Sedimentation in Wastewater treatment

plants – capacity 75000 m3/day

A Report Submitted To The

Department Of Water Resources Engineering

College Of Engineering

University Of Duhok

Student Name: Ahmed Moayad Jameel

Moodle Email: Ew15.Ahmedmoaeed@Uodstudent.Ac

Group: A, Year 4th

Course: Environmental and Sanitary Engineering

Course Cod: EW4205

Instructor: Dr.Nashwan Shawkat Mahmood

Date: 6/7/2020
Contents

1 – Introduction............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 - Sedimentation Effective...................................................................................................................2
1.2 - Type Of Settling................................................................................................................................3
1.3 - Wastewater Treatment Plant...........................................................................................................5
1.4 - The Sedimentation Process In Wastewater Treatment....................................................................6
2 - Aim and Objective...................................................................................................................................7
3 - Application..............................................................................................................................................8
4 - Design......................................................................................................................................................9
5 - Design example.....................................................................................................................................13
5 - Summary...............................................................................................................................................15
6 - Reference..............................................................................................................................................16
7 - word count............................................................................................................................................16
1 – Introduction

Sedimentation is one of the methods that municipalities use for treating water. It is a

physicalwater treatment process. Gravity is used to remove suspended solids from
water.Sedimentation is a common way of treating water. It is a process that removes solids that
float and settle in the water. The process relies on the use of sedimentation tanks that remove
larger solids. Subsequent treatment processes may be used after sedimentation. It is important to
understand how sedimentation is used in the treatment of drinking water and wastewater.In water
treatment sedimentation might be used to reduce the concentration of particles in suspension
before the application of coagulation, to reduce the amount of coagulating chemicals needed, or
after coagulation and, possibly, flocculation. When sedimentation is applied after coagulation, its
purpose is usually to reduce the cSedimentation is one of several methods for application prior to
filtration: other options include dissolved air flotation and some methods of filtration.
Generically, such solids-liquid separation processes are sometimes referred to as clarification
processes.There is a variety of methods for applying sedimentation and include: horizontal flow,
radial flow, inclined plate, ballasted floc and floc blanket sedimentation.oncentration of solids in
suspension so that the subsequent filtration can function most effectively. The effectiveness
similar to water remain suspended while heavier particles settle. The sedimentation process in
wastewater treatment usually occurs in tanks of various shapes. Sedimentation is the separation
of suspended particles from water by gravitational settling; The primary purpose is to produce a
clarified effluent and It is one of the most widely used unit operations in wastewater treatment.
Sedimentation is one of the simplest separation methods. It is an essential concept that needs to
be understood. Its importance is unquestioned and plays a crucial role with archaeology. It is a
natural process and can be explained as the building up of layers of small particles like sand or
mud. Weight and sedimentation is much related.and A preliminary sedimentation basin is used to
remove sinkable substances from wastewater. Together with the sinkable substances, part of the
COD, BOD, nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and metals is also reduced. This allows the aerobic
water purification system to be smaller in size. Sludge from preliminary sedimentation can be
further processed in an anaerobic digester.Most biological water purification systems also feature
a conventional post-sedimentation basin.

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 Fiqure (1) sedimentation

1.1 - Sedimentation Effective

Sedimentation often is effective in reducing water turbidity, but it is not consistently effective in
reducing microbial contamination. Storing water for as little as a few hours will sediment the
large, dense particles like inorganic sands and silts, large microbes and any other. Overnight or 1-
2 days longer settling times will remove larger microbes, including Helminth ova and some
parasites, some microbes, such as certain algae, and the larger clay particles. Most viruses and
bacteria and fine clay particles are too small to be settled out by simple gravity sedimentation.

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1.2 - Type Of Settling

Depending on the concentration of solids and the tendency of particles to interact the following
four types of sedimentation may occur:
1. Type 1 – Discrete settling

2. Type 2 – Flocculent settling

3. Type 3 – Hindered or zone settling

4. Type 4 – Compression settling

1. Type 1 – Discrete Settling

In discrete settling, particles settle as individual entities, and there is no significant interaction
with neighbouring particles. Discrete particles have little tendency to flocculate or coalesce upon
contact with each other and hence they do not change their size, shape or mass during settling.
Discrete settling refers to the sedimentation of particles in a suspension of low solids
concentration. Grit in sewage behaves like discrete particles and hence their settling in grit
chambers corresponds to discrete settling.

