Design Optimization for Water

/ Wastewater Treatment and

Conveyance Systems using
CFD Modeling

Ferdous Mahmood, P.E. (VA)

Malcolm Pirnie / ARCADIS-US
Dallas, Texas

Computational Fluid Dynamics

Modeling
3-D visualization of liquids and gases in
motion
Calculates details of flow regime (such as
velocity, pressures, flow streamlines, forces,
turbulence)
Cost effective evaluation of design and
operation
Reduces extensive experimentation and
operational changes
Optimizes design and shortens design cycle
Validates impact of proposed design

Tank Operational (Flow) Analysis

Dark blue color implies

near zero velocity

Lower Inflow Rate

Higher Inflow Rate

Lower flow produced poor mixing near the top of tank

Higher flow achieves better mixing throughout the tank

Seasonal (Temperature) Analysis

Inflow 1 0C Less than Tank Bulk Water

Isothermal Condition

140

120

120

100

100

40

20

20

5' below w ater surface

140' below w ater surface
88.0
87.0
86.0
85.0
84.0
83.0
82.0
81.0
80.0
79.0
78.0

-20

Stratified
tank
20

-20
25
0
-25

75' below w ater surface

Tank Level (ft)

150
140
130
120
110
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0

89.0

Temperature (deg. F.)

Tim e
40' below w ater surface

Mixed
tank

88.0
87.0
86.0
85.0
84.0
83.0
82.0
81.0
80.0
79.0
78.0

150
140
130
120
110
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0

Water Depth (ft)

-20
25
0
-25

40

60

Temperature (deg. F.)

20

80

Water Depth (ft)

Conc
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.1
0.01

60

80

-20

140

Design Analysis - Radial Inlet

300
300
300
300

6 dia perforations

Outer sleeve

36 dia inlet pipe

outlet pipe

Velocity Contours

WWTP Clarifier Analysis

Velocity
Contours
(m/s)

Velocity
Contours
(m/s)

WTP Rapid Mix System Analysis

WTP/ WWTP Filter Flow

Distribution Analysis
Lower flow at this filter inlet

Dead zone

Baffle Design and CT Analysis

for Rectangular Tanks
Baffle Walls

1.00

Mass Fraction of Tracer (Cout/Cin)

0.90

Outlet

0.80
0.70
0.60
0.50

Tracer Curve from CFD

0.40

Velocity
Contours

Tracer
Contours

Inlet

0.30
0.20
0.10
0.00
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5 7.0 7.5 8.0 8.5 9.0 9.5 10.0

Time (hours)

Clearwell Tracer Movement

1

Tracer
Concentration
(0-1 mg/L)

Baffle Design and CT Analysis

for Circular Tanks
0.02

Comparisons of Breakthrough Curves

0.018

2.5
0.016

0.014

Close
agreement
between model
results and
field data

0.012

0.01

Conc (ppm)

1.5

0.008

0.006

Modeled

Modeled+Cb
0.004

Measured
Y

0.5

0.002
Z

0
0

10

15

20
Time (hours)

25

30

35

Clearwell Baffles

Chemical Injection and Mixing

Analysis
Chemical
Injection

Plates
added

72
Pipe

Poor mixing of chemical

Chemical only in 2nd pipe branch

Good mixing of chemical

Chemical in both branches

Reservoir Short-Circuiting and

Water Age Analysis
Velocity Vectors
Water Residence
Time Distribution

Water Residence Time

Pump Station Design Evaluation

Velocity
Contours
(ft/s)

Pipe Valve Analysis

Valve location
Velocity
Contours
(m/s)

Velocity
Contours
(m/s)

Large Pipe Connection

Evaluation
Velocity
Contours
(ft/s)

Velocity
Contours
(ft/s)

Junction box

High velocity at pipe intersection corner mitigated by

junction box

Dam Spillway and Aqueduct

Inlet/Outlet Analysis
Spillway
Entrance

Aqueduct

See attached
movie for analysis

Questions?
Ferdous Mahmood
Phone: 972-375-7965
Email: Ferdous.Mahmood@arcadis-us.com