Physico-Chemical Processes for Wastewater Treatment

Professor V.C. Shrivastava

Department of Chemical Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee
Lecture 26
Settling and Sedimentation - V
Good day everyone and welcome to these lectures that we are continuing on settling and
sedimentation and overall in the previous lectures we discussed about the various settling zones
or behaviours which may be observed in a water or wastewater treatment plant. And we observed
that there are different types of behaviours which are possible and that include discrete settling,
hindered settling, flocculant settling or compressive settling. So, all these zones are possible and
it is possible that within a wastewater treatment plant within a settling chamber, any one of the
behaviour is also occurring.

And in addition to these behaviours, we tried to understand the different equations and the
theories that are used for design of all these basins which may be operating under these
behaviours. So, continuing with the previous lectures, in today's lecture, we will try to
understand what are the various non ideal behaviours which are possible and which we have to
take care during the design of actual settling or sedimentation basin.

So, there are many non ideals are there and that we have to account and then later on in the
today's lecture itself will try to understand what are the basic design criteria which have to be
considered in various zones of settling or various zones of sedimentation basin and all those
important considerations we have to take care.
(Refer Slide Time: 02:39)

So, we will start with the non ideal behavior of settling tank. So, any settling tank it may be
horizontal, it may be of flow type. So, all these settling tanks have different behaviors, non ideal
behavior and which may be observed during the operation and these non ideal behavior maybe
because of turbulence because of inlet energy dissipation because actually at the inlet, the
amount of energy along with the flow is higher as compared to at the in the settling tank itself.
So, that inlet energy dissipation.

Then the density currents so, because of density difference or otherwise some currents may be
inside the inside the flow currents may be there inside the different zones, so, that density
currents and wind effects these are the major effect reasons, which actually account for non ideal
behavior of flow of the liquid inside various zones in the settling tank.

Along with these effects, outlet currents and sludge equipment movement also caused non
ideality of the behavior in different zones. So, all these effects turbulence, inlet energy
dissipation, density current and wind effects, all these non ideal behavior causing things we are
going to understand a little bit more.
(Refer Slide Time: 03:58)

Now, starting with the turbulence, so, suppose, we are assuming a discrete settling particle and in
this condition what we assume is that in the basin it has a uniform horizontal velocity in the
settling zone. Now, this if we consider this assumption, this will this will be like assuming that
laminar flow conditions are there inside that settling zone.

Now, laminar flow condition means that Reynolds number is in the range of 1. Now, in actual
condition when the settling is actually occurring, this is rarely possible and it will be very
difficult to achieve the Reynolds number equal to 1 condition. So, under this condition the
assumption which is there, it may not be true.

So, what we have to do is that we should try to measure the turbulence by measuring the
Reynolds number and that Reynolds number or the turbulence may be influenced by viscous
effect, may be influenced by the internal flows or boundary layer flows. So, all these factors may
account for variation in the Reynolds numbers.

So, turbulence may be there, the actual laminar flow condition may not be observed in most of
the conditions. In addition to that, we should also measure the Froude numbers because it is
influenced, Froude number is like factor which account for the gravity and it will be correct for
free surface flows.

So, all these Froude’s number and Reynolds number are very important parameters that should
be measured, and they account for giving, like non ideal behavior and which may be observed by
measuring these numbers. So, we will we will solve some problems and in that we will try to
measure these Reynolds number and Froude number and understand their uses.

(Refer Slide Time: 06:02)

Now, then, the second parameters, which affects the non ideal behavior or ideal behavior is inlet
energy dissipation. Now, the flow must be uniform across the cross sectional area of the tank as
it enters the settling zone. So, this is a one of the essential requirements in the settling zone.
Now, the inlet pipe which carries the solids to the clarifier is often it is designed at much higher
velocities, so, that the particles do not settle in the pipe itself. So, that means the inlet pipe
always have very high velocity as compared to that in the settling zone or settling chamber.

Now, this high velocity has to be reduced and to prevent the jet effect in the basin otherwise the
non ideality will be more but this cannot be reduced very sufficiently and most often we use like
Target baffle and this is used as a solution to provide a diffuser wall or something diffuser wall
which is considered as the target baffle or inlet baffle may be there.

