WASTEWATER

ENGINEERING - III

CH 4214
Environmental Engineering and Management
M.G.I. Lakmi
WASTEWATER ENGINEERING

Introduction
Wastewater Quality Parameters
Wastewater Pollutants
Treatment Technologies
Process and Technology Selection
Basic Design Considerations
Physical Unit Operations
 Mixing
❑ “Mixing” is a critical physical unit operation applied in various stages in wastewater treatment
process.

❑ The major objectives of mixing are,

❑ To achieve complete mixing of substances (E.g: in equalization tanks)

❑ Blending of miscible liquids
❑ Flocculation of wastewater particles
❑ Continuous mixing to keep solid particles in suspension
❑ Achieve better heat and mass transfer

❑ The mixing operations in wastewater treatment can be classified as;

❑ Continuous rapid mixing

❑ Continuous slow mixing
Continuous Rapid Mixing

❑ Blending of chemicals into wastewater (short term mixing)

❑ Addition of alum for coagulation

❑ Addition of chlorine for disinfection

❑ Blending of miscible liquids

❑ Addition of chemicals to the sludge and biosolids to improve the dewatering capability

Continuous Slow Mixing

❑ Equalization basins to avoid solid settling

❑ Flocculation basins to form flocculants

❑ Biological treatment process to keep the biomass in suspension

 Design of Mixers
Velocity Gradient (G)

𝑷
𝑮=
µ𝑽

G: Velocity gradient (𝑠 −1 ), P: Power input to the mixer (W)

V: Volume of the mixing tank (𝑚3 ), μ: Dynamic viscosity of the fluid (Pas)

❑ This value is a rough indication of mixing effectiveness, also defined as the power
input to the unit volume.

❑ P↑ ⇒ G↑; better mixing (higher power input cause greater turbulence in the system,
thereby better mixing).

❑ Therefore, for flash mixers higher G values will be used, whereas, in flocculators lower
G values are preferred to lower down the shearing that tear apart the created flocs.
 Design of Mixers
Detention Time (τ)
𝑽
𝝉= Q: Influent flow rate (𝑚3 𝑠 −1 )
𝑸

Therefore, we can rearrange the above equation as,

𝑽 𝑷 𝟏 𝑷𝑽
𝑮𝝉 = =
𝑸 µ𝑽 𝑸 µ

Case I: G↑ and τ↓ ⇒ small flocs; better mixing (requirement of a flash mixing)

Case II: G↓ and τ↑ ⇒ larger flocs, adequate time for making larger flocs for settling (requirement
of a flocculator)

❑ Typical G and τ values for a flash mixer in WWTP is 500 – 1500 𝑠 −1 and 5-30 s respectively.

❑ Typical G and τ values for a flocculator in WWTP is 50 – 100 𝑠 −1 and 10-60 mins respectively.
Exercise: Determination of the power input to a flash mixer

In a wastewater treatment plant, it is required to process 30 000 𝑚3 𝑑𝑎𝑦 −1 of

wastewater (density of 1050 𝑘𝑔 𝑚−3 , ν (kinematic viscosity) of 1 × 10−6 𝑚2 𝑠 −1 ).
The rapid mixing tank imparts a velocity gradient of 1000 𝑠 −1 to blend 30
𝑚𝑔 𝐿−1 alum with the flow with a detention time of 2 mins. Calculate the power
input to the flash mixer.
Mixers Used in Flash Mixing

❑ Static mixers: Sudden changes in velocity patterns and momentum reversal

❑ In-line mixers: Similar to static mixers but contain rotating element to enhance mixing

❑ High-speed induction mixer

❑ Pressurized water jets

❑ Turbine and propeller mixers

Mixers Used in Slow Mixing

❑ Static mixers

❑ Paddle mixers

Power Requirement (P) of a Paddle Mixer

𝑪𝑫 𝑨𝝆𝒗𝟑𝑷
𝑷=
𝟐
𝑪𝑫 : Coefficient of drag of paddle moving perpendicular to the fluid

𝑨: Cross sectional area of the paddles (𝒎𝟐 )

𝝆: Density of the fluid (𝒌𝒈 𝒎−𝟑 )

𝒗𝑷 : Relative velocity of the paddle with respect to the fluid (m/s), usually assumed to be 0.6- 0.75 times the
paddle tip speed
Exercise: Mixing power requirement and the paddle area for a wastewater
flocculator

01) Determine the theoretical power requirement of the paddle mixer.

