COAGULATION &

FLOCCULATION

Roberto M. Narbaitz

COAGULATION & FLOCCULATION

Many waters and wastewaters contaminants that are
so small that they will not settle (and be removed)
no matter how long you allow for sedimentation to
occur.

Accordingly these are considered stable solutions.

Coagulation processes involve the addition of one
or more chemicals (primary coagulants and
coagulant aids) so the chemical and the
contaminants agglomerate so that they form
particles that are large enough so that they can be
separated within a reasonable time.

So coagulation is a destabilization process.

Coagulation is a critical process in the treatment of
surface waters because of their turbidity, which is
caused by negatively-charged colloidal particles.
COAGULATION & FLOCCULATION

Coagulation is considered to encompass all
reactions, mechanisms and results in the overall
process of particle aggregation within a water being
treated. It includes
– chemical addition,
– in-situ coagulant formation (where applicable),
– chemical destabilization of colloidal and
dissolved particles, and
– physical intraparticle contacts that result in
particle agglomeration into larger particles.

The first three take place primarily in the rapid mix

basin.

COAGULATION & FLOCCULATION

The physical intraparticle contacts that result in particle
agglomeration into larger particles, or flocculation,
takes place primarily in the flocculation basin or slow
mix basin.
Coagulation and Flocculation

+

Coagulation (practical sense)
+
+ +
+
+ +
+ + +
++ + + +
+ + +
+ ++
+ + ++ +
+ + ++++
++
+
Colloidal particles + +
+
(0.001 - 1 µm)
floc
(1 - 100 µm)

COAGULATION & FLOCCULATION

The separation of the flocs from the water is generally
via sedimentation but flotation, filtration and
membrane filtration are sometimes used.
COAGULATION & FLOCCULATION
Many compounds are used as primary coagulants:

Aluminum salts (Al+3).
Alum (Al2(SO4)3·18H2O) is the most common
coagulant in water treatment . More recently
polymerized aluminum species, such as
polyaluminum chloride (PACl) and polyaluminum
sulfate, have been developed.

Iron salts (Fe+3). Such as FeCl2 & Fe2(SO4)3

Lime (Ca+2) and soda ash (Na2CO3)

Polymers

COAGULATION & FLOCCULATION

COAGULATION & FLOCCULATION

The positive multivalent nature of the cationic
coagulants attracts them strongly to the negatively
charged colloidal particles and their relative
insolubility insures that they are removed to a high
degree.

The ability of an agent to coagulate a water is
related to its charge. The relative power of
coagulation changes from 1 to 30 to 1000 as the
coagulating ion’s charge increases from 1 to 2 to 3.

Applications in water treatment

Coagulation is a critical step in the removal of
colloidal solids (such as clay particles) that cause
turbidity in surface waters. The clay particles are
negatively charged.
Applications in water treatment

A second very important function of
coagulation/flocculation is the removal of colour and
natural organic matter (NOM) (which is measured in
terms of TOC).

Some NOM causes colour. Particularly the higher
molecular size NOM, which is more easily removed by
coagulation/flocculation sedimentation.

NOM are precursors of toxic disinfection by-products
(DBPs), such as trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids.
Thus NOM also called DBP precursors.

NOM + disinfectant H2O + CO2 + Disinfection By- Products (DBPs)

(TOC) + (Cl2, O3, etc.) (THMs, THAAs, etc.)

NOM Removal

This requires substantially higher coagulant doses as
is often called enhanced coagulation.

In unpolluted waters humic substances are the major
organic constituent. They are refractive and persist for
centuries. Typically they are divided into the more
soluble fulvic acids (FAs) and the less soluble humic
acids (HAs), with FAs predominating in most waters.
The HAs tends to be the main source of the yellowish-
brown colour.

NOM exerts a chlorine/oxidant demand
Applications in water treatment

Chemical addition is also critical for rapid sand
filtration, it does not work well without coagulants

Hard groundwaters and surface waters may be
softened via lime (addition) coagulation. In this case
the precipitation is primarily a function of the lower
solubility (at high pHs) of the species formed. Quite
common.

