Preliminary Treatment Units

Dr. Akepati S. Reddy

School of Energy and Environment
Thapar University, Patiala
Bar Screens
Screens
First unit usually encountered in the STP
Important to avoid damage to subsequent process equipment
and increase overall treatment reliability & effectiveness
Provided on channels carrying the sewage and include
A bar rack
Bar raking (cleaning) facility
A perforated plate
Temporary storage provision for the screenings
Often housed in a screening chamber (if provided on an under
ground sewer)
Access to the screen
Length of the chamber should be sufficient
to accommodate the screen and the perforated plate
to facilitate cleaning of the approach channel
Width of the chamber should include
landing and working space for the worker
Space for temporary storage of the screenings
Screens
Approach channel:
Should have a straight approach
Grit and heavy materials should not accumulate either
ahead of or following the screen during use
Bar screen/bar rack (a screen with parallel bars/rods)
Bars: thickness, depth and length
Spacing between bars and spacer bars
25-50 mm (for manual screens) and 15-75 mm (for
mechanical screens)
Spacer bar: located behind (and perpendicular to bars) out
of the way of the lines of the rake and welded to the bars
Angle of inclination of the screen: 30-45 from the vertical
for manual screens and 0-30 for mechanical screens
Perforated drainage plate is provided at the top of bar rack
for temporary storage and drainage of rakings
Even when flooded the sewage should pass to the other side
only through the bar screen

Front view
Top view
Bar Screen and Perforated Draining Plate
Side view
Spacing bar
Parallel bar
Perforated draining plate
Screens: Classification
Coarse screens (6-150 mm):
Used to protect pumps, valves, pipelines and other
appurtenances from damage or clogging
Bar screens - two types - hand cleaned screens and
mechanically cleaned screens
Chain driven mechanical screens: Front clean - front return type;
Front clean - back return type and Back clean - back return type
Reciprocating rake type bar screens; Catenary screen
Fine screens (<6 mm):
usually used after the coarse screens to protect the process
equipment
Static wedge wire, drum or step types; Continuous belt screen
Micro screens (<50 microns)
used principally for the removal of fine solids from the treated
effluent

Screens: Design Considerations
Location - installed ahead of grit chambers and pumps
Approach velocity:
0.3 to 0.6 m/sec for manual screens
0.3 to 1.0 m/sec for mechanical screens
Velocity through the bar screen:
should be <0.9 m/sec. during peak flow
Bar width: can be 5 to 15 mm
Bar depth: can be 25-38 mm
Rectangular bars (also teardrop and trapezoidal bars) are
used - Wider width dimension is on the upstream side
Clear openings or spacing between bars
25-50 mm for manual screens
15-75 mm for mechanical screens
Slope of the screen from the vertical:
30-45 for manual screens and 0-30 for mechanical screens
Flatter angle increases screen submerged area

Screens: Design Considerations
Head loss through the screens: 150 mm for manual screens
and 150-600 mm for mechanical screens
Screenings handling, processing and disposal
Screen raking mechanism
Drainage plate
Temporary storage (hoppers or containers)
Removal, transport and disposal - Conveyors/Pneumatic
ejectors may be used to transport screenings
Screenings grinder may be used to grind and shred the
screenings and return to the wastewater
Screenings are discharged directly into a hopper or container or
into a screening press
Mechanical screens: 2 or more screens are provided to
facilitate screen isolation & maintenance
Manual screen: Provided in smaller STPs
Often provided as standby units - used as an overflow device
whenever the mechanical screens are in-operational
Approach channel
Find width and slope of the approach channel
Assume depth of flow during peak flow as 2/3
rd
of the width
Find velocity during average flow and check whether it is >0.3 m/sec.
Provide >0.2 m freeboard for the channel
2
1
3
2
. .
1
S R
n
V =
V is velocity (m/sec.): 0.6 m/sec. for design peak flow
n is Mannings coefficient (0.015 for concrete channels
and 0.013 PVC channels
R is hydraulic radius (m) (ratio of flow cross section
area to wetted perimeter)
S is slope
W is width of the channel (m)
D is depth of flow (m)
Q is flow rate (m
3
/sec.)
D w
Q
v
D w
D w
R
.
2
.
=
+
=
Assume D=2/3 width for design peak flow and solve through iterations
Approach Channel
Approach channel length can be >4 times the channel width
If the screen is to be provided in a screen chamber then length
of the screening chamber can be





