ENVE 411

Water Engineering Design

Design of
Coagulation & Flocculation Units

Fall 2012
07 Nov 2012
Assist. Prof. A. Evren Tugtas
Orhaniye WTP

2
 Mixing

 Mixing liquids is used to:

 Blending of two immiscible liquids (ethyl
alcohol/water)
 Dissolving solids in liquids
 Dispersing a gas in a liquid as fine bubbles
 Agitation of the fluid to increase heat transfer
 Mixing in water treatment is used to:
achieve coagulation
 achieve flocculation

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 Mixing

 Mixing can occur in following locations;

 Water intake (Pumps, pipes)
 Flash mix tanks
 Flocculation tanks
 Other

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 Mixing

 Three phenomena contribute to

mixing;
1) Molecular diffusion
Diffusion: Random motion of
molecules from high concentration
to low conentration
Molecular Diffusion: Moving molecules
self propelled by thermal energy,
not affected by concentration
(Brownian motion)
Ref:
http://webworld.unesco.org/water/ihp/db/glossary/glu/EN/GF0330EN.HTM
5
 Mixing
 Three phenomena contribute to mixing;
2) Eddy Current (Circular flow): Water flows opposite to the
original flow (whirlpools – function of a degree of
turbulance)

Ref:
http://ohiodnr.com/water/pubs/fs_st/stfs20/tabid/4
175/Default.aspx
Munson BR, Young DF, Okiishi TH. Fundamentals of
Fluid Mechanics. 1998.ISBN: 0-471-17024-0 6
 Mixing

3) Non-uniform flow: At any given time, velocity is

not same at every point of the flow.

Ref: http://en.engormix.com/MA-aquaculture/articles/aquafeed-
extrusion-t1669/p0.htm
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 Factors that affect mixing

 Number of particles
 Size of particles
 Mixing time
 Water temperature
 Chemical dosage

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 Mixing
 Power input per unit volume of liquid can be used as a
rough measure of mixing effectiveness.
 More input power creates more turbulence, and greater
turbulence leads to better mixing
 Power imparted to the water can also be measured by the
Velocity Gradient (Camp, 1955)

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Velocity Gradient (G) for mechanical or pneumatic
mixing

𝑃 Velocity gradient Ratio of relative velocity of two

𝐺= particles to the distance between the particles
𝜇𝑉

 Rate of particulate collision is proportional to G

 G must be sufficient enough to achieve desired rate of

collisions
P: Power imparted to the water (Nm/s OR W)
: Absolute viscosity of water (Ns/m2)
V: Basin volume (m3)
G: Velocity gradient (s-1)
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 Coagulation / Flocculation

 It is diffucult to separate colloids from water,

colloids
 do not settle by gravity
 are too small, they pass through the pores of most
common fitration media
 Natural organic matters, disinfection
byproducts, bacteria, cysts of protozoa, clay,
silt, mineral oxides may be classified as colloidal
particles.

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 Coagulation / Flocculation

 Coagulation and flocculation consist of adding a

floc-forming chemical reagent to a water or
wastewater.
 to enmesh or combine with non-settleable colloidal
solids and slow-settling suspended solids to produce a
rapid-settling floc.
 Floc is then removed by sedimentation

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 Coagulation & Flocculation

 Coagulation is the addition and rapid mixing of a

coagulant to achieve,
 destabilization of the colloidal and fine suspended solids
 initial aggregation of the destablized particles
 Flocculation is the slow stirring or gentle agitation to
 aggregate the destabilized particles
 form a rapid settling floc

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 Coagulation & Flocculation

Coagulation and
Flocculation

Water Treatment Wastewater

Treatment

Principle Coagulants Principal Coagulants

• Aluminum • Aluminum
• Iron salts • Iron salts
• Polyelectrolytes ( • Lime
anionic, cationic, • Polyelectrolytes
nonionic)

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 Colloidal Characteristics
Electrostatic forces

 Colloidal particles have electrostatic forces. Electrostatic

forces maintain the dispersion of the colloid.
 Ionization of surface groups and adsorption of ions from
the surrounding solution cause electrical charge on the
surface of a colloid.
 Also colloidal minerals such as clays, have an electrostatic
charge due to ion deficit within the mineral lattice.
http://dl.clackamas.cc.or.us/ch
105-03/similar.htm

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 Coagulants

Principle use of coagulants is to;

 destablize particle suspensions

 increase the rate of floc formation

Ref;
http://www.oasisenviro.co.uk/coagulant_chemic
al_treatment.htm
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 Characteristics of Coagulants

Inorganic coagulants used in water treatment should

exhibit following characteristics;
 They are non-toxic at the dosage they are
supplied
 They have high charge density
 They are insoluble at neutral pH

