Crispen Mutsvangwa: Water & Wastewater Treatment, Dept of Civil Eng.

Chapter 8
Sedimentation

Contents

8 SEDIMENTATION ...................................................................................... 2
8.1 Discrete particles (Type 1) ......................................................................... 2
8.2 Flocculant particles (Type 2) ...................................................................... 2
8.3 Dilute suspension ....................................................................................... 2
8.4 Hindered particles (Compressive settling) .................................................. 2
8.5 Components of sedimentation tanks .......................................................... 2
8.6.1 Inlet and outlets ............................................................................... 3
8.7 Types of sedimentation tanks..................................................................... 4
8.7.1 Radial Circular tanks (Fig. 8.4) ........................................................ 4
8.7.2 Horizontal flow Rectangular tanks (Fig. 8.5) .................................... 6
8.7.2.1 Disadvantages of rectangular tanks ................................................ 7
8.8 Sludge Removal Mechanism...................................................................... 7
8.9 Vertical flow tanks (Sludge blanket clarifiers) ............................................. 8
8.9.1. Applicability ..................................................................................... 9
8.9.2 Advantages of vertical flow clarifiers.............................................. 10
8.9.3 Problems of vertical flow clarifiers (sludge blanket
clarifiers) .................................................................................................. 10
8.10 Settling velocity ............................................................................. 11
8.11 Sizing of parameters for rectangular tanks .................................... 12
8.11 Sludge Treatment and Disposal .................................................... 14
8.11.2 Disposal Methods .......................................................................... 15
8.12 References .................................................................................... 15

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Crispen Mutsvangwa: Water & Wastewater Treatment, Dept of Civil Eng.

SEDIMENTATION

8 Sedimentation

Sedimentation normally follows after the flocculation process. The discrete

and flocculated particles settle down due the force of gravity (downward
movement of suspended particles). It occurs when the density of the settling
particle is greater than the fluid. Sedimentation is classified upon the
characteristics and concentration of suspended materials:

 discrete particles
 flocculent
 dilute suspension

8.1 Discrete particles (Type 1)

The size, shape and specific gravity of discrete particles do not change with
time i.e. non-interactive settling of particles from a dilute suspension.
Examples are grit and sand, and their mass is constant.

8.2 Flocculant particles (Type 2)

Particles which agglomerate (coalesce/flocculate) during settling and have no
constant characteristics. Their mass varies during the process of settling and
an increase in mass causes a faster rate of settlement.

8.3 Dilute suspension

Concentration of particles is not sufficient to cause significant displacement of
water as they settle.

8.4 Hindered particles (Compressive settling)

Compressive settlement is called zonal settlement. The particles interact and
the concentration of particles is high. Settlement is slow because as particles
move down (large in numbers), water is displaced upwards hindering
downward settlement

8.5 Components of sedimentation tanks

A sedimentation tank has the following components:
 inlet
 outlet
 settling zone
 Cleaning mechanism e.g. scraper
 sludge collection zone (trough or Hooper)

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Crispen Mutsvangwa: Water & Wastewater Treatment, Dept of Civil Eng.

 desludging mechanism (poor removal of sludge affects the efficiency of

the tank).

Flocculent particle
path
Depth

Discrete particle
path

Time

Fig. 8.1: Settling paths of discrete and flocculent particles

Outle
t
zone
D
vH
Inle
t
zone
vs

Settling zone

Fig. 8.2 Rectangular basin

8.6.1 Inlet and outlets

Different variety exists (Fig. 8.3). They should distribute the flows uniformly

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Crispen Mutsvangwa: Water & Wastewater Treatment, Dept of Civil Eng.

without turbulence which may break the flocs. Short-circuiting should be

avoided. Poor design of the inlet and outlet structures affect the efficiency of
the tanks.

Fig. 8.3: Typical Inlets and outlets

8.7 Types of sedimentation tanks

Flow can be horizontal, radial or vertical and common ones are:

 Rectangular basins
 Circular

8.7.1 Radial Circular tanks (Fig. 8.4)

 flow is radial, and it enters at the centre and is baffled to the periphery
 horizontal velocity continually decreases towards the perimeter,
resulting in the change of the absolute settling velocity of a particle.
Therefore the particles follow a parabolic path as opposed to the
straight line in rectangular tank
 the base of tank is normally sloped at about 1:15

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Crispen Mutsvangwa: Water & Wastewater Treatment, Dept of Civil Eng.

 to prevent extremely thin sheets of water from being drawn off, overflow
weirs on circular tanks are installed. They consists of V-notches of
metal plates, which reduce the effective overflow area. The plates
should be level to prevent short circuiting

Advantages of circular tanks

 weir overflow rates not a problem since the entire circumference is

used for overflow
 sludge removal simpler and requires less maintenance

Disadvantages of circular tanks

 short circuit result from the uneven distribution of velocities and also as
result of wind currents and different temperatures in the tank
 flow control is difficult compared to rectangular tanks
 Occupy more land

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Crispen Mutsvangwa: Water & Wastewater Treatment, Dept of Civil Eng.