02) Determine the required paddle area.
Assume wastewater viscosity is as same as the viscosity of pure water at 25 ⁰C.

❑ Volume of the flocculator: 5000 𝑚3

❑ Required velocity gradient: 90 𝑠 −1
❑ The drag coefficient for rectangular paddles: 1.8
❑ Paddle tip velocity: 0.5 m 𝑠 −1
 Grit Removal Tank (Grit Chamber)
❑ This process typically follow screening and comminution.
❑ Grit includes sand, gravel, cinder, food waste or other heavy solid materials that are “heavier” (higher
specific gravity) than the organic biodegradable solids in the wastewater.

❑ Removal of grit prevents blockages in pipelines and channels, and accumulation of grit in anaerobic
digesters and aeration basins.

❑ Types of grit removal systems;

❑ Aerated grit chambers
❑ Vortex-type grit removal systems (paddle or jet induced vortex)
❑ Gravity-type grit chambers
❑ Horizontal flow grit chambers (velocity-controlled channel)
❑ Hydro-cyclones (cyclonic inertial separation)
 Types of Grit Chambers
Aerated Grit Chamber

❑ In an aerated grit chamber, diffused air is used to "roll" the wastewater as it flows through the
chamber.

❑ When the wastewater is rolling, due to high inertia of the heavier particles, they will settle down.

❑ The target velocity of the roll is usually 0.3 m/s (1.0 ft/sec) to allow the heavier grit particles to
settle out while the lighter organic particles stay in suspension.

❑ The air flow rate can be easily adjusted to find the optimum roll velocity for a specific plant.
 Types of Grit Chambers
Vortex Grit Chamber

Vortex grit chambers utilize a swirl flow pattern caused by either the tank configuration,
mechanical action or a combination of the two to increase the speed and the efficiency of the grit
settling.

The vortex pulls the grit in a downward to the bottom of the structure.

The grit is then usually pumped to a grit classifier where it is further dewatered prior to disposal.

Two types of vortex grit chambers are;

❑ Mechanical and

❑ Free vortex grit chambers

 Types of Grit Chambers
Gravity - type Grit Chamber

❑ In a gravity grit chamber, the flow is slowed down to a rate such

that the decreased velocity allows the grit and some of the
heavier organic solids to settle, yet keeps the lighter organic
solids moving along to the next treatment process.

❑ To slow down the wastewater flowing through a gravity grit

chamber to approximately 0.3 m/s, devices such as a proportional
weir, partial flume or multiple grit chamber systems are used.

❑ Grit is typically removed using special rakes and blades that scoop
the grit to a collection tank where it is temporarily stored before
it is washed and then disposed.
Factors to be considered when selection of a grit chamber

❑ Quantity of wastewater

❑ Characteristics of grit

❑ Potential adverse effects on downstream processes

❑ Head loss requirements

❑ Space requirements

❑ Removal efficiency

❑ Organic content

❑ Cost
Exercise: Design of an aerated grit chamber
Design an aerated grit chamber for the treatment of municipal wastewater. The average
flowrate is 0.5 𝑚3 /𝑠. Peaking factor is 2.4
Assume two chambers with an average detention time (at peak flow rate) of 3 mins.
Take width : depth ratio as 1.2:1 and assume depth is 3 m.
 Sedimentation
❑ Sedimentation is the separation of suspended particles that are heavier than that of
water by gravitational force.

❑ The equipment which the settling of suspended particles occur is termed as

sedimentation basin, sedimentation tank, settling tank, clarifier or thickener.

❑ If the main purpose is to concentrate suspended solids, then the equipment is called as a
‘thickener’.

