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Deep bed filter cases

Choice of measures and materials

For the design of the multimedia tanks, a diameter of 1.25 m was chosen. With this
diameter the flow that will be per tank can be calculated. The ideal flow per ft^2 for a
multimedia filter is 3 to 7 gpm [33].

It was decided to work with the maximum, that is, an ideal flow of 7 gpm:

f i=7 gpm/f t 2

f t= A t∗f i

Where At is the cross sectional area of the tank and ft is the flow through the tank.

The flow to manage in the plant (fp) is 72 m3 / h and the efficiency (e) of the reverse
osmosis filter is 0.45, so the total flow to manage is:

fp
f=
e

Once the total flow that must enter the multimedia tanks is known, we can know how
many of these tanks are needed:

f
N=
ft

Where N is the number of multimedia tanks. As a result, the number of tanks to use
is 8 tanks.

Once the number of tanks has been obtained, it must be known what media will be
used for the filtration. The means chosen were:

1. Anthracite: [35][39][36]
● Raw material: Mineral coal.
● Applications: Drinking water filters and tertiary filtration of residual
water, a porous bed is obtained that does not tend to crack and is
easily washed.
● Great hardness, density relatively half of sand.
● It allows the material that is in suspension to be retained in the depth of
the filter bed.
● It allows less pressure drop, a better and quick backwash.
● It will be above heavier media such as filter sand.
● Apparent density: 1.26 gr/cm^3.
● Specific density: 1.38 gr/cm^3.
● Absolute density: 0.83 gr/cm3
 2. Silica sand: [37][40][41]
● Raw material: Natural silica.
● It stands out for its hardness and chemical resistance.
● Applications: filter bed for water purification.
● Useful for water purification.
● Useful for the retention of floret of very small sizes that are not
separated by decantation.
● Apparent density: 1.5 a 1.9 gr/cm^3.
● Specific density: 2.63 gr/cm^3.
● Absolute density: 2.5 a 2.8 gr/cm^3.

3. Silica gravel: [38][40][42]

● Raw material: Natural silica.
● Applications: Support medium for multimedia filters, activated carbon,
softeners.
● Support of filter media, the concave part of the tanks are areas that do
not intervene in the filtration, in most cases it is recommended to fill this
area with silica gravel, as it is a material that does not impart any
characteristics to the water to be treated and it is much cheaper.
● Support to prevent the filter media from leaking and plug the filter
outlet.
● Apparent density: 1.6 gr/cm^3.
● Specific density: 2.5 gr/cm^3.
● Absolute density: 2.5 a 2.8 gr/cm^3.

The reason why these media were chosen for the filtration was that both anthracite
and silica sand produce satisfactory results when you want to filter the water, and
can be used in a wide range of sizes and heights within the filter, being the
responsibility It is up to the designer to determine these measurements, based on
the conditions of the water to be treated. In addition, it is necessary to select an
adequate range of particle sizes and the density of the different filter layers, in order
to maintain the position of the layers, more specifically, the thick ones above and the
thin ones below, during the filtration process. and after the backwash.In addition, if it
is dual or multiple bed filters that use anthracite, the size of the anthracite depends
on the size and density of the sand or other material that is placed under the
anthracite. Because if the anthracite particles are too small, they can cause
excessive losses during the minimum backwash required to clean the sand
effectively. On the other hand, if the anthracite particles are too large, they can
cause excessive mixing of both layers at their interface [40]. In conclusion regarding
the content of the filter, figure # 1 shows an example of how it would be constituted,
with the granular medium being anthracite first, silica sand second and finally the
gravel whose function is of support and that the other components of the filter
medium do not get lost in the drain during filtration.
Figure 1. Sample model of the filter with its content. [45]

Similarly, in these filters, the pressure drop increases slowly during the filtration
stage because the microorganisms found in the filter medium degrade part of the
accumulated particles, which lasts for weeks or months, reaching a point of
breakage, and the filtration stroke ends when the pressure drop reaches the
available load in the system. Therefore, the filter subsequently needs to be cleaned
by means of a backwash that consists of making the water flow in the opposite
direction, and within a much longer time, replacing the media and sand used [44],
likewise, these media are used to filter the solids present in the water, however,
there is no mathematical model that allows to calculate exactly how many
suspended particles are filtered from the water, which are retained in the filter
medium by a series of chemical and electrochemical factors such as forces Van der
Waals, Electrostatic Forces, and Chemical Bridge [42], because chemical analysis is
usually required at the end of the actual filter, however, in Table # 1. it shows
approximate values of the reduction of suspended solids, the turbidity of the water as
well as the elimination of bacteria such as E. Coli.
Table # 1: Performance of different treatment technologies [43]

Regarding dimensions, the effective diameters of anthracite and silica sand are,
1.1mm and 0.6mm respectively, because the backwash speed is 15 gpm / ft2 [34].

