7-Sedimentation_F11

1
SEDIMENTATION (3
rd
DC 211; 4
th
DC 266-282)

a. Definition
- Sedimentation is the removal of solid particles from suspension by gravity.

b. Objectives:
1) Clarification - separation of particles from water (clarifier)
2) Settling - collection of sediment (settling tank)
3) Thickening - concentrating the removed particles (thickener)




Primary sedimentation tank, Pocatello wastewaer treatment plant, Pocatello, Idaho






Secondary sedimentation tank, Pocatello wastewater treatment plant, Pocatello, Idaho


2


c. Sedimentation Types depend on:
a) Concentration of the suspension (i.e., dilute or concentrated)
b) Characteristics of the particles (i.e., discrete or flocculent).


Type I Sedimentation

a) deals with dilute suspensions of discrete (nonflocculating) particles
- gravity separation of nonflocculating discrete particles in a dilute suspension.

b) Each particle falls independently of all other particles near by.
- settling is unhindered

c) Settle at constant velocity
Settling velocity = f (fluid properties, particle characteristics)

d) Example: grit particles (e.g., sand) in wastewater (WWTP)
- Concentrations (up to 10,000 mg/L)

e) Applications:
C Grit chamber (grit removal tank)
Design criteria: settling velocity vs = 0.075 fps (for 0.2-mm particle, SG = 2.65)

C Pre-sedimentation tank in WTP


Type II Sedimentation

a) Dilute suspensions of flocculent particles (~500 mg/L)

b) Deals with hindered settling of flocculent materials

c) Settling velocity is changing because particle size is constantly changing

d) Examples:
Silt, ground toilet paper, Al(OH)
3
, CaCO
3
, Mg(OH)
2

e) Applications:
C Flocculator in WTP (Alum or iron coagulation)
C Primary settling tank in WWTP


7-Sedimentation_F11
3


Type III Sedimentation (Zone Settling)

a) Concentrated suspension of flocculent particles ( 1000 mg/L)

- flocculent materials in higher concentrations than type II suspension.
- settle as a mass, there is a distinct clear zone and sludge zone (sludge blanket).

b) Hindered settling
- particles stay in the same position relative to other particles.

c) Examples:
C Biological sludge (e.g., activated sludge)
C Chemical sludge (e.g., lime sludge in water softening)

d) Applications:
C Settling tank for biological sludge (activated sludge in a secondary clarifier) in
WWTP.
C Settling tank for chemical flocculent (e.g., lime sludge, coagulant sludge) in
WTP, lime-softening sedimentation.


(Type IV) Compression

a) Very concentrated suspension of flocculent particles.
b) The particles are in physical contact with one another and supported partially by
the compacting mass.

- compression results when the concentration increases to the point where the
particles are in physical contact with one another and supported partially by the
compacting mass.

- Settling is extremely slow
- Floc forms a structure and water is squeezed out through pores

c) Example: thickened activated sludge
d) Applications: Thickener in WWTP

4
Summary
Type II
Type I
Type III
Zone
Settling
Compression
Time or Distance
Column
L
e
v
e
l

o
f

p
a
r
t
i
c
l
e

o
r

b
l
a
n
k
e
t

D
e
p
t
h




Grit chamber Primary Sed. Aeration Tank Second. Sed.
Tank Tank
(Type I) (Type II) (Zone settling)
Thickner
(Compression)

7-Sedimentation_F11
5

Type I Sedimentation

- Gravity separation of discrete (non-flocculating) particles in dilute suspensions.
- Settling velocity = f (fluid properties, particle characteristics )

Isaac Newton (1687)
- showed that a particle falling in a quiescent fluid accelerates until the frictional
resistance (or drag) on the particle is equal to the gravitational force of the particle.




Fig. 3-35 (3
rd
DC 221); Fig. 4-38 (4
th
DC 276)
Free-body diagram for Type I Particle
- Forces acting on a free-falling particle in a fluid


F
G
= gravitational force; the force due to gravity
F
B
= buoyancy force; the buoyant force due to fluid
F
D
= drag force; the frictional force

- FD is a function of: roughness, size, shape, velocity of the particle, density,
velocity of the fluid.



The downward acceleration of the particle

From the Newtons second law: F = m a

m (dv
s
/dt) = F
G
- F
B
- F
D
(1)

where
m = mass of the particle
v
s
= linear settling velocity of the particle
t = time


Note: Newtons second law - the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the resultant force acting on it and inversely
proportional to its mass.