Many microfiltration and ultrafiltration membrane
systems require coagulation/flocculation to remove
NOM

Applications in wastewater treatment

Some municipal wastewater use enhanced primary
treatment (i.e., chemical addition to their primary
clarifiers) to improve solids removals and /or
improve phosphorus removal (examples: Ottawa
prior to 1992, Montreal, Niagara Falls, NY, Moncton,
NB, Rio de Janeiro). Not very common.

Coagulant
Influent
Grit Primary
Screens Disinfection
chamber Clarifier
 Applications in wastewater treatment

Phosphorus removal at municipal plants. Aluminum
or iron salts are added to the activated sludge
process (aeration basin or channel to the secondary
clarifier), prior to primary clarifier (in primary plants)
or prior to tertiary filters. Very common.

Enhanced primary treatment plant Coagulant

Influent
Grit Primary
Screens Disinfection
chamber Clarifier

Coagulant

Influent Grit Primary Aeration Secondary

Screens Disinfect.
chamber Clarifier basin Clarifier

Secondary treatment plant

Applications in wastewater treatment

Municipal treatment plants with tertiary sand filters,
to improve solids removal so as to permit discharge
into sensitive receiving waters or for wastewater
reuse (irrigation, cooling water, toilet flushing).

Industrial wastewater treatment for oil/water
separation, heavy metal removal, solids, dyes, etc.
require the use of coagulants

Tertiary treatment plant Coagulant

Influent Grit Primary Aeration Secondary Tert.

Screens Disin.
chamber Clarifier basin Clarifier Filter
 COAGULANT CHEMISTRY AND
DOSES
The coagulant dose required is affected by:
a) coagulant type;
b) pH;
c) Target contaminant
d) colloid concentration;
d) NOM (measured in terms of TOC or DOC) and colour;
e) anions and cations in solution (alkalinity); f)
temperature, etc.

Although we have a general knowledge of coagulation

chemistry, it is a rather complex field and at this time
one can not accurately predict the coagulant dose that
will be required without actually testing. The coagulant
dose is determined via jar tests.

Jar tests

The best coagulant, optimal dose and best
coagulant aids are determined from jar test. It is an
educated trial and error approach.

http://cece.ucf.edu/LABS/esei/Pictures/PB900_Jar_tester.JPG
 COAGULANT CHEMISTRY AND
DOSES
When a metal salt, such as alum or ferric chloride, is
added to water the soluble cations, such as aluminum,
iron or magnesium, hydrolyze very quickly and form
insoluble precipitates minimizing the concentrations of
these ions in the water.
In order to get good separation (sedimentation) the
concentration of the metal hydroxides (to be
precipitated) must exceed the saturation concentration
for that species.
Accordingly theoretical pC (log of the molar Al or Fe
concentration) versus pH graphs showing the various
metal hydroxide species can be drawn. Saturation
concentrations occur when the concentrations are
greater than that indicated by the envelope.

COAGULANT CHEMISTRY AND

DOSES
In order to get good
separation (sedimentation)
the concentration of the
metal hydroxides (to be
precipitated) must exceed
the saturation concentration
for that species. Accordingly
theoretical log C versus pH
graphs showing the various
metal hydroxide species are
frequently used to
hypothesize which
mechanisms are involved
 COAGULANT CHEMISTRY AND
DOSES
In water treatment the main mechanisms involved are :
a) charge neutralization and adsorption (caused by
chemical interactions between coagulant and
colloids.)
b) precipitate enmeshment or sweep flocculation
(colloidal particles can be enmeshed in these
precipitates as they are formed and also can also
become part of the precipitating large number flocs
by collide with them.). It is used extensively in water
treatment applications, particularly in cases of
variable turbidity and DOC removal.
c) When polymers are used interparticle bridging may
be significant.

Aluminum coagulants

The general chemical equation for alum is:
Al2(SO4)3 · 18H2O + 3Ca(HCO3)2
→ 3CaSO4 + 2Al(OH)3↓+6CO2 + 18H2O

An important consideration is that as shown by the
hydrolysis reactions the metal salts act as acids and
alkalinity must be added (0.5 mg/L as CaCO3 per mg/L
alum) to maintain a constant pH.

