SHORT-CIRCUITING

In consequence of short-circuiting, the feed prematurely reaches the effluent and the underflow.
Short-circuiting occurs in two modes. In brief, the two modes are referred to as

1. Short-circuiting into the effluent.

2. Short-circuiting into the underflow (sludge).

For details on short-circuiting into the effluent see for instance Flow Science:

Typical circular clarifier flow pattern (NEFCO)

While "effluent short-circuiting" is reasonably well described and treated in most final clarifiers, "underflow short-circuiting" is frequently not
correctly understood, described and controlled.

Underflow short-circuiting results from insufficient capacity of sludge transport. Then, instead of withdrawing the sludge bottom
concentration, a mixture of the bottom and the inlet concentration is withdrawn. Fraction of the short-circuited flow with the incoming
concentration of suspended solids Xa is noted z and called "short-circuiting coefficient" (with values 0 - 1). From mass balance around the
sludge outlet point:
QrXr = zQ0Xa + (1- z)QrXbrXb (10)
Equation can be rearranged to
z = (Xr - Xb)/(Xa - Xb) (11)
The advantage of this approach is that z can be calculated from routinely measured concentrations Xr and Xa. The bottom sludge
concentration can be easily measured.
Early expression of the short-circuiting coefficient comes from Günthert (1984), who expressed both the recycle ratio and the short-circuiting
coefficient in percents. If modified to fractions, his equation is:
k = 0.2347 ln(R) + 0.3475 (12)
where, by Günthert's definition:
k = Qsc/(1+R)Q0 (13)
and  Qsc is the short-circuiting flow.
The relation between z and k is
z = k(1+R) = (0.2347 ln(R)+0.3475)/(1+R) (14)
Though Günthert claimed that equation 12 is valid from R 0.15 to 1.83, the values of Qsc/Q0 are negative below R approx. 0.22 and greater than 1 above R = 1.4.
In his field measurements at several plants, the clarifier Buchloe II produced typically Xr ~ 6 g/l and Xb ~ 13 g/l. It has to be noted that the bottom
concentration would double the recycled concentration at a poorly designed clarifier only.

It has been found that new clarifiers at the treatment plant in Prague (diameter 44 m) reveal Xr/Xb > 0.9, indicating very small z (about 0.1). The smaller z, the
shallower the sludge blanket and the higher the limiting load.
German guideline A131 recommends to calculate the sludge blanket height from the bottom concentration but fails to offer methodology how
to calculate the bottom concentration. Instead, it recommends to use Xr ~ 0.7Xb (or 0.5-0.7), regardless of R. Interpretation in relation to short
circuiting is shown in the figure.

It can be seen from the figure that the main discrepancies are at low recycle ratios. Günthert's prediction is too low, that of A131 too high.
The value of z depends on a number of factors. Those controllable are: 

clarifier inlet arrangement, 

bottom slope, 
shape, height and rotational speed of scrapers and 
recycle ratio.

Excessive sludge recycling is contra productive, while too small recycling requires high degree of activated sludge thickening. Optimum
conditions are achieved by a correct algorithm of the recycle flow control.
   
Correctly designed and operated up-to-date clarifiers are significantly better than those presumed by A 131.