Sedimentation: Engr. Nadeem Karim Bhatti

Sedimentation
Engr. Nadeem karim Bhatti

sedimentation
Sedimentation for the water treatment
process is the process during which water
has little or no movement and suspended
solids sink to the bottom under the force
of gravity and form a sediment. This
process is called sedimentation .
:-
Sedimentation
Basically there are three types of sedimentation processes, namely

Plain sedimentation
plain sedimentation is the process of letting
the suspended solids and other impurities
in the raw water settle to the bottom of the
sedimentation tank by gravity alone. No
chemicals are added to the water
Sedimentation using contact solid
clarifier
chemical are mixed in the primary mixing
and reaction zone by the swirling action
of water created by vanes attached to
revolving rotor-impeller and the settling
of solids occur at the bottom of the
clarifier.
Chemically assisted sedimentation or
clarification-
This is a process in which chemicals are

added to raw water and through thorough
mixing, the suspended solids and other
impurities or coagulates to form floc
which settle to the bottom of the
sedimentation.
In general, the most often used process is
chemically assisted horizontal flow sedimentation
and the following explanations are based on the
process.
Water generally flows through a tank as an
irregular flow. Thus the intention of sedimentation
is to create conditions in which the flow is as
uniform as possible for a long enough period to
permit the maximum practicable amount of floc to
be settled before the water reaches the outlet end
of the tank. The following are the parameters
which influence sedimentation:-
I. Size, shape and weight of the particles
II. Viscosity and temperature of the water
III. Detention period of the tanks
IV. Effective depth of the tanks
V. Their areas
VI. Surface overflow rate
VII. Velocity of flow & Inlet and outlet
design
Detention period
The detention period (t) of a settling tank may
be defined as the average theoretical time
required for the water to flow through the tank
length. In other words , it is average time for
which the water is detained in the tank.
T=V/Q =L*B*D =D
 A*V V
Where T = detention period in hours
V or C = capacity or volume of tank
Q = discharge or rate of flow per hour
Surface overflow rate
The quantity of water of passing per hour per unit area of

settling tank is known as surface overflow rate and the
design of settling tank is made on the basis of overflow
rate.
Therefore, D = LDB and v0= Q
v0 Q LB
 or v0= Q
AS

Settling Basins
Overflow rates are used for design: Vo
Flow Rate (m3 / s)

OverflowRate 
settling surface area (m2 )
length
width
settling surface area = length x width
flow flow
Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short

Course
Sedimentation Basin:
Importance of Tank Surface Area
H HQ Q Q Vh H
Vc = = = =
q " LW As
Vc
L
Thus, the depth of the basin is not a factor in
determining the size particle that can be
removed completely in the settling zone. The
determining factor is the quantity Q/A s, which
has the units of velocity and is referred to as
the overflow rate q0. This overflow rate is the
design factor for settling basins and
corresponds to the terminal setting velocity of
the particle that is 100% removed.
Sedimentation Basin:
Critical Path
Horizontal velocity
Outlet zone
Vh
Inlet zone
Q = flow rate
Q Vt
H
Vh 
A = WH Sludge zone
A
Vertical velocity
d g  p  w 
2 L
Sludge out
Vt 
18 (property of the particle)
Vc  terminal velocity that just barely gets captured (property of the tank)
Types of Settling Tanks
Sedimentation tanks may function either

intermittently or continuously. The intermittent tanks
also called quiescent type tanks are those which store
water for a certain period and keep it in complete rest.
In a continuous flow type tank, the flow velocity is
only reduced and the water is not brought to complete
rest as is done in an intermittent type.
Settling basins may be either long rectangular or
circular in plan. Long narrow rectangular tanks with
horizontal flow are generally preferred to the circular
tanks with radial or spiral flow.
Rectangular basins
Rectangular basins are the simplest design,
allowing water to flow horizontally through a
long tank. This type of basin is usually found in
large-scale water treatment plants. Rectangular
basins have a variety of advantages -
predictability, cost-effectiveness, and low
maintenance. In addition, rectangular basins are
the least likely to short-circuit, especially if the
length is at least twice the width. A disadvantage
of rectangular basins is the large amount of land
area required.
Settling (Sedimentation)
Double-deck rectangular basins
Double-deck rectangular basins are
essentially two rectangular sedimentation
basins stacked one atop the other. This
type of basin conserves land area, but has
higher operation and maintenance costs
than a one-level rectangular basin.
circular sedimentation basins with
horizontal flow are often known
as clarifiers
Circular Basin Rectangular Basin
Design Details
Detention period: for plain sedimentation: 4 to 8 h, and for

coagulated sedimentation: 3 to 4 h.
Velocity of flow: Not greater than 30 cm/min (horizontal
flow).
Tank dimensions: L:B = 3 to 5:1. Generally L= 30 m
(common) maximum 100 m. Breadth= 6 m to 10 m. Circular:
Diameter not greater than 60 m. generally 20 to 40 m.
Depth 3.5 to 6.0 m .
Surface Overflow Rate: For plain sedimentation 12000 to
18000 L/d/m2 tank area; for thoroughly flocculated water
24000 to 30000 L/d/m2 tank area.
Slopes: Rectangular 1% towards inlet and circular 8%.

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Sedimentation

Engr. Nadeem karim Bhatti

This is a process in which chemicals are

The quantity of water of passing per hour per unit area of

Flow Rate (m3 / s)

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Short

Sedimentation tanks may function either

Detention period: for plain sedimentation: 4 to 8 h, and for

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