SEDIMENTATION

A. Theory
The performance of a sedimentation basin for a given raw-water quality can be understood with
the help of particle settling theories. Particle suspensions are separated into four classifications based
on their concentration and morphology. Type I particles are discrete and do not interfere with one
another during settling because the concentration is low and they do not flocculate. Type II suspensions
consist of particles that can adhere to each other if they bump into each other. At concentrations higher
than Type I and II suspensions, hindered, or Type III, settling occurs. At much higher concentrations
than are found in Type III settling, Type IV settling or compression settling occurs where the
suspension begins to consolidate slowly.
In this process, Type III settling occurs because when the particles are dispersed in a solution they
go down the lower regions of the sedimentation basin. Hindered settling typically occurs in this region
and it is here where the concentration of suspended particles is highest.

B. Operation

Water flows horizontally through the sedimentation basin, then rises vertically to overflow the
discharge channel weir at the tank surface. While the water slowly rises, the floc settles in the opposite
direction and is expelled mechanically by continuous-action sludge removal machinery. The process
does not remove all the floc so particles lighter than the overflow rate flow out with the effluent, and
are removed by filtration. The sedimentation basin sludge is disposed of by passing it to a lagoon,
thickening and holding, or directing it to the sanitary sewer.

C. Equipment Design

1. Design Input

Parameter Value
Design flow rate 200 gpcd or 0.52575 m3/s
Number of rectangular tanks 2
Tank L/W ratio 4
Surface loading ratio 0.93 gram/sq.ft
Ave Depth 14 ft
Weir loading rate 13.9 gpm/ft
 Sludge collection Chain and flight
Sludge quantity Approximately 4% of total flow

2. Design Criteria

PARAMETER RANGE OF VALUES

INLET ZONE
Distance to Diffuser Wall 2m
Diffuser Hole Diameter 0.10-0.20m
SETTLING ZONE
Overflow rate 40-70 m3/dm2
Side water depth 3-5m
Length 60m
Width 0.3 m increments
6 m maximum per train
24 m maximum= 3 trains per drive
L:W 4:1, preferred 6:1
L:D Minimum 15:1
Horizontal mean velocity 0.005-0.018m/s
Reynolds number <20,000
Froude number >10-5
OUTLET ZONE
Launder length 1/3-1/2 length of the basin
Launder weir loading 140-320 m3/d*m
SLUDGE ZONE
Depth 0.6-1 m
Slope 1:600
Sludge Collector Speed 0.3-0.9m/min
Table 3.14: Design Criteria of Sedimentation Basin
3. Design Requirements
4. Design Procedure Step 1:
Determine the number of basin
Step 2:
Calculate the basin area
Step 3:
Select a trial width
Step 4:
Check L:W ratio
Step 5:
Assume a trial depth, SWD (side
water depth), sludge depth,
freeboard depth
Step 6:
Calculate the total depth of the
tank

Step 7:
Check the L:D ratio

Step 8:
Determine and check the
horizontal mean velocity

Step 9:
Determine and check the
hydraulic detention time

Step 10:
Calculate the hydraulic radius

Step 11:
Determine and check Reynolds
and Froude number
Step 12:
Assume launder length based
from and design criteria
Step 13:
Determine the number of
launders

Step 14:
Calculate the weir loading rate
Figure 3.14: Design Procedure of Sedimentation Basin
5. Design Calculation

STEP 1: Number of Tanks

n t = 3 tanks

STEP 2: Basin Area

3
Q = (0.52575 m )(86,400 s )
s day
3
= 45424.8 m
day

Q
ν OF = ; where Q = process flow rate
As
ν OF = overflow rate
A s = basin area on settling zone
Q
As =
ν OF
m3
45424.8
day
As = 3tanks
m3
32.5
day • m 2
m2
A s = 465.895
tank

STEP 3: Width For The Chain-And-Flight Sludge Collector

The maximum width for the chain-and-flight sludge collector is 6m increments.
Assume,

w=4m

STEP 4: Length-To-Width Ratio (L:W)