If perforated plate is planned over the channel behind the screen,
its foot print can be >2 times the channel width
Width of the screen chamber can be (3 times its width) or (channel
width +1.0 m), whichever is larger
Access to the screen should be ensured
Provision for temporary storage of screenings should be made
For mechanically cleaned screens additional space for the facility
and associated machinery should be provided

( ) ( )
sewer the of diameter is D
channel the of width is W
horizontal f rom screen of angle n inclinatio is
D W W L
channel Approach
u
u + + + > 2 tan 3 . 0
3
2
Bar Screen Specifications
Decide on the bars thickness and depth and on the spacing
between the bars and find the number of bars needed


Decide the inclination angle and find out length of the bars
D/sin() + grouting requirements
( is inclination angle from horizontal)
Decide on the spacer bars (number, size and length)
Decide on the bar rack grouting requirements
Decide on the perforated drain plate to be used behind the
screen
Width can be 0.2m plus width of the channel
Length can be > 2 times the width

1 +
+
=
bars between bar
Spacing Thickness
channel the of Width
Bars of Number
Head loss across the screen
Head loss through a coarse screen can be estimated by





For 50% clogged screens velocity through the screen can be
taken as 0.9 m/sec.
Drop provided downstream to screen may be greater
than the head loss across it when clogged for peak
flow conditions
>150 mm for manually cleaned screens

|
|
.
|

\
|
=
g
v V
C
h
L
2
1
2 2
C is discharge coefficient
(taken as 0.7 for clean screen and 0.6 for
clogged screen)
V is velocity through the screen
v is approach velocity
g is acceleration due to gravity
Screens
Controls
Raking mechanisms
Based on differential head loss through the screen
(measuring water level both before and after the screen)
Based on a time clock (cleaning at predetermined time
intervals)
Flow control/regulation
Slide gates or recesses are provided in the channel, both
ahead of and behind to facilitate dewatering of the screen
Flow is diverted through a bypass channels in larger
installations with the help of slide or sluice gates
Screens
Reciprocating rake type bar screens
Rake moves to the base of the screen, engages the bars
and pulls screenings to the top of the screen for removal
All parts requiring maintenance are above the water line
and can be easily inspected and maintained
Front clean and front return feature minimizes solids carry
over
Have only one rake and hence have limited capacity to
handle heavy screenings loads
High overhead clearance is required to accommodate the
rake mechanism
Grit accumulation in front of the bar can impede rake
movement
Screens
Catenary screen
A type of front cleaned and front return chain driven
screen, but has no submerged sprockets
Rake is held against the bar rack by weight of the chain
(less sensitive to bar jamming by heavy objects)
Multiple cleaning elements, shorter cleaning cycles enable
handling of large objects (very little screenings carryover)
Chains are very heavy, inclination angle of the screen is
higher (43 to 75) and hence large footprint
Jammed racks can cause misalignment and warpage
Open design can cause odors problem
Screens
Continuous belt screen
It is a continuous self-cleaning screening belt that
removes fine and coarse solids
Overhauling or replacement of the screening
elements is time consuming and expensive.
Screen openings may range from 0.5 to 30 mm and
hence be used as either as a coarse screen or as a
fine screen
Have no submerged sprockets
Grit Separators
Grit removal facilities
Located after bar screens, ahead of wastewater sump and
pumps provided to
Protect moving mechanical equipment from abrasion and
abnormal wear (pumps, centrifuges, valves, bearings, etc.)
Reduce formation of heavy deposits in tanks, basins, pipelines,
channels, conduits, heat exchangers, etc.
Reduce frequency of cleaning of digesters
Designed for the removal of grit particles of size 0.15 (100 mesh)
or 0.21 mm (65 mesh) and specific gravity >2.65
Sand, gravel, cinders, and other heavy solid particles having high
specific gravity and settling velocities (> organic solids)
Types of grit chambers
Horizontal flow type
Long grit channels with influent distribution gate and weir at
effluent end mostly manual grit removal preferred for low
flows (<1 MLD)
Horozontal grit chambers (square shaped - facilitates proper
functioning of raking mechanism mechanical grit removal -
rectangular chambers!
Aerated type spiral flow aeration tank is used preferred
for larger flows (>2 MLD)
Vortex type
Cylindrical tank with tangential entry of flow creating vortex
flow pattern
Centrifugal and gravitational forces cause the grit to separate
Grit cyclones (and hydroclones!)
Preferred for moderate flows (1 2 MLD)

Stokes Law and Terminal settling
velocity of particles
Forces acting on a suspended particle are
Gravity force


Buoyant force


Drag force Increases with increasing speed zero for zero speed




g
p particle
v
g
p fluid
v
2
2
p f luid p d
v A C
p p
d v t 3 For laminar flow conditions
V
p
is volume of the partcicle
2
3
2
4
2 3
4
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
p
p
p
p
d
A
d
V
t
t
Stokes Law and terminal settling
velocity of particle
Net force of the particle (ma) makes the particle to accelerate
When drag force becomes equal to the net of gravity force and
buoyant force, acceleration of the particle becomes zero and
the particle settles at constant velocity (terminal settling velocity)
p
fluid
fluid particle
d
p
d
C
g
v
|
|
.
|

\
|

=

3
4
34 . 0
3 24
+ + =
R R
d
N N
C
v
p p
R
d v
N =
Where
Where
v

18
2
p
w
w p
p
d g
v
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
For laminar flow
p
w
w p
p
d g v
|
|
.
|

\
|

=

33 . 3
For turbulent flow
v is 1.003 x 10
-6
Discrete Particle Settling
Settling tanks are designed for a selected design terminal
settling velocity (v
t
)
A particle is considered as removed if it touches the bottom
of the tank
For 100% settling removal, particles with v
t
terminal settling
velocity have to be > surface loading or overflow rate


In a settling basin design settling velocity, detention time
(HRT) and depth are related


Actual design takes into account the effect of inlet and outlet
turbulence, short circuiting, sludge storage, and velocity
gradients due to operation of sludge removal equipment
A
Q
v
t
=
time Detention
depth Tank
v
t
=
Q is flow rate
A is surface area
A
Q H
v
WH
Q
L
H
v
WH
Q
v
WHv Q
L
Hv
v
v
L
v
H
t
t
h
h
h
t
h t
= =
=
=
=
=
=
t
A
Q
v
t
=
Indicates grit removal efficiency is independent of depth and
detention time of the channel/chamber
Depth can be reduced scouring problem is a limitation
horizontal flow velocity should be <0.4 m/sec.
Increase of depth or width of channel reduces horizontal
flow velocity and results in settling of organics
|
|
.
|

\
|

=

p
s
f
Kgd
V
8
k depends on the material being scoured
(0.04 for unigranular particles and 0.06 for
sticky interlocked matter)
p and are densities of particles and liquid
d is particle diameter
f is Darcy-Weisbach friction factor
(influenced by surface roughness and
reynolds number, etc. typical values 0.02-
0.03
Camp-Shields equation
for scour velocity
Discrete Particle Settling
Only a fraction of the particles with the terminal settling
velocity < design settling velocity are removed in the
settling tank

Discrete Particle Settling
td
tp
v
v
removed Fraction =
( )
( )

}
=
=
= + =
n
i
i
n
i
i
td
tpi
td
tp
td
n
n
v
v
dX
v
v
X removed f raction Total
1
1
v
tp
is terminal settling velocity
v
td
is design terminal settling velocity


