Sedimentation & Settling in

Water Treatment

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
ASST. PROFESSOR
DEPT. OF CIVIL & ENVT. ENGG.
UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM & ENERGY
STUDIES
DEHRADUN
• Most wastewaters and waters contain
solids, and in many treatment processes
solids are generated e.g., phosphate
precipitation, coagulation and activated
sludge bioxidation.
• Particles in water and wastewater that will
settle by gravity within a reasonable period
of time can be removed by "sedimentation"
in sedimentation basins (also known as
"clarifiers").

PAVAN MANDAPAKA 2
• “Settleable” doesn’t necessarily mean that
these particles will settle easily by gravity.
• In many cases they must be coaxed out of
suspension or “solution” by the addition of
chemicals or increased gravity (centrifugation
or filtration).
• Because of the high volumetric flow rates
associated with water and wastewater
treatment systems, gravity sedimentation is
the only practical, economical method to
remove these solids. i.e., processes such as
centrifugation are not economical, in most
cases.
PAVAN MANDAPAKA 3
 Gravity separation can obviously be applied
only to those particles which have density
greater than water. But this density must be
significantly greater than that of water due to
particle surface effects and turbulence in the
sedimentation tanks.
Goals of gravity sedimentation:

1) Produce a clarified (free of suspended

solids) effluent.
2) Produce a highly concentrated solid
sludge stream.
PAVAN MANDAPAKA 4
Type I (Discrete sedimentation):

• Occurs in dilute suspensions, particles

which have very little interaction with
each other as they settle.

• Particles settle according to Stokes law

• Design parameter is surface overflow rate

(Q/As)

PAVAN MANDAPAKA 5
 Type II (flocculent sedimentation)

• Particles flocculate as they settle

• Floc particle velocity increase with
time
• Design parameters:

1. Surface overflow rate

2. Depth of tank or,
3. Hydraulic retention time

PAVAN MANDAPAKA 6
 Comparison of Type I and II sedimentation

PAVAN MANDAPAKA 7
Zone Settling &Compression (Type III and IV)

• Zone settling occurs when a flocculent suspensions with

high initial concentration (on the order of 500 mg/L)
settles by gravity.
• Flocculant forces between particles causes settling as a
matrix (particles remain in a fixed position relative to
each other as they settle).
• When matrix sedimentation is constrained from the
bottom the matrix begins to compress.
• Such a situation occurs when the matrix encounters the
bottom of tank in which it is settling. This is called
compression (Type IV) settling.

PAVAN MANDAPAKA 8
PAVAN MANDAPAKA 9
 Type I Settling
Discrete Settling
10

 Settling of discrete, non-flocculating particles

 Particles settle as individual entities at a constant

velocity

 Minimal interaction between particles

 Applies only to particles in a suspension with a low

solids concentration

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type I Settling
Discrete Settling
11

Bouyant Force Frictional Drag Force

Fb FD

Gravitational Force
Fg
PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type I Settling
Determination of Particle Settling Velocity

(1) Effective Gravitational Force FG  ( p  w )gVp

CD  A p   w  v 2
(2) Drag Force
 FD  p

Assumes Spherical
4g  p  w 
Valid for any NR
v s  v p(t )   d p
3CD  w 
Equating (1) = (2)

(3) Settling Velocity

PAVAN MANDAPAKA 12
 Type I Settling
CD = f(Reynolds Number, Particle
Shape)
v P dP  w
(4) (5) For spherical particles:

NR  CD 
24

3
 0.34
 NR NR



PAVAN MANDAPAKA 13
Type I Settling

When NR < 1 (laminar flow range)

First Term in Eq’n (5) dominates (6)
24
CD 
NR
Substituting Eq’n (6) in Eq’n (3)
Settling velocity in laminar conditions
Only Valid for NR < 1

(7)
g(  p   w )d
 2

vs  v p  p

18 

PAVAN MANDAPAKA 14
 Type I Settling
Settling in the Transitional to Turbulent Region
15

 When 1 < Re < 10000

 For spherical particles, the complete form of Eq’n 5 is

used to describe the coefficient of drag

 The settling velocity distribution of the particles can be

solved using an iterative method
 Need to know CD to calculate the velocity using Eq’n 3
 The coefficient of drag is dependent on NR, which is dependent
on the velocity!
 Need to assume a value for the velocity and then iterate

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 16

Type I Settling
Discrete Settling in an Ideal Settling Tank

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type I Settling
Discrete Settling
17

 Where it occurs in WWTP:

 Grit tanks
 Top zone of the primary clarifiers

 In order to design a settling tank, the settling

velocities must be determined
 The physical properties of a particle determine its
settling velocity (size and density)

