Environment

A pilot study for the application of one- and two-stage tube settlers as a
secondary clarifier for wastewater treatment
A. Faraji1, G. Asadollafardi2,*, A. Shevidi3
Received: June 2012, Revised: April 2013, Accepted:August 2013

Abstract

Secondary clarifiers with large areas are widely applied in wastewater treatment plants. A pilot study was conducted to
examine the possibility of applying one and two-stage inclined tube settlers instead of conventional secondary clarifiers. Tube
diameter in the first stage of the two-stage settler was wide as the conventional ones, but in the second stage, it was narrow to
improve the efficiency. The results indicated that in short detention times, the tube settler was more effective in shorter
detention time than the conventional secondary sedimentation basin, and its effluent of TSS and turbidity was acceptable to
discharge into the surface waters. The average removal of TSS, BOD5, and COD, in a 20-minute detention time in the tubes, in
the one-stage tube settler pilot plants was 97.6%, 96.4%, and 96.36%, respectively, while in the conventional secondary
sedimentation basin was 98.2%, 99%, and 98.6%, respectively. There was a good agreement between theoretical analyses and
experimental results of the pilot plant. Two-stage tube settlers in the series could improve hydraulic condition and removal
efficiency of TSS, in comparison with the one-stage tube settler. The average TSS removal, in shorter detention times than that
the one-stage, was 97.8%.

Keywords: Wastewater treatment, Sedimentation, Tube settlers, Solids and turbidity removal, Two-stage tube settler.

1. Introduction maximum particle settling distance, and removal

efficiency is independent of the depth and hydraulic
The activated sludge technique is one of the most detention time [1,2]. Feri (1941) found an increase of TSS
commonly used processes in municipal wastewater removal efficiency from 41 to 61 percent with three
treatment plants, and a secondary sedimentation basin is horizontal plates in primary sedimentation in the
one of the main units of this process. Most of the clarifiers wastewater treatment process [3].
and wastewater treatment plants are designed according to Fischerstorm (1955) concluded from experimental
the average daily flow, and they represent a low-cost work that the Reynolds number was another important
system for wastewater treatment, but they need large areas variable for shallow depth sedimentation, and when
and are not able to remove all small particles. Whenever laminar flow conditions were maintained, good
wastewater treatment plants receive high amounts of inlet performance levels could be achieved[ 4]. Tube settling is
flow, conventional sedimentation basins are facing a process that has received more attention because of high-
overloading problems which results in poor performance. rate gravity sedimentation [5]. Jimenez and Ramos (1997)
Besides, achieving more stringent effluent quality showed that the use of flocculants such as alum can help to
standards, forces designers to examine more efficient achieve better solid removal efficiency even in peak flow
methods for removing solids from wastewaters. rates in wastewater treatment[ 6] . Saleh and Hamoda
In 1904, Hazen presented that the efficiency of a (1999) stated that high-rate settlers, which show much
settling basin depends primarily on overflow rate and better performance than conventional settlers, have a good
potential for upgrading of the sedimentation basins,
especially during the peak flows[7]. Sarkar et al. (2007)
* Corresponding author: asadollahfardi@yahoo.com showed that the angle of inclination of 45 degrees for co-
1 Graduate Student, Environmental Engineering Civil current systems is optimal [8]. Some researchers have
Engineering Faculty, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran shown that the tube settlers improve the performance of
2 Associate Professor, Civil Engineering Faculty, Kharazmi secondary sedimentation in activated sludge processes
University, Tehran, Iran [3,5,6,7].
3 Lecturer, Water and Environmental Engineering Department, Shevidi et al. (2011) introduced a new arrangement of
Abbaspour University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
tube settlers in series. They used a two-stage tube settler
PhD student, Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran,
Tehran, Iran for the removal of turbidity from water. In their design,

272 A. Faraji, G. Asadollafardi, A. Shevidi

tube diameter of the first stage was wide as the The following equations apply for inclined plate settler
conventional tube settlers; while in the second stage, tube design [11]. Figure 2 shows a schematic of inclined pipes.
diameter was narrow to improve the efficiency. They The Reynolds number is specified by Eq. (2):
showed that the two-stage tube settler was more efficient
than the single-stage one[9]. V d
Although several attempts have been made to use high R o H (2)
rate settlers as the secondary clarifiers, it seemed that the 
efficiency of a two-stage tube settler for the clarifying of
secondary treated wastewater had not been investigated.
Therefore, a study was aimed to disclose the efficiency of
the two-stage tube settling for the removal of the
suspended solids from mixed liquor.

1.1. Theory of Sedimentation Basins

Camp (1946) described the theory of settling pattern of

discrete particles in an ideal rectangular basin as straight
Fig. 2 Schematic of inclined tubes.
lines where all particles with similar settling velocities
move in parallel paths. Figure 1 shows the settling pattern
Where R, Vo, dH and υ are the Reynolds number,
which is identical for all longitudinal sections. All particles
average flow velocity (m/s), hydraulic diameter of the
having settling velocities, