‫بسم هللا الرحمن‬

‫الرحيم‬
 COAGULATION PROCESS

Coagulation :is a process for combining small particles into

larger aggregates

Flocculation: is the slow stirring or gentle agitation to

aggregate the destabilized particles and from a rapid-settling
floc
Colloidal stability :
Stable of colloidal suspensions that do not
agglomerate naturally

Excessive large surface-to-volume ratio for the

colloidal
* Settling velocities of various particles

Particles diameter Size typical of Settling velocity

(mm)

10 Pebble 0.73 m/s

1 Coarse sand 0.23 m/s

0.1 Fine sand 1.0 × 10-2m/s (0.6 m/min)

0.01 Silt 1.0 × 10-4m/s (8.6 m/min)

0.0001 Large colloids 1.0 × 10-8m/s (0.3 m/min)

0.000001 Small colloids 1.0 × 10-12m/s (3 m/million yr)

* Spheres with specific gravity of 2.65 in water at 20C

 Theory of coagulation
•The reduction of the zeta potential to a degree where the
attractive van der Waals forces and the agitation
provided causes the particles to coalesce.
•The aggregation of particles by inter particulate
bridging between reactive groups on the colloids.
•The enmeshment of particles in the precipitate floc that
is formed.

Forces acting on two colliods

• The Repulsion Forces:
• van der Waals Forces:
A negative
colloidal
particle with
its
electrostatic
field
Colloidal inter particulate forces versus distance
Coagulants
-Aluminum sulfate
Al2(SO4)3.14 H2O + 3 Ca(HCO3)2  2 Al(OH)3 + 3 CaSO4 + 14 H2O + 6 CO2

Figure: Solubility of aluminum hydroxide

)
 Ferrous sulfate
• 2 FeSO4. 7 H2O + 2 Ca(OH)2 + O2  2 Fe(OH)3 + 2 CaSO4 + 13 H2O
• pH must be raised to about 9.5
• ferric hydroxide, is a dense, quick-settling floc.

Ferric sulfate
2 Fe2(SO4)3 + 3 Ca(HCO3)2  2 Fe(OH)3 + 3 CaSO4 + 6 CO2

The optimum pH range for ferric sulfate is from about 4 to

12
 Ferric chloride

• 2 Fe2Cl3 + 3 Ca(HCO3)2  2 Fe(OH)3 + 3 CaSO4 + 6 CO2

• If the natural alkalinity is insufficient for the reaction,
slaked lime may be added to form the hydroxide
• 2 Fe2Cl3 + 3 Ca(OH)2  2 Fe(OH)3 + 3 CaCl2

Lime
Slaked lime (milk of lime), Ca(OH)2, is produced by
reacting quicklime CaO, with water in lime-slaking e
quipment.
Coagulant aids
• Alkalinity addition (lime) : if the natural
alkalinity is insufficient to produce a good floc

Polyelectrolytes: they assist in coagulation by chemical

bridging or interaction between reactive groups on the
polyelectrolyte and the floc

Turbidity addition: recycling some chemically

precipitated sludge ahead of the mixing

Adjustment of pH: by Lime or Mineral Acids

Feeding of coagulant

Two methods of coagulant feedings

dry feeding and wet feeding
10% concentration of alum solution
No. of tanks = 3 (8 hrs period/tanks)
Bench-scale tests and pilot studies .

to determine the optimum of alum dose for

the raw water
 Jar Test procedure

•Prepare six samples of raw water with different alum doses

(10 to 40 mg/l)

•Stirring for one min. 100 rpm then stirring for 20 min. with
30 rpm then settle for 30 min.

•Optimize the best dose from the results

 Rapid mixing
• Types of rapid mixers
1. Mechanical mixing: is the most common method for rapid mixing

Mechanical mixers
Velocity gradient G: Velocity(m/s)/Distance ,m= (S-1)

Table : Detention time Vs velocity gradient

• Rapid mixing time, (S) 20 30 40 >40
• Velocity gradient G, (S-1) 1000 900 790 700

Power input (P) =  G2

Where :
 =Viscosity (Ns/m2)
G = Velocity gradient (sec-1)
"= Volume of mixing tank
 Mechanical (flash) mixers -

Detention time (T) = 30 – 60 sec

Depth of mixing tank (d) =1–3m
Diameter of mixing tank () = 1 – 5 m (if
circular)
GT = Camp. Number = 104 - 105
Rotary speed of paddle = 150 – 200 rpm
Diameter of impeller (D) = (0.2 – 0.4) 
 Hydraulic jump mixer -2

•A hydraulic jump is formed when the depth ratio (d2/d1) is

greater when 2.4 and the Froude’s number < 2
Parshall flume mixer -3
 4-Weirs mixers
•A weir normally operates with a rather significant loss of
head (about 0.3 to 0.6 m).