2. Type 2 – Flocculent Settling

In flocculent settling, particles flocculate or coalesce during settling. By flocculation or

coalescing, the particles increase in mass and thus settle at a faster rate. Flocculent settling refers
to the sedimentation of particles in a rather dilute suspension with concentration of solids usually
less than 1000 mg/l. The degree of flocculation depends on the contact opportunities which in
turn are affected by the surface overflow rate, the depth of the basin, the concentration of the
particles, the range of particle sizes and the velocity gradient in the system. The removal of
organic suspended solids from raw or untreated sewage in primary settling tanks, settling of
chemical floes in settling tanks and of bioflocs in the upper portion of secondary settling tanks
are the examples of flocculent settling.

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 3. Type 3 – Hindered or Zone Settling

When concentration of flocculent particles in in intermediate range, they are close enough
together so that inter-particle forces are sufficient to hinder the settling of neighbouring particles
resulting in hindered settling. The particles maintain their relative positions with respect to each
other and the whole mass of particles settles as a unit or zone. This type of settling is applicable
to concentrated suspensions such as are found in secondary settling tanks used in conjunction
with biological treatment units such as trickling filters and activated sludge units. In the hindered
settling zone, the concentration of particles increases from top to bottom leading to thickening of
sludge. Such secondary clarifiers where zone settling occurs are designed on the basis of solids
loading or solid flux and checked for surface overflow rate, both of which can be determined by
conducting settling column analysis.

4. Type 4 – Compression Settling

This refers to settling in which the concentration of particles is so high that particles are in
physical contact with each other resulting in the formation of a structure with lower layers
supporting the weight of upper layers. Consequently further settling occurs due to compression of
the whole structure of particles and accompanied by squeezing out of water from the pores
between the solid particles.

Figure (2) settling

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1.3 - Wastewater Treatment Plant

Wastewater Treatment plant : It is composed of a combination of unit operations and unit

processes designed to reduce certain constituents of wastewater to an acceptable level.

Primary Treatment: Removal of solid materials from the incoming wastewater. Large debris may
be removed by screening or may be reduced in size by grinding devices. Inorganic solids are
removed by grit channels while suspended organic solids are removed by sedimentation. It
removes undesirable small particulate suspended matters (sand, silt and clay) and some biological
contaminants from water under the influence of gravity.

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 Figure (3) waste water system

1.4 - The Sedimentation Process In Wastewater Treatment

A sedimentation tank in wastewater treatment removes particles from the water. The accumulated
solids, or sludge, form at the bottom of the sedimentation tank and are removed periodically.
Coagulants are typically added to the water before sedimentation to aid in the settling process.
After sedimentation, there are often other treatment steps. When sedimentation is used to treat
wastewater, this primary step is followed by secondary treatment, such as a trickling
filter, activated sludge or another purification process that is used to remove soluble impurities
with bacteria. AOS professionals can discuss sedimentation and other water treatment
services that it can provide to enhance the quality of water AOS also provides wastewater
treatment services. Our professionals can explain the services that we offer and how they can
benefit your municipality. Contact us to learn more about this process and other services we
provide.

2 - Aim and Objective

Purpose of using a rectangular sedimentation tank

(1) Easy to operate and low maintenance costs.

(2) Easy adaptation to high-rate settlers and tolerant to shock loads.

(3) Commonly used in municipal and industrial applications.

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 (4) Suited to large capacity plants

Figure (4) rectangular sedimentation tank

3 - Application

Potable water treatment

Sedimentation in potable water treatment generally follows a step of chemical coagulation

and flocculation, which allows grouping particles together into flocs of a bigger size. This
increases the settling speed of suspended solids and allows settling colloids.

Wastewater treatment

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Main article: Wastewater treatment

Sedimentation has been used to treat wastewater for millennia.

Primary treatment of sewage is removal of floating and settle able solids through sedimentation.
Primary clarifiers reduce the content of suspended solids as well as the pollutant embedded in the
suspended solids. Because of the large amount of reagent necessary to treat domestic wastewater,
preliminary chemical coagulation and flocculation are generally not used, remaining suspended
solids being reduced by following stages of the system. However, coagulation and flocculation
can be used for building a compact treatment plant (also called a "package treatment plant"), or
for further polishing of the treated water.

Sedimentation tanks called "secondary clarifiers" remove flocs of biological growth created in
some methods of secondary treatment including activated sludge, trickling filters and rotating
biological contactors.

4 - Design

Design of Primary Sedimentation Tank Primary sedimentation tanks can be circular or

rectangular tanks designed using average dry weather flow and checked for peak flow condition.
The numbers of tanks are determined by limitation of tank size. Two tanks in parallel are
normally used to facilitate maintenance of any tank. The diameter of circular tank may range
from 3 to 60 m (up to 45 m typical) and it is governed by structural requirements of the trusses
which supports scrapper in case of mechanically cleaned tank. Rectangular tank with length 90 m
are in use, but usually length more than 40 m is not preferred. Width of the tank is governed by
the size of the scrappers available for mechanically cleaned tank. The depth of mechanically
cleaned tank should be as shallow as possible, with minimum 2.15 m. The average depth of the
tank used in practice is about 3.5 m. In addition, 0.25 m for sludge zone and 0.3 to 0.5 m free
board is provided. The floor of the tank is provided with slope 6 to 16 % (8 to 12 % typical) for

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circular tank and 2 to 8% for rectangular tanks. The scrappers are attached to rotating arms in
case of circular tanks and to endless chain in case of rectangular tanks. These scrappers collect
the solids in a central sump and the solids are withdrawn regularly in circular tanks. In
rectangular tanks, the solids are collected in the sludge hoppers at the influent end, and are
withdrawn at fixed time intervals. Inlets for both rectangular and circular tanks are to be designed
to distribute the flow equally across the cross section. Scum removal arrangement is provided
ahead of the effluent weir in all the PST. The surface overflow rate of 40 m3 /m2 .d (in the range
30to 50 m3 /m2 .d) is used for design at average flow. At peak flow the surface overflow rate of
80 to 120 m3 /m2 .d could be used when this PST is followed by secondary treatment. Lower
surface settling rates are used when waste activated sludge is also settled in the PST along with
primary solids. In this case the surface overflow rate of 24 to 32 m3 /m2 .d and 48 to 70m3
/m2 .d are used for average and peak flow conditions, respectively. The weir loading rate less
than 185 m3 /m.d is used for designing effluent weir length (in the range 125 to 500 m3 /m.d).
Weir loading rate up to 300 m3 /m.d is acceptable under peak flow condition. Higher weir
loading can be acceptable when primary treatment is followed by secondary treatment. As such
the weir loading rate has very less impact on the overall performance of sewage treatment plant
when secondary treatment is provided after primary treatment. The detention time in PST could
be as low as 1 h to maximum of 2.5 h. Providing detention time of 1.5 to 2.5 h at average flow is
a common practice. To avoid resuspension (scouring) of settled particles, horizontal velocities
through the PST should be kept sufficiently low. Following equation by Camp can be used to
calculate the critical velocity, Vc, which is the horizontal velocity that will just produce score
(m/sec).

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Table (1) typical dimensional data for rectangular and circular sedimentation tank use for
primary treatment wastewater

Parameter Range Typical

Detention time(h) 1.5- 2.5 2.0

Overflow rate m3/m2.d

Average flow 30 – 50 40
Peak flow 80 – 120 100

Weir loading, m3/m.d 125 – 500 250

For Rectangular Tank:

Depth, m 3 – 4.9 3-4

Length, m 15 – 90 24 – 40

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Width, m 3 – 24 4.9 – 9.8

Circular Tank:

Depth, m 3 – 4.9 3-4

Diameter 3 – 60 12 – 45

Bottom slope 1/16 – 1/6 1/12

Flight speed, r/min 0.02 – 0.05 0.03

The efficiency of the sedimentation tank, with respect to suspended solids and BOD removal, is
affected by the following:

1. Eddy currents formed by the inertia of incoming fluid,

2. Wind induced turbulence created at the water surface of the uncovered tanks,

3. Thermal convection currents,

4. Cold or warm water causing the formation of density currents that moves along the
bottom of the basin, and

5. Thermal stratification in hot climates.

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Precent removal

Figure(4) (typical bod and tss removal in primary sedimentationtion tank )

Because of the above reasons the removal efficiency of the tank and detention time has
correlation R = t/(a+b.t), where ‘a’ and ‘b’ are empirical constants, ‘R’ is expected removal
efficiency, and ‘t’ is nominal detention time

