Sedimentation

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 Sedimentation
seperation of unstable and destabilized suspended solids from a
suspension by the force of gravity

Applications in Water Treatment:

1. settling of coagulated and flocculated waters prior to filtration
2 settling of coagulate an flocculated water in a
softening plant
3. settling of treated waters in an iron and manganese removal
plant

Applications in Wastewater Treatment:

1.grit removal
2.suspended solids removal in primary clarifier
3.biological floc removal in activated sludge 2
 Sedimentation

Settling of particles from suspension depends on:

Characteristics of the Particles Concentration of Particles in Suspension

DILUTE
DISCRETE FLOCCULATING CONCENTRATED
SUSPENSIONS
PARTICLES PARTICLES SUSPENSIONS
suspensions in which
particles whose particles whose suspensions in
the conc. of particles is
size, shape and surface properties are which the conc. of
not sufficient to cause
specific gravity such that they particles is too great
significant displacement
do not change aggregate upon to meet the
of water as they settle
with time. contact conditions
or in which the
Thus, changing in mentioned for dilute
particles will not be
size, shape, and suspensions
close enough for
perhaps specific
velocity field
gravity with each 3
occur
interference to
contact
 • settling of discrete particles in dilute
TYPE 1 suspensions Example:
(discrete • particles have no tendency to flocculate removal of grit and sand
• they settle as individual entities and there is no in wastewater treatment
particle settling) significant interaction with neighboring particles
TYPE 2 • settling of flocculant particles in dilute Examples:
suspensions
(flocculant •removal of SS in
• as particle settle and coalesce with other particles,
primary sedimentation
settling) the sizes of particles and their settling velocity
tanks of WWTP
increases
•settling of chemically

coagulated waters
TYPE 3 • settling of intermediate concentration of Example:
(hindered flocculant particles biological floc removal in
settling) or • particles are so close together that interparticle secondary settling basins
(zone settling) forces are able to hold them in fixed positions of WWTP
relative to each other and the mass of particles
settles as a zone at a constant velocity
TYPE 4 • settling of particles that are of such a high Examples:
(compression concentration that the particles touch each • occurs in the bottom of
settling) other and settling can occur only by compression deep secondary
which takes place from the weight of particles clarifiers
• facilities
in 4
sludge thickening
T ype 1 – Discrete Settling
If a particle is suspended in water , it initially has 2 forces acting upon it.

 p = density of particle

 p = volume of particle
 w = density of water
 p = volume of particle

CD = drag coeff.
1. The forces of gravity f =  g Ap = cross sectional area
g p p
of particle perpendicu lar to the
f =  g direction of movement
2. The buoyant force quantified by Archimedes. b w p

w = density of water
Once motion has been initiated, a third force is s =settling velocity of particle
created due to viscous friction
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2
s
1. Drag force fD = C D A p  w
2
 Force balance for a discrete particle that is settling
d s
m = F −F −F
p dt G B D

Downward acceleration of particle

After an initial transient period, the acceleration ds becomes zero and the settling
velocity becomes constant. dt

d s
mp = 0 = FG − FB − FD
dt
 2 
 D A p w s
( )( )
0 =  p g p −  w g p −  C
2


 

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 
( )  
2
0 = g p  p −  w A 
−  CD p w s

 2 


( )  
2
g p  p −  w =  C D A p  w s

 2 

s =
(
2g p −w
SETTLING VELOCITY OF
DISCRETE PARTICLE IN ANY

)p CDw SHAPE

( Eqn. 1)
Ap

For spherical particle;

4 3
4 r3
p = r p 3 4
3 = r2 = r
2 Ap 3
A = r
4d Subsitute into Eqn.1 7
=
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 2g (p −w )4d
s =
CDw 32

4 (p −w )gd SETTLING VELOCITY OF

s = SPHERICAL DICRETE PARTICLE
3 CDw ( Eqn 2)

Newton’s drag coefficient (CD) is a function of:

• Flow regime around the particle Re 1

• Particle shape 1 R e 10

4 R 10 4
e
s D 
Re= = (kinetic visc.)
 w
 s D
Re= (for nonspheric al particles)


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Drag coefficient (Co) for spheres:
24 3
C = + + 0.34
D Re Re

Re  1 negligible
For laminar flow
24 3
CD = + + 0.34
Re Re
24 sd  s d
CD = where R = =
Re e  
24 
CD = For laminar flow
 s d w

g
s
18 
(
 p − w )d 2
Settling velocity of spherical
discrete particles under laminar
flow conditions (STOKE’S LAW) (
= Eqn. 3)
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 4
For turbulent flow R e  10

C D =0.34 −0.4 commonly used

Substitute into Eqn.2

10 ( p − w )d
Settling velocity of
s = g spherical discrete
3 w particles under turbulent
flow conditions

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Example 1: Find the terminal settling velocity of a spherical
discrete particle with diameter 0,5 mm and specific gravity of
settling through water at 200C
2.65 3
 w = 998 .2kg / m
−3 2
 = 1.002.10 Ns / m

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 Critical Settling Velocity & Overflowrate

→ Particles move horizontally with the fluid (all particles have the same horizontal
velocity)

→ Particles move vertically with terminal settling velocity (different for particles with
different size, shape and density)
All particles with Vs  Vc will be completely settled.

Particle with Vs  Vc will be removed in the ratio Vp / Vc 12

 tank depth depth
V = critical velocity = =
c detention time tan k volume / flowrate
SURFACE LOADING
depth
= or OVERFLOW
( depth .area ) / flowrate
RATE
flowrate Q area A
= =
(Settling velocity of the slowest-settling particles that are
100% removed)

In a typical suspension of discrete particles a large

variation in particle size

To determine the overall removal for the settling velocity distribution for
a given design settling velocity (or overflowrate) the suspension must be determined
Experimental analysis

use of a settling column

use of sieve analysis 13

and hydrometer tests.
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 Batch Settling Column T est for T ype 1 Settling
Depth of column is not a factor in the analysis ( about 2
m) Diameter of column about 200 mm

Procedure: Z0

Sampling port
1. Height of the port is measured

2. Suspension to be tested is placed in the column

Mixed completely to ensure uniform distribution of particles

3. At time=0, a portion of the sample is removed from the port

TSS analysis is carried out in order to determine the initial TSS concentration

4. The suspension is allowed to settle

5. Intermittent samples are removed at appropriate time intervals For each sample withdrawn,
TSS analysis must be performed in order to determine the fraction remaining in suspension at each time
interval

6. Settling velocity at each time interval (V’=H/t’; V’’=H/t’’; V’’’=H /t’’’….)

fraction with settling velocity less than stated vs terminal setling velocity

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0,7

0,6

0,5
fraction of particles remaining Xc
0,4 -
0,3

0,2

0,1

0
0 0,05 0,1 0,15 0,2 0,25 0,3 0,35 0,4 0,45 0,5 0,55 0,6 0,65
Vc settling velocity, m/min

xc
VP
Fraction removed = (1 − XC ) dx
+ VC 0

Fraction particles with Fraction particles with

velocity greater than Vc removed with velocity
less than Vc

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 Sieve Analysis for T ype 1 Settling
1. Particle Size vs Weight fraction greater than size (%) are determined

2. Settling velocity for each particle size is calculated

3. Cumulative distribution curve (fraction with settling velocity less than stated vs
terminal setling velocity) is drawn

VP
Fraction removed = (1 − X C ) +  dx
VC

Fraction particles Fraction particles

with velocity with removed
greater than Vc with velocity less
than Vc

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 T ype 2 – Flocculent Settling
(settling of flocculent particles in dilute suspension)

Chemical precipitates formed tend to agglomerate

in coagulation and other while settling as a result
destabilization processes of interparticle collisions

As a result;
→ their sizes change continually (increases)

