SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS

SLUDGE TREATMENT
3- SLUDGE DEWATERING

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FLOW LINE OF SLUDGE TREATMENT IN ACTIVATED SLUDGE PROCESS
Sewage Treatment Components:
1. Rising Main. 5. Grit Removal Chamber. 9. Aeration Tank.
2. Deceleration Tank. 6. Distribution Chamber. 10. Final Settling Tank.
3. Approach Channel. 7. Primary Settling Tank. 11. Disinfection.
4. Screens. 8. Returned Sludge Pump Station.12. Contact Tank.
PRIMARY TREATMENT BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT

11
9 10
7
1 2 3 4 6 12
5 6 6
screening

Final Effluent
Grit

17 Primary Sludge
8
13
Secondary Excess Sludge
Final Effluent

Sludge Treatment Components :

16 15 14
13. Sludge Pump Station.
14. Thickener.
Gas

15. Digester.
SLUDGE TREATMENT 16. Drying Beds.
17. Supernatant Pump Station.

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Drying Bed
Sludge drying beds are the oldest method of sludge dewatering.
These are still used extensively in small to medium-size plants to
dewater digested sludge.
Typical sand beds consist of a layer of coarse sand 15-25 cm in
depth and supported on a graded gravel bed that incorporates
selected tiles or perforated pipe under-drains. Paved drying beds
are also used.
Each section of the bed (8m × 30 m or 10 × 20 m) contains water-
tight walls, under-drain system, and vehicle tracks for removal of
sludge cake.
Sludge is placed on the bed in 20 to 30 cm (8 to12 in) layers and
allowed to dry. The under-drained liquid (filtrate water) is returned
to the plant.
The drying period is 10-15 days and moisture content of the cake
is 60-70 percent. Poorly digested sludge may cause odor
problems.
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Depending on the climatic conditions and odor control
requirements, the drying bed may be open or covered.
Typical design criteria for sludge drying beds receiving
digested primary and secondary sludge are given below:

1. Sludge Drying Bed Area:

0.14-0.28 m² per capita for uncovered beds.
0.10-0.20 m² per capita for covered beds.

2. Sludge Loading Rate

100-300 kg dry solids per m² per year for uncovered beds.
150-400 kg dry solids per m² per year for covered beds.

The sludge cake from drying beds contains 20-40 percent

solids and almost 90-100 percent solids capture occurs.

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