CE 370

Sedimentation

Sedimentation

¾Objectives
¾Uses
¾Sedimentation Basins
¾Types of Settling
¾Sedimentation in Water Treatment
¾Sedimentation in Wastewater Treatment

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 Overview of the Process
¾Location in the Treatment Plant
• After the source water has been coagulated and flocculated,
it is ready for sedimentation.

Overview of the Process

¾Objectives of Sedimentation
To separate solids from liquid using the force
of gravity. In sedimentation, only suspended
solids (SS) are removed.

¾Use
Sedimentation is used in water and
wastewater treatment plants

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 Water Treatment

¾Prior to filtration of surface water

¾Prior to filtration of coagulated-flocculated
water
¾After adding lime and soda ash In softening of
water
¾In iron and manganese removal plants after
treating the water

Wastewater Treatment

¾Removal of SS in primary sedimentation

basins
¾Removal of biological floc in activated sludge
processes (final sedimentation basin)
¾In tertiary treatment
¾Removal of humus after trickling filters (final
sedimentation basins)

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 Sedimentation Basins
¾Shapes
− Circular, Rectangular, and square
¾Sizes
• Circular
– 15 to 300 ft (diameter) and 6 to 16 ft (depth)
– Typical sizes are 35 to 150 ft (diameter) and 10 to 14 ft
(depth)
• Square
– 35 to 200 ft (width) and 6 to 19 ft (depth)
• Rectangular ( depends on sludge removal mechanism)
• Freeboard
– 1 to 1.25 ft for circular and square tanks
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Types of Settling

¾Type I settling (free settling)

¾Type II settling (settling of flocculated
particles)
¾Type III settling (zone or hindered settling)
¾Type IV settling (compression settling)

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 Type I settling (free settling)
• Settling of discrete (nonflocculent) particles
− Settling of sand particles in grit chamber

• In type I settling, a particle will accelerate until the drag force,

FD, equals the impelling (due to weight) force, FI; then settling
occurs at a constant velocity, Vs.
− FI = (ρs - ρ)gV where;
ρs = particle density and V = particle volume
− FD = CDAC ρ (V2s/2) where;
CD = coefficient of drag, AC = particle cross-sectional area
− Assuming spherical particles in a laminar flow regime:
( ρ s − ρ ) gd 2
Vs =
18µ
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Type I settling (free settling)

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Design Equations
The detention time of the particle that enters at point 1 and get removed
at point 2 is given by:

The detention time is also equal to the length divided by the horizontal
velocity:

The horizontal velocity is equal to flowrate divided by cross-sectional

area:

Combining equations 2 and 3 to eliminate V gives:

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 Design Equations
Since LWH is the basin volume, Vol, the detention time, t, is equal to the
basin volume divided by the flow rate:

From equation 1 and 4:

LWH H
.....(6)
Q V0
Rearranging yields:

Or: = overflow rate or surface loading (m3/d-m2)

Where Ap is the plan area of the basin

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Design Equations
For an ideal circular settling basin, the horizontal velocity is given
by:
Q
V=
2πrH

and

= overflow rate or surface loading (m3/d-m2)

The depth of an ideal rectangular or circular basins is given by:

H = Vot

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 Design Equations

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Type II settling (settling of flocculated

particles)

• Particles flocculate during settling; thus they increase in

size and settle at a faster velocity. Examples of Type II
settling:
− Primary settling of wastewater
− Settling of chemically coagulated water and wastewater

• A batch settling tests are performed to evaluate the

settling characteristics of flocculent suspensions.

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 Type II settling (Batch settling test)
• Batch settling tests:
− Suspension is poured into column.
− Samples are removed from the ports at
periodic time intervals.
− The samples suspended solids
concentrations are determined.
− The percent removal is calculated for each
sample.
− The percent removal is plotted on a graph as
a number vs time and depth.
− Interpolations are made between the plotted
points and curves of equal percent removals
are drawn as shown in the next figure.

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Type II settling (Settling diagram)

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 Type II settling (Settling diagram)
• Determining overflow rate and fraction removed:
The overflow rates, Vo , are determined for the various settling times (ta,
tb, and so on) where the R curves intercept the x-axis. For example, for
the curve Rc, the overflow rate is:
H
Vo = × proper conversions
tc

The fractions of solids removed, RT, for the times ta, tb, and so on are
then determined. For example, for time tc, the fraction removed would
be:

H2 H
RT = RC + ( RD − RC ) + 1 ( RE − RD )
H H

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Type III settling (zone or hindered

settling)

¾Is the settling of an intermediate concentration

of particles
¾The particles are close to each other
¾Interparticle forces hinder settling of
neighboring particles
¾Particles remain in fixed position relative to
each other
¾Mass of particles settle as a zone
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 21

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 Type IV settling (compression settling)

¾Settling of particles that are of high

concentration
¾Particles touch each other
¾Settling occurs by compression of the
compacting mass
¾It occurs in the lower depths of final clarifiers
of activated sludge

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 Sedimentation in Water Treatment
¾Settling characteristics of floc depend on:
− Water characteristics
− Coagulant used
− Degree of flocculation

¾For water coagulated with alum or iron salts

• Overflow Rates
− 20.4 to 40.8 m3/d-
/d-m2

• Detention Times
− 2 to 8 hours

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Sedimentation in Water Treatment