X
td
is fraction with terminal settling velocity >v
td
dX is the fraction of grit with v
tp
n
i
is the fraction of grit falling in the i
th
category
Horizontal flow grit channels
Representative design data
Horizontal flow velocity: 0.25 0.4 m/sec. (0.3)
Head loss: 30-40% of channel depth (36%)
Added length for inlet and outlet turbulence allowance: 25-50%
of actual length (30%)
At the design horizontal flow velocity heavier grit particles
settle while the organic particles tend to get resuspended
Flow control section at the outlet
Parabolic channel cross section is ideal if parshall flume is used
Rectangular channel cross section is ideal if proportional weir
(sutro weir) is used
Has isolating gate valves at the inlet
Has provisions for draining out the wastewater and manually
removing the accumulated grit
Floating oil separation is often integrated
( )
|
.
|

\
|
+ =
|
.
|

\
|
+ =
3
2
2
3
2
97 . 4
5 . 0
5 . 0
a
h ga b C Q
a
h b a Q
d
|
|
.
|

\
|
|
.
|

\
|
=

5 . 0
1
tan
2
1
a
y
b x
t
. max
. max
. min
5 . 0
. max
. min
5 . 1
. max
. max
2 62 . 0
H
Q
Q
a
Q
Q
g H
Q
b
=
(

=
C
d
value is 0.6 to 0.65
b is taken as channel width 150 mm!
Proportional weir (Sutro weir)
Grit channels
Horizontal flow grit channels
Find design terminal settling velocity
Find grit channel surface area for the peak flow condition


Find flow cross sectional area (for the horizontal flow velocity
of 0.3 m/sec. for average flow), and, find the grit channel
width (take width to depth ratio of 2:1)
Find length of the grit channel (A/W) and make adjustments
for inlet and outlet disturbances
Find depth of flow for both average flow and peak flow
conditions (take horizontal flow velocity as 0.4 m/sec.)
Find grit channel depth (add the grit storage depth (0.15 m)
and the freeboard to the depth of flow for peak flow)
Find depth of flow for the horizontal flow velocity of 0.4
m/sec., add free board and grit storage depth
A
Q
v
t
max
=
Q
max
is peak flow rate
A is surface area
Horizontal flow grit channels
Design the proportional weir at the outlet using the following
equation


Use Q
max
h
max
and Q
avrg
h
avrg
values to fix a and b values
Find vertical profile of the weir (x values for different y values)



Provide weir crest level at 0.15 m (equal to the grit storage
depth)
Provide drains, for draining out water and for the grit
removed, and isolation valves
Provide for the removal of floating materials (if desired)
( )
|
.
|

