Lecture Notes - Sedimentation Tank

Week 2
Module 2: Sedimentation
Topic Learning Objectives
After the topic, the students would be able
to
a. describe the principles of sedimentation
b. design sedimentation tanks for water
treatment
tlpaquit@uv-bcf.edu.ph
WATER PURIFICATION PROCESS DESIGN
SEDIMENTATION
- is a treatment process in which the velocity of the
water is lowered below the suspension velocity and
the suspended particles settle out of the water due to
gravity. The process is also known as settling or
clarification.
- the removal of particulate matter, chemical floc and

precipitates from suspension through gravity settling.
tlpaquit@uc-bcf.edu.ph
RECTANGULAR SEDIMENTATION TANK
Rectangular sedimentation tanks with effluent weir

structure visible above the fluid surface.
Circular Sedimentation Tank
Circular Sedimentation Tank
Circular clarifier with surface skimmer visible in Drained circular sedimentation tank showing central
the lower right. As the skimmer slowly rotates inlet baffles on the right with solids scraper and
around the clarifier, skimmed floating material is skimmer arms visible under the rotating bridge.
pushed into the trap visible above the fenced
enclosure at the lower left.
Location of Clarifier in the Treatment Process

- The most common form of sedimentation follows
coagulation and flocculation and precedes filtration
- Sedimentation at this stage in the treatment process
should remove 90% of the suspended particles from the
water, including bacteria
- The purpose is to decrease the concentration of
suspended particles in the water, reducing the load on the
filters
Location of Clarifier in the Treatment Process

- sedimentation can also occur as part of the
pretreatment process, where it is known as pre-
sedimentation or plain sedimentation. The process
depends merely on gravity and includes no
coagulation and flocculation.
- plain sedimentation can remove only coarse suspended
matter (such as grit) which will settle rapidly out of the
water. This type of sedimentation typically takes place
in a reservoir, grit basin, debris dam, or sand trap at
the beginning of the treatment process.
Types of Sedimentation Tanks

a. Rectangular basins - the simplest design,
allowing water to flow horizontally
through a long tank. This type of basin is
usually found in large-scale water
treatment plants. Its advantages are
predictability, cost-effectiveness, and low
maintenance and, the least likely to short-
circuit, especially if the length is at least
twice the width. A disadvantage of
rectangular basins is the large area of
land required.

a. Rectangular basins

b. Double-deck rectangular basins
- are essentially two
rectangular sedimentation
basins stacked one atop the
other. This type of basin
conserves land area, but has
higher operation and
maintenance costs than a one-
level rectangular basin.

b. Double-deck rectangular basins

c. Circular sedimentation basins with horizontal flow. This
type of basin is likely to have short-circuiting problems.
Inlet Zone
Inlet zone aims to distribute the water evenly

across the width of the basin, control the water's
velocity as it enters the basin, and prevent
turbulence of the water.
Short-circuiting is a problematic circumstance in
which water bypasses the normal flow path
through the basin and reaches the outlet in less
than the normal detention time.
Inlet Zone
Types of Inlet Zone

a. Stilling wall, also known as a perforated baffle wall,
spans the entire basin from top to bottom and from
side to side. Water leaves the inlet and enters the
settling zone of the sedimentation basin by flowing
through the holes evenly spaced across the stilling
wall.
b. The second type of inlet allows water to enter the
basin by first flowing through the holes evenly spaced
across the bottom of the channel and then by flowing
under the baffle in front of the channel. The
combination of channel and baffle serves to evenly
distribute the incoming water.
Settling Zone
From the inlet zone, water enters the settling
zone where water velocity is greatly
reduced. This is where the bulk of settling of
solid matters occurs. This zone will make up the
largest volume of the sedimentation basin. For
optimal performance, the settling zone requires
a slow, even flow of water.
The settling zone may be simply a large expanse

of open water. But in some cases, tube settlers
and plates are included in the settling zone.
Settling Zone
Outlet Zone
The outlet zone controls the water flowing out of the
sedimentation basin - both the amount of water leaving the
basin and the location in the basin from which the outflowing
water is drawn. Like the inlet zone, the outlet zone is
designed to prevent short-circuiting of water in the basin. A
good outlet will ensure that only well-settled water leaves the
basin and enters the filter.
Typical outlet zone begins with a baffle in front of the
effluent. This baffle prevents floating material from escaping
the sedimentation basin and clogging the filters. After the baffle
comes the effluent structure, which usually consists of a
launder, weirs, and effluent piping.
Outlet Zone
Horizontal Flow sedimentation Tank