5 - Design example

Design sedimentation in waste water treatment plant - capacity 75000 m3/day

Assume width of tank = 7 criteria (4.9 – 9.8)

Assume depth of tank = 3.7 criteria (3 – 4.9)

Assume overflow rate = 37 criteria (30 – 50)

assume number of tank =16 tank

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d = 100*10-6µm

Solution:

1 – calculate the required surface area for average Flow condition the required are is

A=Q / over flow rate =75000/37=2027.02m2

2- determine the tank length

L = A/W =2027.02/16*7 = 18m criteria (15 – 90) ok

However, for the sake of convenience, the surface dimensions

Will be rounded to 7m by 18m

3- Compute the detention time and over flow rate

Tank volume =3.7*16(18*7 ) =7459.2m3

Overflow rate =Q/A=75000/18*(7*18) =33 criteria (30 -50)

Detention time = V/Q = 7459.2*24 h/d /75000 m3/d =2.38h (1.5-2.5)

4- Calculate the score velocity using the following value

Assume Cohesion constant k = 0.055 (0.04 – 0.06)

Assume Darcy weisbach friction factor F = 0.029 (0.02 – 0.03)

Acceleration due to gravity g = 9.81 m/sec2

Diameter of particle d = 100µm =100 * 10-6

Specific gravity S = 1.25

Vh = {8*k*(s-1) g*d/f}1/2 =

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{8*0.055*(1.25-1) *9.81*100*10-6/0.029}1/2 = 0.06100m/sec

5 – Compute the scour velocity calculated in the previous to the peak flow horizontal velocity
(the peak flow divided by the cross sectional area through which the flow passes

The peak flow horizontal velocity through the settling tank is

V = Q/A =(75000m3/d /16*(7*3.7))*(1/24(h/d) *(3600 s/h))=0.002094 m/s < vh ok

The horizontal velocity value even peak flow is substantially less than the scour velocity there for
settled matter should not be suspended

6 – estimate the removal rate for BOD and TSS and at the flow

BOD removal = t/a + bt =2.38/0.018+(0.020*2.38)=36.28% (25 – 40)

TSS removal = t/a+bt =2.38/0.0075+(0.014+2.38)=58.304% (50 – 65)

L=18m

B =7m

H = 3.7m

5 - Summary

It found that High-rate sedimentation is an inexpensive way to increase the capacity of normal
settling tanks. It produces an effluent of more uniform quality for a very wide range of hydraulic
and solids loads. These features can be attractive for developing countries. In this study, the
influence on sedimentation efficiency is analyzed for different geometric configurations such as
the use of a square tank , different types of inlets (square, baffled, triangular and square with
reduction), The results indicate that the use of a rectangular sedimentation tank hamper the

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process's efficiency dude the criteria data well as in a variety of industrial processes,
sedimentation tanks are used to separate suspended solids from water. Sedimentation by gravity
is the most common and extensively applied treatment process for the removal of solids from
water and waste water.and in design of rectangular tank dude to that information in capacity
75000 m3/day found that the BOD and TSS value (36.28% , 58.304% ) and it is include the
criteria (25 – 40) , (50 – 65).

6 - Reference

1. Baeyens J., Hosten L. and Van Vaerenbergh E., Wastewater purification, Environment
Foundation - Kluwer Editorial, 1995

2. Gregory R. and Edzwald J.(2010) Sedimentation & Flotation, Chapt.9 in Water Quality &
Treatment, 6th Edtn., AWWA & McGrawHill.
3. enviromental technology :https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tent20/current

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 4. https://sswm.info/sswm-university-course/module-6-disaster-situations-planning-and-
preparedness/further-resources-0/sedimentation-%28centralised%29
5. http://ghangrekar.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/11-Sedimentation-Final.pdf?
fbclid=IwAR1r5si-
U6aHeXkAFzX3zf9_8SmQSizJWlLjfZwTgxEHNM5G8ZyvuD_WsRQ
6. http://www.csun.edu/~vchsc006/356b/WW.html
7. https://aosts.com/what-is-sedimentation-in-water-treatment-types-settling-
tanks/#:~:text=Fewer%20chemicals%20are%20required%20for,that%20goes%20through
%20the%20process.

7 - word count

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