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type I Settling
Ideal Settling Basins
18

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type I Settling
Inlet Zone - Assumptions
19

 The suspension is uniformly distributed over the cross-

section of the tank
 Concentration of the suspended particles of each size is the
same across the entire vertical plane

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type I Settling
Settling Zone - Assumptions
20

 Direction of the flow is horizontal

 Fluid velocity (u) is constant at all points

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type I Settling
Sludge Zone - Assumptions
21

 Solids collect in the sludge zone at the bottom of the tank

 All particles reaching the sludge zone will be permanently
removed from suspension (i.e. no re-suspension)

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type I Settling
Outlet Zone - Assumptions
22

 Clarified effluent is distributed uniformly across the

cross-section of the basin

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type I Settling
Settling Paths of Discrete Particles
23

- Particles follow a straight line

- Vector is the sum of 2 velocity components
PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type I Settling
Critical Settling Velocity
24

 vo= critical settling velocity

 A particle starting at the top of the inlet zone with a settling
velocity of vo will just reach the bottom of the tank at the
beginning of the outlet zone

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type I Settling
What Happens to the Particles?
25

 If vs ≥ vo
 Particles will be completely removed from the WW

 If vs = vo
 If the particle is starting at the top of the settling zone (H), it
will just barely settle before the end of the tank

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type I Settling
What Happens to the Particles?
26

 If vs < vo
 Partial removal
 If the particle enters at or below height “h”:
 100% removal
 If the particle enters above height “h”:
 It will not reach the bottom before the outlet zone

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type I Settling
Design Strategy for Sedimentation Basins
27

 Select a particle with a terminal velocity of vo and

then design a basin so that all particles that have a
terminal velocity greater than or equal to vo will be
removed

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type I Settling
Critical Velocity
28

 to = residence time in the settling zone

L
to 
u 

H Hu HuW Q
vo    
to L LW A
PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type I Settling
Overflow Rate
29

Q
vo 
A
 Q/A is called the OVERFLOW RATE of the settling
tank
 Q = flowrate of water [m  3/s]

 vo = critical settling velocity [m/s]



A = surface area of basin (L· w) [m2]

 In design, the overflow rate is set to ensure complete

removal of the particles of a given size
PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type I Settling
Fractional Removal of Particles
30

FX = fractional removal of particles with a settling velocity vs



h v st o v s
FX    Fx < 1
When vs < vo
H v oto v o
PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type I Settling
Fractional Removal of Particles
31

vs vs
Fx  
v o Q 
 
A 
 The fractional removal of the particles is dependent
on:
 Particle settling velocity
 Total flowrate
 Surface area of the settling tank

NOT A FUNCTION OF DEPTH!

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type I Settling
Overall Removal (F)
32

fo
1
F  (1 f o ) 
vo
 v dfs
o
 Where:

fo Fraction of particles with vs < vo

(1 f o )
Fraction of particles with vs ≥ vo
(all completely removed)

fo
1
 vo
 vsdf Fraction of particles with vs < vo
that are removed; Fx = vs/vo
o
PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 33

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Types of Settling
34

 Type I: Discrete Settling

 Type II: Flocculent Settling
 Type III: Hindered or Zone Settling

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type II Settling
Flocculant Particle Settling
35

 Settling initially starts as Type I (discrete), but the

particles coalesce (flocculate) during settling

 Flocculation leads to a change in size, shape and

weight as they settle  vs changes with time

 Paths of the particles are curved (not linear as in

discrete settling)

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type II Settling
Flocculant Particle Settling
36

 There is no theoretical model that can predict the rate

of flocculation

 Can perform batch tests to obtain the data required to

size primary sedimentation basins where flocculation
is occurring

 Use a batch settling column with a height equal to the

depth of the clarifier that is to be designed
 IMPERATIVE!

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type II Settling
Flocculant Particle Settling
37

 Particles initially settle independently, but coalesce

(flocculate) as they proceed down the tank

 Particles change in size, shape and weight as they

settle

 Larger particles have higher vs

 Rate of settling (vs) changes with time

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type II Settling
Flocculant Particle Settling
38

 Particles flocculate as
settling, increasing in
mass and settling at a
faster rate

 Paths of the particles

are curved rather than
straight, as the velocity
changes with time

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type II Settling
Influencing Factors
39

 Factors influencing the degree of flocculation

 Collision frequency; f(concentration, velocity, mixing)
 Surface properties
 Charges
 Particle shape and surface area
 Density

 These factors are poorly understood and there is no

theoretical model to predict the rate of flocculation
 Can do simple batch tests that provide the data required for
sizing primary (with flocculation) and secondary clarifiers

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type II Settling
Overflow Rate
40