So, diffuser wall or inlet baffle may be used to reduce the velocity and made the flow uniform,
but it may not be effective up to a level which is desirable and because of that, non ideality
happens in the settling basin.
(Refer Slide Time: 07:40)

Then the second parameter is the density current. Density current is like it happens because of
the effect of various effects, it may be because of the variation in the density, it may be also
because of the variation in temperature. So, temperature variation changes in solid concentration
all may cause the variation in density and that density may lead to density current and density
current actually leads to the short circuiting.

So short circuiting is the term which is used to describe the effect of density currents on the
settling tank performance and short circuiting occurs when the flow through the tank is not
uniform. So, we do not have the flow through the tank is not uniform. And under that condition
short circuiting may happen.

A current carries the particle matter to the effluent launders before actually particle can settle.
So, in place of that means, for that particulate matter or that particle which is getting short
circuited it has, it does not have that much detention time that it can settle, actually it leads the
effluent launders before actually settling down. So, density currents short circuiting they have a
lot of effect and these may be because of temperature differentials and changes in solid
concentrations as well.
(Refer Slide Time: 09:22)

Now, suppose we add a warm water to a sedimentation basin. So, it is possible that somehow
that there is a difference at some time it is only colder conditions are prevailing and now we are
adding a warm water to the sedimentation basin or the warming of the surface water in the basin
containing cooler water may occur because of various reasons. And if any of these occurs, then
always be short circuiting since the warmer water will always rise to the surface and reach the
launders in the fraction as compared to the theoretical detention time so whatever is the
theoretical detention time it will reach the launders before that. So that means the settling will
not occur.

Similarly if the cooler water is added somehow, so cooler water will tend to dive down and flow
along the bottom and rise at that tank outlet only. So, this is possible. So, both warm water and
cooler water may lead to density differentials and because of that differential currents, density
currents may be there.
(Refer Slide Time: 10:30)

Similarly, because of the variation in like cooler water, warmer water the temperature density
currents can be caused by other measures also like exposure to the sunlight. So, I would like
during night time it may be different, during daytime it may be different. Similarly, changing the
mixing ratio of two or more water sources. So, it may be possible that there are two or more
water sources and one, two have difference in temperature also. So, if the mixing ratio changes,
so, that this temperature density current will arise now, there is a possibility that we are changing
the water from one source to another.

So, then also because the concentration difference may be there, temperature difference may be
there and because of that also temperature density currents may arise. Similarly, shifting the
reservoir intake elevation, that at what elevation we are taking the water into the reservoir. So, all
those parameters affect the temperature density currents and they have a lot of effect on the non
ideality behavior.
(Refer Slide Time: 11:33)

Now, similarly, a rapid increase in the influent solid concentration from floods, this may occur
from floods or high winds on the lakes and reservoirs will cause a higher density in the influent
then in the basin. So, it is possible that suddenly very high solid concentration is coming in the
influent and that is with respect to what is present in the basin. So, this will cause it to plunge as
it enters the basins all the solids will try to settle down very quickly and flow along the bottom
and rise at the tank outlet. So, this will again create a differential.

Now, similarly, for taking care of this intermediate diffuser walls have also been used many
times. So, we will discuss these things more in the design considerations. Now, in addition to
density differentials, we have wind effects also. So, large open tanks which may be there, they
are always susceptible to induce the currents and in sufficiently strong winds waves may also
occur at the top of the tank.

So, this is possible and if this happens or otherwise also and underflow current in the opposite
direction to the surface current gets created and this will cause the short circuiting in addition to
that the short circuiting it may lead to scouring of the already settled particulate matter from the
sludge zone because the wind effect so, at the top there may be a wave at one direction. So, at the
bottom of the lake, there will be some movement in the opposite direction.

So, that underflow current may cause scouring of that settled particulate matter from the sludge
zone. So, this is there. So, one of the design solutions that is taken care is that limiting the length
of the tank and placing some wave breakers along the tank surface. So, these are some of the
design solutions which are there with respect to taking care of the wind effects.

