CE 428 Water and Wastewater Treatment Design

Coagulation and Flocculation S.K. Ong

Coagulation - the addition of a coagulant followed by rapid mixing resulting in the destabilization of
colloidal and fine suspended solids, initial aggregation of destabilized solids
Flocculation - slow stirring or gentle agitation to aggregate the destabilized particles to form large
rapid settling floc, agglomeration of destabilized particles and colloids towards settable
particles.
Factors affecting coagulation
Raw water source - changes in water quality such as turbidity and suspended solids
- need adjustment in chemical dosage rates and chemicals used
Temperature - low temperature affects the efficiency of coagulation process
Suspended solids - the nature of suspended solids affects the coagulation efficiency
l!alinity - changes the p" of the water and e#entually affects coagulation and
precipitation
Colloidal Stabilit
$olloids - do not agglomerate naturally,
- are stable and are too small to settle out in a reasonable time, also called as stable sols,
- ha#e large surface area to #olume ratio
- are usually negati#ely charged
- %xamples of settling #elocities
&articles dia. 'mm( Size typical of Settling #elocity 'm)s(
* coarse sand +.,-
+.+* silt * x *+
-.
+.+++* large colloid * x *+
-/
$olloids are usually negati#ely charged and surrounded by ions of opposite charge
Coagulation ma occur in t!e following manner
*. Double laer com"ression or c!arge neutrali#ation
- coagulation of the particles as a result of reduction in energy barrier
- reason for adding chemicals with multi#alent cations such as 0e
,1
, 0e
-1
, l
-1
or poly#alent
hydro-metallic complexes
eg., in natural systems 2 highly turbid water flowing into ocean 'high ion strength( 2 result in
coagulation, settling and form deposits 2 delta
,. Enmes!ment of "articles
- addition of coagulants result in production of precipitate, eg., l'3"(- or 0e'3"(-,
- concentrations of , or - orders of magnitude beyond the solubility of the metal are used
- colloidal particles get caught in these precipitates as they are formed
- 4sweep floc5 conditions
-. $nter"article bridging
- use of polymers 'cationic, anionic, nonionic high molecular weight polymers(
- long chain polymers
- segments of a polymer chain absorb on more than one particle thereby lin!ing the particles
Design of %a"id &i' and Slow &i' Tan(s
%a"id mi'
- need to rapidly disperse the coagulant
- detention time usually less than * min but can be as high as , minutes
- high turbulence is required
- a measure of the extent of shearing and mixing within a tan! is gi#en by 6 2 #elocity gradient
6 can be #isualized as being the measure of the relati#e #elocity of , particles at a gi#en
distance apart
eg., two particles mo#ing * m)s relati#e to each other and at a distance +.* m
apart will ha#e a 6 of *)+.* 7 *+ s
-*
general equation which relates the power input needed for mixing8
, ) *
9
&
6

