CE 428 Water and Wastewater Treatment Design Secondary Clarifiers Dr. S.K.

Ong Design of secondary clarifier for biological systems is slightly different from primary clarifiers because of the high solids contents entering the clarifier from the biological aeration tank. Incoming solids concentrations are in the range of 2,500 to 5,000 mg/L. Under this situation, interactions between particles become important and particle settling is hindered. Settling is classified as Type III settling as the solid suspension tends to settle en masse. There is usually a distinct clarified zone showing a liquid-solid interface.

t1

t2

t3

Type IV - compression

There are several approaches used in the design of secondary clarifiers. In the absence of solids settling data, literature data is generally used (see attached Table 10-12 and Ten States Standards). The three important design criteria are: Surface overflow rate Solids loading rate Weir overflow rate. Treatment Process Trickling filter Conventional Completely Mixed Extended aeration Surface Overflow Rate at Design Peak Hourly Flow* (gal/d/ft2) 1,200 1,200** 1,000 Peak Solids Loading Rate*** (lb/d/ft2) 50 35 Weir Overflow Rate Design Peak Hourly Flow (gal/d/ft) 20,000 (< 1mgd) 30,000 (> 1 mgd)

* based on influent flow ** to meet 20 mg/L, reduce surface overflow rate to 1,000 mg/L *** based on the design maximum day flow rate plus the design maximum return sludge rate and the design MLSS under aeration For Ten States Standard - the peak hourly flows are used for both surface overflow rate and solids loading rate. The larger of the surface area for either surface overflow or for solids loading is selected. If solids data are available, the following experiment is conducted to size the secondary clarifier. The test use is the solids flux method. In a typical secondary clarifier, there are essentially two zones that control the design of the clarifier. Zone 1 - sludge blanket, settling velocity of the particles should control the design for this zone. The mass of solids per unit area per unit time (g/m2/s) is defined as the solids flux. In this zone the solids flux is called the gravity flux.

Zone 2 - concentrated sludge zone, thickening of the sludge occurs, the rate of drawoff of the sludge controls, if not there will be a build up of sludge In this zone the solids flux is defined as underflow flux. Inflow 1 2

Sludge drawoff Solids Flux Method As in the earlier above (page 1), a jar of the wastewater is mixed evenly to uniformly distribute the solids throughout the length of jar. As the solids settle, the interface between the liquid and the solids are measured with respect to time. Various tests for different initial solids concentrations are conducted. A typical curve (height of interface vs time) is plotted:

Zone Settling

Height of Interface
Transition Compression settling

Time The slope of the hindered settling region is the settling velocity, V i which is equivalent to the surface loading rate. For each initial solids content, we have different settling velocities, V 1, V2, V3, . In Zone 1, the gravity flux, Ngi = Ci VI Where Ngi = gravity flux Ci = initial solids concentration Vi = hindered settling velocity

Computing the gravity flux for different initial solids concentration, and plotting the gravity flux against the initial concentration, we have the following curve:

gravity flux, Ng (g/m2/s)

Underflow Flux, Nu

Concentration, C

Concentration, C

Drawoff from the bottom or undeflow flux is given by Nu = CuUb Where Cu = concentration at the bottom of the clarifier Ub = underflow velocity = Qu/As = volumetric underflow rate/surface area of clarifier A plot of Nu for various Ub's is shown above. The total flux through the clarifier is given by N = Ng + Nu. Combining the two curves, we have the following diagram.

Total Flux

Concentration, C The minimum on the curve indicates the minimum or limiting solids handling capacity of the clarifier for the given suspension. The limiting flux is given by NL. Therefore, the clarifier for thickening must be able to handle: Where Q = influent flow rate C0 = influent solids concentration Design area for thickening As > QCo/NL Since mass in must equal to mass out, then Q Co = Qu Cu = As NL Cu is found by extending the limiting flux line until it intersects the underflow flux line for C o. Based on this Qu can be found. Design area for hindered settling or clarification is given by As = Q/Vi where Vi is the settling velocity for th given inlet solids concentration. Select the larger of the two areas. Simplified Approach Plot the solid flux curve for gravity flux only Decide on a concentration, Cu, of thickened sludge for the underflow Locate Cu on the concentration lines, draw a line such that it is a tangent to the solids flux curve Intersect of this line with the Y-axis is the limiting flux Use the limiting flux in your design. A s N L > Q Co

Example Design a secondary clarifier for a flow rate of 4200 m3/d, solids content of 2,000 mg/L, and a thickened sludge of 6,000 mg/L. Given the following data. Concentration (mg/L) Settling velocity (m/h) Solids flux (kg/m2.h) 1000 2.8 2.8 2000 1.4 2.8 3000 0.4 1.2 4000 0.2 0.8 5000 0.1 0.5 6000 0.06 0.36

Draw tangent to locate limiting flux NL = 2.3 kg/m3day Total solids loading to clarifier 4200 (m3/d) (d/24h) (2000 mg/L) (kg/106 mg) (1000 L/m3) = 350 kg/h Surface area of clarifier for thickening = 350/2.3 = 152.2 m2

For clarification with a solid concentration of 2,000 mg/L, the settling velocity is 1.4 m/h. Surface area needed for clarification = 4200 (m3/d) (d/24 h) /1.4 = 125 m2 Therefore clarifier is limited by thickening. Diameter of the clarifier is given by [(152.2) 4/3.142]1/2 = 13.9 m, use 14 m

Single Batch Settling Curve Approach 1. 2. 3. 4. Determine the slope of the hindered settling region, Vo. This is the settling velocity for clarification (surface loading rate). Extend tangents from the hindered settling region and the compression region. Bisect the angles between the intersect of the two tangents, to locate point 1. Draw a tangent to the curve at point 1. The initial sludge concentration is Co and the initial height of the solids is Ho. The total mass of sludge per unit area is equal to Ho Co. If the undeflow concentration is Cu and the height of this sludge at the bottom of the clarifier is Hu, then by mass balance understeady state conditions, we have HoCo = Hu Cu If a Cu value is selected for the underflow concentration, then Hu can be computed. Using the computed Hu value, a horizontal line is draw. The intersection of this line and the tangent drawn from point 1 will give the time, tu, required to reach the desired underflow concentration Cu. Area required for thickening At = (Q= Qr) tu/Ho Use a safety factor of between 1.5 for the thickening surface area needed. Use a safety factor for the hindered settling area needed, i.e., Ac = 2 (Q/Vo)

5. 6. 7. 8.