Effluent weir
Sizing Criteria for Sedimentation Basins
a) Detention Where: t = detention time

Time; t V = Volume of
Clarifier
Q = water flow rate
b) Overflow Where:
Rate; vo vo = overflow rate, m3/m2. day
Q = water flow rate, m3/day
As = Surface area of basin, m2
c) Horizontal Velocity of
Flow; (Rectangular
Where: A = cross-sectional
Tank) area
vh vh = Volume of
Clarifier
Q = water flow rate
Sizing Criteria for sedimentation Basins
c) Settling vs
Velocity;
Where: vs = settling velocity, cm/sec
g = 981 cm/sec2
ρs = specific gravity of the particle
d = diameter of settling particle, cm
µ = viscosity of water in centi-stokes
d) Weir wo
Loading;
Where: wo = weir loading, m3/m. day
Q = water flow rate, m3/day
GLUMRB Recommended Design Values
• Detention period:
- for plain sedimentation: not less than 3 h
- for coagulated sedimentation: not less than 4 h
• Horizontal velocity of flow: maximum of 2.5
mm/sec
• Tank dimensions:
- Rectangular tanks:
L: W = 2 to 5
common L= 30 m and maximum of 100 m.
Width (Breadth)= 6 m to 10 m.
- Circular tanks:
Diameter - not greater than 60 m. generally
20 to 40
• Depth : 2.5 to 5.0 m; Common - 3 m
GLUMRB Recommended Design Values
• Surface Overflow Rate:

- plain sedimentation :12 to 18 m3/d.m2
- sedimentation of flocculated water : 20 to 33
m3/d.m2
• Weir Loading: maximum of 250 m3/m.d
• Slopes: Rectangular 1% towards inlet and
Circular 8%
Illustrative Problem
Design the plain rectangular sedimentation tank of the
proposed water treatment plant of a town. The treatment
plant will serve a predicted population of 40,000 persons
having a peak water demand of 150 liters/capita/day. The
available water supply contains 200 mg/l suspended solids
(SS) of sizes 0.015 mm. with a specific gravity of 2.65. The
viscosity of water is 1.2 x 10-2 cm2/sec. The sedimentation
tank will have 80% ss removal, and once a month cleaning
of settled solids. Assume other appropriate design data
when necessary.
a) Design a rectangular tank
b) Design a circular tank
Solution:
a. Determine the Water Demand
Q = (Pd)(Peak PCWC)
= (40,000)( )
= 250 m3/h or 0.069 m3/sec
or 6000 m3/ day
b. Determine the required liquid volume of the tank
Assume det. Time = 6 hours
V = Qt = (250 m3/h) (6h) = 1500 m3
Solution:
c. Determine the settling velocity
9.81 m/sec2
vs=
18(0.01 cm2/sec
= 0.0002 m/sec
d. Determine the liquid depth (h)
h = (vs)(t) = (0.0002 m/sec )(6hr)(
= 4.32 m.
Solution:
e. Design rectangular tank
e.1. Determine the surface area
As = Volume/h = (1500/4.32)
As = 347.22
e.2. Check Overflow rate
vo
12 m3/m2.d
18 m3/m2.d
(OK)
Solution:
e.4. Determine the width (W) of tank and length
(L) of settling zone
Assume L:W = 2, L = 2W
V = 1500 m3 = LWH = (2W2)(4.32 m)
W= = 13.18 m.
then L = 2 (13.18) = 26.36 m.(settling zone)
Solution:
e.5. Check Horizontal Velocity, vh

vh =
or 1.21 mm/sec (ok)
vo
(OK)
Solution:
e.7. Check Weir Loading
Wo = 6000/13.18 = 455.24 m3/m.d (not ok)
Assume weir loading = 250 m3/m.d
wo = 250
Length of weir (L) = = 24 m.