F
G
=
s
g V
p
(2)

F
B
= g V
p
(3)

F
D
= C
D
A
p
v
s
2
/ 2 (4)

where
F
D
F
D
F
B

Fg
6

s
= density of particle, kg/m
3

= density of fluid, kg/m
3

g = acceleration of gravity, m/s
2

V
p
= volume of particle, m
3

C
D
= drag coefficient (Newtons dimensionless drag coefficient)
A
p
= cross sectional area of particle (projected particle area in the direction of
flow), m
2

v
s

= velocity of particle, m/s


Substituting (2), (3), and (4) into (1) yields

m (dvs/dt) = s g Vp - g Vp - CD Ap vs
2
/ 2 (5)

This is the eqn for the dynamic behavior of the particle.

After an initial transient period, the velocity becomes constant and acceleration becomes zero:

Vs > vt (vt = terminal settling velocity, constant)

dvs/dt = 0

g ( s - ) Vp = CD Ap vs
2
/ 2

Solve for vs

v
g V
C A
s
s p
D p
=

(
( )
)
/
2
1 2

(6)

For spherical particle,

V
A
d
d
d
p
p
p
p
p
= =
4
3 2
2
2
3
3
2

( )
( )
(7)

where dp = particle diameter

Substituting (7) into (6) yields

v
g
C
d
g d
C
s
s
D
p
s p
D
=

=

(
( )
) (
( )
)
/ /
2 2
3
4
3
1 2 1 2

In the flow regime for which Re < 1, CD = 24 / Re (9)

where laminar flow prevails,

Re = the Reynolds number

Re = dp vs / (10)

where = dynamic viscosity, pa.s (kg/m .s)

Substituting (10) into (9) yields

CD = 24 / dp vs (11)

Substituting (11) into (8) gives Stokess law

( )
v
g d
s p
=

2
18

7-Sedimentation_F11
7
Stokes law

- If the particle is spherical, the settling velocity can be described by Stokess law under laminar flow condition.

( )
2
s
g - d
v =
18
(3
rd
DC 222; 4
th
DC 277)

where
v = settling velocity, fps (m/s)
g = acceleration of gravity, 32.174 ft/s
2
(9.81 m/s
2
)

s
= density of particles, lb.s
2
/ ft
4
(kg/m
3
)
= absolute (dynamic) viscosity of water, lb.sec/ ft
2
(kg/m.s)
d = diameter of the spherical particles, ft (m)
= density of water,lb.s
2
/ ft
4
(kg/m
3
)

since =

where = kinematic viscosity, ft
2
/sec (m
2
/s)

2
( )
18
s
g d

=

2
( 1)
18
s
g
d

=

2
( 1)
18
g
SG d

=


where SG =
s
/ = specific gravity


Unit: =


kg
m s
m
s
kg
m

(
=

(
(

(
2
3


= p
a
s


[ ]
kg
m s
s
kg
m s
2

(
(
=

(


Other unit:

Pa
N
m
kg
m s
= =
2 2



8
Example: Stokes Law

Given:
Water temp, T = 9.5C;
Particle diameter, d
p
= 6.56 x 10
-4
ft (0.2 mm or 0.2 x 10
-3
m)
S.G. of the particle = 2.65;
Acceleration of gravity, g = 32.2 ft/s
2
(9.81 m/s
2
)

Determine the settling velocity of the particle.


(Solution)

Using Storkes law,
Kinematic viscosity, v = 1.41 x 10
-5
ft
2
/s (1.36 x 10
-6
m
2
/s) at T = 9.5C,

Note: Table A-1 (4
th
DC 977),
Kinematic viscosity, v = 1.307 (m
2
/s) at 10C

m
2
/s x 10
-6
= (m
2
/s)

SI unit:

( )( )
( )( )
2
2
2
3
6 2
1
1
18
9.8 / 1
2.65 1 0.2 10
18 1.36 10 /
0.0264 /
o p
g
v SG d
m s
x m
x m s
m s

| || |
=
| |
\ \
| |
| |
=
| |
\
\
=




English Unit

( )( )
( )( )
2
2
2
4
5 2
1
1
18
32.2 / 1
2.65 1 6.56 10
18 1.41 10 /
0.09 /
s p
g
v SG d
ft s
x ft
x ft s
ft s

| || |
=
| |
\ \
| || |
=
| |
\ \
=









7-Sedimentation_F11
9



Example Type I Sedimentation: Ten State Standards (GLUMRB)

