Treatment technologies:
Lecture-3
Dr. M. Khabir Uddin
Professor
Department of Environmental Sciences
Jahangirnagar University
Volume Requirement for Equalization Basin
The volume required for flowrate equalization is determined by using
an inflow cumulative volume diagram in which the cumulative inflow
volume is plotted versus the time of day.
The average daily flowrate, also plotted on the same diagram, is the
straight line drawn from the origin to the endpoint of the diagram.
Diagrams for tow typical flowrate patterns are shown on fig. 5-11.
To determine the required volume, a line parallel to the coordinate
axis, defined by the average daily flowerate, is drawn tangent to the
mass inflow curve.
The required volume is then equal to the vertical distance from the
point of tangency to the straight line representing the average
flowrate.(Fig.1-5a)
…….continued
If the inflow mass curve goes above the line representing the
average flowrate (Fig.1-5b),the inflow mass diagram must be
bounded with two lines that are parallel to the average flowrate line
and tangent to extremities of the inflow mass dioagram.
The required volume is then equal to the vertical distance between
the two lines.
Primary Sedimentation
The objective of treatment by sedimentation is to remove readily
settleable solids and floating materials and thus reduce the
suspended solids content.
Primary sedimentation is used as a preliminary step in the further
processing of the wastewater.
Efficiently designed and operated primary sedimentation tanks
should remove from 50 to 70 % of the suspended solids and from 25
to 40 % BOD.
Sedimentation tanks have also been used as stormwater retention
tanks with moderate detention period (10 to 30 min) for overflows.
Purpose of sedimentation
To remove a substantial portion of the organic solids.
To provide detention periods sufficient for effective disinfection of the
wastewater flows.
Wastewater Treatment Plant
Description of sedimentation tanks
Almost all treatment plants use mechanically cleaned sedimentation
tanks of standardized circular or rectangular design.
Two or more tanks should be provided so that the process may remain
in operation while one tank is out of service for maintenance and
repair work
Consideration for the selection of tank
The selection of the type of sedimentation unit for a given application is
governed by
✔ The size of the installation
✔ Rules and regulations of local control authorities
✔ Local site conditions
✔ Experience and judgment of the engineer.
Types of tank
There are two type of sedimentation tanks
1. Rectangular tanks: Rectangular sedimentation tanks may use either
chain-and-flight solids collectors or traveling-bridge-type collectors.
Flow distribution in rectangular tanks is critical
2. Circular tanks: In circular tanks the flow pattern is radial rather than
horizontal in rectangular tanks. To achieve a radial flow pattern, the
wastewater to be settled can be introduced in the center or around
the periphery of the tank.
Rectangular sedimentation tank
Circular Sedimentation tank
Sedimentation tank performance
The efficiency of sedimentation basins with respect to the removal of
BOD and TSS is reduced by
I. Eddy currents formed by the inertia of the incoming fluid
II. Wind induced circulation cells formed in uncovered tanks
III. Thermal convection currents
IV. Cold or warm water causing the formation of density currents that
move along the bottom of the basin and warm water rising and
flowing across the top of the tank
V. Thermal satisfaction in hot arid climates
Characteristics and quantities of sludge and scum
Scum consists of a variety of floatable materials, and solids
concentrations vary widely.
Typical values of specific gravity and solids (sludge) and scum removed
from primary sedimentation tanks are presented in the table.
Type of solids Specific gravity Solids concentration %
Range Typical
Primary only:
Medium strength 1.03 4-12 6
wastewater 1.05 4-12 6.5
Combined sewer
Primary & waste 1.03 2-6 3
activated sludge
Primary & trickling 1.03 4-10 5
filter sludge
Scum 0.95 Highly variable
Characteristics…. continue
❖ In primary sedimentation tanks used in activated-sludge plants,
provision may be required for handling the excess activated sludge
that may be discharged into influent of primary tanks for settlement
and consolidation with primary sludge.
❖ For returned waste activated sludge to primary sedimentation, it
should include provision for light flocculent solids of 98 to 99.5 %
moisture and for concentrations ranging from 1500 to 10000 mg/L in
the influent mixed liquor
Volume of solids
The volume of solids produced in primary sedimentation tanks must be
known so that these tanks and subsequent solids pumping,
processing, and disposal facilities can be properly designed.
The solids volume will depend on
1. The characteristics of untreated wastewater
2. The period of sedimentation and the degree of purification
3. The condition of the deposited solids, such as specific gravity, water
content etc.
4. The period between solids-removal operations
High-Rate Clarification(HRC)
High-rate clarification employs physical/chemical treatment and
utilizes flocculation and sedimentation systems to achieve rapid
settling.
The essential elements of HRC are
a) Enhanced particles settling
b) The use of inclined plate or tube settlers
Advantages of HRC:
✔ Units are compact and thus reduce space requirements
✔ Start-up times are rapid (Less than 30 min) to achieve peak
efficiency.
✔ Highly clarified effluent is produced.
HRC
Process application
Three basic types of process are used for HRC.
I. Ballasted flocculation with lamella plate clarification: In which
flocculation aid and a ballasted agents ( silica microsand) are used to
form dense microfloc particles. The resulting floc particles are thus
ballasted and settle rapidly.
II. Three-stage flocculation with lamella plate clarification: chemical
addition followed by three stage flocculation and a lamella plate
clarifier. Coagulant and polymer are injected into the influent
wastewater prior to entrance into flocculation zone.
III. Dense sludge flocculation with lamella plate clarification: The dense
sludge is a proprietary process and differs from ballasted process in
that recycled chemically condition solids are used to form microfloc
particles with incoming wastewater instead of microsand.
Flotation
Flotation is a unit operation used to separate solid or liquid particles
from liquid phase.
Separation is brought about by introducing fine gas (air) bubbles into
the liquid phase.
The bubbles attach to the particulate matter, and the buoyant force of
the combined particle and gas bubbles is great enough to cause the
particle to rise to the surface.
Particles that have higher density than the liquid can thus be made to
rise as well as the rising particles with lower density than the liquid
also facilitated.
Application and advantages
❖ In wastewater treatment, flotation is used principally to remove
suspended matter and to concentrate biosolids.
❖ The advantages of flotation over sedimentation are that very small
and light particles that settle slowly can be removed more completely
and in shorter time
❖ Once the particles have been floated to the surface, they can be
collected by a skimming operation
Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF)
In dissolved air flotation systems (DAF), air is dissolved in the
wastewater under a pressure of several atmospheres, followed by
release of the pressure to the atmospheric level.
In small pressure systems, the entire flow may be pressurized by
means of pump to 275 to 350 kPa with compressed air added at the
pump section.
In the larger units, a portion of the DAF effluent is recycled,
pressurized, and semi-saturated with air.
Pressure type of units have been used mainly for the treatment of
industrial wastes and for the concentration of solids.
DAF
End of Topic 2
R. Book: Wastewater Engineering
