Sedimentation Techniques in Decanters
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ScribdTranslationsSedimentation Techniques in Decanters
Translated by
ScribdTranslationsTP DECONTAMINATION AND
SEDIMENTATION
Introduction
In the industry, solid-liquid separation techniques are commonly used and
their study is therefore of paramount importance. The sedimentation of suspended solids
is a technique implemented, in general, to achieve one or more objectives
following:
produce a clear liquid
concentrate the solids into a sludge denser than originally,
to carry out a classification of particles.
Such operations are carried out industrially in a continuous manner in decanters and
thickening agents that concentrate the solids present in suspension, which are then drawn off in
foot of the device, by the underflow.
The selection of suitable sedimentation equipment depends on two factors:
the material size of the current to be processed (supply flow rate F and initial concentration in
solid C0from this one)
the sedimentation characteristics of the material to be processed (sedimentation speeds,
particle size distribution.
For almost a century, researchers have been striving to establish the relationships between
continuous and batch (discontinuous) operation, in order to base the calculation on tests
simple and easily interpretable such as the behavior of a suspension in a test tube.
I. Behavior of a suspension in a test tube
Figure 1 shows the collection of phenomena observed during a typical test of
laboratory when pouring a sufficiently concentrated suspension into a test tube
> 0.5% in volume.
At the start of a suspension of concentration
uniform in particles, noted (i), it appears at the top of
the test tube a layer of clear liquid (b) separated from the
suspension by an interface. Simultaneously, a formation occurs at
at the bottom of the test tube, a sediment deposit(a). Generally,
between zones (i) and (a), an area with a gradient of
concentration called the muddy phase that can be it-
even divided into two parts: an upper part
maintaining the appearance of the initial suspension (zone c) and
a lower area of intermediate appearance (zone d).
the separation surface between zones (d) and (a) remains
however, most often indistinguishable. It is the curve
describing the evolution over time of the position of
Figure 1 - Evolution of the appearance of a
the interface (b) and (c) which must allow to determine the
suspension in sedimentation in a
relationship between sedimentation rate and concentration in test tube
solids.
II. Sedimentation curves
The behavior of the suspension in sedimentation can be studied by plotting the
variation in the height of the interface separating the clear liquid from the suspension (b)/(c) in
function of the time elapsed since the beginning of the decantation (figure 2).
Figure 2: General appearance of a curve Figure 3: lg-lg and semi-lg representation
of sedimentation (Roberts) of a sedimentation curve
The curve presents four areas:
domain I: it corresponds to the initial duration of flocculation and is often nonexistent if the
flocculation is rapid;
domain II: it is the domain where the flakes begin to gather into clumps and the
the settling speed is constant;
Domain III: starting from point b, disruptive actions between the flakes intervene.
and the particles. This point is often poorly defined on the curve;
Domain IV: from point c, the isolated solid elements and flakes are in contact.
and form semi-rigid pseudonetworks. The liquid contained is evacuated through the
mass of sediments following the voids created by these pseudo-networks and as a result of
slips of mud layers. Domain IV is called the compression zone and the
point c is the starting point of compression.
Note that a lg-lg or semi-lg graphic representation (figure 3) allows for
determine quite clearly point c and sometimes point b.
III. Exploitation of the sedimentation curve
1. Local concentration - Sedimentation rate
In 1952, G.J. KYNCH developed an original method to calculate the speed of
sedimentation and local concentration at a level [Link] intersection(xiof the tangents to the
sedimentation curve with the y-axis allows us to deduce the local concentration
in solids (figure 3). The slope of these represents the sedimentation speed.
h(cm)
hI
Figure 3: Illustration of the KYNCH method
The expression of the sedimentation velocity Uiand of concentration, in this case, is written:
dh hi xI h0
U i(C) , Ci C0 (Eq. 1)
dt ti hi
2. SpeedViC) speed of movement of a concentration level (C)
The speedVi(C) speed of movement of a
constant concentration plan (C), in relation to
the test tube, possibly calculated from trials in
test tube, by plotting in the (h, t) diagram the
isoconcentration lines (figure 5). In the triangle
(ab0), the falling speeds are constant. Their
the equation is written, for Ca< C < Cb:
hi h0
V(C) (Eq.2)
tI
This speed V(<0), between (a) and (b), reflects the rise
à travers lasuspension à d’un niveau de concentration Figure 4: Sedimentation curve and
C. Thus at time t, the flow (or number) of particles isoconcentration lines (Kynch, 1952)
that cross this level and sediment at the speed
is equal to (V+U)*C.
