Sedimentation 2023

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Sedimentation and

Flotation
Sedimentation

• Sedimentation is a physical process in which suspended particles, like flocs, sand and clay are removed from
water through gravity.

• Sedimentation is frequently used in surface water treatment to avoid rapid clogging of sand filters after
coagulation and floc formation.

• The clean water (supernatant) leaves the sedimentation tank through collection troughs located at the end
of horizontal tanks or the top of vertical sedimentation tanks.

• Effective sedimentation and removal of particles from water depends mainly on the effectiveness of the
coagulation-flocculation process and on the proper design of the sedimentation tank.

• On the basis of the concentration of particles and the tendency of particles to interact, four types
of settling behaviour can be distinguished: discrete particle settling, flocculent settling, hindered
• The terms sedimentation and settling are used interchangeably.
Illustration of different settling types
Sedimentation
• Applications in Water Treatment:
• 1.settling of coagulated and flocculated waters prior to filtration
• 2.settlingof coagulated and flocculated waters in a softening
plant.
• 3.settling of treated waters in an iron and manganese removal
plant
Settling Basins

Advantages
• Simplest technologies
• Little energy input
• Relatively inexpensive to install and operate
• No specialized operational skills
• Easily incorporated into new or existing facilities

Disadvantages
• Poor removal of small suspended solids
• Large floor space requirements
• Re-suspension of solids
Types of settling behavior
Settling zones in a horizontal sedimentation tank
DESIGN
In specifying a water and wastewater sedimentation tank size, the major
features to be considered are:

- tank cross sectional area,


- tank depth,
and type of cleaning mechanism used.

In specifying a design basis for water and wastewater sedimentation


tanks; three conditions are commonly considered:

- solid handling capacity (kg/day),


- overflow rate (lpm/m2)(m/s)
- detention time.
Sedimentation

Stokes Law
• Denser and large particles have a
higher settling velocity
Settling Basins
• Design to minimize turbulence:

length:width = 4:1 to 8:1

inlet outlet
effective settling zone
1–2 m
sludge zone

weir full-width
to enhance laminar flow weir
(85% of water depth)

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short Course


One of the main criteria for the design and operation of a settling tank is the surface
overflow rate. The surface overflow rate gives the upflow velocity of the water for a
given flow of water (Q) and water surface area (A) of the settling tank and can be
presented mathematically:
Vs = Q/A
Where: Vs = upflow velocity of water in settling tanks m/h
Q = inflow rate, m3/h
A = water surface area of settling tank, m2
All particles with a settling rate (Vp) > surface overflow rate (Vs), will settle and be
removed from the influent stream.
Settling Basins
• Overflow rates are used for design: Vo

length

width
settling surface area = length x width
flow flow
Circular Basin Rectangular Basin
Basin Model
A particle that is just removed has a settling velocity v0.
This trajectory represents a particle which
has a settling velocity v0

v0 = h / t = Q / A
Where: t = V/Q
A = surface area of the basin
Critical Settling Velocity and Overflow Rate

v0 expressed in units of velocity (m/s) is the critical settling


velocity
Critical settling velocity is the settling velocity of particles which are
100% removed in the basin

v0 expressed in units of flow per unit area is called the


Overflow rate
Flotation is the process in which the flocs attach to air bubbles introduced
into the water and rise to the surface from where the float containing the floc
is regularly removed.

Flotation is a much more effective process for removal of such light flocs.

Sedimentation and flotation perform the same function, with sedimentation


being used normally when the raw water contains mainly silt or clay particles,
while flotation is used when the raw water contains algae or other types of
organic material.
Class Quiz
A water treatment plant has a flow rate of 0.6 m3/sec. The settling basin at the
plant has an effective settling volume that is 20 m long, 3 m tall and 6 m wide.
Will particles that have a settling velocity of 0.004 m/sec be completely
removed? If not, what percent of the particles will be removed?

V0 = Q/A Since the settling rate (Vp) 0.004 < 0.005 surface overflow rate
(Vs), NOT all particles will settle and be removed from the
v0 = Q/A = 0.6 m/sec / (20 m x 6 m) = 0.005 m/sec influent stream.

% removal = { (Vp/Vo) * 100} = 80% of particles will be


removed.

V0 = Q/A = 0.6/0.004 = 150m2

A= 150m2 x 6m = L Therefore, L= 150/6 = 25 m

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