Ellis Corporation | Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF)

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Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF)

Ellis' most versatile and effective wastewater processing equipment.

The Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) system is perhaps the most

versatile and effective wastewater processing equipment
manufactured by the Ellis Corporation. As a separation device it
generally will effect the highest solids capture and will yield the
highest level of recovered solids under a wide range of flow
conditions. Oil/grease and suspended solids removal rates of greater
than 95% are normal. There are some sites reporting 99.9% O&G
and SS removal. Because of the outstanding performance and
reliability, the DAF is the preferred process for a wide range of industrial treatment problems.

PRECONDITIONING REQUIREMENTS

Most DAF applications require preconditioning of the wastewater using a

coagulant and a flocculating polymer. The more common coagulants are
inorganic salts such as alum, ferric chloride, ferrous sulfate, lime, sodium
hydroxide or organic polymers. The preconditioning requirement is
usually site specific and will impact operating cost, effluent quality, sludge
volume and possibly water reuse.

PRESSURIZED WATER

The driving force that allows a DAF to operate is gravity. By attaching small air bubbles to a solid or flocculated
particle the apparent specific gravity of the particle is changed from that of the surrounding water thus causing
the solids to rise or float.

The small air bubbles can be generated several ways. The most common is to spray the wastewater in to a
tank that is under several atmospheres of pressure. The small water droplets from the spray will approach
saturation within the pressurized atmosphere and collect in the bottom of the tank. As this pressurized water is
released to atmosphere, the air will come out of solution forming very small air bubbles.

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Ellis Corporation | Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF)

RECYCLE BLENDING

The pressurized recycle flow is released to atmospheric pressure and blended with the conditioned
wastewater. The mixing of these two streams occur in a chamber designed to enhance mixing without
coalescing of the air bubbles. This mixing chamber is directly connected to the diffusion fixture within the
separation cell. This fixture distributes the blended flow uniformly across the width of the DAF.

SOLIDS CHAMBER AND AUGER

The lower portion of the solids chamber of the DAF has 45° sloped sides to form a V bottom chamber
extending the length of the separation cell. This V bottom chamber is equipped with a slowly rotating ribbon
type screw auger to convey heavy gritty solids to a sludge discharge nozzle.

STAINLESS STEEL CONSTRUCTION

The shell of the DAF is available in 304 SS construction. The environment within the DAF may be highly
corrosive. The presence of chemicals and high levels of dissolved oxygen make frequent inspection and repair
of corrosion resistant coating a necessity. An all stainless steel shell eliminates this requirement.

FLOAT STORAGE CHAMBER

The integral float storage chamber is generously sized with a V-

bottom to permit near complete pumping of accumulated solids.
It is large enough to allow the use of level switches for
automatic solids pumping.

EFFLUENT CHAMBER

The effluent chamber acts as a feed reservoir for the

pressurization system. It is designed to protect the recycle
pump or the multiple stage pressurization pump from damage by running dry. This chamber is an ideal location
to adjust the effluent pH prior to discharge.

PRESSURIZATION SYSTEM

The pressurization system is designed to dissolve air into a portion of the effluent from the DAF. Ellis offers two
different methods of generating this pressurized recycle stream, either a steel constructed pressurized
dissolution tank or air aspirating multiphase pump. Depending on the unique requirements of the customer Ellis
can offer the system most suited to the project.

SKIMMER ASSEMBLY

The pivoted ferris wheel type skimmer is much cleaner and requires
less maintenance than a rigid fixed skimmer. During operation the
leading edge of the pivoted skimmer points downward in both the
skimming and return cycle thus preventing the accumulation of wet
solids on the skimmer blades. The skimmer assembly is driven via a
high torque gear motor connected to the shaft by a chain and
sprocket reduction. Shaft mounted sprockets drive a pair of stainless
steel chains to which are mounted the pivoting skimmer blades.

Ways to pressurize the water: Full Flow, Partial Flow, Recycle Flow, and Pump-Induced Air.

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Ellis Corporation | Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF)

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