POLLUTION CONTROL
SEDIMENTATION
Sedimentation
Sedimentation is the tendency for particles in
suspension or molecules in solution to settle out of the
fluid in which they are entrained, and come to rest
against a wall. This is due to their motion through the
fluid in response to the forces acting on them: these
forces can be due to gravity, centrifugal acceleration or
electromagnetism
Sedimentation basin
Usually rectangular or circular with either a
radial or upward water flow pattern
Can be divided into 4 zones: inlet, settling,
outlet and sludge storage
3
SETTLING ZONE
INLET OUTLET
ZONE SLUDGE ZONE
ZONE
4
Horizontal flow clarifier
OUTLET
ZONE
SETTLING
ZONE
INLET
ZONE SLUDGE
ZONE
5
Inlet zone
Purpose : to evenly distribute the flow and
suspended particles across the cross section of
the settling zone
Consists of a series of inlet pipes and baffles
placed about 1m into the tank and extending the
full depth of the tank
End of inlet zone: when the flow pattern is
evenly distributed and the water velocity slowed
to the design velocity of the sedimentation zone
6
Settling zone
In an accurate design, the inlet and settling zones are
each designed separately and their lengths added
together
After passing through the inlet zone, water enters the
settling zone where water velocity is greatly reduced.
This is where the bulk of settling occurs and this zone
will make up the largest volume of the sedimentation
basin.
For optimal performance, the settling zone requires a
slow, even flow of water. The settling zone may be
simply a large area of open water.
7
Outlet zone
To remove the settled water from the basin without
carrying away any of the floc particles
controls the amount of water flowing out of the
sedimentation basin
A fundamental property of water is that the velocity of
flowing water is proportional to the flow rate divided by
the area through which the water flows, that is:
υ=
where υ = water velocity, m/s
Q = water flow, m3/s
Ac = cross-sectional area, m2
8
Sludge storage zone
Depends upon the method of cleaning, the frequency of
cleaning and the quantity of sludge estimated to be
produced
The sludge zone is found across the bottom of the
sedimentation basin where the sludge is collected
temporarily . Velocity in this zone should be very slow to
prevent resuspension of sludge.
A drain at the bottom of the basin allows the sludge to be
easily removed from the tank. The tank bottom should
slope toward the drains to further facilitate sludge removal.
In some plants, sludge removal is achieved continuously
using automated equipment. In other plants, sludge must
be removed manually.
9
Scouring
Within the sedimentation tank, the flow is going
through a very large area, consequently the
velocity is slow
To remove the water from the basin quickly, it is
desirable to direct the water into a pipe or small
channel for easy transport, which significantly
produce higher velocity
Scouring which is a phenomenon of washing out
the floc will happen if a pipe were to be placed at
the end of the sedimentation basin (ꜛ velocity)
It is desirable to first put a series of troughs,
called weirs, which provide a large area for the
water to flow through and minimize the velocity
near the outlet zone
1
0
Weir
1
1
Weir
The length of weir required is a function of the
type of solids
The heavier the solids, the harder it is to scour
them and the higher the allowable outlet
velocity
Heavier particles require a shorter length of weir
than do light particles
1
2
Sedimentation concept
2 important term:
the particle (floc) settling velocity, vs
Overflow rate, vo
If vs > vo, 100% removal of particle
If vs < vo, 0% removal
1
4
Overflow rate: the water is flowing over the top
of the tank into the weir system.
vo = volume/ time = (depth)(surface area) = depth
surface area (time)(surface area) time
vo = V/θ = (h)(As) = h
As (θ)(As) θ
The particle removal is independent of the
depth of the sedimentation tank
1
5
3 assumptions of an ideal horizontal
sedimentation tank:
1. Particle and velocity vectors are evenly
distributed across the tank cross section. This
is the function of the inlet zone
2. The liquid moves an ideal slug down the length
of the tank
3. Any particle hitting the bottom of the tank is
removed
1
6
Horizontal sedimentation tank
Some particle with vs less than vo will removed
Percentage of particle removed, P
P = 100 vs
vo
1
7
1
8
Example
Remove particle that have vs 0.1 mm/s, 0.2 mm/s
and 1 mm/s with vo =17 m3/d.m2
0.1 mm/s
17 m3/d.m2 = 17 m/d (1000 mm/m) = 0.2mm/s
(86400 s/d)
Vs < Vo . So, some particle will be removed.
0.2 mm/s
Vs = Vo . Ideally will be 100% removed.
1 mm/s
Vs > Vo. 100% of the particle easily removed.