If no alkalinity is added the pH will decrease, this is
not a problem as long as the pH does not drop below
the optimum for precipitation.
 Aluminum Coagulation

Too high an alum dose can

result in pH shift outside the
envelope and poor removal.
Too high an alum dose can
result in charge
restabilization and poor
removal.

Aluminum coagulants
Iron coagulants
The solubility diagrams of iron are similar to those of
aluminum and the actual precipitate is also actually in
the amorphous form.
The main differences is that the iron envelope is
somewhat wider and precipitation seems to occur at
lower doses.
Iron salts are also acid and consume alkalinity.
Iron flocs are stronger than alum’s in cold waters

Coagulant Aids

Coagulant aids include synthetic polymers, activated
silica, clays, micro-sand, natural substances (chitin).

Polymers are generally used as coagulant aids rather
than primary coagulants due to their high cost. They
are excellent coagulant aids at dosages of only ~ 1
mg/L.

The Britannia and Lemieux plants use activated silica
along with 22-24 mg/L alum to optimize colour
removal. They also add acid to reach the optimal pH.

The Gatineau plant uses alum plus polymer plus
micro-sand for their novel ballasted flocculation
system.

The Aylmer plant uses ~ 40 mg/L PASS (Polyaluminum
sulfate silicate) plus + ~ 1 mg/L polymer
 Jar tests

The best coagulant, optimal dose and best
coagulant aids depend on their performance and
cost.

Mixing & Flocculation Devices And Design

Roberto M. Narbaitz
Davis, “Water and..”, chapter 3
Tchobanoglous & Schroeder, “Water quality..”, chapter 12
Reynolds/Richards, “Unit operations..”, chapter 8
Droste, “Theory..”, chapter 13
COAGULATION DEVICES

Metal hydrolysis reactions occur very quickly. Coagulation

devices must provide intense mixing to disperse the
coagulants quickly to insure that there is maximum contact
between the coagulant and the particles.

If the mixing is not sufficiently intense, the metal will
react with water (forming metal hydroxides but
without attaching to the particles) and destabilization
will have to be via sweep flocculation, which requires a
higher coagulant dose.

By the same token if one is going to use sweep
flocculation, the use of intense mixing is not essential.

COAGULATION DEVICES
This intense mixing is normally conducted in:

impeller driven mixing tanks (i.e., coagulation tanks)

in-line mixing systems,

hydraulic jumps,

venturi sections, etc.
 MECHANICAL RAPID MIXERS- cont’d

COAGULATION DEVICES
COAGULATION DEVICES

MECHANICAL RAPID MIXERS

Using impellers

They are very common and effective

 MECHANICAL RAPID MIXERS- cont’d

What parameters should we care about in mixing?

Velocity gradient (traveling of two layers of water)

Dynamic viscosity

Volume of water

Power dissipated

MECHANICAL RAPID MIXERS- cont’d

Mixing is caused by two layers of water travelling in
different directions.

The velocity gradient is proportional to the energy
dissipated in the fluid.

Based on:
a) Newton’s Law of viscosity
b) A force balance around a control volume
c) A power balance around the control volume
 Substitute in Newton’s law of viscosity and rearrange to
obtain
dv  dv  dv  dv 
2

P = τ⋅ =  µ ⋅  ⋅ = µ ⋅   = µ ⋅ G2
dy  dy  dy  dy 
dv P p
G=
dy µ⋅V
= =
µ

Note V is the basin volume not the velocity

COMPARISON OF MIXING IN
COAGULATION & FLOCCULATION
BASINS

Intense/Rapid Mixing:
- Short time (td < 1 min)
- High P

In Flocculation:
- Long time (td = 20-50 min)
- Low P
 MECHANICAL RAPID MIXERS- cont’d
1. Mean velocity gradient G and td

Rate of floc formation is proportional to G, not td

W P
G= =
µ µV
G: Velocity gradient (mps/m or s-1)
W: Power imparted to water/unit volume (N-m/s-m3)
P: Power expenditure (watts or N-m/s or kg·m2/s3)
V: Volume of basin (m3)
µ: Viscosity of water (@10oC, µ = 0.00131 N-s/m2)