(Refer Slide Time: 13:56)

Now, we will start with the actual design and what are the parameters that we have to take care
in a like a rectangular sedimentation basins. So, some of the important design considerations
now, we are going to discuss one by one in each and every zone. Now, generally what will
happen that for removing the redundancy of one of the if suppose we are using only one tank, so,
to take care we always design any settling basin with two tanks minimum. So, two tanks are
always provided, they may be placed together in parallel.

So, they maybe like two basins maybe there, so like this is a bigger basin. So, two basins with a
common wall maybe there so, this is one basin this is second basin, so we are having two basins
in parallel. So this is always we take care that we actually design in most often at least two tanks
are used. Now, this helps in providing flexibility in operation over a wide range of flow rate, so,
if flow rate is very less, so, we can use only one basin.

Also, suppose at any time one of the basins is out, so, we can take, use the second basin at least.
So, this all these redundancy factors may be taken care of, if we use at least two tanks, four tanks
or higher may be used, but this will result in an acceptable capital cost etcetera. So, certainly cost
is the most important factor based upon which we design that how many tanks we are going to
use for the actual settling.

(Refer Slide Time: 15:53)

Now, this figure we have already previously in the previous lectures also we have seen, so, we
will be discussing each of the zones. So, when the flow enters and when it leaves from the
effluent weir, So, under this condition now, there are four zones which are possible. One is inlet
zone, then we have a settling zone, then we have outlet zone and then the sludge zone.

So, now, we are going to discuss each of these zones and their design considerations, important
design considerations in detail. Now, within this we have perforated baffle, we have target
baffles also which are very important, then we have weir also So, all these factors we are going
to discuss little bit in detail.
(Refer Slide Time: 16:36)

Now, in Inlet zone the preferred arrangement is that a direct connection is there between the
flocculant basin and the settling tank. So, this is what is the preferred arrangement. A diffuser
wall between the two tanks is designed using the same procedure that is used for baffles walls in
a flocculant tank. So, we can use the same technique. Now, when the flocculated water is piped
to the settling tank, the common flow velocity which is used is in this range from 0.15 to 0.6
meters per second.

So, this is the common flow velocity in the pipe which is connected from flocculant tank to the
settling tank. So, this is possible so, this is the flow velocity range generally we use. In addition,
this velocity must be reduced and the flow has to be spread evenly over the cross section of the
settling tank. So, this is one other important parameter if we can do it, well, we can reduce the
non ideal behavior.

Now, that diffuser wall is the most effective way to accomplish this and the diffuser wall is
placed approximately two meter downstream of the inlet pipe. So, this is the diffuser wall which
is placed. So, already we have seen the diffuser wall or percolated baffles. So, this is there now,
the head loss through the holes. So, therefore, this also it is generally taken care that it should be
four to five times the velocity head of the approaching flow. So, this is tentatively kept in this
range. So, this is there.
(Refer Slide Time: 18:25)

Now, in addition the port velocities typically must be around 0.2 to 0.3 meter per second for
sufficient head loss, the holes are in the range of 0.1 to 0.2 meter in diameter and they are spaced
at a distance of 0.25 to 0.60 meter apart. So, this is there and so, these are the some of the
important things that are taken care of and there are evenly distributed all these holes are evenly
distributed on the wall. The lowest port or hole should be around 0.6 meter about the basin flow,
so this is also taken care and so, that the flow becomes more uniform.

(Refer Slide Time: 19:50)

Now, after the inlet zone the flow will come to the settling zone. So, these are the important
considerations which are there for settling zone. Now, there is a practical minimum depth which
is required for sludge removal and equipment. So, that depth may be calculated from the
previous lectures we can tentatively calculate from that also and the settling velocity is one of the
parameters we have to also take care of the horizontal velocity. So, all those things are taken into
account in calculating the depth.

Depth is a controlling parameter to limit flow through the velocity and scour of the particle from
the sludge blanket so, both have to be taken care that what should be their depth so that the
scouring of the particle is stopped, the horizontal flow velocity must be controlled to avoid undue
turbulence. So, this undue turbulence, back mixing and scouring of the particle from the sludge
zone. This we have to take care, so, horizontal flow velocity and depth, these become very
important parameters for settling zone.