1
9
Determination of vs
1. Ideally: vs > vo
2. Determine vs , then set vo to be smaller than
vs
3. Vs varies with type of particle, classified
according to settling properties.
2
1
Type 1 Sedimentation
Particle settle discretely at constant settling velocity.
Settle as individual, do not flocculate or stick to other
particles.
Example: sand and grit material.
Application: 1) removal of sand prior to
coagulation
2) In grit chamber
3) Settling of sand particle
during cleaning of rapid sand
filter
2
2
Type 2 Sedimentation
Particle that flocculate during sedimentation.
Constant change in size and settling velocity.
Generally vs increasing.
Example: Alum and iron
Application: 1) Primary sedimentation
2) Settling tank in trickling
filtration
2
3
Type 3 Sedimentation
Particles are at high concentration (> 1000
mg/L)
Settle as mass with distinct clear zone and
sludge zone.
Application: 1) Lime softening
sedimentation
2) Activated sludge
sedimentation
3) Sludge thickeners
2
4
o
for type 1 sedimentation
FD FB
Particle
FG
2
5
FG = gravitational force
FB = buoyancy force
FD = drag force
FG = gravitational force
ρS = density of particle, kg/m3
ρ = density of fluid, kg/m3
g = accelaration due to gravity, m/s2
Vp = volume of particle, m3
CD = drag coefficient
Ap = cross sectional area of particle, m2
v = velocity of particle, m/s
2
6
Driving force for accelaration of particle
Drag force is equal to the driving force, the
particle velocity reaches constant value called
terminal settling velocity
2
7
For spherical particles with a diameter = d,
2
8
For spherical particles with a diameter = d,
2
9
Determining CD
CD depend on flow regime surrounding particle:
Laminar: fluid moves in layer or gliding smoothly above
adjacent layer with only molecular interchange of
momentum
Turbulent: fluid motion is erratic with violent transverse
interchange of momentum.
Flow is describe using dimensionless ratio,
Reynold No, R
3
0
Determining R
For sphere moving through a liquid:
R= Reynold number
d = diameter of sphere, m
vS = density of sphere, kg/m3
v = kinematic viscosity, m2/s = μ/ρ
ρ = density of fluid, kg/m3
μ = dynamic viscosity, Pa.s (appendix A)
3
1
Relation of CD with R
No Reynold Number CD
1 R > 104 Around 0.4
2 R < 0.5 CD = 24/R
3 0.5<R< 104 CD = 24/R+ 3/R1/2 + 0.34
3
2
Stokes’ Law
μ = dynamic viscosity, Pa.s (appendix A)
Only applied to spherical particle falling under
laminar conditions.
3
3
Derivation of Stokes
F = (4/3)r ρ g (1a)
g
3
p
Law
FA = (4/3)r3ρfg, (1b)
Fr = Fg ─ FA = (4/3)r3g(ρ p ─ ρf.) (2)
As soon as the sphere starts moving there is a third force, the frictional
force Ff of the fluid. Its direction is opposite to the direction of motion.
The total resulting force is:
Ftot = Fr, ─ Ff. (3)
As long as Ftot is positive, the velocity increases. However, Ff is
dependent on the velocity. Over a large range of velocities The frictional
force is proportional to the velocity (v):
Ff = 6πrμv (4)
where μ is the dynamic fluid viscosity
3
4
Derivation of Stokes Law
After some time the velocity does not increase anymore but becomes
constant. Then equilibrium is reached. In other words, Fr is canceled
by Ff and so Ftot = 0. From now on the particle has a constant velocity.
The equilibrium or setting velocity vs can be calculated from (2), (3)
and (4) with Ftot = Fr, ─ Ff = 0. The result is:
vs = (2/9)r2g(ρp ─ ρf)/ μ (5).
μ = dynamic viscosity, Pa.s (appendix A)
This equation only holds under ideal conditions, such as a very large
fluid medium, a very smooth surface of the sphere and a small radius.
3
5
3
6
Now that we have determine vs, we can set vo
Vo is recommended to be set at 0.33 to 0.7 times
depending upon efficiency desired.
3
7
Flocullant Sedimentation Lab or Pilot
Data
The Stokes equation cannot be used because the
flocculating are continually changing in size and
shape, and when water is entrapped in the floc,
in specific gravity.