MECHANICAL RAPID MIXERS- cont’d

1. Mean velocity gradient G and td

Recommended Values

td (s) 20 30 40 >40

G (s-1) 1,000 900 700 700

Gtd 20,000 28,000

MECHANICAL RAPID MIXERS

2. Power Expenditure

For laminar conditions: P = KLn2D3µ

For turbulent conditions: P = K Tn3D5ρ

P: Power expenditure µ, ρ: Fluid Characteristics

n: rps of the impeller D: Impeller diameter

MECHANICAL RAPID MIXERS

 baffles
MECHANICAL RAPID
MIXERS- cont’d

3. Circular or squarish plan area tank.Basin

Diameter/side: 3 – 10 ft
Multiple units are often used
4. Maximum flow conditions

5. Vertical shaft with a propeller is utilized

6. Detention time td : < 1min

7. Baffles are used along the wall to
prevent vortexes
8. Pilot-scale study is recommended

MECHANICAL RAPID MIXERS- cont’d

 SUMMARY OF COAGULATION MIXING

Type of mixing: Intense (Rapid)

Duration time: <1 min

Power: High

MIXING EXAMPLE
Square rapid-mixing basin, depth of water equal to 1.25 times the width,
is to be designed for a flow of 86400 m3 /d.
· Velocity gradient 900 s-1,
· Detention time is 30 s,
· Operating temperature is 10oC,

Impeller diameter is to be 30 to 50% of the tank width.

TASKS:
1. Select basin dimensions.
2. Power required.
3. Determine impeller rotational speed if a vane-disc impeller with six flat
blades is employed and the tank has four vertical baffles.
 HYDRAULIC MIXERS

This includes hydraulic

jumps, Parshall flumes,
in-line mixer, etc

They are very effective
and do not require extra
mechanical equipment

HYDRAULIC MIXERS- cont’d

Design Parameters:
Power Dissipated

P = ρ ⋅ g ⋅ Q ⋅ hL
P = power dissipated
Q = flowrate
hL = headloss
g = gravitational acceleration
ρ = density of water
FLOCCULATION DEVICES

FLOCCULATION DEVICES
Coagulation is followed by a flocculator, where there is much
les intense mixing which tends to promote the contact of
the coagulant/particle agglomerates that we call flocs.
This leads to the formation of larger particles.
The most critical design parameters are also G and td.

G 10 – 60 s-1

td 20 to 50 minutes

their optimal values depend on the flocculator type

G normally decreases from the front end of the tank to the
back (tapered flocculation)
FLOCCULATION DEVICES
The most common types of flocculators are:

horizontal shaft paddle flocculators

vertical shaft paddle flocculators

baffled channel flocculators (end over end, helical)

pebble bed flocculators

upflow clarifiers (reactor clarifiers)

FLOCCULATION DEVICES

horizontal shaft
paddle flocculators
FLOCCULATION DEVICES

baffled channel flocculators

FLOCCULATION DEVICES

Power is also required for the gentle agitation of the water during
flocculation.

Many mechanical agitators are paddle wheels

Flocculation process depends on the relative ease and rate by which
small flocs into large floc particles and on the total number of
particulate collisions during flocculation.

Degree of completion is dependent on the floc characteristics, the
velocity gradient, G

• If G is too great, shear forces will prevent the

formation of larger flocs.
• If G is insufficient, adequate inter-particulate
collisions will not occur and a proper floc will not
be formed
 Tapered FLOCCULATION
Flocculation basins are frequently designed to provide for
tapered flocculation in which the flow is subjected to
decreasing G values as it passes through the basin.
• Produces a rapid buildup of small, dense floc, which
subsequently aggregates at lower G values into larger,
dense, rapidly settling floc particles.
•Typical G values would be 50, 20, and 10 (mps/m or s-1).

