Wastewater Treatment Management

Operation & Technology

(PhD program)

Physical Unit Operations

Prepared by
Dr.Khaled Zaher
Assistant Professor, Public Works Engineering Department,
Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University
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1. Screening

• A screen is a device with openings, generally of uniform size,

that is used to retain solids found in the influent wastewater
to the treatment plant. The principle role of screening is to
remove coarse materials from the flow stream that could:
• 1. damage subsequent process equipment
• 2. reduce overall treatment process reliability and
effectiveness
• 3. contaminate waterways
• Fine screens are sometimes used in place of or following
coarse screens where greater removals of solids are required
(1) protect process equipment or (2) eliminate materials that
may inhibit the beneficial reuse of biosolids.
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• The screening element may consist of parallel bars,

rods or wires, wire mesh, or perforated plate, and
the openings may be of any shape but generally are
circular or rectangular slots. A screen composed of
parallel bars or rods is often called a ''bar rack'' or a
coarse screen and is used for removal of coarse
solids. The materials removed by these devices are
known as screenings. Hand cleaned coarse screens
are used when the flow is not more than 5000 m3/d,
while mechanical cleaned coarse screens are used
when the flow is more than 5000 m3/d.
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• Design criteria according to Egyptian code:

• Horizontal velocity through clean bar screens = 0.3 - 1 m/s
• component of horizontal velocity perpendicular to screen ≤
0.6 m/s
• Distance between bars of fine screen = 25 mm - 50 mm
• Distance between bars of coarse screen = 25 mm - 75 mm
• Inclined angle of hand cleaned coarse screens = 45o - 60o
• Inclined angle of mechanical cleaned coarse screens = 60o -
80o
• Width of one bar = 1-2 cm
• Length of one bar = 2-6 cm
• Diameter of one bar = 1.5 - 3 cm
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• To design a coarse screen:

• Q = A * V┴
• V┴ = V *sin θ
• A = area = ((n-1)*S) * d
• W = (n-1)*S + n*w
• hl = * (V2 - v'2)/2g
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where :
• S = distance between bars
• n = number of bars
• d = depth
• V = horizontal velocity between bars
• w= width or diameter of one bar
• W = Total width of screen
• hl = head loss (m)
• C = an empirical discharge coefficient to account for
turbulence and eddy losses, typically 0.7 for a clean
screen and 0.6 for a clogged screen
• v' = approaching velocity in upstream
• g = 9.81 m/s2
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2. Grit Removal
• Grit chambers are designed to removal grit,
consisting of sand, gravel, cinders, or other heavy
solid materials that have subsiding velocities or
specific gravities substantially greater than those of
the organic solids in wastewater. Grit chambers are
most commonly located after the bar screens and
before the primary sedimentation tanks. Primary
sedimentation tanks function for the removal of
heavy organic solids. In some installations, grit
chambers precede the screening facilities. Generally,
the installation of screening facilities ahead of the
grit chambers makes the operation and maintenance
of the grit removal facilities easier.
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• Grit chambers are provided to:

• (1) protect moving mechanical equipment from
abrasion and accompanying abnormal wear;
• (2) reduce formation of heavy deposits in
pipelines, and channels, and conduits; and
• (3) reduce the frequency of digester cleaning
caused by excessive accumulations of grit.
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• There are two general types of grit chambers: horizontal

flow or aerated type. In horizontal flow type, the flow
passes through the chamber in a horizontal direction and
the straight-line velocity of flow is controlled by the
dimensions of the unit, an influent distribution gate, and
a weir at the effluent end. The aerated type consists of a
spiral flow aeration tank where the spiral velocity is
induced and controlled by the tank dimensions and
quantity of air supplied to the unit. Design of grit
chambers is commonly based on the removal of grit
particles having as specific gravity of 2.65 and a
wastewater temperature of 15.5 oC. However, analysis of
grit-removal data indicates the specific gravity ranges
from 1.3 to 2.7.
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• Generally, what is removed as grit is predominantly

inert and relatively dry material. However, grit
composition can be highly variable, with moisture
content ranging from 13 to 65 percent, and volatile
content from 1 to 56 percent. The specific gravity of
clean grit particles reaches 2.7 for inerts but can be
as low as 1.3 when substantial organic material is
agglomerated with inerts. A bulk density of 1600
kg/m3 is commonly used for grit. Grit particles 0.2
mm and larger have been cited as the cause of most
downstream problems.
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Horizontal flow Grit Removal:

• Rectangular or square horizontal flow grit removal
have been used for many years. Rectangular
horizontal flow grit chambers is the oldest type of
grit chamber used. It is velocity-controlled type.
these units were designed to maintain a velocity as
close to 0.3 m/s as practical and to provide
sufficient time for grit particles to settle to the
bottom of the channel. The design velocity will carry
most organic particles through the chamber and will
tend to resuspend any organic particles that settle
but will permit the heavier grit to settle out.
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• The basis of design of rectangular horizontal flow grit

chambers is that, under the most adverse conditions, the
lightest particle of grit will reach the bed of the channel that
will be retained on a 0.2 mm diameter (65 mesh) screen,
although many chambers have been designed to remove grit
particles retained on a 0.15 mm diameter (100 mesh) screen.
The length of the channel will be governed by the depth
required by the settling velocity and the control section, and
the cross sectional area will be governed by the rate of flow
and by the number of channels. Allowance should be made for
inlet and outlet turbulence. Grit removal from horizontal flow
chambers is accomplished usually by a conveyor with
scrapers. In small plants, grit chambers are sometimes
cleaned manually.
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• Design criteria of horizontal flow grit chamber according to Egyptian Code:

• Horizontal velocity = 0.25 - 0.5 m/s

• Detention time = 45 - 90 s

• Surface loading rate should not exceed 1200 m3/m2/d

• Water Depth = 0.6 - 1 m

• Width of chamber = (1 - 2) water depth

• Vertical velocity = 2 cm/s for particles greater than 0.2 mm

• Length of chamber = (20 - 30) water depth

• Amount of grit settled = 100 - 250 l/1000 m3/d

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Aerated Grit Chambers:

• In aerated grit chambers, air is introduced along one side of a
rectangular tank to create a spiral flow pattern perpendicular
to the flow through the tank. The heavier grit particles that
have higher settling velocities settle to the bottom of the tank.
Lighter, principally organic, particles remain in suspension
and pass through the tank. The velocity of roll or agitation
governs the size of particles of a given specific gravity that will
be removed. If the velocity is too great, grit will be carries out
of the chamber; if it is too small, organic material will be
removed with the grit. Fortunately, the quantity of air is easily
adjusted, almost 100 percent removal will be obtained and the
grit will be well washed. Grit that is not well washed and
contains organic matter is an odor nuisance and attracts
insects.
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• Aerated grit chambers are nominally designed to

remove 0.21 mm diameter (65 mesh) or larger, with
2 to 5 minute detention periods at the peak hourly
rate of flow. The cross section of the tank is similar
to that provided for spiral circulation in activated
sludge aeration tanks, except that a grit hopper
about 0.9 m deep with steeply sloping sides is
located along one side of the tank under the air
diffusers. The air diffusers are locates about 0.45 to
0.6 m above the normal plane of the bottom.
Influent and effluent baffles are used frequently for
hydraulic control and improved grit removal
effectiveness.
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• Wastewater will move through the tank in a spiral path and

will make two to three passes across the bottom of the tank at
maximum flow and more passes at lesser flows. Wastewater
should be introduced in the direction of the roll. To determine
the required head loss through the chamber, the expansion in
volume caused by the air must be considered. In areas where
industrial wastewater is discharged to the collection system,
the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by the air
agitation in aerated grit chambers needs to be considered. The
release of significant amounts of VOCs can be a health risk to
the treatment plant operators. Where release of VOCs is an
important consideration, covers may be required or non-
aerated type grit chambers used.
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Design criteria of aerated grit chamber according to Egyptian Code:

