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Design of Grit Chamber: Civil Engineering Department S. V. National Institute of Technology, Surat

The document describes the design of a grit chamber, which is used to remove grit (heavy solid materials like sand and gravel) from wastewater. It discusses the different types of grit chambers, including rectangular horizontal flow, detritus tanks, aerated grit chambers, and vortex flow chambers. The key design considerations are outlined, such as a detention time of 30-90 seconds, flow through velocity of 0.2-0.4 m/sec, and settling velocity of grit particles. An example design problem is provided to illustrate how to size a horizontal flow grit chamber based on estimated peak, average, and minimum wastewater flows.

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374 views10 pages

Design of Grit Chamber: Civil Engineering Department S. V. National Institute of Technology, Surat

The document describes the design of a grit chamber, which is used to remove grit (heavy solid materials like sand and gravel) from wastewater. It discusses the different types of grit chambers, including rectangular horizontal flow, detritus tanks, aerated grit chambers, and vortex flow chambers. The key design considerations are outlined, such as a detention time of 30-90 seconds, flow through velocity of 0.2-0.4 m/sec, and settling velocity of grit particles. An example design problem is provided to illustrate how to size a horizontal flow grit chamber based on estimated peak, average, and minimum wastewater flows.

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RAVAT
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Design of Grit Chamber

CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT


S. V. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, SURAT
Grit Chambers:
•Grits are composed of sand, small gravel, broken glass or other heavy solid material present in
the wastewater.
•Grits are predominantly inert dry solids, heavier than water.
•As these materials have greater subsiding velocities or specific gravity, they are separated or
removed from the wastewater by gravity settling.
Therefore, Grit chambers are sedimentation basins or settling basins designed mainly to remove
heavier or coarse inert and dry suspended solids from the wastewater.
Types of Grit Chambers:
•Rectangular Horizontal Flow type : is the most commonly used type of grit chamber in which
organic matters are not allowed to settle down with proper velocity control. They are normally
designed to remove the particles of about 0.2 mm size or more. The length of channel is normally
governed by the depth required for specific settling velocity (critical velocity), and the type of
velocity control device used. The cross sectional area is governed by the flow through velocity
and the number of channels provided.
•Detritus tanks: is a normally square type of grit chamber in which some amount of organic
matter and fine suspended solids present in wastewater is allowed to settle down along with grit
by controlling the flow through velocity.
•Aerated grit chamber: also known as aerated detritus tank. In this type of grit chamber, the
organic solids that would otherwise settle down by gravity is kept in suspension by rising air
bubbles of aeration system provided at the bottom of tank or by means of some type of agitation.
•Square Horizontal flow type: This type of grit chambers were employed earlier to remove
particles of size 0.15 mm and above.
•Vortex flow type: In this type of grit chamber, the devices that produce vortex flow of
wastewater in the tank are used to remove the grit.
To separate grit by gravity settling, following assumptions are made:

qParticles of different sizes and shapes present in wastewater are of same size and of
spherical shape having uniform diameter.
qParticles in suspension are dilute and therefore, they behave and settle discretely.
qParticles are distributed uniformly throughout the depth of water in the tank or basin.

Design Criteria:

The design criteria recommended in literature for a horizontal flow and aerated grit chambers are
as follows:

Flow = maximum
Peaking Factor = 2.5 to 3.0
Detention time, t = 30 to 90 sec. (usually 60 sec.)
Flow through velocity, vh = 0.2 to 0.4 m/sec.
Settling velocity, vs = 0.016 – 0.021 m/sec for particles of 0.2 mm diameter
= 0.01 – 0.015 m/sec for particles of 0.15 mm diameter
and sp. Gr. 2.65
Liquid depth =1–4m
Side water depth, d = 0.6 to 1.5 m
Length, L = 3 – 25 m
Example : Assuming suitable design criteria, design a horizontal flow type Grit
Chamber for a proposed sewage treatment plant expected to treat 60,000
m3/day maximum flows. The estimated average and minimum sewage flows
of are 45,000 m3/day and 15,000 m3/day respectively. The flow through
velocity of 0.3 m/sec is to be controlled by a proportional weir.

Solution :
As minimum two channels are required for continuous operation of grit chamber,
provide 2 channels in the chamber.

i) Compute size of each channel at peak flow


a) Compute the cross-sectional area
Using the relation, Q1 = A x Vh,
Where, Q1 = Peak flow in one channel
= 60000 (m3/d)/2 = 30000 (m3/d) = 0.35 m3/sec
 Cross sectional area, Ax1 = Flow/Velocity
= 0.35(m3/sec)/0.3(m/sec) = 1.16 m2

b) Compute the length of channel


Now, assuming detention time, t, equal to 60 seconds, for the given flow through
velocity of 0.30 m/s, net length of the channel, L, is given by
L = Vh x t
= 0.30 x 60 (m/sec x sec)
= 18.0 m
Providing additional length for inlet and outlet of channels,
Total length Lt = net length + 10% of net length for inlet and outlet provision
= 18.0 + 1.80 m

c) Compute depth of channel

Assuming width of each channel as 1.5 m, the depth of basin,


D =Ax/B = 1.16/1.5 = 0.77 m  0.8 m
And, total depth of tank, Dt = net depth + free board + depth for grit collection
= 0.8 + 0.30 + 0.20 (assumed)
= 1.30 m

ii) Compute the net volume or capacity of channel


V1 = L x B x D
= 18.0 m x 1.5 m x 0.8 m
= 21.6 m3

iii) Check for volume of tank,


at peak flow for one channel, V = Q x t
[3000(m3/d) x 60(sec)] / [24 x 60 x 60] = 20.8 m3
so, provided volume of 21.6 m3 for each channel is acceptable.
= 19.80 m = 20.0 m (say)
iv) Check for SLR

Surface loading rate for each channel at peak flow,


SLR = Qpeak/As = 3000(m3/d) / 18.0 x 1.5(m2)
= 1111.11 m3/m2-d
= 1112.0 m3/m2-d (say)
and SLR at Qave = [4500(m3/d)/2] / 18.0(m) x 1.5(m)
= 833.33 m3/m2-d
(Acceptable as they are within the prescribed limits)

v) Check for settling velocity,


vs = SLR = 1112.0 m3/m2/d at peak flow
= 0.012 m/s (slightly less but acceptable)

Design Summary:
Data for Grit Chamber when both channels are in operation at peak flow.
1. Number of channels, N =2
2. Total Length of channel, L = 20.0 m
3. Total Depth of channel, D = 1.30 m
4. Width of channel, B = 1.50 m
5. Detention time, t = 60.0 s
Including thickness of the dividing wall between 2 channels, overall dimensions of grit
chamber are 20.0 m x 3.5 m x 1.3 m
Aerated Grit Chamber

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