Plan view of flow

around the ends
hydraulic flocculator

HYDRAULIC FLOCCULATION DESIGN

Baffled Channel Flocculators
• They are effective flocculation system, require little
maintenance
• Less short circuiting
• Geometry is adaptable to the site
• No mechanical device are involved

Disadvantages:
• inflexible mixing,
• large head loss across the basin and may not work if the
plant flowrate is not constant.
 HYDRAULIC FLOCCULATION DESIGN
• To produce large flocs,
• They should be tapered
• They could be “end around baffles” or “over and under” or
“helical flow basins”. The latter two have greater head loss
• v = 0.15-0.45 m/s (max. 0.7 m/s)
• G = 20 – 40s-1
• Detention time: 15 – 45 min
• 1m < Depth < 5m for stable flow patterns
• Minimum distance between baffles is 40 cm MWH
suggests > 75 cm

HYDRAULIC FLOCCULATION DESIGN

Flow over and under

HYDRAULIC FLOCCULATION DESIGN

Flow around the ends

HYDRAULIC FLOCCULATION DESIGN

Velocity gradient G: G=20 – 30 s-1

g ⋅ ρ ⋅ hT
G= hT: total head loss (m)
µ ⋅ td t: detention time (s)

hT = ∑ hstraight sec tions + ∑ hbends

hT = 0.25-1.8 m
 HYDRAULIC FLOCCULATION DESIGN
Straight sections:
Chezy Formula

h = CLv2R
2

H
L : length of mixing channel, m
R H : hydraulic radius, m
C : Chezy coefficien t, unitless
v : mean flow velocity, m/s
C = 8 ⋅ g = 1.49 R 1/6
f n H
where f is the pipe friction factor

n is Manning' s n (~ 0.0012 - 0.0014 concrete tanks)

HYDRAULIC FLOCCULATION DESIGN

Headloss in 180o turns:

v2
h turn = k
2⋅g
k = empirical constant
typically 2.5 to 4 (MWH suggests 3.3 to 3.5)
 Helical flow hydraulic
flocculators in Belleville,
Ontario

Plan view

Horizontal
Side view
Paddle
Flocculators
 Horizon Paddle Flocculators

• Number of stages (wheels) = 2 to 4

• Wheel rim diameter = 3 - 4m
• Number of arms per wheel: 2 to 4
• Number of slats (blades) per paddle
arm 2-5
• Width of slats 0.1 to 0.15m
• Length of slats 2 - 3.5m
• Rotational speed (N) = 1 to 5 rpm

MECHANICAL FLOCCULATION DESIGN

Paddle Flocculators

G= P
• Velocity gradient G:
∴ P = G2 ⋅ µ ⋅ V
µV
G=10 – 60 s-1
G varies depending on the coagulant used.
For lime, G is 1.15 to 1.75 times greater

• Power: P = 0.5ρCDν 3 A
ρ: density CD: coefficient of drag ~ 1.8
v: velocity A : paddle-blade area
MECHANICAL FLOCCULATION DESIGN
P = 0 .5 ⋅ ρ ⋅ C D ⋅ A ⋅ ν p 3
ρ: density CD: coefficient of drag = 1.8
vp: velocity of paddles relative to the liquid
A : paddle-blade area

MECHANICAL FLOCCULATION DESIGN

P = 0 .5 ⋅ ρ ⋅ C D ⋅ A ⋅ ν p 3

2 ⋅ π ⋅N⋅r ⋅k 
3
∴ P = 0.5 ⋅ ρ ⋅ C D ⋅ A ⋅ 
 60 
MECHANICAL FLOCCULATION DESIGN
2 ⋅ π ⋅N⋅r ⋅k 
3
P = 0 .5 ⋅ ρ ⋅ C D ⋅ A ⋅ 
 60 

2 ⋅ π
3
P = 0.5 ⋅  ⋅ k 3 ⋅ ρ ⋅ CD ⋅ A ⋅ [N ⋅ r ]3
 60 
P = 5.742 × 10 − 4 ⋅ k 3 ⋅ ρ ⋅ CD ⋅ A ⋅ [N ⋅ r ]3

Note: This is for a single paddle slat

Paddle length-width ratio CD

5 1.2
20 1.5
∞ 1.9

MECHANICAL FLOCCULATION DESIGN

Droste and others use an equivalent equation
which obtains area by integrating over r
Pi = (1435 (
. ∗10 − 4 ) ⋅ C D ⋅ ρ ⋅ b ⋅ N 3 ⋅ (1 − k ) 3 ⋅ rOUT
4
− rIN4 )
Pi = power input by paddle slat i
rOUT = paddle slat outer radius(m)
rIN = inner radius(m)
w = paddle slat width (m) = rOUT − rIN
b = paddle slat length (m)
C D = coefficient of drag ~ 18
. (depends on the b: w ratio)
N = rpm
1 − k = fluid velocity correction factor ~ 0.75
MECHANICAL FLOCCULATION DESIGN