Particle diameter, dp = 0.2 mm (6.56 x 10
-4
ft), S.G. = 2.65
Flow velocity, V = 1.0 ft/s, Q = 4.0 MGD = 6.1 ft
3
/s
Temp = 9.5 C, kinematic viscosity, = 1.41 x 10
-5
ft
2
/s
Acceleration of gravity, g = 32.2 ft/s
2
= 9.81 m/s
2

H = depth; (let H = 2W)
Make 2 tanks (H = depth, W = width, L = length)

(Solution)

design Q = (6.1 ft
3
/s) = 3.1 ft
3
/s

Using Storks law

( )( )
( )( )
v
g
SG d
x
x
ft s
o p
=
|
\

|
|
\

|
=
|
\

|
|
\

|
=

18
1
1
32 2
18
1
141 10
2 65 1 656 10
009
2
5
4
2

.
.
. .
. /


This is vo of the particles which will be removed 100%.

Ax
Q
V
ft s
ft s
ft = = =
31
10
31
3
2
. /
. /
.


Ax = WH = W (2W) = 2W
2
= 3.1 ft
2


W = 1.25 ft

H = Ax/W = 3.1 ft
2
/1.25 ft = 2.5 ft

t
H
v
ft
ft s
s
d
s
= = =
2 5
0 09
278
.
. /
.


td = detention time ;

L = V td = (1.0 ft/s)(27.8 s) = 27.8 ft


Thus,
H = 2.5 ft, W = 1.25 ft, L = 27.8 ft




W = 1.25 ft
Q, V
H = 2.5 ft
Ax
L = 27.8 ft
10
Ideal Sedimentation Basin (4
th
DC 267)

A = W L Vol = W L H

W A
Q b
H a c
d
L



a = Inlet zone; b = Settling zone;
c = Outlet zone; d =Sludge zone

a. Inlet Zone
- Incoming flow is uniformly distributed over the cross section of the tank.

b. Settling Zone
- The concentration of each size particle is uniform throughout the cross section
(2D).

c. Outlet Zone
- Clarified effluent is collected and discharged through an outlet weir.

d. Sludge Zone
- Provides for the collection of particles removed from suspension.



7-Sedimentation_F11
11
An ideal rectanglar sedimentation tank
Outlet weir
V Settling zone
v
o
Inflow, Q
H
V
v
h
L
I
n
l
e
t

z
o
n
e
Sludge zone
O
u
t
l
e
t

z
o
n
e


V = flow velocity
v
o
= terminal settling velocity of a particle that is just removed when it enters at the
water surface (H).

Note:

1) All particles with terminal settling velocity v
o
are removed.
2) Only part of particles with settling velocity < v
o
are removed.

If the area of the triangle having H and L represents 100% removal of particles, the
removal ratio of particles having a settling velocity v is h/H.

v
v
hL
HL
h
H
o
=
/
/
2
2


v
H
t
distance it falls
detention time of tank
o
d
= =

since t
d
= Vol / Q

o
H H Q Q
v
Vol WLH
WL A
Q Q
= = = =

3 3
/ /
,
2 2
2
Q
ft s ft gpd m d m
v
o
A
s d
ft ft
m
(
= = =
(

( ( (
(

( ( (


12

Q/A = over flow rate (gpd/ft
2
) or (m
3
/m
2
d)
= surface hydraulic loading rate
= clarification rate



Percentage of Particle Removal, P

P
v
v
s
o
= ( ) 100 (3
rd
DC 219; 4
th
DC 274)

where
v
s
= settling velocity of particle
v
o
= terminal settling velocity (overflow rate).



Example 3-22 (3
rd
DC 219); Example 4-22 (4
th
DC 274)
The town of San Jose has an existing horizontal-flow sedimentation tank with an
overflow rate of 17 m
3
/d. m
2
. The town wishes to remove particles that have settling
velocities of 0.1 mm/s, 0.2 mm/s, and 1 mm/s. What percentage of removal should be
expected for each particle in an ideal sedimentation tank?