These values of the effective diameters are obtained from the graph presented in
figure #2, where based on the backwash flow (15 gpm/ft2), a horizontal line is drawn
from this number until it collides with the lines. Cross-sections representing the
different granular media, and subsequently by means of a vertical line down to the
bottom, where the size of the grain to be used for each of the filter media is
determined. This is done so that when the backwash is performed, the grains of the
filter media are not mixed. Extending the availability of the filter without since
constant changes of the grains will not be required but less frequent changes since
the backwash has the function of cleaning them.
Figure # 2. Ratio between the grain size of the filter media with respect to the backwash flow. [34]

To finish, the heights of the media were defined, with which the height of the bed and
therefore the height of the tank can be calculated.

h antracita=26∗25.4 mm=660.4 mm

h arena=15∗25.4 mm=381mm

h grava =150 mm

The height of the bed is the sum of the previous.

hlecho =hantracita + harena +h grava =1191 mm

The height of the tank was defined as 50% more than the height of the bed.

htanque =1.5∗hlecho=1787 mm

These types of filters usually work with feeding pressures of 1 to 4 kg/cm^2. The
feeding pressure with which it is going to work is 4 kg cm^2 [46].

The pressure drop for anthracite and sand can be calculated using the following
formulas.
For the sand:

dh
= 5 * 10−3 V
L

For the anthracite:

dh
= 0.9 * 10−3 V
L

For the gravel:

dh V
=
L 3

Where V is 176 m/d for sand and anthracite; and 0.1222 m/min for the gravel, L is
the thickness of the filter bed and h is the pressure drop [42].

The results obtained were as follows.

dh antracita=0.1046 m

dh arena=0.3353 m

dh grava =8.801 m

dhtot =9,241 m

N.º OF ELEMENT NAME OF PIECE N.º OF PIECE MATERIAL

1 Tank 1 Sae 304
2 Lid 1 Sae 304
Acero al
3 Socket Flange 150-NPS3 3
carbono
Acero al
4 Socket Flange 150-NPS2.5 1
carbono
5 HHFBOLT 0.8750-14x3x2-N 8 Sae 304
6 HHFNUT 1.125-7-N 8 Sae 304

[33] PURETEC Industrial Water. (s.f.). Basics of Multi-Media Filtration (MMF).

Obtenido de Water filtration: https://puretecwater.com/downloads/basics-of-multi-
media-filtration-mmf.pdf

[34] Kawamura, S. (2000). Integrated design and operation of water treatment

facilities. John Wiley & Sons.
[35] Carbotecnia. (s.f.). Carbotecnia.info. Obtenido de Antracita:
https://www.carbotecnia.info/producto/antracita/

[36] IMSCA. (s.f.). Antracita. Obtenido de Certificado de calidad:

http://imsca.net.ve/images/fichas/antracita.pdf

[37] Carbotecnia. (s.f.). Carbotecnia.info. Obtenido de Arena sílica:

https://www.carbotecnia.info/producto/medio-arena-silica-para-filtros-de-agua/

[38] Carbotecnia. (s.f.). Carbotecnia.info. Obtenido de Grava sílica:

https://www.carbotecnia.info/producto/grava-silica/

[39] Aguate S.A.S. (s.f.). Medios filtrantes. Obtenido de ANTRACITA, GRAVA Y

ARENA REDUCEN SEDIMENTOS:
https://www.aguatec.com.co/images/stories/fichas_tec/Medios%20Filtrantes.pdf

[40] Carbotecnia. (Septiembre de 2004). Boletín técnico AG-009. Obtenido de

FILTROS DE GRAVA, ARENA SÍLICA Y ANTRACITA:
https://www.carbotecnia.info/PDF/boletines/AG-009.pdf

[41] Finosygranitos.com. 2020. FICHA TECNICA ARENA SILICE MALLA (20-40).

[online] Available at: <https://www.finosygranitos.com/wp-
content/uploads/2018/05/FICHA-TECNICA-ARENA-M-20-40.pdf > [Accessed 17
May 2020].

[42] J. Perez, "Tratamiento de aguas, IV Filtración", Bdigital.unal.edu.co. [Online].

Available: http://bdigital.unal.edu.co/70/6/45_-_5_Capi_4.pdf . [Accessed: 17- May-
2020].

[43] Arenas, N. Q. (Septiembre de 2012). Eficacia de un sistema de filtración de

avanzado en una planta de tratamiento de aguas residuales industriales. Obtenido
de Trabajo fin de master: https://iuaca.ua.es/es/master-agua/documentos/-
gestadm/trabajos-fin-de-master/tfm06/tfm-natalia-quirante-arenas.pdf

[44] LLERENA, J. D. (s.f.). PROCESOS DE FILTRACIÓN DEL. Obtenido de

Programa Especializado en Tratamiento de INAGEP:
https://archivosdiversos.weebly.com/uploads/2/1/7/6/21760126/modulo_7_agua_pot
able.pdf

[45] Carbotecnia. (s.f.). ¿Qué es la filtración de lecho profundo? Obtenido de

https://www.carbotecnia.info/aprendizaje/filtros-de-lecho-profundo-medios-
granulares/filtros-de-lecho-profundo/

[46] Basu, S., & Debnath, A. K. (2015). Main Equipment. Power Plant Instrumentation
and Control Handbook, 39–146.