''#38, .</mm minimum si$e to be removed, &<H. Honsult the grit chamber criteria on page &B<. 4:/<ft. .ind &.7 The number and shape of the tanks ).7 Tank dimensions /.7 t 0.7 surface loading 6;. 3iven 8esign the sedimentation tanks for your project. +se e2ample /, p.&B/ as a guide. .ind "nclude the following items &.7 The number of tanks ).7 Tank dimensions /.7 The configuration of the tank inlet and diffuser wall. 6A. 3iven 8esign the sedimentation tanks for your project.