(Solution)

1) Convert the overflow rate to compatible unit, e.g., mm/s

3
2
1000
17 ( )
17 / 17
86400
0.2
o
mm
m
m d m
m
Overflow Rate
s m d
d
d
mm
v
s
= = =
| |
|
\
= =



2) Compare the particle settling velocity with the overflow rate.

a. For the particles with v
s
= 0.1 mm/s

Since v
s
< v
o
, some fraction of the particles will be removed.

P = v
s
/v
o
(100) = (0.1 / 0.2) 100 = 50%



7-Sedimentation_F11
13

b. For the particles with v
s
= 0.2 mm/s

P = v
s
/v
o
(100) = (0.2 / 0.2) 100 = 100%

Since v
s
= v
o
, 100% of the particles will be removed (ideally).


c. For the particles with v
s
= 1 mm/s

Since v
s
> v
o
, 100% of the particles will be removed.



Note:
Common overflow rates for sedimentation in water and wastewater treatment:

300 - 1000 gpd/ft
2

12 - 41 m
3
/m
2
.day

Side-water depth 7 ft (2.1 m)


Typical Design Values for Primary Clarifier (VH 345)

Overflow Rate = 600 - 800 gpd/ft
2
(24 32 m
3
/m
2
d)

700 gpd / ft
2
= 0.33 mm / sec

700
7 48 1440
0 065
2
3
gal
day ft
ft
gal
day ft
. min
.
min
=

4
0.065 1 min
3.30 10 / 0.33 /
min 3.28 60
ft m
x m s mm s
ft s

= =


1 gpd = 1.547 x 10
-6
ft
3
/sec

1 gpd 1.547 x 10
6
ft
3
1 m 10
3
mm
--------- = ----------------------- ---------- ------------
ft
2
sec ft
2
3.28 ft m

= 4.71646 x 10
4
mm / sec

Side-water depth 7 ft (2.1 m)


Weir loading:

For Q 1 MGD, 10,000 gpd/ft (125 m
3
/m d)
For Q > 1 MGD, 20,000 gpd/ft (250 m
3
/m d)






14


cf, Final clarifiers (for activated sludge)

Overflow rate based on the daily design flow:
For Q 1 MGD, 600 gpd/ ft
2
(24 m
3
/m
2
d)
For Q > 1 MGD, 800 gpd/ ft
2
(33 m
3
/m
2
d)

Overflow rate during the peak flow:
For Q 1 MGD, <1200 gpd/ ft
2
(50 m
3
/m
2
d)
For Q > 1 MGD, <1600 gpd/ ft
2
(65 m
3
/m
2
d)

Minimum Side-water depth: 10 ft (3.1 m)
50 ft diameter, 11 ft
100 ft diameter 12 ft
Minimum detention time 2-3 hrs

Maximum Weir Loading 10,000 20,000 gpd/ft
125 250 m
3
/m
2
d

Solids loadings
For good settling sludge, 50-60 lb/ft
2
d
For poor settling sludge, 40-50 lb/ft
2
d

cf, Trickling Filter & Rotating Biological Contactors

Over flow rate 1000 gpd/ ft
2
(41 m
3
/m
2
d)
Side-water depth 8.0 ft (2.4 m)

Maximum Weir Loading
For Q 1 MGD, 10,000 gpd/ft (125 m
3
/m d)
For Q > 1 MGD, 20,000 gpd/ft (250 m
3
/m d)

Final Settling Tank
Max. Overflow Rate 800 gpd/ ft
2
(33 m
3
/m
2
d)

Based on design daily flow 8.0 ft (2.4 m)
Maximum Weir Loading
For Q 1 MGD, 10,000 gpd/ft (125 m
3
/m d)
For Q > 1 MGD, 20,000 gpd/ft (250 m
3
/m d)




Concept of Tube settlers/ Plate settlers


o
d
H H H Q Q
v
Vol WLH
t WL A
Q Q
= = = = =


P
v
v
s
o
= ( ) 100

s
s
o
v A
P v
v Q
= =



7-Sedimentation_F11
15



















Q/4
Q/4
Q/4
Q/4





Q






/ 2 2
2
2
v
Q Q A
s
v P v
o s
A A v Q
o
= = = =
1
v
Q Q A
s
v P v
o s
A A v Q
o
= = = =
Q
Q/2
Q/2
/ 4 4
4
4
v
Q Q A
s
v P v
o s
A A v Q
o
= = = =
16