→ their shapes change continually

→ their specific gravity change

(as a result of entrapment of water in interstitial spaces)

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Example 2:

Particle Type Weight Fraction Wi Settling Velocity, Vi

1 0.1 0.2 m/sec

2 0.3 0.1 m/sec
3 0.2 0.3 m/sec
4 0.4 0.15 m/sec

If Vc=0.16 m/sec for a given settling tank, what is the % of all solids removed?
Example 3: A settling analysis is run on a Type 1 suspension in a
laboratory column with a port 1.8m below the suspension surface. The
data obtained are shown below.
Time (min) TSS (conc, mg/L)
0 220
3 116
5 98
10 75
20 35
40 10
60 2

What will be the theoretical removal efficiency in a settling basin for

an overflow of 432 m2/m.day?
Solution of Example 2 :

Time (min) TSS (conc, mg/L) Mass Fraction Vs (m/min)

Remaning
0 200 - -
3 116 0.58 1.8/3=0.6
5 98 0.49 1.8/5=0.36
10 75 0.38 1.8/10=0.18
20 35 0.18 1.8/20=0.09
40 10 0.05 1.8/40=0.045
60 2 0.01 1.8/60=0.03
Overflowrate=Vc=432 m
2
1d 1hr
= 0.3m /min
m.d 24hr 60 min dx V V.dx
0.06 0.2388 0.0143
Xc=0.46 0.1 0.158 0.0158
1 Xc
Total removal = ( 1−Xc ) + V 0 Vdx
c
0.1 0.1266 0.01266
= 0.54 +
1
(0.0143 + 0.0158 + 0.01266 + 0.0077 + 0.0044 )
0.1 0.077 0.0077
0.3
0.1 0.044 0.0044
0.05486
= 0.54 +
0.3
= 0.72
= 72%
Example 4: A settling basin is designed to have a surface overflowrate of 32.6m/d.
Determine the overall removal obtained for a suspension with the size
distribution given in the table below. The specific gravity of the particles is 1.2
and water temperature is 20oC .
( =1.0087x10-3 Ns/m2, =998.23 kg/m3 )

Particle Size , mm Weight Fraction Greater Than Size , %

0.1 10
0.08 15
0.07 40
0.06 70
0.04 93
0.02 99
0.01 100
Solution of Example 3:
dx V V.dx
0.027 0.35 0.00945
0.04 0.32 0.0128
0.04 0.29 0.0116
0.04 0.25 0.01
0.04 0.20 0.008
0.04 0.15 0.006
0.04 0.065 0.0026
Xc=0.267
1 Xc
Total removal = ( 1−X c ) c

+ V 0 Vdx
1
= 0.733 + (0.00945 + 0.0128 + 0.0116 + 0.01 + 0.008 + 0.006 + 0.0026 )
0.37

= 0 . 89
= 89 % 24
 T ype 2 – Flocculent Settling
(settling of flocculent particles in dilute suspension)

Chemical precipitates formed in coagulation and other destabilization

processes tend to agglomerate while settling as a result of interparticle
collisions

→ sizes change

→ shape change

→specific gravity change (as a result of entrapment of water in interstitial

spaces)

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 T ype 2 – Flocculent Settling (Continue)

As their size increases, they settle at a faster velocity STOKE’s law

not applicable

impossible to develop a general

formula for determining settling velocities of flocculant particles.

To determine the settling characteristics batch settling column test

suspension of flocculant particles must be performed

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 Batch Settling Column T est For T ype 2 Settling

Min . Diameter of column about 150 - 200 Sampling port

Sampling port

mm (to minimize sidewall effects) Z0

Sampling port

Sampling port

Height of column depth of the proposed tank

Sampling ports are provided at equal intervals in height

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Procedure:

1. Suspension to be tested is placed in the column

Mixed completely to ensure uniform distribution of particles

3.At time=0, a portion of the sample is in order to determine the initial TSS concentration

4.The suspension is allowed to settle

5.At periodic time intervals, samples are removed through the ports located in different heights.