,
_

where 6 7 #elocity gradient 's
-*
(
& 7 power input 'watts 7 :m)s(
9 7 #olume of mixing basin 'm
-
(
7 #iscosity ':s)m
,
(
9alues for 6 and td;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
td 's( ,+ -+ .+ <.+
6 's
-*
( *,+++ =++ >=+ >++
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
)se of mec!anical mi'ers
- impeller dri#en mixers are the most efficient de#ices
- relationship relating power input and the diameter of impellers and speed is gi#en by8
& 7 :
-
?
@
'equation @-=(
9alid for turbulence mixing with Re 7 :?
,
) < *+,+++
Ahere & 7 &ower ':m)s(
7 power number or impeller constant
7 density of the liquid '!g)m
-
(
: 7 rotational speed 're#)s(
? 7 diameter of impeller
,
&oints to note 2 impeller diameter should be within -+ to @+B of the width of the tan!, if not will mo#e the
water and will not get efficient mixing
%xample8
square rapid mixing basin with a depth of water equal to *.,@ times the width is to be designed for a flow
of >@>+ m
-
)d. The #elocity gradient is to be >=+ s
-*
, the detention time is .+ s, the operating temperature is
*+
o
$ and the turbine shaft speed is *++ rpm. ?etermine8
*. The basin dimensions
,. &ower required. Select the motor needed for the impeller if the efficiency of the motor
and gearbox is >+B. ssume motors come in sizes of *, ,.@, @ and >.@ hp.
* hp 7 >.@.> A or C)s.
-. Dmpeller diameter if a #ane-dis! impeller with six flat blades 'see Table *-..( is employed
and the tan! has four #ertical baffles 'one on each tan!(
*. 9olume
7 >@>+ m
-
)d x *)'E+x ,.( 'd)min( 'min)E+s( x .+s
7 -.@ m
-
?imensions w x w x *.,@ w 7 -.@ m
-
w 7 *..* m use w 7 *..@ m
" 7 *.,@ x *..@ 7 *./* m use " 7 *./+ m
Total "eight 7 *./ m 1 free board 'assume +.E m( 7 ,.. m
:ew #olume 7 *..@ x *..@ x *./ 7 -.>/@ m-
?etention time 7 -.>/@) '>@>+ x E+ x E+ x ,.( 7 .- s. o!
,. &ower required
& 7 6
,
9 7 '>=+(
,
x +.++*-* x -.>/@ '*)s(
,
x ':s)m
,
( x 'm
-
(
7 -+/> :m)s 'A(
&ower of motor 7 -+/>)'>.E x +.>+( 7 @.=* hp use a >.@ hp motor
'* hp 7 >.E watts(
-. Dmpeller diameter
& 7 :
-
?
@
@ ) *
-
:
&
?

,
_

7
@ ) *
-
( E+ ) *++ ' x > . === x -+ . E
-+/>

,
_

7 +.E. m
?)w 7 +.E.)*..@ 7 +... or ..B within -+ to @+B of the width 'o!(
-
Slow &i' or Flocculation
relies on turbulence or gentle mixing to promote collision and agglomeration of particles
if too much mixing 'high 6 #alues( - flocs will be sheared, usually use 6 7 *+ to E+ s
-*
, detention time of
,+ to .@ minutes, typical -+ minutes
or use 6 t #alues from *+
.
to *+
@
ad#antages to #ary the 6 #alues o#er the length of the basin
high 6 77 < low 6
reasons 77 < allows for formation of strong flocs
high 6 throughout 7 < small and strong floc
low 6 throughout 7< large and wea! floc
Tapered effect 7< strong and large floc
same equation is used for mechanical mixers - propeller type, common to use paddle flocculators
%quation used & 7 *), $? p 9p
-

Ahere & 7 power input ':m)s - watts(
$? 7 drag coefficient *./ for flat blade
p 7 area of paddle blades 'm
,
(
7 density of water '!g)m
-
(
9p 7 #elocity of paddle 'm)s( relati#e to water
3r a more general equation is gi#en by8