❑ If the main purpose is to produce clarified water, then the equipment is called as a
‘clarifier’.
 Sedimentation
Settling Theory

(01) Spherical particle settling under laminar flow conditions (𝑅𝑒 ≤ 1); Stokes's Law
𝝆𝑷 − 𝝆𝑾 𝟐
𝒗𝒑 = 𝒈( )𝒅𝑷
𝟏𝟖𝝁

𝒗𝒑 : Particle settling velocity (𝑚/𝑠)

𝝆𝑾 : Wastewater density (𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 )

𝑔: Gravitational acceleration (𝑚/𝑠 2 )

𝝁: Wastewater dynamic viscosity (𝑃𝑎. 𝑠)

𝝆𝑷 : Particle density (𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 )

𝒅𝑷 : Particle diameter (𝑚)

 Sedimentation
Settling Theory

(02) Spherical particle settling under turbulent flow conditions (𝑅𝑒 > 1),

𝟒𝒈 𝝆𝑷 − 𝝆𝑾
𝒗𝒑 = ( )𝒅𝑷
𝟑𝑪𝑫 ∅ 𝝆𝑾

𝒗𝒑 : Particle settling velocity (𝑚/𝑠), 𝝆𝑾 : Wastewater density (𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 )

𝑔: Gravitational acceleration (𝑚/𝑠 2 ), 𝝁: Wastewater dynamic viscosity (𝑃𝑎. 𝑠)

𝝆𝑷 : Particle density (𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 ), 𝒅𝑷 : Particle diameter (𝑚)

∅: Shape factor, 𝑪𝑫 : Drag coefficient

 Sedimentation
(03) Discrete particle settling

The usual design approach is to select a particle with a settling velocity (𝑉𝑐 ) and design the basin
so that all the particles having a settling velocity greater than 𝑉𝑐 will be removed.

In a continuous flow sedimentation tank, the length of the tank and the detention time of a unit
volume of liquid is such that, all the particles with the settling velocity greater than or equal to
the design velocity must settle to the tank bottoms.

The design velocity can be obtained as,

𝑫𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒌

𝑽𝒅 =
𝑫𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆
 Sedimentation
(03) Discrete particle settling

❑ Case 01: 𝑉𝑐 > 𝑉𝑑 All the particles will be settling down

❑ Case 02: 𝑉𝑐 = 𝑉𝑑 All the particles will be settling down

❑ Case 03: 𝑉𝑐 < 𝑉𝑑 Part of particles will be settling down

𝑽𝒄
The fraction settled (X) is defined as; 𝑿=
𝑽𝒅

The discrete particles fraction settled (𝑿𝑻 ) can be found as;

𝑽
σ ( 𝒄,𝒊 )𝒏𝒊
𝑽𝒅
𝑿=
σ 𝒏𝒊

𝒏𝒊 : number of particles with a certain settling velocity

Exercise: Calculation of the removal efficiency of a sedimentation basin
Determine the removal efficiency of a sedimentation basin with a critical overflow velocity
of 2 m/hr. The settling velocity data distribution of the suspended particles is given in the
following table.
Typical Circular Primary Sedimentation Tank (Primary
Clarifier)
 Typical Circular Primary Sedimentation Tank (Primary
Clarifier)
❑ Feed is supplied through the inlet and suspended particles are settled down.

❑ Clarified water will overflow through the V notch weir.

❑ Settled solids are directed to the sludge discharge pit by the rake arms.

❑ Rake arms should be moving slowly, otherwise settled solid will tend to suspend again.

❑ The skimmer arm, typically a rotating mechanical arm with a series of blades, is positioned near the
water surface. It is used to skim the floating materials, such as grease, scum, oil, and any other light
solids or debris, from the surface of the wastewater.

❑ As the skimmer arm rotates, it collects and directs the floating materials towards a collection scum
trough or channel.
Primary Clarifier with Peripheral Feed
Flocculator - Clarifier
 Flocculator - Clarifier
❑ A flocculator-clarifier is an equipment with both flocculation and clarification.

❑ Flocculation: Coagulants and flocculants should be added to the incoming wastewater. Coagulants
are chemicals that neutralize the electrical charges on fine suspended particles, allowing them to
come together or coagulate. Flocculants are polymers that help bind these coagulated particles
into larger, heavier flocs.