Q
vo 
A
 Q/A is called the OVERFLOW RATE of the settling tank
 Q = flowrate of water [m3/s]

 vo = critical settling velocity [m/s]
 A = surface area of basin (L· w) [m2]

 In design, the overflow rate is set to ensure complete removal
of the particles of a given size

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type II Settling
Clarifier Dimensions
41

 A = L x W = surface area of the basin (m2)

 Default aspect geometry:

 L = 4W

 A = 4W2

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type II Settling
Scouring Velocity
42

 Re-suspension of particles due to large horizontal velocities (u)

Q
u
 Where: HW
 u = horizontal velocity (m/s)
 Q = water flowrate (m3/s)
 HW = cross-sectional area (entry area) in the direction of flow (m2)

To prevent scouring, u < (9 * vo)


PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Types of Settling
43

 Type I: Discrete Settling

 Type II: Flocculent Settling
 Type III: Hindered or Zone
Settling

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type III Settling
Hindered or Zone Settling
44

 At high solids concentrations (such as those seen in

secondary clarifiers), there are cohesive forces
between the particles/flocs

 The particles settle collectively as a “zone”

 Maintain the same relative position with respect to one
another
 At a given cross-section, all of the settling velocities are equal,
regardless of size

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type III Settling
Hindered or Zone Settling
45

 Occurs in solutions with a very high solids

concentration
 Secondary clarifiers following the activated sludge process and
sludge thickeners

 Distinct interface between the settled particles and

the clarified effluent
 A relatively clean layer of water is produced above the settling
particles
 Liquid tends to move between interstices

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type I
(Discrete)

PAVAN MANDAPAKA 46
 Type II
(Flocculent)

PAVAN MANDAPAKA 47
 Type III
(Zone)

PAVAN MANDAPAKA 48
 Type III Settling
Settling49Test
Zones:
A. Clarified liquid
B. Uniform
concentration/settling
velocity
C. Transition
D. Compression
Time

1. Initial phase
2. Zone settling phase
3. Transition phase
4. Compression phase

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type III Settling
Settling Test
50

1. Initial Phase
 Slow settling
 No floc adherence
2. Zone Settling Phase
 Constant settling period
 Suspension settles at a uniform velocity characteristic of the
initial solids concentration
3. Transition Phase
 Interface settling velocity begins to decrease

4. Compression Phase
 Solids concentration at the interface increases and settling
velocity increases until equilibrium is reached (settling stops)

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
PAVAN MANDAPAKA 51 Figure 5-28, Metcalf & Eddy
 Type III Settling
Clarifier Design
52

 To obtain data for design, settling tests are repeated

for different initial concentrations

 Typical range is X = 1 to 15 kg/m3

 Plot solids/liquid interface height versus time for each initial X
 Estimate the zone settling velocity for each initial X from the
slope
 vs = f(X)

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type III Settling
Interface Height vs Time
53

 Find vs in region where

there is a constant
settling velocity

 Slope decreases as the

concentration increases
 C1 lowest concentration
 C6 highest concentration
 vs decreases as increases X

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type III Settling
Clarifier Design
54

 Clarifiers need to be designed for two purposes:

 Clarification: Removal of solids from liquids to produce an
effluent with a low solids concentration.
 Thickening: Concentrating the suspension to produce a
concentrated underflow. The solids must have sufficient time
to travel to the bottom of the tank.

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type III Settling
Solids Flux and Clarifiers
55

 Size of clarifier required is dependent on the

concentration and the settling velocity

 If a suspension has a high solids concentration with a high

settling velocity, it is not necessary to have a large clarifier

 If a suspension has a low solids concentration with a low

settling velocity, a large clarifier would be required

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type III Settling
Solids Flux and Clarifiers
56

 The solids flux is the product of the settling velocity

by the solids concentration

Gs  v s X
 Where:
 Gs = solids flux [M/L2•T]
 vs = settling velocity [L/T]
 X = concentration [M/L3]


PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type III Settling
Clarifier Design
57

 Clarifiers need to be designed for two purposes:

 Clarification: Removal of solids from liquids to produce an

effluent with a low solids concentration.

 Thickening: Concentrating the suspension to produce a

concentrated underflow. The solids must have sufficient time
to travel to the bottom of the tank.