• Detention time = 2-5 min

• Surface loading rate should not exceed 1000 m3/m2/d

• Water depth = 3 - 5 m
• Spiral velocity of water = 0.1 - 0.2 m/s

• Horizontal velocity = 0.25 - 0.3 m/s

• Length = 7.5 - 20 m
• Width of chamber should not exceed 2 m

• Rate of air supply = 0.3 - 0.7 m3/min/m length of chamber

• Amount of grit settled = 100 - 250 l/1000 m3/d

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• Example: Design an aerated grit chamber for the treatment of municipal

wastewater. The average flow rate is 0.5 m3/s and the peaking factor is 2.75.
•
• Solution
•
• 1. Peak flow = 0.5*2.75 = 1.375 m3/s
• 2. Assume 2 grit chambers will be used and detention time = 3 min
• Volume of one chamber = (1.375/2)*3*60 = 123.75 m3
• 3. Assume Depth = 4 m, and Width = 2 m
• then Length = 123.75/(4*2) = 15.5 m
• 4. Assume air supply requirement = 0.3 m3/min/m of length
• then Air required = 0.3*15.5 = 4.65 m3/min for each chamber
• Total air supply required = 4.65 * 2 = 9.3 m3/min
• 5. Assume amount of grit = 150 l/1000 m3/d
• Grit volume = 1.375*150*60*60*24/1000*1000 = 17.82 m3/d
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3. Flow Equalization

• Flow equalization is a method used to overcome the

operational problems caused by flow rate variations, to
improve the performance of the downstream processes,
and to reduce the size and cost of downstream treatment
facilities. Flow equalization simply is the damping of
flow rate variations to achieve a constant or nearly
constant flow rate and can be applied in a number of
different situations, depending on the characteristics of
the collection system. The principal applications are for
the equalization of (1) dry-weather flows to reduce peak
flows and loads, (2) wet-weather flows in sanitary
collection systems experiencing inflow and infiltration,
or (3) combined stormwater and sanitary system flows.
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*The principal benefits that are cited as deriving from

application of flow equalization are:

• 1. Biological treatment is enhanced, because shock loadings

are eliminated or can be minimized, inhibiting substances can
be diluted, and pH can be stabilized.
• 2. The effluent quality and thickening performance of
secondary sedimentation tanks following biological treatment
is improved through improved consistency in solids loading.
• 3. Effluent filtration surface are requirements are reduced,
filter performance is improved, and more uniform filter-back
wash cycles are possible by lower hydraulic loading.
• 4. In chemical treatment, damping of mass loading improves
chemical feed control and process reliability.
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*Disadvantages of flow equalization include:

• 1. Relatively large land areas or sites are needed.

• 2. Equalization facilities may have to be covered for odor
control near residential areas.
• 3. Additional operation and maintenance is required.
• 4. Capital cost is increased.
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4. Primary Sedimentation
The objective of treatment by sedimentation is to remove
readily settleable solids and floating material 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 % of the BOD. 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.
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• Sedimentation tanks are normally designed on the

basis of a surface loading rate ( commonly termed
''overflow rate'') expressed as cubic meters per
square meter of surface area per day, m3/m2.d. The
selection of a suitable loading rate depends on the
type of suspension to be separated. When the area of
the tank has been established, the detention period
in the tank is governed by water depth. Overflow
rates in current use result in nominal detention
periods of 2.0 to 2.5 h, based on average design flow.
It should be emphasized that overflow rates must be
set low enough to ensure satisfactory performance at
peak rates of flow.
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Design Criteria according to the Egyptian Code:

• Rectangular tanks
• Water depth = 3-5 m, Length should not exceed 40 m, Width = 6-12 m

• Width : length = 1:3 - 1:5

• Bottom slope = 1:40 or 1: 50
• Detention time for tanks followed by trickling filter = 1.5 - 3 hrs

• Detention time for tanks followed by activated sludge = 1 - 1.5 hrs

• Detention time for tanks without secondary treatment = 3 - 4 hrs

• Surface loading for tanks without secondary treatment = 1 - 1.33 m/s

• Surface loading for tanks followed by biological filters= 1 - 2 m/s

• Surface loading for tanks followed by aeration tanks= 1 - 1.5 m/s

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• Circular tanks
• Water depth = 2.5 - 4 m, Diameter should not exceed 40 m

• Bottom slope = 1:10 or 1: 15

• Loading on weir = 150 - 600 m3/m/d

• Detention time for tanks followed by trickling filter = 1.5 - 3 hrs

• Detention time for tanks followed by activated sludge = 1 - 1.5 hrs

• Detention time for tanks without secondary treatment = 3 - 4 hrs

• Surface loading for tanks without secondary treatment = 1 - 1.33 m/s

• Surface loading for tanks followed by biological filters= 1 - 2 m/s

• Surface loading for tanks followed by aeration tanks= 1 - 1.5 m/s

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Thank you

E-mail: [email protected]