In section bc, there is a gradual slowdown in the falling speed of the
deposit, and the isoconcentration lines in the triangle b0c passing through the origin. The equation
of speed Viis written:
hI
V(C
i I) (Eq.3)
ti
3. Particle flow that crosses a concentration level C
Kynch's theory analyzes the changes in concentration that occur
during the sedimentation of particles in a monodisperse suspension, and postulates that it
There is only one sedimentation speed (U) for each solid concentration (C).
The suspension is thus characterized, in the entire concentration area, by the simple
relationship between Uet C, which implies the existence of a flow curve for each
suspension, whose relationship is expressed by:
Gi U i Ci (Eq.4)
In a continuous decantation operation, the
flow curve allows determining a critical flow GL,
obtained by drawing the tangent to this curve from the
point Cs, concentration of the sludge in the underflow
(figure 6). If we establish a flow greater than GL, the solids
excess accumulate in the decanter, the interface
mud/suspension rises slowly until the moment when
the solids pass through the overflow (Concha, 1995). In
the opposite case, where the diet is very diluted,
The thickener works in clarifier. Figure 5: Sedimentation flow curve
IV. Sizing procedure for decanters intended for suspensions
concentrated
There are several empirical procedures to determine the surface area of a clarifier.
from the sedimentation curve obtained by decantation of a suspension in a
test tube of at least one liter capacity.
Figure 6: Sedimentation curve showing constructions
from Oltmann and Talmage and Fitch (Suttill, 1991)
Method of Talmage and Fitch
It is, after determining the point of compression c on the curve of
sedimentation, to lead the tangent to the curve at this point. The horizontal is drawn at the point
hBcorresponding to the desired sludge concentration CBWe determine t graphically.Bà
starting from the intersection of the horizontal line at ordinate hBand the tangent at the point of compression
c (figure 6), and the surface of the decanter is given by the relationship:
tB
S (Eq.5)
h0 C0
2. Oltmann's Method
We use the abscissayfrom the intersection point between the line of ordinate hBand the
line joining the point of ordinate h0from the curve and point c, called Oltmann's line
(figure10). It is written (Suttill, 1991):
tB
S (Eq.6)
h0 C0
3. Rich Method 1961
The surface area of the decanter required to achieve a concentration Cueast
Q tu
S (Eq7)
h0
Flow at the entrance
h0 the height of the decanter (the height of the column) set a priori
Cuoutput concentration
•tu is the abscissa of the point on the tangent (5) in c, having an ordinate Hu
• Huis the height corresponding to the concentration Cuobtained by:
Hu=H0C0/Cu.
C0concentration at the entrance
The line (5) is obtained by drawing the tangents (2) and (3) respectively in the
decantation and thickening phases. Then we determine point c,
the intersection with the curve of the bisector (4) of the triangle related to the lines (2) and (3).
Example
The piston settling curve below is obtained for a suspension whose
initial concentration in solids C0is 3600 mg/L. The initial height h0in the
The decantation column is 900 mm. The continuous flow to the unit is 380 m3/d.
Determine the area needed to obtain a thickened sludge of concentration.
C = 18,000 mg/L. Also determine the solid and hydraulic materials.
loading rate.
Hu =H0C0/Cu=900x3600/18000=180mm
figure tu41 min = 0.0285 day
Q tu380m3/j 0.0285j
S S 12 m2
h0 0.9m
V. Processing of results
Based on yesterday's data as a function of time, fill in the following table.
The The Height Concentration Speed of Flow of
Weather the interface solid in sedimentation sedimentation
t(min) (cm) suspension UI(m/s) (Kg/m2.s)
(Kg/m3)
Mathematics Trace the sedimentation curve representing the height in
function of time hI(t) as well as the log-log and semi-log curve and determine the points
a, b and c representing the limits of each zone?
The inputs to the program are the experimental data, the ListPlot function which
allows you to plot h as a function of t, the function ListeLogPlot that allows you to plot Log(h) as a function of
of t and finally ListLogLogPlot which allows plotting Log(h) as a function of Log(t)
You get by clicking Shift + Enter:
the coordinates of point a are:
(ta1min20s, ha=95)
the coordinates of point b are deduced
easily from the curve h=f(t) or
that of Log(h)=f(t):
(tb= 2min23s , hb=70)
The curve Log(h)=f(Log(t)) clearly shows
the coordinates of point c :
(tc12min08s , hb=48)
2. Using points a, b, and c, provide the interpretation of the representation of
How to identify and experimentally define sedimentation zones?
3. Calculate the concentrations of suspended solids as a function of time?
The concentration is therefore: Ci C0H i/h0 with C0 11.6 Kg/m. 3
4. Calculer la vitesse en fonction du temps et déduire la courbe du flux G en fonction de
the concentration
5. By applying the 3 sizing methods of a clarifier, determine t.
necessary to achieve a concentration CB= 58 Kg/m. 3