CIVL 1112 Water Treatment - Sedimentation 1/7

Treatment Processes Sedimentation

Sedimentation is the downwards movement of an object
relative to its surrounding medium, due to the force of gravity.

Screening Aeration Prechlorination

Sedimentation Flocculation Coagulation

Sedimentation Sedimentation
Dissolved-air flotation (DAF) is a method whereby bubbles are The purpose of sedimentation is to remove preexisting solids,
produced by the reduction of pressure in a water stream as well as the precipitates formed in coagulation and
saturated with air. flocculation.

Sedimentation Sedimentation
The purpose of sedimentation is to remove preexisting solids, Model of a circular settlement tank with sludge scrapers was
as well as the precipitates formed in coagulation and used to estimate the distribution of particulate concentration
flocculation. over time
CIVL 1112 Water Treatment - Sedimentation
Sedimentation
Sedimentation
Click HERE for animations about sedimentation
http://techalive.mtu.edu/meec/module03/WastewaterandWildlife.htm
Sedimentation
Discrete - Individual particles settle independently, neither
agglomerating nor interfering with the settling of the other
particles present. This occurs in water with a low
concentration of particles.
Flocculant - Particle concentrations are high enough that
agglomeration occurs. This reduces the number of
particles and increases average particle mass. The
heavier particles sink faster.
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Sedimentation
Sedimentation
Sedimentation is the accumulation through gravity of
particulate matter at the bottom of a fluid.
This natural process is frequently used to separate
contaminants from air, water, and wastewater.
There are four types of settling:
discrete
flocculant
hindered
compression
Sedimentation
Hindered - Particle concentration is sufficient that
particles interfere with the settling of other particles.
Compression - In the lower reaches of clarifiers where
particle concentrations are highest, particles can settle
only by compressing the mass of particles below.
CIVL 1112 Water Treatment - Sedimentation 3/7

Sedimentation Sedimentation
If the Vp > Vh then settling can occur

w Vh Vh

Vp Path of smallest
Q consistently settled Q Q Q
z particle Vp

sludge layer sludge layer

L L

Sedimentation Sedimentation
If the Vp < Vh then short-circuiting can occur
The horizontal velocity, Vh, of a particle can be approximated
by considering the flowrate, Q, and the cross-sectional flow
area of the tank.
Vh
Q
Vp
Q Vh A Vh
Q Q
A
Q
sludge layer
Vh
L wz

Sedimentation Sedimentation
The residence time of water in the sedimentation tank can be Estimate of the residence time of water in a small
approximated as: sedimentation tank where Q = 1 liter/min, L = 6 in.,
w = 6 in., and z = 10 in. (dimensions of a tank in the lab).
Q
Vh Vh L t
Lwz 6in.(6in.)10in.

wz t Q 1,000 ml
min
Lwz 360in.3 min 16.39ml
t t
1000ml in.3
5.9 min
Q
CIVL 1112 Water Treatment - Sedimentation 4/7

Sedimentation Sedimentation
Discrete settling, can be analyzed by calculating the settling The forces acting on a settling particle are:
velocity of the individual particles contained within the water.
Fb Fd

The forces acting on a particle are:

gravity in the downward direction,
drag acting in the upward direction as the particle settles
upward buoyancy due the water displaces by the particle

Fg is the force due to gravity

Fg
Fd is the drag force
Fb is the buoyant force
Fg = Fd + Fb

Sedimentation Sedimentation
The gravitational force can be expressed as: The drag on the particle can be calculated by the drag
equation from fluid mechanics
Fg mp g
1
Using the density and volume of the particle yields:
Fd Cd A w v 2
2
Fg pVp g
where Cd is the drag coefficient, dimensionless,
A is the particle cross-sectional area, ft.2,
where: p is the density of the particle, lb-mass/ft.3, w is the density of water, lb-mass/ft.3,
Vp is the volume of the particle, ft.3, and v is the velocity, ft./sec.
g is the gravitational constant, ft./s2

Sedimentation Sedimentation
The buoyant force acting on the particle is: By balancing the forces acting on a settling particle and using
the relationships for Fg the force due to gravity, Fd the drag
Fb mw g force, and Fb the buoyant force, the following relationship
can be developed:

Substituting the particle volume and density of water, yields:

1
pVp g Cd A w v 2 wVp g
Fb wVp g 2

where: w is the density of water, lb-mass/ft3,

CIVL 1112 Water Treatment - Sedimentation 5/7

Sedimentation Sedimentation
Solving for the settling velocity, v, results in: At low Reynolds numbers (for NRe, < 1) Cd, can be
approximated by: 24
2( p w )Vp g Cd
NRe
v
Cd Aw For Reynolds Numbers is transition flow, 1 < NRe < 10,000,
the drag coefficient for spheres is:
If the particle is assumed to round and the formulas for area 24 3
and volume of a sphere are used: Cd 0.34
NRe NRe
4( p w )d p g where dp is the For turbulent flow, NRe > 10,000, the relationship for the drag
v diameter of the
3Cd w coefficient for spheres is:
particle Cd 0.4