Now, for this checking whether these are under the limit and we do not have all these issues, we
have to check the Reynolds number and Froude number that can be used for checking whether
turbulence and back mixing is occurring or not occurring. So, all these can be checked.

(Refer Slide Time: 20:48)

The Reynolds number is determined as

 v f Rh
Re =


where,

Re = Reynolds number, dimensionless

vf= average horizontal fluid velocity in tank, m/s

Rh = hydraulic radius, m = As/Pw

As = cross-sectional area, m2

Pw = wetted perimeter, m

ν = kinematic viscosity, m2/s = μ/ρ

μ = dynamic viscosity, Pa · s

ρ = density of fluid, kg/m3

Now, within this the Reynolds number can be determined by this equation and which is like
Reynolds number is equal to Vf into Rh divided by mu and where Reynolds number itself is
dimensionless Vf is the average horizontal velocity fluid velocity in the tank in meter per second
and Rh is the hydraulic radius, the hydraulic radius is the ratio of cross sectional area divided by
the weighted perimeter. So, this we have to understand then kinematic viscosity is there and
kinematic viscosity itself can be found out from dynamic viscosity divided by the density of
fluid. So, this is also one of the parameter here. So, through this we can find out the Reynolds
number.

(Refer Slide Time: 21:34)

The Froude number is determined as

(v )
2

Fr =
f

gRh

where

Fr = Froude number, dimensionless

g = acceleration due to gravity, 9.81 m/s2

Similarly, we can find out the Froude number also and which is given by this equation which is
like Vf squared divided by gRh, the Vf and Rh already have been defined in the previous. So, Vf
is redefined and Rh is also defined, so, we have this and g is the acceleration due to gravity.
Now, recommended values are this Froude number, Reynolds number are given here, so
Reynolds number should always be less than 20,000.

So this is there and the Froude numbers should be greater than 10 raise to minus 5 a large Re
indicates high degree of turbulence, but it has to be limited within. The lower the Reynolds
number better it is and the low Froude number indicates that water flow is not dominated by
horizontal flow and by mixing may be occurring. So, this we have to take care that this Froude
number has to be greater than 10 raise to minus 5. So, this is there.
(Refer Slide Time: 22:48)

Now, after settling we have outlet zone, the outlet zone is composed of like launders running
parallel to the length of the tank. So, this is there and the weirs after the settling zone, they
should cover at least one third or one half of the basin length. So, that has to be taken. So, we can
see that we are here and we have the notch here.

Now, this has to be there and these weirs are evenly spaced across the width of the tank. So, this
we see okay and if the baffles are used, suppose a launder is placed midway between the baffle,
so, that this is another consideration that has to be taken care in the outlet zone during the design.
(Refer Slide Time: 23:30)

Now there are other there are certain advantages of using long Weir's. So, these advantages are
like a gradual reduction of flow velocity towards the end of the tank. So, this is possible. So, that
is if we use long weir it is possible then we have we can minimize the wave action from wind.
So, we are taken care of the wind also by using the long weirs.

Also, we can collect the clarified water in the middle of the tank when the density flow occurs if
anything like this occur, so, this is also taken care of the long weirs, the water level in the tank is
controlled by the end wall or the overflow weir. So, this is also one of the important things that
we should remember while designing the settling basin.
(Refer Slide Time: 24:24)

Now, in the outlet zone, we have V notch weirs, which are attached to the launders and they and
broad crested weirs maybe attached at the end wall. So, this is there. Sometimes we use
submerged orifice may be used on the launders and they have been used to avoid the breakup of
fragile flocs, when conventional rapid sand filters have to be used later on. So this is good if the
suppose we have a fragile floc and in the floc is bigger.

So, we have more chances of filtering it in the rapid sand filter. So, this is possible to avoid this
we can use the submerged orifice also a for high rate filter designs which had to be used after the
settling basin, there is a less concern about the breaking the flocs because the high rate filter will
require a small strong flock and so, it this concentration may not be there for high rate filter
design, but for simple rapid sand filter etcetera submerge orifice may be preferred.