For each sample withdrawn at each depth and for each time ,
TSS analysis must be performed in order to determine the fraction remaining in suspension at each
time interval

6.Percent removals
Xij= mass fraction removed (at ith depth at jth time interval) = ( 1- Cij/C0) x 100

7.Percent removal lines (isoremoval lines) are drawn by interpolation.

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 To find the total removal at any
chosen time;
% removal of completely
removed fraction

% removal of partially removed

fraction

are found

Initially;
a vertical line from the chosen time is
projected upward.
% removal of completely removed
fraction
% read at chosen time % of particles having Average% read atDesign
chosen time % of particles
settling ≥
that are completely removed.
velocity set 30
tling
velocity
 To determine the % removal of partially
removed fractions

particles having

settling velocity <design settling velocity

will be removed in the ratio of average settling

velocity of fraction

(ave depth reached in chosen time/chosen time)

design settling velocity (total depth /chosen

time)

Median lines are drawn between the

percent removal lines

Ave. depth reached read from the

intersection point of vertical line
and drawn median line
% partially removed= x Fraction
total depth
average depth reached by fraction
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Example 5 ( Type 2 Settling):
A column analysis of a flocculating suspension is run in the apparatus
shown below. The initial solids concentration is 250 mg/L. The resulting
matrix is shown below. What will be the overall removal efficiency of a
settling basin which is 3 m deep with a detention time of 1 h and 45 min.

Depth Time of sampling, min

m 30 60 90 120 150 180
0.5 133 83 50 38 30 23
1 180 125 93 65 55 43
1.5 203 150 118 93 70 58
2 213 168 135 110 90 70
2.5 220 180 145 123 103 80
3 225 188 155 133 113 95

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SOLUTION:
 C 
 
Removal at each depth and time: X =  1− C ij  100
ij  o 

Depth Time of sampling, min

m 30 60 90 120 150 180
0.5 47 67 80 85 88 91
1 28 50 63 74 78 83
1.5 19 40 53 63 72 77
2 15 33 46 56 64 72
2.5 12 28 42 51 59 68
3 10 25 38 47 55 62

Plot isoremoval lines by interpolation

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34
 Detention time = 1hr 45 min =105min
Draw a vertical line from 105 min

% removal of completely removed

fraction at t=105min =43%
(from graph, by interpolation)

% removal of partially removed fraction

: % removal =
2.6
7% = 6.06%
bw 43-50% fraction 7%, ave. depth reached by fraction 2.6 3
1.8
% removal = 10% = 6%
bw 50-60% fraction 10%, ave. depth reached by fraction 1.8 3
1.8
% removal = 10% = 6%
bw 60-70% fraction 10%, ave. depth reached by fraction 1.2 3

bw 70-80% fraction 10%, ave. depth reached by fraction 0.8 % removal = 0.8 10% = 2.66%
3

bw 80-90% fraction 10%, ave. depth reached by fraction 0.45 % removal = 0.45 10% = 1.5%
3
bw 90-100% fraction 10%, ave. depth reached by fraction 0.1%5 removal = 0.15 10% = 0.5%
3
Total %removal of partially removed particles at time=105 min=6.06 + 6 + 4 + 2.66 + 1.355 +
0.5
=20.72%
Total removal at time=105min = completely removed % + partially removed %
= 43 % + 20.72 %

= 63.72 %

NOTE : In applying isoremoval curves to design a tank, scale – up factors of

0.65 the overflowrate

1.75 for the detention time

are used to compensate for the side wall effects of the batch settling column.

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3

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Example 6:

A city must treat about 15000 m3/day of water. Flocculation particles

are produced by coagulation and a column analysis indicates that an
overflowrate of 20 m/day will produce satisfactory removal at a depth
of 3.5m.Determine the size of

a)the required rectangular settling tanks

b)the required circular settling tanks

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EXAMPLE 6 :

Design circular primary sedimentation tanks for a domestic wastewater

treatment plant having Qavg=70000m3/d and Qpeak = 105000m3/day.