As
L = width/tank
w
m2
465.895
tank
4 m
L= tank
4m
L = 29.11 or 29.11 : 1 ; This is larger tha n the ratio of 4 : 1 and is ACCEPTABLE
STEP 5: Assume,
Trial depth of water = 8.5m

Side water depth (SWD) = 3.0 m

Sludge depth = 3.25 m

Freeboard depth =2.25 m

STEP 6: Total Depth Of Tank

Depth TOTAL = Trial depth of water + Sludge depth + Freeboard depth
Depth TOTAL = 8.5m  3.25 m  2.25 m
Depth TOTAL/ = 14 m

STEP 7: Length-To-Depth Ratio (L:D)

As
L/D = width/tank
trial depth
m2
465.895
tank
4 m
L/D = tank
8.5 m
L/D = 13.7 or 14 : 1 ; ACCEPTABLE

STEP 8: Horizontal Mean Velocity

Design flow
vf = ; whe re A = (n t )(trial depth)(tri al width)
A
m3
0.52575
vf = s
(3 tanks)(3. 25 m depth)(8.. 5 m width)
v f = 0.006 m
s

STEP 9: Hydraulic Detention Time ( τ )

 V
τ= ; wher e V(volume of the basin) = (A s )(trial depth of water) \
Q
m2 m
(465.895 )(8.5 )
τ= tank tank
m 3 1day
43,200 ×
day 24h
τ = 2.2 hr

STEP 10: Hydraulic Radius

Ax
RH =
Pw
depth × width
RH =
2depth × width
(3.25 m deep)(8.5 m wide)
RH =
3.25m + 8.5m + 3.25m
R H = 1.84m

STEP 11: Checking the Reynolds and Froude Number

Reynolds Number
vf R H
R= ; where R = Reynolds number
υ
R H = hydraulic radius
v f = horizontal mean velocity
υ = kinematic viscosity

m
(0.006 )(1.84m)
R= s
2
1.307 × 10 -6 m
s
R = 8454.47 ; ACCEPTABLE

Froude Number
 (v f ) 2
Fr = ; wher e Fr = Froude number
gR H
v f = horizontal mean veloc ity
g = accelerati on due to gravity, 9.81 m
s
R H = hydraulic radius
(0.006 m) 2
Fr =
m
(9.81 2 )(1.84m)
s
Fr = 1.9 × 10 6 ; ACCEPTABLE

STEP 12: Launder Length

Use launders for 1/3 of the tank length

As
n
L launder = t
3
55.5m
L launder =
3
L launder = 18.5m

STEP 13: Number Of Launder

Place the 18.5 m length of launder at 1 m intervals on center so that there are

n = 3 launders in the tank

STEP 14: Weir Loading Rate

Q
WL =
(n t )(n launder )(L launder )(no. of sides )
m3
43,200
day
WL =
(6tanks)(3 launders/t ank)(18.5 m/launder) (2 sides)
m3 m3
WL = 64.86 or 65 : This is well below the limit of 250 ,
day • m day • m
so it is ACCEPTABLE )
 6. Design Figure

PLAN VIEW

Launder length = 18.5

Lc of chain & tee rails

w=4m
Opening in floor for
Launders
Sludge drive chain
Launder length = 18.5
Stop Gates Lc of chain & tee rails

Walkway Effluent
Influent
Launder length = 18.5
Lc of chain & tee rails
Equipment

tank width
w=4m
Sludge symmetrical Launders
about center line
Lc of drive
Lc of chain & tee rails
Launder length = 18.5

Diffusser Wall = 2m
Figure
3.15: Plan View of Sedimentation Tank

PROFILE OF HORIZONTAL-FLOW, RECTANGULAR SEDIMENTATION TANK

Tank length =55.5 m

Effluent weirs
Chain Tightener Freeboard depth= 0.6m
Max water level
Tank depth = 2m

Tank depth = 2m
Influent
Effluent

Sludge

Min slope 45 degrees

Chain for chain-and flight collector

Figure 3.16: Profile of Horizontal Flow, Rectangular Sedimentation Tank

ZONES OF SEDIMENTATION TANK

settling zone

inlet zone outlet zone

raw water clarified water

Q

sludge zone
sludge
 c

Figure 3.17: Zone of Sedimentation Tank