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
PAVAN MANDAPAKA 58
 Type III Settling
Batch Settling Test
59

 Use a uniform suspension of known concentration

 In zone settling, the suspension will settle at a uniform
settling velocity
 Measure the position of the solid/liquid interface with time

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type III Settling
Designing Clarifiers
60

 Separately calculate areas required for:

1. Clarification - removal of solids from liquid
2. Thickening - concentrating the suspension to provide a
concentrated underflow

 The larger of the two areas determines the design

of the clarifier (i.e. the area needed to achieve the
specified performance)

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
PAVAN MANDAPAKA 61 Figure 5-28, Metcalf & Eddy
 Type III Settling
Clarification Area
62

 Clarification area must be large enough so that the

velocity of the overflow liquid (effluent velocity) is
less than the batch settling velocity of the interface
 Allows the solids to settle in the tank
 Reduces the concentration of solids in the overflow (Xe)

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type III Settling
Clarification Area
63

 Perform a batch settling test

Qe
vo 
 Where:
Ac
 vo = initial zone settling velocity at the feed concentration (X),
[m/h], (function of X)
 Ac = surface area for clarification [m2]
 Qe = overflow rate of clarified liquid [m3/h]


PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type III Settling
Thickening Area
64

 Area required for thickening is determined by mass flux

analysis based on data derived from batch settling tests

Mass flux = mass of material crossing an area per time [kg/(m2·h)]

 In the thickening region, both solids and some of the liquid

move toward the underflow

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type III Settling
Thickening Area
65

 The underflow contains less water than in the settling

zones above
 The liquid velocity is less than the solids velocity
 The solids settle and the concentration increases with the
depth

 The depth of the thickening portion of the clarifier

must be sufficient to:
 Ensure that un-thickened solids are not recycled
 Temporarily store any excess solids that may be applied

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type III Settling
Gravity Flux
66

 In the secondary clarifier operating at steady state, a

constant flux of solids is moving downward due to
gravity settling
 At any depth in the clarifier, the mass flux of solids due
to gravity settling is:

 Where:
Gg  v i X i
 Gg = gravity flux [M/L2•T] (kg/(m2•h))
 vi = settling velocity at solids concentration Xi [L/T] (m/h)
 Xi = local concentration of solids [M/L3] (kg/m3)

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type III Settling
Determination of Gravity Flux
67
Step A
Determination of the Zone Settling Velocity

PAVAN MANDAPAKA Figure 8-35a, Metcalf & Eddy

 Type III Settling
Determination of Gravity Flux
68

Step B Step C
Settling Velocity (from Step A) Gravity Flux vs Concentration
vs Concentration

PAVAN MANDAPAKA Figure 8-35, Metcalf & Eddy

 Type III Settling
Determination of Gravity Flux
69

At low X, gravity flux is

small because Xi is small

At high X, gravity flux is

small because vi is small

PAVAN MANDAPAKA Figure 8-35, Metcalf & Eddy

 Type III Settling
Bulk Flux
70

 There is also a downward flux of solids due to bulk

transport from underflow pumping
 Solids are removed from the clarifier in the recycle and
sludge wastage streams

Qu
ub 
A
 Where:
 ub = bulk downward velocity of the solids [L/T] (m/h)
 Qu = underflow flowrate [L3/h] (m3/h)
 A = surface area of settling tank [L2] (m2)


PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type III Settling
Bulk Flux
71

 At any depth in the clarifier, the mass flux of solids due

to bulk transport/underflow pumping is:

Gu  ub Xi
 Where:
 Gu = bulk mass flux [M/L2•T] (kg/(m2•h))
 ub = bulk downward velocity of the solids [L/T] (m/h)
 Xi = local concentration of solids [M/L3] (kg/m3)


PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type III Settling
Determination of Bulk Flux
72

• The bulk flux of solids is a linear function of the solids concentration with a slope
equal to ub

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type III Settling
Total Flux
73

 The total mass flux of solids at a concentration Xi is:

G  Gg  Gu
G  X iv i  X i ub
G  X i (v i  ub )
PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type III Settling
Total Flux
74

GL is the limiting solid flux

PAVAN MANDAPAKA Figure 8-36, Metcalf & Eddy

 Type III Settling
Limiting Flux
75

 The rate at which sludge can fall limits the ability of

the system to remove the solids
 Minimum of the total flux gives gives XL and GL
(Limiting flux)
 This represents the limit where sludge cannot reach
the bottom of the tank - “Thickening failure”
 To ensure that all sludge reaches the bottom, the
applied flux needs to be less than the limiting flux
 The goal is to design the system as close to GL as
possible

PAVAN MANDAPAKA
 Type III Settling
Thickening Area
76

 Area = Solids Applied to the Clarifier (kg/h)

Limiting Flux (kg/m2•h)

Q  Xo
A
GL
 Where:
 Q = influent flow rate (m3/h)
 GL = limiting solid flux (kg/(m2h))
 Xo = influent concentration of solids (kg/m3)

Design with a factor of safety of 1.75


PAVAN MANDAPAKA