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 Coagulants

Most commonly used coagulants are

 Aluminum sulfate (Alum) – Al2(SO4)3.xH2O

 Iron salts

Hydrolyzing metal salts

(HMS) Coagulants

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Ref: Davis M.L. Water and Wastewater Treatment: Design
Principles and Practice. 2010. McGrawHill
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 Hydrolyzing Metal Salt (HMS) Coagulants

 Most water treatment plants using alum operate at;

 pH 0f 6-7.5
 Alum dossage of 5-50 mg/L

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 Coagulant Aids

 Coagulant aids are sometimes used to produce

quick-forming, dense, rapid-settling flocs.
 Coagulant aids are;
 Alkalinity addition
 Polyelectrolytes
 Turbidity addition
 Adjustment of pH

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 Rapid Mixing - Coagulation

G, s-1 Detention Reference

Time
700-1000 2 min Peavy
600-1000 15-30 sec AWWA

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 Slow Mixing - Flocculation

 Dimensionless Gt number is used to determine

mixing efficiency.

 Gt  104 -105
 t 10 to 30 min

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 Mixers
1) Hydraulic mixing devices
a) Venturi sections, Orifices
b) Hydraulic jumps
c) Parshall flume
d) Weirs
e) Baffled mixing devices
f) Static mixers
2) Mechanical mixing devices
a) Propeller mixer
b) Turbine mixer
c) Paddle mixer
3) Pneumatic mixers
a) Air diffusers
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 Coagulation

Coagulation unit is used to achieve:

 Complete mixing of the coagulant and water

 Destabilization of colloidal particles and

 Early stages of floc formation

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 Coagulation
Mixing is achieved by:
 Hydraulic mixing

devices
𝑃 = 𝛾𝑄ℎ𝐿 = 𝜌𝑔𝑄∆ℎ𝐿
𝑉22
 Mechanical mixing units ℎ𝐿 = 𝐶𝐷
2𝑔

Ref:
http://www.fao.org/docrep/R4082E/r4082e06.
htm

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 Coagulation
 Coagulation units may be
single or double
compartment
 Single compartment basins
are usually circular or square
 Liquid depth: 1-1.25 times
the basin diameter or basin
width
 Vortexing can be minimized
by baffles (10% of tank
diameter) •Metcalf & Eddy, Inc. (2003). Wastewater Engineering-
Treatment and Reuse, 4th ed., McGraw-Hill, New York, NY.
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 Mechanical Mixers
Turbine or Propeller Mixers Vortexing
 Vortexing may occur: Liquid to be mixed may rotate with
the impeller
 Vortexing causes the difference between the impeller
velocity and water velocity to decrease, which decreases
effectivenes of mixing

Ref:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/esaruoho/favorites/?view=lg
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 Mechanical Mixers
Turbine or Propeller Mixers Vortexing

To eliminate vortexing:
 Four baffles can be placed vertically at the tank

wall. Each baffle width = 10% - 12% of the tank

diameter
𝐵𝑎𝑓𝑓𝑙𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑑𝑡ℎ = 1/10 𝑊𝐿

𝐵𝑎𝑓𝑓𝑙𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑑𝑡ℎ = 1/10𝐷

L
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 Mechanical Mixers
Turbine or Propeller Mixers Vortexing
 To prevent vortexing in small tanks
 Impeller should be mounted off-center
 Impeller can be mounted at an angle

 Impeller can be mounted to the side of basins at angle

Turbine or propeller mixers are usually constructed with a vertical

shaft driven by a speed reducer and electric motor
Types of impellers:
1. Radial flow impellers
Generally have flat or curved blades located parallel to the axis of
shaft
2. Axial flow impellers
3. Make an angle of less than 90o with drive shaft
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 Mechanical Mixers
Turbine or Propeller Mixers Power Requirement
 Laminar Flow; Power imparted
𝑃 = 𝐾𝐿 𝜇𝑛2 𝐷𝑖3 by baffled or
unbaffled tank

Power imparted
 Turbulent Flow; 𝑃= 𝐾𝑇 𝜌𝑛3 𝐷𝑖5 by baffled tank
P=Power requirement (Nm/s)
KL=Impeller constant for laminar flow
KT=Impeller constant for turbulent flow
n=rotational speed (rps) 𝐷𝑖2 𝑛𝜌
𝑅𝑒 =
Di=Impeller diameter (m) 𝜇
=density of the liquid (kg/m3)
=Specific weight of the liquid (N/m3)
=dynamic viscosity (Ns/m2)
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 Mechanical Mixers
Turbine or Propeller Mixers Power Requirement
In laminar flow  power imparted is independent of the
presence of baffles
In turbulent flow 
Power imparted in = 1/6 of the power imparted in the
an unbaffled tank same tank with baffles

Power imparted in = 75% of the power imparted in a

an unbaffled square baffled square or a baffled circular
tank tank

Power in a baffled = Power in a baffled vertical circular

vertical square tank tank having D=width of square tank
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 Flocculation

 Destabilized colloids may still settle very slowly

 Flocculation is a slow mixing process to bring the
desabilized particles in contact to promote their
agglomeration.