Now, in addition to this at the bottom we have sludge zone. So, in selecting the depth sludge
zone is the most important thing after the settling basin. Now, in selecting the depth of the
sedimentation basin an allowance of 0.6 to 1 meter is made for the sludge accumulation and
sludge removal equipment.

So, that will be there at the bottom if the overflow rate is design is based upon the pilot studies,
then the depth of the pilot settling tank column used to develop the data may be selected as the
depth of the tank. So, that may be taken from the directly from the pilot settling column itself.
(Refer Slide Time: 26:34)

Now, sometimes we may use an additional 0.6 to 1 meter to the column depth to account for the
sludge zone. So, this is also possible so sludge zone is very important. And to facilitate easy
sludge removal, the bottom of the tank is sloped towards the sludge hopper and head end of the
tank.
(Refer Slide Time: 26:50)

So, we can like here in the figure you may have seen this is slanted and this is the sludge hopper
which is there. So, we have to see that this is slanted and we can easily remove the sludge
whenever desirable. So, this is there. So, this is what is written here in the.

(Refer Slide Time: 27:06)

Now there are different types of sludge collectors. So, once it moves to the sludge collector, we
may have different types of sludge collector. So, chain and flight collectors are there, so they are
commonly applied to remove the sludge, the length is approximately 60 meter or maybe others
also, the traveling bridge collector is for extremely long time, then the cross collectors 1 to 1.2
meter wide at the top and 0.6 to 1.2 meter deep at the bottom. So, any of these types of collection
systems may be used depending upon the design.

(Refer Slide Time: 28:01)

Now, going further, there are some typical design criteria which are used for horizontal flow
rectangular sedimentation basins. So, that we have to these values are given here. So, these
values are highly helpful in design of any sedimentation basin in particular the rectangular
sedimentation basin, which is having a horizontal flow.

Now for the inlet zone some of the parameters are like distance to diffuser wall should be two
meter approximately, diffuser hole diameters should be 0.1 to 0.2 meter in the settling zone, the
overflow rate should be around 40 to 70 meter cube per day per meter square, the side water
depth may be 3 to 5 meter, the length maybe 30 meter, 80 meter it varies a lot. So, there are
different types. So, we may use a fixed type of also and we may increase that length also.
(Refer Slide Time: 28:50)

Now, the width is in 0.3 increments generally it is taken so 6 meter is maximum per train. So for
24 meter like three trains per drive. So, these are some of the ideas which have been used in the
sedimentation basin, then the parameter L by W and L by D ratio. So, generally L by W is taken
more than 4 is to 1 and L by D maybe 15 is to 1 or something like this, the velocity is in the
range of 0.005 to 0.018 meter per second, Reynolds number, sorry this is 10 raise to minus 5. So,
the Reynolds number has to be less than 20,000 and Froude number has to be more than 10 raise
to minus 5. So, this is there.
(Refer Slide Time: 29:44)

And in the outlet zone we have some considerations which are there, the launder length has to be
around one third to one half of the length of the basin. And weir loading maybe around 150 to
250 meter cube per day per meter this is there. In the sludge zone the depth is 0.6 to 1 meter, the
slope is 1 is to 600 and the sludge collector speed is from 0.3 to 0.9 meter per minute. So, these
are the some of the parameters or the typical design values which are used in the actual design of
the sedimentation basin and all these parameters. If we take care of these parameters, generally a
good, very good sedimentation basin can be designed.
(Refer Slide Time: 30:35)

There are in this today's lecture we studied regarding the non ideal behavior which is possible in
any sedimentation basin. So, we found that there are four parameters which will be there and it
may include like wind effect, turbulence and the density difference. So, there are many
parameters which are possible and which may cause non ideality of the behavior in different
zones in the settling tank. And in addition, we tried to learn some of the basic aspects of the
design in various zones including inlet zone, settling zone, outlet zone and sludge zone.

So, in the next lectures, we will be continuing with the design and we will try to solve some
problems with respect to design and then there are new types of filters which have come into
picture and these include like high rate settlers. So, now the requirement of filtration has high
rate settlers. So, the requirement of high rate settlers has increased because we have to, we have
to treat more amount of water in lesser time. So, new types of settlers have come into picture. So
we will study those in the next lecture. So we end today's lecture. Thank you very much.