7-Sedimentation_F11
17



18


Type II Sedimentation (VH, p.345, Section 10.13)

- Dilute suspension of flocculating solids

Applications:
a) Chemical softening sludge, CaCO
3
, Mg(OH)
3

b) Primary settling sludge in WWTP

Characteristics:
a) % Removal = f (Q/A, H)

- Removal of type II SS depends not only on the clarification rate (overflow rate; Q/A, vo) but also the depth of the tank.

b) No mathematical relationship exists to describe the influence of flocculation.

c) Settling column analysis is required to evaluate the type II sedimentation.


3. The Standard Method for a settling column test.

a. Experimental Procedures

1) Place a suspension in a column.
- Settling column has sampling ports at various depth.
2) Allow sedimentation under quiescent conditions.
3) Samples are withdrawn at selected time intervals from different depth.
4) Plot the data as shown in figure below.
- Each % removal is recorded at the proper coordinates of depth and time.
- Lines representing percentage of removal are drawn through the data.



Settling Column
7-Sedimentation_F11
19


Overall SS Removal, R (%)

v
o
v
1
v
2

R
Ta
(%) = ---- (% Ra) + ---- (% increment) + ---- (% increment) + ...
v
o
v
o
v
o


H h
1
h
2

v
o
= ------ v
1
= ------ v
2
= ------ . . .
t
o
t
o
t
o


v
1
h
1
/t
o
h
1
v
2
h
2
/t
o
h
2

--- = -------- = ---- ---- = --------- = ------ . . .
v
o
H/t
o
H v
o
H/t
o
H


h
1
h
2

R
Ta
(%) = (% Ra) + ---- (% increment) + ---- (% increment) + . . .
H H

h
1
h
2

R
Ta
(%) = (% Ra) + ---- (% Rb - %Ra) + ---- (% Rc - %Rb) + . .
H H


20
Example A batch-settling test using a 7.0-ft column and coagulated water from their
existing plant yielded the following data. Estimate the overall removal for a settling tank
of 7.0-ft deep with an overflow rate of 3123 gpd/ft
2
.






































(Solution)

Note that 3123 gpd/ft
2
gives 0.2899 ft/min or 7.0 ft/24 min.

3123 gal ft
3
1 d 0 2899 ft 7 ft
------------ ------------ ------------- = ------------- = ----------
ft
2
d 7.48 gal 1440 min min 24 min

Percent removal as a function of time and depth
Time (min)
5 8 12 18 22 28 32 38 42 52
Depth (ft) 2 14 17 40 50 56 63 66 74 75 79
4 13 15 16 49 45 59 62 70 71 73
6 12 14 17 43 44 47 50 65 70 72
7-Sedimentation_F11
21
Procedure:

1) Develop graph with isoconcentration lines for given column depth.

2) Determine the % of the particles which has settling velocities greater than the given
overflow rate (noting that Q/A = v
s
).

- all particle which has the settling velocity greater than or equal to v
s
will be
removed, say Ra %.

45 % of the particles (Ra) ==> v
s
> 7 ft/24 min

2) Obtain an average settling velocity for an additional % SS removal interval.

60 - 45 = 15 % of the particles ==> 3.4 ft/24 min


3) Obtain an average settling velocity for a second % SS removal interval.

75 - 60 = 15 % of the particles ==> 1.3 ft/24 min

4) The next increment has a negligible velocity.

5) Determine Overall Removal, R
Ta
(%)

h
1
h
2

R
Ta
(%) = (%Ra) + ---- (% Rb - %Ra) + ---- (%Rc - %Rb) + . .
H H

3.4 ft 1.3 ft
= 45% + -------- (60 - 45%) + ------- (75 - 60%) + . . .
7 ft 7 ft

= 45% + 7.3% + 2.8% + . . .

= 55%

The overall removal = 55%



22

Comparison of Type I and Type II equations:

Type I

( ) % (100) 100%
s
o
v h
R P
v H
= = =

Type II

1 2 3
% (% ) (% % ) (% % ) (% % ) ...
T b a c b d c
h h h
R Ra R R R R R R
H H H
= + + + +


----------
Note:

Type III (zone settling) and Type IV (compression) will be discussed in detail in ENVE 616 Biological
Treatment of Wastewater.