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 Flocculation

 Degree of flocculation depends on

 Floc characteristics
 Velocity gradient
 GT value (dimensionless parameter)
 Magnitute of Gt is related to total number of
collisions
 High Gt value  large number of collisions

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 Flocculation

 If G is too great;
 Shear forces will prevent the formation of a large floc
 If G is too insufficient;
 Adequate interparticular collisions will not occur
 Proper floc will not form
 If the water is difficult to coagulate, floc will be
fragile and a final G < 5mps/m may be required.
 If the water coagulates easily, final G as high as 10
mps/m can be used
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 Flocculation
 Mixing in an individual flocculator basin 
hydraulic flow regime approaching complete mix
condition.
 Plug-flow conditions are desirable to minimize
short-circuiting of the flow
 Short circuiting a portion of the incoming flow
traverses the chamber in a much shorter time than
the nominal detention period nominal detention
period

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 Flocculation
 Flocculation units are usually designed to provide for
taperred flocculation
 In tappered flocculation flow is subjected to decreasing G
values as it passes through the flocculation basin
 Taperred flow;
 promotes plug flow through the system (ensure that all particles
are exposed to mixing for a significant amount of the total
detention time
 allows the G value to be decreased from one compartment to next
as the average floc size increases.

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 Taperred Flocculation
 Rapid build up of small dense floc, which subsequently
aggregates at lower G values into larger , dense, rapid settling
floc particles.
 High G provided during the first third of the flocculation
period
 Lower G value during the next third
 Much lower G value during the last third

Ref:
http://water.me.vccs.edu/math/flocculatio
n_math2.html
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 Tappered Flocculation

 Typical Series of G values

 50, 20, 10 mps/s
 Optimum flocculation requires tappered
flocculation
 Power input can be changed using variable speed
motors.
 Compartments of a flocculation unit is often
separated by baffles

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•American Water Works
Association. Water Treatment
Plant Design. 4th ed. McGraw
Hill, 2005

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 Paddle Mixers
 Paddle mixers consists of series of appropriately spaced paddles
mounted on either a horizontal or vertical shaft
 Generally rotate slowly
 Paddles are commonly used as flocculation devices

•Ref: http://www.myersequipment.com/jms_gallery_hpwf_12.html
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Vertical Paddle Wheel Flocculators

Look at this web

site:
http://myersequipm
ent.com/jms_floccul
ators.html
Ref: http://myersequipment.com/jms_flocculators.html
42
Vertical Paddle Flocculator
Horizontal Paddle Wheel Flocculators

Look at this web

site:
http://myersequipm
ent.com/jms_floccul
ators.html
Ref: http://myersequipment.com/jms_flocculators.html

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HorizontalPaddle Flocculator
 Cross Flow Pattern
 In cross flow pattern, blades are perpendicular to flow.
 Taperred flocculation can be achieved by varying
 the paddle size
 the number of paddles
 diameter of the paddle wheels on the various horizontal shafts
 the rotational speed of the various horizontal shafts

Ref: Reynolds, T. D., and P. A.

Richards. Unit Operations and
Processes in Environmental
Engineering. 2nd ed. Boston, MA:
PWS Publishing Company, 1996.

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 Axial Flow Pattern

 Blades are parallel to the flow

 Taperred flocculation may be achieved by varying
 the paddle size
 number of paddles on each paddle wheel

Ref: Reynolds, T. D., and P. A.

Richards. Unit Operations and
Processes in Environmental
Engineering. 2nd ed. Boston, MA:
PWS Publishing Company, 1996.