\
|
=
3
2
5 . 0
a
h ga b C Q
d
Cd value is taken as 0.6 to 0.65
|
|
.
|

\
|
|
.
|

\
|
=

5 . 0
1
tan
2
1
a
y
b x
t
radians in is
a
y
here
5 . 0
1
tan
|
.
|

\
|

Square (or rectangular) horizontal flow grit

chambers
Square tanks with grouted corners
Influent is distributed across the section of the tank by a
series of vanes (adjustable deflector plates) and gates
Wastewater flows in straight lines across the tank and
overflow a weir into the outlet
Mostly designed to remove 0.15 mm grit with 95% efficiency
Rotating, center driven rake mechanism mounted on a
bridge (spanning the basin) rakes grit into a side sump/
collection hopper
Rake arms have outward raking blades
From sump reciprocating rake mechanism resuspends
organic particles, and concentrates and moves up grit on the
incline
Concentrated grit is washed in a classifier (submerged
reciprocating rake or an inclined screw conveyor)
Horizontal flow grit chambers
Grit separator-classifier
Reciprocating rake mechanism set in an inclined concrete
channel along the collection basin
All drive components and bearings are located above the
liquid level and protected from corrosion
Putrescible organics are liberated and washed and a recyle
pump returns the organic matter into the degritted sewage
Grit screw classifer: a tubular sheet shaft and helical flight
assembly set in a semicircular inclined concrete
trough/channel
Cyclone separator with a reciprocating rake classifer: grit
from the collection basin is pumped through the cyclone
separator for solids concentrating and delivering into the
hopper of the classifier for washing and discharge
Grit Collector and Classifier
Cyclone Grit Separator and Classifier
Aerated grit chambers
Rectangular tank with aeration by coarse bubble diffusers
along one side creats spiral flow perpendicular to the flow
Velocity of roll governs size & SG of the particles setting
Strategically positioned longitudinal circulation baffle directs
the rotational flow and a vertical baffle at the far end
prevents flow short-circuiting
Wastewater is introduced in the direction of the roll
Wastewater makes 2-3 turns at peak flow
Grit hopper: Located along one side of the tank, 0.9 m
deep, has steep sloping sides
Design information
Designed for 0.21 mm grit particles removal
HRT is 2 to 5 minutes at peak hourly flow
Air diffusers: Located 0.45-0.6 m above the normal plane
Width to depth ratio: 1:1 to 5:1 (1.5:1)
Length to width ratio: 3:1 to 5:1 (4:1)
Air supply: 0.2 to 0.5 m
3
/m.min.
Expansion by air should be considered in head loss
estimation
2000
2500
800 m
Slope 1 in 10
1200
300
600m
400
300
300
250 250
1300
Aerated grit chambers
550
1750
250
250 1500m
Slope 1 in10
1750
250
500
Tubular diffuser
Overflow weir
Grit trench
Inlet
250
Drain for degritting
Drain for draining
out the sewage
Vortex type grit chambers and Cyclone
grit separators
Type-1
Wastewater enters and exits tangentially
Rotating turbine maintains constant flow velocity and
promotes separation of organics from grit
HRT: 20-30 (30) seconds for average flow
Type-2
Vortex is generated by the flow entering tangentially at the
top of the unit
Effluent exits the center of the top of the unit
Sized to handle peak flow rates upto 0.3 m3/sec. per unit
Cyclone grit separators
Usually used in inclined position and deliver grit to classifer
Used mostly for the separation/classification of grit grit
collection basins or from primary sludge

Grit and its removal and disposal
Removal of the accumulated grit
Removal can be simultaneous to operation
Grab buckets traveling on monorails
Chain and bucket conveyors running full length of grit hopper
Screw conveyors, tubular conveyors, jet pumps and airlifts
Traveling bridge grit collectors
Removal can be after taking off the grit chamber and involve
Emptying of the grit chamber
Manual removal of the accumulated grit
Grit characteristics and disposal
Predominantly inert and relatively dry
Volatile content: 1 to 56%
Moisture content: 13 to 65%
Specific gravity: 1.3 and Bulk density: 1600 kg/m
3
If no grit chambers provided and if grit accumulates in the
primary sludge then for removal
diluted primary sludge is passed through cyclone degritter
Grit separators and grit washers are used to remove organics
Water sprays in both cases help in grit washing
Inclined submerged rake - necessary agitation is provided for
organics removal while the grit is raised on incline to discharge
point
Inclined screw lifts the grit up the ramp
Grit disposal
Transport to landfill and stabilize with lime prior to landfilling (!)
Incinerate the grit with other solids
Pneumatic conveyors for conveying grit over short distances
Grit and its removal and disposal
Equalization
Flow Equalization
Damping of variations in wastewater flow rates and
strength (BOD, etc.) - may be needed to
overcome operational problems
improve performance of the down stream processes
reduced peak flows and shock loads, and diluted inhibitory
substances for biological treatment
reduce size and cost of downstream treatment facilities
Disadvantages of equalization:
Increased capital costs and land requirement
Additional operation and maintenance requirement
Odours problem
Equalization types:
Inline equalization: All flow passes through equalization tank
Better for achieving constituent concentration damping
Off line equalization: only flow above the predetermined limit
is diverted into equalization tank
Pumping requirements are minimized
Design Considerations
Where to locate an equalization facility? Optimum
location varies with
Characteristics of the collection system
Wastewater to be handled
Land requirements and availability
Type of treatment required some may not require
In-line or off-line equalization which should be used?
Equalization ahead of the primary settling: demands
mixing (and aeration) to prevent deposition of solids and
odour problems
Equalization between the primary treatment and the
secondary treatment: can cause fewer problems with
solids deposition and scum accumulation
Better grit removal facilities must precede the
equalization tanks

