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The document outlines the processes and equipment involved in a wastewater treatment plant, including stages such as influent entry, grit removal, biological treatment, and disinfection. It details various unit operations like flow metering, screening, and filtration, as well as the mechanisms of filtration and flocculation. Additionally, it describes the use of natural and chemical flocculants in wastewater treatment processes.

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Ahmed Mohsen
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2 views

exam solution

The document outlines the processes and equipment involved in a wastewater treatment plant, including stages such as influent entry, grit removal, biological treatment, and disinfection. It details various unit operations like flow metering, screening, and filtration, as well as the mechanisms of filtration and flocculation. Additionally, it describes the use of natural and chemical flocculants in wastewater treatment processes.

Uploaded by

Ahmed Mohsen
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The flow diagram outlines the major equipment and processes in a wastewater treatment plant

Influent: The raw wastewater entering the treatment plant

Grit Removal: Removes inorganic particles like sand, gravel, and other heavy solids. Prevents
wear and abrasion on mechanical equipment

Off-Line Flow Equalization (Optional): Stores excess wastewater during peak flow periods to
balance inflow rates

Metering: Measures the flow rate of wastewater entering the system for proper process control

Primary Settling: Separates settleable solids (primary sludge) from wastewater by gravity.
Typically reduces suspended solids and BOD (biochemical oxygen demand)
Biological Process Aerobic or anaerobic microbial processes: (e.g., activated sludge, trickling
filters) break down organic matter and reduce BOD and nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus

Secondary Settling: Separates biomass and other particles from the treated wastewater after
the biological process

Effluent Filtration (Optional): Removes fine particles and additional impurities using sand filters
or membranes. Backwash water storage is used to clean the filters periodically

Chlorine Contact Chamber: Used for disinfection by adding chlorine to kill pathogens before the
treated effluent is discharged

Backwash Water Storage: Collects wastewater used for backwashing filtration systems

Mixer: Ensures proper mixing of chemicals (like chlorine) for disinfection or other treatments

Flotation Thickening: Concentrates sludge (solid waste) by floating it to the surface for removal,
reducing its volume for further processing

Sludge Processing Facilities: Processes the sludge for disposal, incineration, or reuse (e.g., as
fertilizer or biogas)

Unit Operation Principal


Applications
Measures and monitors the flow rate of incoming wastewater for control and record-
Flow Metering keeping.
Screening Removes large solids and debris to protect downstream equipment.
Comminution Reduces the size of large solids to prevent clogging in downstream processes.
Flow Equalization Balances variations in influent flow to ensure steady operation of treatment processes.
Mixers Ensures uniform mixing of chemicals or substances for optimal process efficiency.
Flocculation Promotes aggregation of fine particles into larger flocs for easier removal.
Flotation Separates solids or impurities by floating them to the surface for removal.
Sedimentation Removes suspended solids by settling them at the bottom of a tank.
Filtration Removes fine suspended particles to improve effluent quality.
Facilitates the transfer of gases like oxygen, carbon dioxide, or others into or out of
Gas Transfer water.
Microscreening Removes very fine particles or solids using fine mesh screens.
Removes volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or dissolved gases from water by allowing the
Volatilization atmosphere.
Gas Stripping Strips dissolved gases like ammonia or volatile contaminants from water using air or steam

Filtration Mechanism

Mechanical straining: The suspended particles that are unable to pass through the voids of
sand grains are arrested and removed by the action of mechanical straining.
Sedimentation: The voids between sand grains of the filter act each other, small
sedimentation tanks. The particles of impurities, arrested in these voids, adhere to particles
of sand grains, mainly for the following , the presence of a gelatinous film or coating
developed on sand grains by previously caught bacteria and colloidal matter.

Biological metabolism: The growth and life process of the living cells is known as biological
metabolism and the action of the filter is explained based on biological metabolism. When
bacteria are caught in the voids of sand grains, a zoological film is formed around the sand
grains.

Electrolytic changes: The action of filter is also explained by the ionic theory. It states that
when two substances with opposite electric charges are brought into contact with each
other, the electric charges are neutralized and in doing so, new chemical substances are
formed.

Rapid Sand Filters Slow Sand filter

Media :coarser sand is used with an Filters Media: Fine sand.


effective grain size in the range 0.4-1.2 Operation: Low filtration rate (0.1-0.3 m/h)
mm. Features: Biofilm (Schmutzdecke) develops on the
Operation: High filtration rate (5-15 m/h). surface, enhancing removal of pathogens and organic
Cleaning: Backwashing with water or air to matter.
remove trapped particles. Cleaning: scraping off the top layer containing the
Applications: Municipal drinking water autotrophic layer.
treatment (For water with a low turbidity), Depending on the amount of water filtered and solids
industrial processes, and In the treatment in the water the slow sand filter may need cleaning
of groundwater, rapid filtration is used for only once or twice per year.
the removal of iron and manganese. Applications: Small-scale or rural water treatment.
1) Natural flocculation:
is environmentally friendly, and used for wastewater treatment.
A natural product like starch can also act as a natural flocculant.
The use of natural flocculants for flocculation of wastewater treatment can be very cost-effective.
natural flocculants are biodegradable hence non-toxic.

2) Flocculation based on a chemical process


First Step Coagulation:
• Coagulants are added to the wastewater , such as alum (aluminum sulfate) or iron sulfate/ iron
chloride. Coagulants destabilize colloidal particles which have ( -ve charge) by neutralizing their
charges, allowing them to come together.
• Second Step Floc Formation:
• After coagulation addition , gentle mixing or stirring helps aggregate the destabilized particles
into larger flocs. This stage may involve the addition of flocculants, which are polymers that promote
the binding of particles.
• Third Step Settling:
• Once the flocs are formed, they are allowed to settle under the force of gravity in a sedimentation
tank. The larger, denser flocs settle to the bottom, forming a sludge that can be removed.

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