Ptotal = (# arms / wheel ) ⋅ (# wheels ) ⋅ ∑ Pi

i=1

where " i" is the counter for the slats

Note:
1) that in tapered flocculation system there will be
different paddle configurations or rotational speed in
each section
2) The textbook (Davis) forgets to add the
contribution of each arm

Tapered Flocculation
• To help floc particles to grow in size we use tapered
flocculation.
• That is the basin is divided into 2, 3 or 4
compartments and the intensity of the mixing
decreases from the first compartment to the last
compartment.
• The G’s are calculated for every compartment
separately. The G’s will gradually decrease from the
first compartment (50-60 s-1) to the last compartment
10-25 s-1).
Tapered Flocculation
• The different value of G are achieved by using
different rotational speed of different paddle
configurations
• The G’s of the compartments are not additive.
• Normally if you want to just report the average value
of G, use the geometric average.

FLOCCULATION DEVICES
 Horizon Paddle Flocculators
Traditional type of paddle flocculators
• Total width should match downstream sedimentation basin
• td: 20 – 50 min
• Depth < 5m , generally ~ 4m
• Depth ~ (0.6 – 1m)+ paddle wheel
• Freeboard ~ 0.5 m
• Width of wheel segment ~ depth ~ 3 – 4 m
• Minimum clearance between outer paddle and wall >0.3 m,
generally 0.3 -0.5 m
• Need to incorporate diffuser walls. If not there will be
significant short circuiting

Horizon Paddle Flocculators

• Width of wheel segment ~ depth ~ 3 – 4 m
• Minimum clearance between outer paddle and wall >0.3 m,
generally 0.3 -0.5 m
• Spacing between
wheels on the same
shaft ~1m
• Spacing between
wheel rims ~1m
• Need to incorporate
diffuser walls
 Horizon Paddle Flocculators
• Wheel diameter = 3 - 4m
• Slat area 0.15-0.2 of cross-sectional area
• Number of arms per paddle: 2 to 4
• Number of slats per paddle arm 2-5
• Width of slats 0.1 to 0.15m
• Length of slats 2 - 3.5m

Horizon Paddle Flocculators

• N = 1 to 5 rpm
• Area of paddle 0.15 to 0.2 of tank area
• Horizontal flow velocities 0.5 to 1 ft/min (0.15-0.45 m/min)
• Peripheral paddle speed 0.2 to 3 ft/sec (0.009 to 0.9 m/s)
 Flocculation – Design (Ten State
Stds)

Basin Design - Inlet and outlet design shall minimize short-circuiting and
destruction of floc. Series compartments are recommended to further minimize
short-circuiting and to provide decreasing mixing energy with time. Basins shall
be designed so that individual basins may be isolated without disrupting plant
operation. A drain and/or pumps shall be provided to handle dewatering and
sludge removal.

Detention – The detention time for floc formation should be at least 30 minutes
with consideration to using tapered (i.e., diminishing velocity gradient)
flocculation. The flow-through velocity should be not less than 0.5 nor greater
than 1.5 feet per minute.

Equipment - Agitators shall be driven by variable speed drives with the peripheral
speed of paddles ranging from 0.5 to 3.0 feet per second. External, non-
submerged motors are preferred.

Piping - Flocculation and sedimentation basins shall be as close together as

possible. The velocity of flocculated water through pipes or conduits to settling
basins shall be not less than 0.5 nor greater than 1.5 feet per second. Allowances
must be made to minimize turbulence at bends and changes in direction.

Other designs - Baffling may be used to provide for flocculation in small plants
only after consultation with the reviewing authority. The design should be such
that the velocities and flows noted above will be maintained.