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 Paddle Mixers

 The diameter of a paddle impeller is usually 50-80%

of the tank diameter or width
 Width of a paddle is usually 1/6 to 1/10 of the
diameter
 Paddles are mounted ½ of a paddle diameter above
the tank bottom
 The paddle speeds range from 20 to 150 rpm
 Paddles do not produce turbulance

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 Power imparted to water by a paddle impeller

𝐶𝐷 𝐴𝜌𝑉𝑝2
𝐹𝐷 =
2

FD=Drag force (N)

CD=Coefficient of drag of paddle moving perpendicular to fluid
A=Cross sectional area of paddles (m2)
=density (kg/m3)
Vp=Relative velocity of paddles with respect to the fluid (m/s),
usually assumed to be 0.6 t o0.75 times the paddle tip speed
P=Power requirement (W)

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Paddle Flocculator
 Paddle Flocculator
 3.) P, power
 t = V/Q = 51,780.9ft3/12x106gpd x x 1440 minutes/day
 t = 46.48 minutes
 Gt = 25s-1 x 46.48 minutes x 60s/minute
 Gt = 69,720 between 50,000-100,000  OK


 velocity of the water,v = 75% of the maximum peripheral velocity

 The distance traveled is D or 2r per revolution, rev/s x D/rev = D/sec
 v = .75 x 2r x R(revolutions per second)
 v1(first compartment) = .75 x 2(5.25’) x R
 v1(first compartment) = 24.74R
 v2(second compartment) = .75 x 2(3.75) x R
 v2(second compartment) = 17.67R
 v3(third compartment) = .75 x 2(2.25’) x R
 v3(third compartment) = 10.60R

 Paddle Flocculator
P=.97CDAv3 =.97CDA1v13 +.97CDA2v23 + .97CDA3v33 = .97CDA(v13 + v23 + v33),
A1=A2=A3
P = .97(1.50)(.5’x10’board dim.)(2 boards,1up,1down)[24.743+17.673+10.613]R3
P=317,976R3

first compartment
P=VG2 = = 2.73x10-5 lb.s/ft2 x 51,780.9 ft3 /3(3 compartments)x 452
P=950.7 ft.lb/s x 1hp/550ft.lb/s
P1=1.73hp
950.7 ft.lb/s / 7wheels = 317,976R3
R = .075 rps
RPM(max) = .075 rps x 60s/min
RPM(max) = 4.50rpm
RPM(min @ 1:4 turndown) = 4.50rpm/4
RPM(min @ 1:4 turndown) = 1.13rpm
 Paddle Flocculator
Peripheral speed of outside blade
v = circumference x RPM
v1 (actual v as opposed to 75%) = R x 2r
v1 = .075 x 2(5.25)
v1 = 2.47fps

second compartment
P=VG2 = = 2.73x10-5 lb.s/ft2 x 51,780.9 ft3 /3(3 compartments)x 202
P=187.8 ft.lb/s x 1hp/550ft.lb/s
P2=.34hp
187.8 ft.lb/s / 7wheels = 317,976R3
R = .044 rps
RPM(max) = .044 rps x 60s/min
RPM(max) = 2.64rpm
RPM(min @ 1:4 turndown) = 2.64rpm/4
RPM(min @ 1:4 turndown) = .66rpm

 Paddle Flocculator

third compartment
P=VG2 = = 2.73x10-5 lb.s/ft2 x 51,780.9 ft3 /3(3 compartments)x 102
P=46.95 ft.lb/s x 1hp/550ft.lb/s
P3=.085 hp
46.95 ft.lb/s / 7wheels = 317,976R3
R = .0276 rps
RPM(max) = .0276 rps x 60s/min
RPM(max) = 1.66 rpm
RPM(min @ 1:4 turndown) = 1.66 rpm/4
RPM(min @ 1:4 turndown) = .42 rpm
Baffled Chanelled Flocculators

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 Baffled Chanelled Flocculators

 Baffled channel flocculators operate under plug-

flow conditions
 Short-circuiting is prevented by the use of baffled
passages
 Baffled structures cause headlosses. Therefore,
baffled flocculators should be used for large
treatment plants with flow rates higher than
10000m3/d.

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 Velocity Gradient (G) for baffle basin

𝛾ℎ𝐿
𝐺=
𝜇𝑇

: specific weight of water (kgm2/s2 OR kN/m3 )

: Absolute viscosity of water (Ns/m2)
hL: head loss (m)
T: detention time (s)
G: Velocity gradient (s-1)
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 Flocculation in different Structures

 Pipe flocculation
 Laminar
 Turbulent
 Baffle
 Filters
 Paddle Flocculators
 Floc Blanket Tanks

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Flocculation in different Structures

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Velocity should be greater than 0.3 m/s
Increase baffle numberarea decreases velocity increases
Decrease opening area by lowering the baffle  velocity
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increases
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Orhaniye WTP - Design

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 Perforated walls
 Port velocity  0.2-0.3
m/s
 Holes
 0.1-0.2 m in diameter
 0.25-0.6 m apart
 Lowest port should be
0.6 m above the basin
floor

Ref:http://ocw.tudelft.nl/courses/waterman
agement/drinking-water-
treatment1/lectures/lectures/
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