Fig. 9.4: Circular radial flow sedimentation tank

8.7.2 Horizontal flow Rectangular tanks (Fig. 8.5)

 flow is horizontal
 rectangular tanks are long and narrow
 they are commonly used for large treatment plants with large flows
 incoming flocs should be distributed uniformly over the width and depth
of tank
 outer weir should be wide enough to reduce high velocities

Advantages of Horizontal Rectangular Tanks

 more compact than radial flow tanks (circular tanks)

 can handle large volumes of water

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Crispen Mutsvangwa: Water & Wastewater Treatment, Dept of Civil Eng.

 rectangular tanks are hydraulically more stable and control of

large volumes of water is easier
 usually sloped at 1:100
 intermittent flow causes no problems due to power cuts or shift
working
 overloading and sudden increases in flow can be accommodated
 temperature variations cause few problems
 very little mechanical equipment
 silt causes no problems
 consequence of errors by operators not serious

8.7.2.1 Disadvantages of rectangular tanks

 limited length of outflow weir available
 complicated weir arrangements

Fig. 8.5: Rectangular horizontal flow sedimentation tank

8.8 Sludge Removal Mechanism

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Crispen Mutsvangwa: Water & Wastewater Treatment, Dept of Civil Eng.

 Sludge Scrapers (Fig. 8.6)

Through mechanical scrapers which scrapes sludge into the Sludge
hoppers

 Hydraulic mechanisms
The hydrostatic pressure from the water exerts some pressure on the
bottom sludge, which can be removed through desludging valves.

Fig. 8.6: Mechanical sludge scrapper

8.9 Vertical flow tanks (Sludge blanket clarifiers)

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Crispen Mutsvangwa: Water & Wastewater Treatment, Dept of Civil Eng.

Types of vertical clarifiers tanks

 hopper-bottomed (Fig. 8.7)
 flat-bottomed (Fig. 8.8)

It combines the roles of coagulation, flocculation and sedimentation in one

tank. The rate of flocculation is accelerated by retaining flocs rather than
discarding them as sludge. The high numbers of flocs present enable rapid
flocculation i.e. rate of flocculation is proportional to the square of number of
flocs present and volume of the flocs..

 inflow is at floor level where there is considerable turbulence and mixing

which helps to promote flocculation
 the flocculation takes place at the bottom inlet where up flow velocities
are greatest
 the up flow supports the static layer of flocs (slurry). The layer consists
of old flocs big in size and dense and fresh flocs. As the raw dosed
water with its small flocs meets this layer, the small flocs collide with the
old flocs.
 the sludge is withdrawn from the top blanket where there is a well
defined interface between the sludge blanket and supernatant water.
When the floc blanket grows too big, some of the flocs spill over into the
concentrators from which the excess flocs are removed by
concentrators at intervals.

8.9.1. Applicability
 require constant quality of raw water with turbidity not exceeding
900NTU, therefore not suitable for high turbid waters,
 no overloading is allowed i.e. plant should be designed with excess
capacity
 suitable where there is a shortage of land because they require less
land.
 surface loading limited to 1 -1.5m/hr
 continuous flow is required, 24 hrs, 7 days a week. If the flow stops,
the layer of flocs will settle to the bottom of the tank and may be difficult
to re-suspend
 up flow velocity should be uniform (1-4m/hr) in any horizontal plane to
prevent the blanket from boiling up in the side and discharges flocs into
the outlet trough
 outlet troughs should be levelled precisely and kept clean
 require skilled manpower i.e. if not operated correctly, old and new flocs
may be carried over into the filters
 capital cost and maintenance are reduced because of a single tank

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Crispen Mutsvangwa: Water & Wastewater Treatment, Dept of Civil Eng.

Fig.8.7 Schematic illustration of a hopper-bottomed sludge clarifier

8.9.2 Advantages of vertical flow clarifiers

 no separate flocculation stage is needed
 less land area required
 better effluent quality if operated well

8.9.3 Problems of vertical flow clarifiers (sludge blanket clarifiers)

 Heavy silt may settle at the bottom during the rain season, and is not easy to
remove
 silt will interfere with incoming flow
 to avoid this problem, pre-silting basins should be installed upstream of
clarifiers if the water is likely to contain silt

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Crispen Mutsvangwa: Water & Wastewater Treatment, Dept of Civil Eng.

 short circuiting may occur due to temperature differences i.e. the warm water
from the bottom may rise at a rate higher than the normal velocity because the
density is less resulting in high concentrations of flocs being washed out of the
clarifier into the filters
 substantial organic material in the raw water at above 25oC especially in hot
climates will result in sludge becoming putrid, giving objectionable tastes and
odours to the water. Putrification of the sludge may be minimised by control of
bacteria with pre-chlorination

Fig.8.8: A typical flat-bottomed sludge blanket clarifier

8.10 Settling velocity

Discrete particles will accelerate until a limiting terminal velocity is reached

when placed in a liquid of lower density.

gd 2 S s  1
For laminar flow: vs  (Stokes Law)
18

gd 2  s   w  gd 2 S s  S w 
Or vs  vs 
18 18

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Crispen Mutsvangwa: Water & Wastewater Treatment, Dept of Civil Eng.