The concentration of suspended solids is
determined for each sample and the percent
removal is calculated:
3
8
Ct
R% 1 (100%)
Co
Where
R% = percent removal at one depth and
time, %
Ct = concentration at time, t, and given
depth
Co = initial concentration, mg/L
3
9
Each intersection point of an isoconcentration line and the
bottom of the column defines an overflow rate (vo ):
H
o
ti
where H = height of column, m
ti = time defined by intersection of isoconcentration
line and bottom of column (x-axis) where the subscript, i,
refers to the first, second, third, etc., intersection points, d
4
0
4
1
RTa = Ra + H1 (Rb - Ra) + H2 (Rc - Rb) + ….
H H
where
RTa = total fraction removed for settling time, ta
Ra, Rb, Rc = isoconcentration fractions a, b, c, etc.
H1 ,H2 = the midpoints between isoconcentration
lines used to calculate the fraction of solids
removed.
Note : Eckenfelder (1980) recommends that scale-up factors of 0.65 for
overflow rate and 1.75 for detention time be used to design the tank.
4
2
EXAMPLE 4-23
The city of Urbana is planning to install a new
water treatment plant. Design a settling tank to
remove 65% of the influent suspended solids
from their design flow of 0.5m3/s. A batch-
settling test using a 2.0 m column and
coagulated water from their existing plant
yielded the following data :
4
3
Percent removal as a function of time and depth
Sampling Time, min
Depth, m
5 10 20
20 40
40 60 90 120
0.5 41 50 60 67 72 73 76
1.0 19 33 45 58 62 70 74
2.0 15 31 38
38 54
54 59 63 71
4
4
SOLUTION
The plot is shown in Figure 4-40.
Calculate the overflow rate for each intersection
point.
For example, for the 50% line,
(1440 min/d) = 82.3 m/d
Interpolation based on table
4
5
The corresponding removal fraction is
RT50 = 50 + 1.5 (55-50) + 0.85 (60-55) +
2.0 2.0
0.60 (65-60) + 0.40 (70 - 65) +
2.0 2.0
0.20 (75 - 70) + 0.05 (100 -75)
2.0 2.0
= 59.5 or 60%
4
6
This calculation is repeated for each
isoconcentration line that intersects the x-axis
except the last ones for which data are too
sparse (30, 40, 50, 55, 60 and 65%)
Using those calculation, construct two graphs
(Figures 4-41 and 4-42)
4
7
4
8
4
9
From those graphs (65 percent removal),
bench-scale detention time = 54 min
overflow rate = 50 m/d
Applying the scale-up factors yields
to = (54 min)(1.75) = 94.5 or 95 min
υo = (50 m/d)(0.65) = 32.5 m/d
5
0
Zone Sedimentation Lab Data
The design overflow is again set at about 0.5-0.7
× the lab value.
A technique has been developed to determine
settling velocities of coagulant flocs from jar
test data (Hudson, 1981)
Typical detention times for waters coagulated
with alum or iron salts are on the order of 2-8
hours. In lime-soda softening plants, the
detention times range from 4-8 hours (Reynolds
and Richards, 1996)
5
1
EXAMPLE 4-24
Determine the surface area of a settling tank
for the city of Urbana’s 0.5 m3/s design
overflow rate found in Example 4-23. Compare
this surface area with that which results from
assuming a typical overflow rate of 20 m3/d.
Find the depth of the clarifier for the overflow
rate and detention time found in Example 4-23.
5
2
SOLUTION
a) Find the surface area.
First change the flow rate to compatible
units :
(0.5 m3/s) (86400 s/d) = 43200 m3/d
The surface area :
As = 43200 m3/d = 1329.23 or 1330 m2
32.5 m3/d.m2
Using the overflow rate from Example 4-23.
5
3
OR
As = 43200 m3/d = 2160 m2
20 m3/d.m2
Using the conservative value given
Note: the use of conservative data would, in this case
result in 60% overdesign of the tank area
5
4
Common length-to-width ratios for settling are
between 2:1 and 5:1, and lengths seldom exceed
100m. A minimum of two tanks is always provided.
Assuming 2 tanks, each with a width of 12 m, a total
surface area of 1330m2 would imply a tank length of
1330 m 2
Length 55.4 or 55 m
(2 tanks)(12 m wide)
this meets our length-to-width ratio 5:1
5
5
b) Find the tank depth.
First, find the total volume tank from Eqn 2-27 using
the detention time of 95 mins from Example 4-23 :
V = (0.5 m3/s) (95 min) (60 s/min)= 2850 m3
This would be divided into 2 tanks as
noted above.
Depth = 2850 m3 = 2.1428 or 2 m
1330 m2
5
6
