Design problems-Set 1

Problem 1. Calculate the dimension of a rapid mix single basin

to treat a flow of 18,900 m3/d entering into four basins. Design
for a detention time of 20 s. the basin shell be square with a
depth-to-width ration of 1.6 to 1 and a length to width ratio 1 to
1.
Problem 2. Calculate the energy requirement and rotation speed
of the rapid-mix basin designed in problem 1. Provide the
velocity gradient of 1000 s-1. Use four blade turbine mixer with
an impeller diameter of 0.7 m. the gear efficiency is 0.9 and the
ratio of blade width to blade diameter is 0.2.
Problem 3. Calculate the dimensions of flocculation basin to
treat a flow of 18,900 m3/d. The flocculator has a three stage
basin with 10 min detention time in each stage. The basin has a
width of 12 m, and the total length of 3 times the basin depth.
Problem 4. Calculate the requirement of rotation speed of
paddle wheels in three stages of flocculation basins desigened in
problem 3. The efficiency of gear box and bearings are 90% and
70% respectively. Basic requirements of paddle wheels are
summarized in the following table. Assume the absolute velocity
exceeds the desired velocity relative to water by 33%.

Table. Design parameter of flocculation basin.

Stage G Paddle Paddle No. of No. of Paddle-
(s-1) width length paddles segments blade
on each diameter
(cm) (m)
segment

1 40 15.2 1 8 10 4 at 2.5 m,
4 at 2.0 m
2 30 15.2 1 6 10 2 at 2.5 m,
2 at 2.0 m,
2 at 1.5 m
3 15 15.2 1 4 10 2 at 2.5 m,
2 at 2.0 m

Problem 5. In design example the rapid mix basins were

designed for a maximum flow rate of 113, 500 m3/d. determine
the impact of increasing the flow rate to 170, 300 m3/d. Discuss
alternatives available to implement this increase.
Problem 6. Design a rapid mix flocculation process to meet the
following requirements.
Flow rate 20,000 m3/d
Rapid mix detention time 30 s
Rapid mix velocity gradient 800/s
Flocculation detention time 3 stage at 12 min each
Flocculation velocity gradient
1st stage 50/s
2nd stage 35/s
3rd stage 20/2

Problem 7. Determine the motor power required for a blending

tank using redwood paddles. There are 12 paddles six on each
side of central shaft. Each paddle is 0.1 m wide x 2.75 m long.
The distances to the middle of each paddle from the center of the
shaft are 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0m. Assume rotational
speed of the shaft 0.06 rsp, CD=1.8 motor efficiency = 75%, and
specific gravity of blended sludge = 1.01.