•The vertical fall of the raw water over the weir should be at
least 0.1 m to ensure sufficient turbulence

•The height of the coagulant diffuser over the weir should be

at least 3 m so that the speed of the falling coagulant solution
is high enough to penetrate the nape thickness
 5-Baffled mixing chambers
Velocity of flow between baffles <1.5 m/sec.
Detention time ranges from 1-2 min.
The baffle walls are placed 60 – 100 cm apart.
 Ex. 1:
• Design the concentrated alum solution tanks
and the flash mixing tank for a water treatment
plant of a daily production figure of 30000
cubic meters it is also required to determine
the rate of dosing the concentrated solution if
the alum dose to be applied is 40 mg/ lit
• Solution:
• Given :Q = 30000 m3 / day
•Alum dose = 40 mg / lit .
• Design of concentrated alum solution tanks
• Alum required per day = discharge * alum dose
30000 * 40
ton / day 1.2 *1000
1000 = =

• Assume that the concentration of alum solution

is 10% (specific gravity of solution = 1 ton / m 3)
• Volume of alum sol. tank =1.2*100/10= 12 m 3
• Take 3 tanks
• Capacity of each tank = 12/3 = 4 m3
• We take 3 tanks (8 hours/tank ).
• Rate of dosing of the alum solution =
Capacity of one tank
Usage time=(8hours)
4/8= 0.5 m3 /hr = 0.14 lit /sec
 Design of rapid mix tank
• Qd = 30000 m3 / day
• Assume retention time = 30 seconds
• Capacity of one tank = = 10.42 m3
• Assume water depth of tank 2.0 m with a free board of
0.25 meters.
• Surface area of tank =10.42/2 = 5.2 m2 = 2.25 * 2.25 m
• Take one tank 2.00 * 2.25 * 2.25 m
• Actual retention time = 3.375 *10-4 day = 29.16 sec.
 Ex: 2

• For a water treatment plant with the design

data listed below, it is required to design the
rapid mix tank. The results of the jar tests of
raw water give a retention time of 40 seconds.
The design date is as follows:.
• Qd = 10000 m3 / day
• Temperature = 15 C
 Solution:
Design of rapid mixing tank
V = Qd * T = 10000*40/24*60*60= 4.63 m3
Choose a circular section with a diameter of 2.0m
:. Water depth =4.63/3.98 = 1.47 =1.5 m
Take free board = 0.5 m
:.Overall depth of tank = 2 m
 Power requirements

• Power (P) = G2

• From tables at T = 40 sec., G = 790 sec -1
• t = 15C ,  = 1.014 * 10 –3
• :. P = 1.14 *10 –3 * 4.63 * (790)2
= 3294.12 W = 3.29 kW
• Assuming the efficiency of the motor to be 80%
• Therefore, power of motor =3.29/0.8 = 4.12
kw
 Flocculation
• Mechanical flocculation
• The relative ease and rate by which the small
microfloc aggregates into large floc particles and
on the total number of particulate collisions during
flocculation

The degree of completion of the flocculation process

depends on:
• The floc characteristics,
• The velocity gradient, G
• The value of GT.
• Tapered flocculation is usually accomplished
by providing a high G value during the first
third of the flocculation period, a lower G
value during the next third, and a much lower
G value during the last third.
• Tapered flocculation help to build up larger,
dense, rapidly settling floc particles
• Multiple compartments, in addition to
minimizing short circuiting, facilitate tapered
flocculation design
Horizontal shaft flocculation paddle wheels
(cross flow pattern)
Horizontal shaft paddle wheel flocculator
(cross flow pattern)
Horizontal shaft paddle wheel flocculator
(Axial flow pattern)
Vertical shaft paddle wheel flocculator (Axial flow
pattern)
 2
V
FD  CD A 
2
Where :
FD = Drag force of the paddle. (N)
CD = Coefficient of drag (1.8)
A = Paddle-blade area at right angle to the
direction of movement (m2)
 = Density of the water (kg/m3)
V = Velocity of the paddle blade relative to the water
(m/sec)
 The design criteria of the mechanical
flocculation

 Detention time (t) = (20 – 40) min.

