L-­4  

Example  Problems  on  Discrete  

Sedimentation (Type I)
 Steady  state  velocity
1
𝜌𝑝  𝑔𝑉𝑝   − 𝜌𝑤  𝑔𝑉𝑝 = 𝐶𝐷    𝜌𝑤  𝑣2𝐴𝑝
2

2 5 3
/0 4 7
       3   6
For  spherical  particles,     =   5 6
=  8 𝑑
10 4 6

2
; <0  =<> ? ; <0  =<> ?7
𝑣𝑡 7 = 3
=> 𝑣𝑡 = (Stokes equation)
@A < > BC  D
 

7E ∅KL<>?
𝐶𝐷   = F (for  laminar  flow,  Re <  1.0) 𝑅𝑒 =
G M
7E 8
𝐶𝐷   = F + N.P +0.34 (for  transitional  flow)
G FG
𝐶𝐷   = 0. 4 (for  turbulent  flow,  Re >  104)
 Example Problem 1
Find  the  terminal  settling  velocity  of  a  spherical  particle  
with  diameter  0.5  mm  and  specific  gravity  of  2.65  settling  
through  water  at  20oC.  Assume  𝜌𝑤 =  998.2  kg/m3 and  
𝜇 =1.002  x  10−3 𝑁.𝑠/𝑚2 𝑎𝑡 20𝑜𝐶.

Assume  laminar  flow.  

Z.CB× 7\PN  =ZZC.7 × P×BN]2 7
𝑣𝑡 = =  ?  m/s
BC×B.NN7×BN]3

KL× ZZC.7 × P×BN]2

𝑅𝑒 = =  ?  
B.NN7×BN]3
 Example Problem
Solu…..

Assume  laminar  flow.  

Step  1:
Z.CB× 7\PN  =ZZC.7 × P×BN]2 7
𝑣𝑡 = =  ?  m/s
BC×B.NN7×BN]3

Step  2:

KL× ZZC.7 × P×BN]2

𝑅𝑒 = =  ?  
B.NN7×BN]3
 Example Problem…
Z.CB× 7\PN  =ZZC.7 × P×BN]2 7
𝑣𝑡 = =  0.22  m/s
BC×B.NN7×BN]3

N.77× ZZC.7 × P×BN]2

𝑅𝑒 = =  112,  which  indicates  transitional  flow
B.NN7×BN]3

Step  3:
7E 8
𝐶𝐷   = BB7 + N P + 0.34 =  0.84
.
BB7

Step  4:
2
7 ; <0  =<> ?
𝑣𝑡 = 3
=> 𝑣𝑡 = ?  m/s
@A  <>
 Example Problem…
Step  5:

With  𝑣𝑡 =  0.11  m/s

Repeat  Step  2,  3  and  4

Re = 55

CD = 1.18

vt = 0.10 m/s
Design  of  long  rectangular  basins

Vh
Zo
Vo
 Design  of  long  rectangular  basins
Consider  the  particle  which  was  initially  at  the  surface  and  settled  
through  the  depth  of  the  column  Zo in  time  to.  

If  to   also  corresponds   to  the  time  required  for  the  column  to  be  
carried  horizontally  across  the  settling  zone,  then  the  particle  will  
fall  into  sludge  zone  and  be  removed  from  the  suspension  at  the  
point  at  which  the  column  reaches  the  end  of  the  settling  zone.  
All  the  particles  with  vt >  vo will  also  get  removed.  

Consider  the  particles  with  settling  velocity  <  vo,

If  the  initial  depth  of  this  particle  was  such  that,  Zp/vt =  to,  this  
particle  will  also  get  removed.  

Therefore,   the  removal  of  suspended  particles  will  be  in  proportion  
to  the  ratio  of  the  individual  settling  velocities  to  the  vo.
 Design  of  long  rectangular  basins

The  time  to corresponds   to  the  retention  time  in  the  settling  zone.

to  =  Volume  of  the  basin  (m3) / Flow  (m3/s)  

to  =  L  x  Zo x  W  /  Q

Also,  to  =Zo/vo

to  =Zo/vo =  L  x  Zo x  W  /  Q

vo =  Q/  L  x  W  =  Q/As
 Type  II  Settling:  If  Particles  Do  Not  Behave  
Independently
• Often,  particle  growth  continues  during  settling.  This  is  
referred  to  as  Type  II  settling.  

• Particles  settle  faster  the  longer  they  are  in  the  system,  
so  they  cannot  be  assigned  a  single  vterm.  

• Effluent  can  still  be  viewed  as  mixture  of  different  

groups  of  particles,  each  present  in  part  of  the  column  
and  absent  from  other  parts.  

• A  generic  design  approach  exists  that  can  be  used  for  

both  Type  I  and  Type  II  settling.  
 Generic  Design  Approach  for  
Types  I  and  II  Settling  
• Fill  a  column  at  least  as  long  as  the  anticipated  settling  
depth  with  water  of  interest.  Allow  suspension   to  settle,  
taking  samples  from  several  ports  at  various  times.  Plot  
%  removal  for  each  sample  as  shown  below.  
Q/A  …
 Experimental analysis of  settling column
A  settling  analysis  is  run  on  a  type  – I  suspension.  The  
column  is  1.8  m  deep,  and  the  data  are  given  below.

Time,  min 0 60 80 100 130 200 240 420

Conc.  mg/L 300 189 180 168 156 111 78 27

What  will  be  the  removal  efficiency  in  a  settling  basin  with  
a  loading  rate  of  25  m3/m2.d  ?
 Example Problem 2
Solu…

Step  1:
Calculate  mass  fraction  remaining   and  corresponding  
settling  rates

Time,  min 60 80 100 130 200 240 420

Conc.  mg/L 189 180 168 156 111 78 27
Mass  fraction  remaining   1-­(300-­189)/300 0.60 0.56 0.52 0.37 0.26 0.09
=  0.63
vt x  102 m/min 3.00 2.25 1.80 1.38 0.90 0.75 0.43

Step  2:  ………??

Q/A  …