Example Chlorine Disinfection
Calculation & Explanation
by
Raymond Morgan, PE
Problem Description
Example Chlorine Disinfection Calculation & Explanation
Disinfection will be provided by an erosion-type tablet chlorinator using
calcium hypochlorite tablets. With this type of chlorinator, levels of
coliform bacteria should be reduced to a Log10 value of 0 for the coliform
concentration in cfu per 100 milliliters which is nominally free of coliform
bacteria (1 cfu or less).
The available chlorine concentration for disinfection purposes is specified
in the Arizona Administrative Code (AAC) in R18.9.E320.D.1.a for a given
level of wastewater treatment. See Table 1 for reference. Assume that
the pH is 7 and that the wastewater treatment produces an effluent with
a TSS value of 20 mg/l. The AAC specifies that a minimum dose of 10 mg/l
is required. Typical tablets deliver a dose of 9 mg/l. Therefore, the typical
design will require a double tablet feeder in this example. The chlorine
demand will be in the range of 1 to 5 mg/l. A value of 5 mg/l will be
selected for this example. See Table 2 for reference.
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Table 1 – R18-9-E320.D.1.a of the AAC
Chlorine Dose = Available Chlorine
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Table 2
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Problem Calculations – Double Tablet Chlorinator
The chlorine residual will be calculated but a residual
of 1 mg/l is desired to achieve good disinfection
results as per a study done by the University of
California, Davis. The following formula will be used:
Chlorine Residual = Chlorine Dose – Chlorine Demand
Chlorine Residual = 18 mg/l (double tablet dose) – 5
mg/l
Chlorine Residual = 13 mg/l >1 mg/l
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Problem Explanation
The AAC specifies a minimum contact time of 15 minutes.
However, the contact time needed for effective disinfection
will be calculated and compared to the time specified in the
AAC. In drinking water systems, a combination of chlorine
residual and contact time is used to determine whether
effective disinfection has occurred. The following formula is
used:
Effective Disinfection (ED) = C (chlorine residual) * T (time in
minutes)
A value of 6 mg/l – minutes is the value that is commonly
used to confirm that good disinfection is occurring.
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Problem Calculations Explained
Therefore, the calculation for effective disinfection is
shown below:
Rearranging the formula to solve for T, it is now:
T (time in minutes) = Effective Disinfection (ED) / C
(chlorine residual)
T = ED/C
T = [6 mg/l – minutes] / [13 mg/l]
T = 0.46 minutes required with a double tablet
chlorinator
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Problem Calculations – Tablet Consumption Rate
The number of calcium hypochlorite tablets used each day for a
double tablet chlorinator would be calculated as follows:
Assume the Design Flow = 450 gpd
Assume a Chorine Dose = 18 mg/l (double tablet chlorinator)
Calculate:
Design Flow in liters = 450 gpd x 3.785 liters/gallon = 1703 liters
Tablet Consumption in mg/l = [18 mg/l] / 0.70 (available
chlorine in each tablet) = 25.71 mg/l
Weight of tablets used per day in mg = 1703 liters x 25.71 mg/l =
43,798 mg
# of Tablets used per day = [43,798 mg / 1000 mg per gram] /
[140 grams per tablet] = 0.31 tablets per day
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Contact
Raymond Morgan, PE
Email: [email protected]
Office: 520-628-6723
Cell: 520-240-5905