❑ Flocculation Basin: The water is then directed into a flocculation basin or tank. In this tank,
proper mixing should be supplied to improve the contact between the coagulated particles.
Agitators or paddles are used to create a controlled turbulence that promotes the collision and
aggregation of the particles into larger flocs.

❑ Clarification: After the flocculation process, the water flows into the clarifier section of the unit.
Here, the water velocity is significantly reduced. This reduction in velocity allows the larger and
heavier flocs to settle to the bottom of the tank under the influence of gravity.
 Sedimentation Tank Performance
❑ The efficiency of the sedimentation tank (with respect to BOD and TSS removal) is reduced due to,
❑ Density current formation due to cold and warm water
❑ Wind induced circulation
Rectangular Sedimentation Tank: Typical Flow Patterns
 Scour Velocity
❑ The surface velocity may resuspend the settled particles. To avoid the
resuspension, the horizontal flowrates must be kept as a minimum.
❑ The following expression shows the correlation for calculating the critical scour
velocity,
𝟖𝒌 𝒔 − 𝟏 𝒈𝒅
𝒗𝑯 =
𝒇

𝒗𝑯 : Critical horizontal velocity (m/s)

𝒌: cohesion constant
𝒔 : specific gravity of suspended particles
𝒅: diameter of particles (m)
f: Darcy friction factor
Exercise: Design of a primary sedimentation tank
The average flow at a small municipal wastewater treatment plant is 20,000 𝒎𝟑 /𝒅𝒂𝒚. The highest
observed peak daily flowrate is 50,000 𝒎𝟑 /𝒅𝒂𝒚.
❑ Design rectangular primary clarifiers with channel width of 6m. Use minimum of two clarifies.
❑ Calculate the scour velocity, to determine if settled material will become resuspended. K: 0.05, s:
1.25, d: 100µm, f: 0.025
❑ Estimate the BOD and TSS removal at average and peak flow. Use an overflow rate of 𝟒𝟎 𝒎𝟑 /𝒎𝟐 𝒅𝒂𝒚
at average flow and a side water depth of 4m.
The BOD and TSS removal efficiencies can be found by;

𝒕
𝑹% =
𝒂 + 𝒃𝒕

𝒕: 𝑫𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆
𝒂, 𝒃: 𝑬𝒎𝒑𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒄𝒐𝒆𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔
 Floatation
❑ Floatation is used to separate solid or liquid particles from a liquid phase by
introducing fine gas (usually air) bubbles to the liquid phase.
❑ The liquid or solid particles are attached to the gas bubbles and carried upward
under bouncy force.
❑ The small particles that are slowly settling under gravity can be easily separated
by this method.
❑ Two main types of floatation systems in wastewater treatment are,
❑ Dissolved air floatation systems
❑ Dispersed air floatation systems
 Dissolved Air Floatation (DAF) System
❑ Used to separates solids and oils from wastewater using microbubbles of air.
❑ Before entering the DAF unit, chemicals known as coagulants are often added to the
wastewater.
❑ Injection of air while liquid is under pressure followed by releasing the pressure.
❑ Air is dissolved into the wastewater under pressure. This is typically done in a saturation tank
or chamber. The high pressure allows the water to hold a significant amount of dissolved air.
❑ The pressurized wastewater is then released into the DAF tank or vessel, where the sudden
drop in pressure causes the dissolved air to come out of solution and form tiny air bubbles.
These microbubbles attach themselves to the flocs of suspended solids and oils, making them
float to the surface.
❑ As the bubbles attach to the flocs, they create a buoyant force, causing the flocs to rise to the
surface of the DAF tank.
 Dispersed Air Floatation System (Induced Air Floatation)

❑ Uses air bubbles to separate and remove suspended solids, oils, and other
contaminants from wastewater.
❑ Dispersed Air Flotation introduces air into the wastewater in the form of fine
bubbles without first dissolving it under pressure.
❑ Air is introduced into the wastewater using air blowers or diffusers. The air is
typically introduced at or near the bottom of the DAF tank.
❑ As the air is released into the wastewater, it forms small bubbles that rise through
the water column with attached particles.
❑ Typically used for treating high volume wastewater facilities.
End…