Needed additional length of weir = 24 – 13.18 = 10.82 m.
Provide 3 launders /finger weirs of length 1.803 m. say
1.85 (inflow at bothsides)
Solution:
f. Depth of solid storage chamber, hs
SS retained in the tank/day
= (0.80)
= 960 kg/day
SS retained in one month
= = 28800 kg
Volume of SS = = 11.52 m3
hs m.
j. Bottom Slope = (0.033/26.36) (100%) = 0.125%
Conclusion
Rectangular tank:
• Depth = 4.32 m. provide 0.50 m free board; H= 4.82 m
• Length = 26.36 m.
• Width = 13.18 m.
• Length of weir = 24.28 m.
• Detention time = 6.0 h
• Settling velocity of particles = 0.02 cm/sec
• Horizontal velocity = 1.21 mm/sec
• Overflow rate = 17.27 m3/m2.d
• Weir loading = 247.12 m3/m. day
• Depth of sludge storage = 0.033 m.
• Slope of tank bottom = 0.125% towards the inlet
• Provide 2.16 m inlet zone
Sketch
launders
13.18 m
2.16 m 26.36 m 1.85m

Free board
4.32m
0.033 m
0.125% slope
Solution:
e. Design circular tank
e.1. Determine the surface area with h=4.32 m.
As = Volume/h = (1500/4.32)
As = 347.22
vo
12 m3/m2.d
18 m3/m2.d
(OK)
Solution:
e. Design circular tank
e.4. Determine the diameter (D) of the tank
As = 347.22 =
D = 21.03 m.
vo = 17.27 m3/m2.d
(OK)
Solution:
e.6. Check Weir Loading
Provide peripheral effluent weir
Length of weir (L) = =
m.
wo = 90.81 m3/m.d 250 m3/m.d (ok)
Solution:
f. Depth of solid storage chamber, hs
SS retained in the tank/day
= (0.80)
= 960 kg/day
SS retained in one month
= = 288000 kg
Volume of SS = = 11.52 m3
Vss m. ; hs = 0.1
j. Bottom Slope = (0.1/10.515) (100%) = 0.95%

Adopt D = 21.03 m; h=4.32 m.
Add 0.50 m freeboard
Provide peripheral effluent weir and bottom slope of 0.95%
21.03 m.
0.50 m.
4.32 m.
Illustrative Problem 2
A sedimentation tank has a settling zone
of 42.70 m wide, 85.40 m long and 5.18 m
depth. The length of the four channels
effluent weir at the end of the tank is
384.15 m Calculate the major parameters
used in sizing the unit if the water flow is
151,400 m3/day. How are the calculated
values compared with the recommended
standards?
1. Detention period, t = V/Q
= [(42.7x 85.4 x 5.18)/(151400)] (24) = 2.994 hr
2. Overflow Rate, Vo = Q/A = [(151400)/(42.7 x 85.4)]

= 41.52 m3/m2.d
3. Weir loading, Wo = Q/L = [(151400)/(384.15)]
= 394.12 m3/m.d
4. Horizontal Velocity, Vh = Q/A
= [(151400)/(42.7 x 5.18 x 86400)]
= 0.0079 m/s or 7.9 mm/s
Conclusions: the parameters are not within

the recommended values.
Practice Problems
Problem1.
Design a sedimentation tank to treat
151400 m3/d of flocculated water. What
should be the dimensions if the tank is
a) Rectangular?
b) Circular?
Make appropriate design assumptions
when needed.

Lecture Notes - Sedimentation Tank

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Week 2

- the removal of particulate matter, chemical floc and

Rectangular sedimentation tanks with effluent weir

Location of Clarifier in the Treatment Process

Location of Clarifier in the Treatment Process

Types of Sedimentation Tanks

Types of Sedimentation Tanks

Types of Sedimentation Tanks

Types of Sedimentation Tanks

Types of Sedimentation Tanks

Inlet zone aims to distribute the water evenly

Types of Inlet Zone

The settling zone may be simply a large expanse

Horizontal Flow sedimentation Tank

Sizing Criteria for Sedimentation Basins

a) Detention Where: t = detention time

Sizing Criteria for sedimentation Basins

• Surface Overflow Rate:

then L = 2 (13.18) = 26.36 m.(settling zone)

e.5. Check Horizontal Velocity, vh

Length of weir (L) = = 24 m.

2.16 m 26.36 m 1.85m

wo = 90.81 m3/m.d 250 m3/m.d (ok)

j. Bottom Slope = (0.1/10.515) (100%) = 0.95%

2. Overflow Rate, Vo = Q/A = [(151400)/(42.7 x 85.4)]

Conclusions: the parameters are not within

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