Sedimentation

THE DESIGN

a.k.a. Clarifier
Particles will settle within a reasonable period of time
Sedimentation basins are usually either rectangular or circular with either radial or upward
water flow pattern.

4 zones:
i.

inlet,

ii.

settling,

iii.

outlet,

iv.

sludge storage

a) Horizontal flow clarifier

b) Upflow clarifier

Inlet
to homogenize the flow and suspended particles across the cross-section of settling zone

Cross-section = width x depth

consists of a series of inlet pipes and baffles placed about 1 m into the tank and extending the full depth of the
tank
With a well-designed inlet baffle system, the inlet zone extends approximately 1.5 m down the length of tank
Well-flocculated solid and good inlet design, over 75% of the solids may settle in the first 5th of the tank
For coagulant floc, a sludge storage depth of about 0.3 m near the outlet and 2 m or more near the inlet are
recommended.

If the tank is long enough, storage depth can be provided by bottom slope
If not, sludge hopper is necessary at the inlet end or the overall tank is made deeper
(depth of sludge storage depends upon the method of cleaning, the frequency of cleaning, and
the quantity of sludge estimated to be produced)
Mechanically-cleaned basin may be equipped with a bottom scrapper to a hopper. (1% slope
towards withdrawal point)
Sludge hopper is designed with sides sloping with a vertical to horizontal ratio of
1.2
2

:
to
:

1
1

Scrapper

Outlet
to remove the settled water from basin without carrying away any of the floc particles.
to minimize the velocity in the sedimentation tank near the outlet zone
A fundamental property is that the velocity of flowing water is

Within the sedimentation tank, the flow is going through a very large area (basin depth x width), thus, the velocity is
slow.

Weir
Weirs - provide large area for the water to flow through and minimize the velocity in the
sedimentation tank near the outlet zone.
Typical weir overflow rate:
Type of flocs

Weir overflowrate (m3/d.m)

Light alum floc (low-turbidity water)

143-179

Heavier alum floc ( higher-turbidity

water)

179-268

Heavy floc from lime softening

268-322

Example 6-12 Page 314 Davis

The town of Urbana has a low-turbidity raw water and is designing its overflow weir at a loading
rate of 150 m3/d.m. If its plant flowrate is 0.5 m3/s, how many linear meters of weird are
required.

Solution:
Plant flowrate divide by weir loading rate
= (0.5 m3/s)(86400 s/d)
(150 m3/d.m)

= 288 m

Sedimentation concept
(1) flocs settling velocity, vs
(2) overflow rate, vo, velocity at which the tank is
designed to operate (water flowing over the top of
tank and into weir system), sometimes it refers as
surface loading rate)
Unit is m3/d.m2
When vs >vo, 100% particle removal. And vice versa.

Upflow clarifier

vo = volume/time = (depth)(surface area) = Depth = liquid velocity = h/to

Surface area

*to = detention time

(time)(surface area)

time

Assumption
An ideal horizontal sedimentation tank is based on:
1. Particles and velocity vectors are evenly distributed across the tank cross-section. This is the
function of the inlet zone
2. The liquid moves as an ideal slug down the length of the tank
3. Any particle hitting the bottom of the tank is removed.

Ideal horizontal sedimentation tank

The % of particle removed, P, with a settling velocity of vs in a sedimentation tank designed with
an overflow rate of vo is

vs
P 100
vo

Unlike upflow
clarifier, some
% of particles
with vs<vo will
be
removed
(escape)

Determination of the particle-settling velocity is different for different types of particles. Settling
properties of particles are often categorized into one of three classes:
(1) Type 1 sedimentation
(2) Type 2 sedimentation
(3) Type 3 or zone sedimentation

Type 1

Type 2

Type 3

Type 1
Particle behaviour

Type 2

Type 3

Particle settle discretely at a As particles that flocculate during Particles

are
at
high
constant settling velocity
sedimentation
concentration (>1000 mg/L)
Settle as individual particles and They are flocculating, thus the size
do not flocculate or stick to is changing (usually increasing).
other particles during settling

What?

sand, grit materials

Floc from alum or iron coagulation

Particle tend to settle as a mass

and a distinct clear zone and
sludge zone present

Where?

Grit removal

primary sedimentation, and settling

tank in trickling filtration

lime-softening sedimentation,
activated sludge sedimentation,
and
sludge thickeners

Mathematical
relationship

Stokes Law

Stokes Law
Values obtained from lab.
(reason: flocculating particles are
continually changing in size and
shape, and water entrapped in floc.
Thus, jar-test is used to develop
design data)

Stokes Law
In 1687, Sir Issac Newton showed that a
particle falling in a quiescent fluid accelerates
until frictional resistance (or drag) on the
particle is equal to the gravitational force of
the particles.

Check the Eq 6-34 to 6-44 from Davis book

(page 319-320)

Forces acting on a free-falling particle in a fluid

FD = drag force; FG = gravitational force; FB = buoyancy force

Stokes Law
Sir George Gabriel Stokes showed that spherical particles falling under laminar condition, Eq as
follow is used.

= dynamic viscosity, Pa.s

18 = a constant
Dp = diameter of particle, m
p= density of particles, kg/m3
f = density of fluid, kg/m3
Dynamic viscosity (absolute viscosity) is a function of the water temperature