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 Sedimentation Basin Design

Settling basins rectangular (horizontal

•A view) rectangular basin will cost
single more than a circular basin of
in plan view
square(occasionally used) circular (radial flow)
the same size However;
• if numerous tanks are required rectangular tanks can be
constructed with common walls

• and be the most economical.

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NOTE: a minimum of two basins should be provided in order to be able to inspect, repair
, periodically clean and maintain one basin at a time while the other basin is in
Sedimentation tanks can be divided into 4 different functional zones;

1. Inlet zone

2. Settling zone

3. Sludge zone

4. Outlet zone

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 Inlet Structures •should dissimate influent energy
•distribute the flow
•mitigate density currents
•minimize sludge blanket disturbance

are designed to uniformly distrubute the influent suspension

over the cross section of the settling zone.

For Rectangular Basins

full width inlet channels effective spreading of flow introduce

a vertical velocity
component into sludge happen that may resuspend sludge.

For sedimentation tankinlet channels with submerged orifices

width of flocculation basin – width of settling tank (depths are different)
followed by
flocculation
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Depth of inlet channel = depth of flocculator basin
Pipe connection between
Low velocity in pipe settling of floc
flocculation unit &
High velocity in pipe breakage of
sedimentation
floc

Permissible flow velocity to maintain floc suspension 0.15 – 0.6 m/sec

If sedimentation tank does not adjoin a flocculator

inlet channels with submerged orifices do not extend down the full depth of the tank

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Influent
Effluent

Orifices

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 Inlet Structures (continue)
For circular tanks

circular tanks radial flow

to achieve a radial flow patterninfluent is introduced in the center of the tank

or
around the periphery of the tank

Central feed water enters a circular well designed to

distribute the flow equally in all directions
D of feed well = 15-20 % of tank diameter

Depth= 1- 2.5m

Velocity through the orificies on feed

well 0.075- 0.15 m/sec
entrance pipe suspended from bridge OR encased in concrete beneath the tank floor 52
For peripheral feed (not as uniform as central feed)

orifice channel around periphery of the tank

from the channel the flow discharges through the orifices into sedimentation tank

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Settling Zone
It depends on the following desing parameters:

Settling characteristics of the suspended matter

Surface loading (over flowrate)

Width / length ratio OR diameter

Detention time

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Sludge Zone
Rectangular tanks the bottom is slightly sloped to facilitate sludge scraping

a pair of endless conveyor chains bridge – type mechanism

continously pulls the settled material into a sludge hopper where it is pumped out
periodically.

Motion of scraper momentarily resuspend lighter particles a few cm above the scraper

blades Excessive horizontal velocity

( for the case of rectangular basins) move these materials towards outlet zone.

To prevent this,

horizontal velocity - < 9 m/hr for light flocculant suspensions 67

≈ 36 m/hr for heavier discrete suspensions
Bridge type mechanism travels up and down the tank

one or more scraper blades are suspended from the bridge

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Circular tanks

The bottom of the tank is sloped to form an inverted cone and the sludge is scraped to
a relatively small hopper located near the center of the tank

Velocity or scraper important

Very high velocty resuspension of settled particles (<5mm/sn)

Travelling bridge with sludge suction headers and pumps not very good

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Outlet Zone
weir channels are used

Checked by weir loading (m3/m.day) Q

L
Large weir loading resuspension of particles settled near to effluent launders

Effluent weirs placed as far from the inlet as possible

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to increase weir length (i.e to decrease weir loading) double-sided weirs can be used

Typical weirs 90o V notch metal plates bolted onto the effluent collection through

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May be placed
through the entire width of tank
at the opposite and of the rectangular basins
through the length of the tank

if the weir loading causes the required weir length to be greater than tank width the
channel may be extended to a length of 1/3 the basin length (Reynolds)

around the perimeter of center – feed circular tanks

at the center of peripheral feed circular tanks

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Influent
Effluent

Orifices

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