1
]
1

o
*
r
r
dr
-
r
-
( ! * '
E+
: ,
b
?
$
,
*
&
:ote that the r
-
dr comes from the 9p 7 , : r )E+, earlier equation has 9p
-
. ! is a constant.
Dnformation
*. rea of paddle p should not exceed .+B of the total area encompassed by the paddle
,. 9elocity of the paddle tip 9p is the #elocity relati#e to the water and is about
>@B of the actual paddle speed without stators
/@B - *++B of the actual paddle speed with stators
'in boo! equation accounted for by ! 7 +.,@, + - +.*@ with stators(
-. &addle #elocity should be less than * m)s
.. Finimum distance of +.- m should be maintained between paddle tips and all other structure in the
flocculation basin to pre#ent local areas of excessi#e #elocity gradients
@. ?epth of basin should not be < @ m, water flow through #elocity between +.@ - *.@ fpm.
%xample 8 ?esigning a 0locculator8 water treatment plant is being designed to process @+,+++ m
-
)d of
water. Car testing and pilot-plant analysis indicate that an alum dosage of .+ mg)G with flocculation at a 6t
#alue of ..+ x *+
.
produces optimal results at the expected water temperatures of *@
o
$. ?etermine8
'*( The monthly alum requirement
',( The flocculation basin dimensions if three cross-flow horizontal paddles are to used. The
flocculator should be a maximum of *, m wide and @ m deep in order to connect appropriately
with the settling basin.
'-( The power requirement.
'.( The paddle configuration.
*. Fonthly alum requirement
.
.+ mg)G x '*!g )*+
E
mg( x '*+
-
G)m
-
( H @+,+++ m
-
)d x '-+d)month( 7 ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
!g)month
,. Iasin dimension
'a( ssume an a#erage 6 #alue of ;;;;;;;;;;;; s
-*
.
Then 6t 7 . x *+
.
t 7 . x *+
.
)-+ x '* min)E+ s( 7 ;;;;;;;;;;;;; min.
'b( 9olume of tan! is
9 7 Jt 7 @+,+++ 'm
-
)d( H ,,.,, min x '*d)*..+ min( 7 ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; m
-
'c( The tan! will contain three cross-flow paddles so it length will be di#ided into three compartments.
0or equal distribution of #elocity gradients, the end area of each compartment should be square, i.e., depth
equals *)- length. ssuming maximum depth of @ m, length is
- x @ 7 ;;;;;;;;;;;;; m
width is @ x *@ x A 7 >>*.@
A 7 ;;;;;;;;;;;;; m.
'd( The configuration of the tan!s and paddles should be as follows8
-. &ower requirements8
'a( ssume 6 #alue tapered as follows8
0irst compartment, 6 7 ;;;;;;;;;;;; s
-*
Second $ompartment, 6 7 ;;;;;;;;;;;; s
-*
Third compartment, 6 7 ;;;;;;;;;;;; s
-*
'b( &ower requirement for compartment *, , and -
& 7 6
,
9
Ahere 9 7 >>*.@ m
-
) - 7 ;;;;;;;;;;;;; m
-
t *@
o
$ 7 *.*-= x *+
--
:s)m
,
&* 7 '.+(
,
'*)s
,
( x ,@>., m
-
x *.*-= x *+
--
:s)m
,
7 ;;;;; A 7 ;;;;;;; !A
&, 7 '-+(
,
'*)s
,
( x ,@>., m
-
x *.*-= x *+
--
:s)m
,
7 ;;;;; A 7 ;;;;;;; !A
@
&- 7 ',+(
,
'*)s
,
( x ,@>., m
-
x *.*-= x *+
--
:s)m
,
7 ;;;;; A 7 ;;;;;;; !A
.. &addle configuration
'a( ssume paddle design as shown below8 %ach paddle has four boards ,.@ m long and w wide. Three
paddle wheels per compartment
'b( $alculate w from power input and paddle #elocity
,
# $
&
-
p p ?

t *@o $, 7 ===.* !g)m

-
assume actual paddle speed 7 ;;;;;;;;; m)s and $? 7 ;;;;;
Then #p 7 +.E> x ;;;;;;;;; 7 ;;;;;;;;;m)s
p 7 length of boards x w x number of boards
- paddles at ;;;;;;;;;; boards per paddle 7 ;;;;;;;;;;; boards
*, boards x ,.@ m 'length( x w 7 -+ w 7 p
&* 7 '.E/.> : m)s( 7 *./ x -+w x ===.* x +.@
-
(),
;;;;;;;;;;; 7 *./ x -+ x ===.* x +.@
-
w
;;;;;;;;;;; 7 E>... w
w 7 ;;;;;;;;;; m
$alculate rotational speed of paddles
0irst compartment #p 7 ? 7 .., 7 ;;;;;;;;;;;; m)s
7 ;;;;;;;;;;; re#)min
Second $ompartment ;;;;;;; :m)s 7 *./ x '-+ x +.*.( x ===.* x #p
-
),
,E+ 7 ->>> :s
,
)m x #p
-
#p 7 ;;;;;;;;;;;;; m)s
ctual speed 7 +..* ) +.>@ 7 ;;;;;;;;;;;;; m)s
Rotational speed 7 ;;;;;;;;;;;;;; re#)min
Third $ompartment ;;;;;;;; :m)s 7 *./ x '-+ x +.*.( ===.* x #p
-
),
;;;;;;;;; 7 ->>> :s
,
)m x #p
-
#p 7 ;;;;;;;;;;;;;; m)s
ctual speed 7 +.-, ) +.>@ 7 ;;;;;;;;;;; m)s
Rotational speed 7 ;;;;;;;;;;;; re#)min
E