Sedimentation Sedimentation
vd
The Reynolds Number is: NRe This relationship is known as Stokes' law, and the velocity is
known as the Stokes velocity.
where u is the absolute viscosity of the water, lb-force-
sec./ft.2 (at 500F, = 2.73(10-5) lb.-sec./ft.2). ( p w )d 2 g
vp
18
For NRe, < 1 the particle settling velocity can be estimated as
a function of the properties of the particle and water, and the
particle diameter, or The vertical velocity of water in a settling basin is often
described as the overflow rate (OFR).
( p w )d 2 g
vp It is usually expressed as gal./ft.2-day (m3/m2-day).
18

Sedimentation Sedimentation Example 1

The overflow rate is calculated in the following way: Estimate the settling velocity of sand (p = 2,650
kg/m3) with a mean particle diameter of 0.21 mm.
Q
OFR Assume the sand is approximately spherical.
A
Using a safety factor of 1.4 to account for inlet and
where: OFR is the overflow rate, gal./ft.2-day, outlet losses, estimate the area required for a chamber
Q is the flowrate, gal./day, and to remove the sand if the flowrate is 0.10 m3/sec
A is the clarifier area, ft.2. (1,000 liters = 1 m3).
CIVL 1112 Water Treatment - Sedimentation 6/7

Sedimentation Example 1 Sedimentation Example 1

The density of water at 200C is 998 kg/m3 and the viscosity of Knowing the overflow rate, the area required is:
water at 200C is 1.01(10-3) N-s/m2 (Newton = kg-m/s2). The
Stokes settling velocity is: 3
Q 0.10 m
( p w )d g 2
A (SF ) s (1.4) 3.6m 2
v p v s OFR m
18 OFR 0.039
s
kg kg
m
2
4
2650 3 998 3 2.1 10 m 9.81 2

m m s
where SF is the safety factor, 1.4
kg
18 1.01 10 3
ms

= 0.039 m/s = 3.9 cm/s

Sedimentation Example 2 Sedimentation Example 2

Group Problem Group Problem
Estimate the settling velocity of the floc particles we have What are good estimates of the particle density and
seen in lab - especially the jar test results. diameter?

Use Stokes' law to estimate the settling velocity. Lets assume the following values:

What are good estimates of the particle density and Particle density = 1,100 kg/m3
diameter?
Particle diameter = 10-4 m
How does your estimate compare to what you have seen in
the lab?

Sedimentation Example 2 Sedimentation Example 2

Group Problem Group Problem
( p w )d 2 g OFR = 5.5 x 10-4 m/s = 0.055 cm/s
v p v s OFR
18 2
0.055cm cm 86, 400 s 30.48 cm
2
1 gal
OFR cm 2 day 3785.41 cm 3
kg 2 m s 1 ft
kg

4

1,100 m 3 998 m3 1 10 m 9.81 s 2


3 kg
OFR 1,166.3 gpd
18 1.01 10
ft 2
ms
For ferric chloride typical OFRs are in the 700 - 1,000 gpd/ft.2
= 5.5 x 10-4 m/s = 0.055 cm/s
CIVL 1112 Water Treatment - Sedimentation 7/7

Sedimentation Example 3 Sedimentation Example 3

Knowing the overflow rate and the minimum flowrate,
Group Problem the area required is:
If the settling velocity of the floc particles is 0.055 cm/s, 1cm
3
Q 750 ml
determine the area of the sedimentation tank. A (SF ) (1.3) min ml 295.5 cm 2
OFR 0.055 cm 60 s
s min
Assume a factor of safety of 1.3 2
1in.
A 295.5 cm 2 45.8 in.2
Assume the system flowrate can varying from 750 ml/min 2.54 cm
to 1,250 ml/min
In lab, each tank is 6 in. by 6 in. or 36 in.2.

How does your estimate compare to what you have seen in Therefore, for this estimate of particle velocity we need 1.27 tanks
the lab? or 2 sedimentation tanks

Sedimentation Example 3 Sedimentation Example 3

Knowing the overflow rate and the minimum flowrate,
the area required is:
Group Questions
1cm
3 What if the settling velocity of the floc particles is greater
Q 1,250 ml
A (SF ) (1.3) min m l 492.4 cm 2 than the computed 0.055 cm/s?
OFR 0.055 cm 60 s
s min
2
What if the settling velocity of the floc particles is less than
1in. the computed 0.055 cm/s?
A 492.4 cm 2 76.3 in.2
2.54 cm
How do these estimates compare to what you have seen in
In lab, each tank is 6 in. by 6 in. or 36 in.2. the lab?
Therefore, for this estimate of particle velocity we need 2.1 tanks
or 3 sedimentation tanks

Treatment Processes

Any Questions?