Design Considerations
Equalization tank volume
Cumulative inflow diagram is used to find the volume
Plot cumulative inflow against time of the day
Connect starting and ending points by a straight line to obtain
cumulative average outflow plot
Draw two tangents to the cumulative inflow plot (one above and
the other below), parallel to cumulative average outflow plot and
take vertical distance between the 2 tangents as the
equalization tank volume
At the low point of the tangent, the basin will be empty, and at
the high point of the tangent, the tank will be full
Cumulative net flow diagram can also be used
Subtract average hourly outflow from the hourly inflow to get the
net flow
Plot the cumulative net flow against time
Take the vertical distance between the lowest and the high
points as the equalization tank volume
Equalization volume
Actual volume of the equalization tank is larger (by 10-20%)
Continuous operation of aeration and mixing equipment do
not allow complete emptying of the basin
Basin may also receive plant recycle streams
Contingency is needed for taking care of unforeseen changes
in flow rates and flow variations may require freeboard
Geometry of the equalization tank
Depends on the available land area and on whether the
equalization is in-line or off-line
Elongated designs are avoided
Depth depends on land availability, groundwater level and
topography
Free board depends on tank size and wind conditions
Inlet and outlet are arranged to minimize short circuiting
often multiple inlets and outlets are used
For better access for cleaning, front end loaders and multiple
compartments are preferred
Design Considerations
Equalization tank/basin
Design considerations
Earthen basins, or concrete or steel tanks can be used
Access, cleaning and safety should be considered in the
design of equalization tanks
Operational appurtenances
Facilities for flushing any solids and grease that may tend to
accumulate on basin walls
High water takeoff for removing floating material and foam
Water sprays to prevent accumulation and aid foam removal
Separate odour control facilities (covered equalization basins!)
may also be needed
Pump and pump control system
Pumping facilities are usually required either before or after the
equalization tank
before is preferred for greater reliability
Flow measurement devices and flow regulation devices may be
required on the outlet to monitor the equalized flow

Mixing and aeration requirements
Required to blend the contents and prevent solids
deposition
Floating aerators, if used, may need a minimum operating
level of 1.5 to 2 m of the tank
A concrete pad below to minimize erosion may be needed in
earthen basins
Power requirement for mixing may be in the range of 0.004 to 0.008
kW/m
3
(when TSS is <210 mg/L)

In case of mechanical aerators vortex formation should be
avoided (provide baffles in circular tanks!)
The aerators may require low level shut off controls
Aerators can be equipped with legs or draft tubes for resting on
Aeration is required to prevent septic and odorous conditions
Air requirements for aerobic conditions is 0.01-0.015 m
3
/m
3
.min
Diffused aeration systems can be used for mixing and aeration

Design considerations
Impact of Flow Equalization on
Strength
Start at the point of time when the tank is at residual volume
Compute tank liquid volume at the end of each time period
Volume already present in the tank at the beginning
In-flowing during the period
Out-flowing during the period
Compute average concentration in the tank
Divide pollutant load (already present + added during the
period) with effluent volume (already present + added
during the period) - Instantaneous mixing is assumed here
Compute mass load of the pollutant during the period
Show the effect of equalization on pollution load to the ETP
Graphically; or by ratios, such as, peak to average or to
minimum, minimum to average or to peak; or Stand. dev.
Impact of flow equalization on strength
Residual Volume and Strength
Equalization
Residual volume is usually provided to protect the
aeration/mixing equipment provided
If it increases strength equalization also increases
Equalization tanks can also be designed for strength
equalization
Find flow equalization volume
Take different residual volumes and compute the level of
strength equalization achieved
Choose the minimum residual volume at which the
required strength equalization is achieved
Equalization basins can be designed for strength
equalization only but no flow equalization
Liquid volume in the equalization basin is maintained
constant
The inflow is almost balanced by the outflow - all the inflow
fluctuations are reflected in the outflows