Where: vs =settling velocity

Ss =specific gravity of particle
Sw =specific gravity of liquid
vs =settling velocity of particle
d =diameter of particle
ρs =density of particle
ρw =density of water
g =acceleration due to gravity
µ =dynamic viscosity
 =kinematic viscosity

s 
Specific gravity Ss   
w 

The terminal settling velocity is normally taken as the surface loading in the
design of sedimentation tanks:

Terminal settling velocity, vs ≡ surface loading

8.11 Sizing of parameters for rectangular tanks

The following tank sedimentation tank parameters should fall within

recommended values otherwise the efficiency is compromised.

 Retention time It is equal to the volume of water in tank divided by

the flow rate

L  B  D capacity volumeof tan k

T 
Q
rate of flow

2 to 4 hrs for discrete particles

4 to 6hrs for flocculent particles

 Surface loading Incoming flow divided by the plan area (effective

surface area). Normally taken as the terminal settling velocity (vs)

Q Q
  vs
L B A

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Crispen Mutsvangwa: Water & Wastewater Treatment, Dept of Civil Eng.

B
Area

 Weir overflow rate maximum rate of flow per unit length of outlet weir

flow m 3 / day  Q
WOR   , (m3/m.day)
total length of weirsm  B

Area
B

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Crispen Mutsvangwa: Water & Wastewater Treatment, Dept of Civil Eng.

Table:1 Recommended Design Parameters

Rectangular Circular Upward flow

Average depth 1.75 – 3.0m 1.5 – 2.5 4.25 – 7.75m

Plan Up to 100m long 3.3 – 30m 5 – 9m2

dimensions length: width from 4:1 to diameter.
5:1

Base slope 1:25 to 1:100. Usually 1:6 to 1:8. 1:1 to1:2 45 deg
22.3 deg to 0.6 deg. 7.5 deg to 10 deg. to 63.5 deg.
(inlet end lowest). (centre lowest) (centre lowest)

Retention time 2-8hrs 2-8hrs 2-8hrs

Surface loading 15 -50 m3/m2.day 15 -50 m3/m2.day 15-28 m3/m2.day

Weir loading 150 – 450 m3/m.day 150 -250 55 m3/m.day

m3/m.day

Tutorial

(a) Determine the terminal settling velocity for a sand particle with an average
diameter of 0.02mm and a density of 2600kg/m3 settling in water at 15oC. The
kinematic viscosity of water at 20oC is 1.14x10-6kg/m.s
(Dynamic=1.1.14x10-3kg/m.s).

(b) If the inflow to the tank is 10 000m3/day and the length to width ratio (L:W) of
the tank is 1:3, compute the Length, width of the tank, retention time and weir
overflow rate (assume a tank depth of 2.5).

8.11 Sludge Treatment and Disposal

Sludges from sedimentation tanks cause pollution problems in water bodies.
Sludge is complex because it is in semi liquid state. It is hard to dewater
because it contain low solids content. The main objectives of sludge
treatment are:

 to render it less offensive

 to reduce potential hazard to health and the environment

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Crispen Mutsvangwa: Water & Wastewater Treatment, Dept of Civil Eng.

 reduce its volume (dewater)

8.11.2 Disposal Methods

Discharging into sewers

for small treatment works, discharging into sewers is convenient where
possible

Lagoons

Lagoons are for:

 storage before thickening
 thickening before disposal in liquid form
 dewatering before disposal in solid forms (i.e. as sludge drying
beds).
 ultimate disposal, which requires considerable land area

Sludge thickening will increase solids content of sludge by removing a portion

of the liquid fraction and thereby reducing the volume of the sludge. Besides
thickening in lagoons, other methods of thickening dissolved air floatation and
centrifugation.

8.12 References

1. Peavy H. S., Rowe D. R., and Tchobanoglous G., (1985), Environmental

Engineering, McGraw Hill, New York, USA
2. Thiart A. (2012), Water and Wastewater Treatment, CPUT, SAGT-MEDIA,
Cape Town
3. Mutsvangwa, C (2005), Unpublished Lecture Notes, National University of
Science & Technology, Bulawayo
4. Peavy H. S., Rowe D. R., and Tchobanoglous G., (1985), Environmental
Engineering, McGraw Hill, New York, USA

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