Vertical Shaft Paddle Flocculators

www.amwheel-inc.com

www.sharpengineering.co.in
Vertical Shaft Turbine Flocculators

www.napier-reid.com

AXIAL FLOW IMPELLERS

Mixed in flocculation prior to ballasted

sedimentation in Quebec City

Two stage flocculation prior to ballasted in ballasted

sedimentation in Renfrew, ON

Two stage flocculation before

flotation Smith Falls, ON
 Vertical Shaft Flocculators

Four stage flocculation for the development of

larger flocs for sedimentation

Vertical Shaft Paddle/Turbine Flocculators

• Currently more popular than horizontal shaft type.
• They need less maintenance because the bearings are not
submerged and the shafts are shorter.
• Taking one unit out of operation is much less disruptive
than with horizontal shaft flocculators
• Normally use a impeller or blades rather than a paddle
• Does not produce as large flocs as other devices
Vertical Shaft Paddle/Turbine Flocculators

Vertical Shaft Paddle/Turbine Flocculators

• Their design is based on the same equations as the rapid
mix tanks.

G = P ∴ P = G2 ⋅ µ ⋅ V
µV
P = K Tn3D5ρ

• KT =Np= Power number = obtained from the impeller

manufacturer
• n = 0.1 to 0.6 rev/s (8 to 35 rpm)
• Blade diameter to tank dimension (T) ratio (D/T) 0.25 to 0.4
• Blade area to tank area ratio 0.1 to 0.2 %
• Maximum tip speed 9 fps (2.7 m/s).
Vertical Shaft Paddle/Turbine Flocculators
Summary of design steps
1. Based on the downstream treatment choose the # of
compartments
2. Based on the maximum flow and td size the basin.
Calculate V. Select depth(H), L & W. Calculate T.
3. Based on the selected G (10-50 s-1), calculate P
P = G2 ⋅ µ ⋅ V
4. Select the impeller type (get KT from manufacturer)
5. Select the impeller diameter D (D/T should be 0.25 to
0.4)
n=3 P
6. Determine n (0.1 to 0.6 rev/s ) K T ⋅ D5 ⋅ ρ
7. Determine tip speed (Maximum tip speed 2.7 m/s).

Flocculator Comparisons (after Kawamura)

Flocculator Comparisons (after
Kawamura)

UPFLOW CLARIFIERS
• Comes in a number of slightly different configurations such
as reactor clarifiers, solids contact clarifiers, sludge blanket
clarifiers.
• Clarifiers is that the water with all its flocs has to travel
upwards through a thick sludge blanket layers, that has
many particles and flocs.
• This increases the number of contacts between flocs and
leads to the enhanced formation of larger flocs that are not
carried upward by the liquid.
• Thus the sludge blanket acts as a flocculator and pseudo-
filter of particles.
SOLIDS CONTACT CLARIFIERS
UPFLOW CLARIFIERS
REACTOR CLARIFIERS
SLUDGE BLANKET CLARIFIERS

UPFLOW CLARIFIERS
 UPFLOW CLARIFIERS
Degremont Pulsator.
They are used at the Hull sector
water treatment plant.

http://www.degremont-technologies.com/dgtech.php?article399

UPFLOW CLARIFIERS
dN
Flocculation efficiency described by = k ⋅ G ⋅ N0 ⋅ N
dt
where N = number of particles or particle concentration or
turbidity
N0 = initial number of particles or particle concentration
k = rate constant
t = time
G = mean velocity gradient
UPFLOW CLARIFIERS
Advantages
1. These proprietary units are economical and have
compact design
2. Sludge removal is easier than in horizontal flow settling
basins
3. High clarification efficiencies can be achieved due to the
seeding effect of the sludge and the low inlet velocities

Disadvantages
1. Exhibits problems with fluctuating flowrates and water
quality characteristics (such as turbidities, solid
concentrations and temperatures). Need more
operational control than conventional horizontal flow
clarifier. Because of this they are not recommended for
alum floc sedimentation.

UPFLOW CLARIFIERS
Design considerations for conventional water treatment
clarifiers
Total detention time 2 to 4 hours
Overflow rate (flowrate/plan area) 20 – 40 m3/m2/d
500 to 1000 gpd/ft2

Design considerations for Reactor clarifiers

Reactor/mixing chamber ~30 minutes detention time
Total detention time ~ 2 hours
COAGULATION AND FLOCCULATION
DEVICES

upflow clarifiers (reactor clarifiers)