 Rotary Speed of blades = (2 – 15) rpm
 Relative velocity of the paddles not
more than 1.0 m/sec
Total area of the paddles ranged from [0.15 – 0.35]
of the cross sectional area of the chamber.
Velocity gradient (G) < 100 sec-1, ranged from
(20 – 50) sec-1
 1
• Power input (P) = CDρAVP 3
2
• Where :
• CD = The coefficient of drag of the paddle (1.8)
•  = The density of water, (kg/m3)
• A = The area of the paddle, (m2)
• VP = The relative velocity between paddle and water (m/sec)
• Velocity of paddle blade (V ) = 0.75 V  D
p act V act 
• Where : 60
• Vact = Peripheral blade velocity =

• Where :
• D = Total diameter of paddle revolution
•  = Angular speed (rev/min)
 Baffled flocculation chambers
• Detention time (T) = 20 – 40 min
• Depth of mixing tank (d) =2–3m
• Length to width ratio (L/W) = 3
• Number of chambers ≥2
• Velocity of flow between the baffles (V) = 0.25 –
0.45 m/sec
Horizontal and vertical baffling type flocculator
 EX.3

• A potable water treatment plant is to be constructed to serve a city.

It is required to calculate the amount of alum needed per month, the

dimensions of the alum solution tank, design the rapid mix tank and

flocculation basin.

The following data are given:

• Design discharge = 50000 m3/day.

• Alum dose = 35 mg/lit.

• Specific gravity of alum solution and sludge= 1.05 ton/m3.

• Average G value = 30 sec-1.

• Camp number = GT = 4*104.

 :Solution
•1- Calculate of the amount of alum required
per month (ton)
•Quantity of alum = Discharge * alum
concentration = 50000 =* 351.75 ton/day.
1000 * 1000

= 1.75 * 30 = 52.5 ton/month.

•2-Calculation of the dimensions of alum
solution tanks
Q * Alum dose (one day)
V
Conc.of alum solution * Spec. gravity of alum sol.
 50000 * 35
•V = = 16.67 m3
0 . 10 * 1.05 * 10 6

•Choose 3 tanks with depth of 1.5 ms.

•Volume of one tank = 16.67/3 = 5.56 m3.
•Area of one tank = 5.56/1.5= 3.7 m2.
•Choose a square shaped tank
• Dimension of tanks = 1.95 * 1.95 * 1.5m
•
 Design of the rapid mix -3
• Assuming retention 60 seconds
60 * 50000
• Volume of tank = = 34.72 m3
24 * 60 * 60
• Assume depth of tank = 3.0 m
• Area of tank = 34.72/3 = 11.6 m2
• If the tank is circular
•  r2 = 11.6 m2  r = 1.95 m
•  = 3.9 ms
• If the tank is square ,
• L = B = 3.4 ms
• Calculating the power requirements of the
mixer
• P = G2  
• Retention time  40 seconds take 700 Sec-1
• Viscosity at 20 C = 1.002 * 10-3

• P = (700)2 * 34.72 * 1.002 * 10-3 = 17046.02

watt = 17 kw
 Design of flocculation tanks
• a) Dimensions of tanks
• Retention time =GT/T = 4*104/30*60 = 22.22
min
• Volume of tank = Q * T = 50000*22.22/24*60
m3 771.60 =
• Assume depth of tank = 5.0 m
• Surface area of tank = 771.6/5 = 154.3 m2
• Assume length of tank to be three times the depth
• L=3d
• Flocculator will rotate in a square cross-
section
• Length = 3 * 5 = 15.0 m
• Width = 154.3/15 =10.3 m
•  Tank dimensions = 15 * 10.3 * 5.0 m
• Configuration of paddles is as shown in the
figure
 b) Calculation of power requirements
• First compartment (axis no. 1)
• = 1/3 total tank volume
•G1 = 40 sec-1
•P1 = G12 1 = (40)2 * 257.2 * 1.002 * 10-3
watt = 0.412 kw 412.34 =
• Second compartment (axis no. 2)
•G2 = 30 sec-1
•P2 = G22 2= (30)2 * 257.2 * 1.002 * 10-3
= 232.0 watt = 0.232 kw
Third compartment (axis no. 3)
G3 = 20 sec-1
P3 = G12 1 = (20)2 * 257.2 * 1.002 * 10-3
= 103.03 watt = 0.101 kw
c) Calculation of paddle dimensions
- First axis
Assuming Vact = 0.67 m/sec < 1.0 m/sec
Velocity of paddle = 0.67 * 0.75 = 0.50 m/sec
P1 = Cd * w * Ap1
412 = 1.8 * 1000 * Ap*0.53/2
Ap = 3.66 m2
• Vact = x * y * 4 * 3
• = 2.5 * x * 4 * 3 = 3.66
• x = 12 cms