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    12 views5 pages

    Optimizing Primary Clarificaiton and Thickening

    Uploaded by

    fabio.v.muller

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
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    of 5
    ptimizing Primary arification an Thickening By using the right process design, primary clarifiers can effectively thicken solids Oris E Albertson and Tom Walz he practice of using primary clarifiers to | thicken settled solids for downstream pro- ssing is widespread, but if not executed correctly, it can reduce claillr efficiency. To thick- en the solids, a sludge blanket must be created that covers the hopper sufliciently to prevent liquid from short-circutting to the underflow (‘rathol- ng’). However, excessive retention of settled solids uses septicization, gasification, and reduced -moval of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and total suspended solids (TSS) in the primary lariier Generally, plants maintain an inventory of solids inthe sludge blanket for 12 t0 24 hours to achieve ahighly concentrated underflow. Thickeners typ- ically are constructed with a floor slope of 20:12 025112 to provide adequate sludge depth over the hopper and simplify maintenance of the proper solids inventory. Conventional clarifiers with a 1:12 floor slope may require the same sludge depth to prevent shortcirculting of dilute liquid to the underilow, but the result Is a much larger, excessive solids Inventory and problems similar to those already outlined: Although the negative impacts on clarification performance associated with thickening solids in conventionally configured (1:12) primary clari- fiers are well known, they have not been quanti- fied. In addition, the possibility of controlling the primary claniying-thickening process by limiting inventory to 6to 12hours has not been addressed by investigators and practitioners in the waste- water field. Research conducted at two waste- ‘water treatment plants sheds light on these Issues. oecenaer 1997 @ Figure 1, Effect of Overflow Rate on Primary Effluent TSS. FRU RU ce Rc ege eee Read TS-ayl. oran enlarged primary clarification facility was ee eee rey “| needed. In flow-controlled studies, clarifier efflu- Cee ent quality was evaluated at different capaci- eee rag rer ties within the design average and at diurnal 150. Peeters eee ¢ flow rates of 6.75 and 9.20 m/s (154 and 210 mgd), respectively, Because the plant operated near or above design capacty, the average and diurnal overflow rates were 1.68 and2.31 m/e (1000 and 1360 gal/ft?/d), respectively (see Figure 1, left), Data from the fullscale performance study indicate thatthe 2.74 (9.8) SWD clarifiers are sigaificantly less efficient, at about 1.36 mn/hr (G00 gala), and could not meet design objec tives at the average overflow rate of 1.70 m/hr 0. (1000 gal/ft?/d). The primary effluent values of 108 mg/L TSS and 370 maj chemical oxygen L (Warton rate «mar naira demand (COD) were established as the limiting concentrations based on the maximum net ‘Tee Elst Avenue Pant sludge yield necessary to provide the minimum ‘The 6.75m'/s (154-mgd) 8lst Avenue Waste- SRT of 8.5 days, ‘water Treatment Plant in Phoenix, Ariz, process- The primary clarilers were Improved by adding es wastewater through 1042.7- x 2.74m (140-x _dissipating-energy inlets, spiral scrapers, and eff 848) side water depth (SWD) primary clerifiers. ent launder baflles. However, these improvements Due to acombination of long interceptors, very were not expected to provide a total remedy for \warm wastewater [20°C to 32°C (68"t090'F)],and the shortfall in treatment capacity. Therefore, discharge of residuals into the interceptors by chemical treatment was provided for peal-load up-sewer water reclamation facilities, the waste reduction. Economic analysis indicated that this water is septic and pollutant levels are reletive- parttime chemical treatment was more costeftec. ly high. A program to improve elfiuent quality _ tive than adding centralized primary clarillers Fequired converting the secondary treatment and distribution piping for the facility's ive sep- facility into a high-rate nitrification-denitrfica- arate plants. tion plant designed to produce less than8 mg/L re-examination of operating data for the pri total nitrogen at a 6.54lay solids retention time (SRT) and 5.7-hour hydraulic retention time Fullscale studies of a 1.3L-mY/s (80-mgq) plant-conversion program revealed that the viability of the high tate nitrification-

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