¾In lime-soda softening plants

• Overflow Rates
− 28.6 to 61.2 m3/d-
/d-m2

• Detention Times
− 4 to 8 hours

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 Example of Sedimentation
in Water Treatment
Clarifier for Water Treatment
A rectangular sedimentation basin is to be designed for a rapid filtration plant. The flow is
30,300 m3/day, the overflow rate or surface loading is 24.4 m3/d-m2, and the detention time is 6
hours. Two sludge scraper mechanisms for square tanks are to be used in tandem to give a
rectangular tank with a length to width ratio of 2:1. Determine the dimensions of the basin

Solution
The plan area required = (30,000 m3/d) / (24.4 m3/d-m2) = 1242 m2
Since the length (L) is twice the width (W)
Then (2W)(W) = 1242 m2
W = 24.9 m and thus L = 49.8 m
Therefore, the plant dimensions are:

Width = 24.9 m
Length = 49.8 m

Since the depth (H) is equal to the settling rate times the detention time
H = (24.4 m3/d-m2)(d/24 )(6 h) = 6.10 m

Depth = 6.10 m
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Sedimentation in Wastewater Treatment

¾Primary sedimentation
− To remove settleable solids from raw wastewater
¾Secondary sedimentation
− To remove MLSS in activated sludge process
− To remove biological growth sloughing off trickling filters
¾Tertiary and advanced treatment
− Remove coagulated-
coagulated-flocculated SS
− Remove chemical precipitates

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 Primary Sedimentation

Type of Overflow Rate (m3/d-m2)

Treatment Overflow Rates and Depths for Primary Clarifiers Depth (m)
Average Peak

Primary Settling
followed by 32.6 – 48.9 81.5 – 122 3.0 – 3.7
Secondary Treatment

Primary Settling with

Waste Activated 24.5 – 32.6 48.9 – 61.1 3.7 – 4.6
Sludge

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Example on Primary Sedimentation

A primary clarifier for a municipal wastewater treatment plant is to be designed for
an average flow o 7570 m3/d. The peak overflow rate is 89.6 m3/d-m2, average
overflow rate is 36.7 m3/d-m2, minimum side water dept is 3 m. The ratio of the
peak hourly flow to the average hourly flow is 2.75. Determine:
1. the diameter of the clarifier
2. the depth of the clarifier

Solution
Using average flow, the required area = (7570 m3/d) / (36.7 m3/d-m2) = 206 m2
Using peak flow, the required area = (7570 m3/d) (2.75) / (89.6 m3/d-m2) = 232 m2
Therefore, the peak flow controls. So, 232 m2 = (π/4) D2; D = 17.2 m
The depth of the clarifier = 3.0 m

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 Criteria Used in Design of Secondary
Sedimentation Basins
Overflow
Type of
rates, Solids Loadings, and
Overflow Rate (m3/d-m2)
Depths for Secondary Depth
Solids Loading (kg/d-m2)
Clarifiers
(m)
Treatment Average Peak Average Peak
Activated 16.3 – 32.6 40.8 – 81.6 98 – 147 244 3.7 – 4.6
Sludge
(except
extended
aeration)
Activated 8.15 – 16.3 32.6 98 – 147 244 3.7 – 4.6
Sludge,
Extended
Aeration
Activated 16.3 – 32.6 40.8 – 81.6 122 – 171 244 3.7 – 4.6
Sludge, Pure
Oxygen
Trickling 16.3 – 24.5 40.8 – 81.6 -- -- 3.0 – 3.7
Filters
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Criteria Used in Design of Secondary

Sedimentation Basins

Suggested
Tank DiameterDepths
(m) for Final Clarifiers
Side for(m)
Water Depth ASP

Up to 12.2 3.35

12.2 – 21.3 3.65

21.3 – 30.5 3.96

30.5 – 42.7 4.27

> 42.7 4.57

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 Criteria Used in Design of Secondary
Sedimentation Basins

¾Detention Time is 1.0 to 2.5 hours (based on

average daily flow)
¾Overflow rates, solids loadings and depths
should control in design of final clarifiers
¾Basins should be provided with baffles and
skimmers to remove floating objects

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Example on Final Sedimentation

A final clarifier is to be designed for an activated sludge

treatment plant. Peak overflow rate = 57.0 m3/d-m2, average
overflow rate = 24.4 m3/d-m2, Peak solids loading = 244 kg/d-
m2, peak weir loading = 373 m3/d-m, and depth = 3.35 m. The
flow to the reactor basin prior to the junction with the recycle line
= 11,360 m3/day. The maximum recycled sludge flow is 100%
of the influent flow and is constant throughout the day. The
MLSS = 3000 mg/l, and the ratio of the peak hourly influent flow
to the average hourly flow is 2.50. Determine:

1. the diameter of the tank

2. the depth of the tank
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 Solution

The recycle = (100%)(11,360 m3/day) = 11,360 m3/day

Average mixed liquor flow = 11,360 + 11,360 = 22,720 m3/day
Peak mixed liquor flow = (2.5)(11,360) + 11,360 = 39, 760 m3/day
Area of basin (based on average flow) = (11,360 m3/day) / (24.4 m3/d-m2) = 466 m2
Area of basin (based on peak flow) = (28,400 m3/day) / (57.0 m3/d-m2) = 498 m2
Peak solids flow = (39,760 m3/day)(1000 l/m3)(3000 mg/l)(kg / 106 mg) = 119,280 kg/day
Area of solids loading = (119,280 kg/day) / (244 kg/d-m2) = 489 m2
Thus the peak overflow rate controls
Since 489 m2 = (π/4)(D2) the diameter of the basin, D = 25.2 m
From the Table, for a clarifier with D = 25.2 m, the suggested depth of the basin = 3.96 m

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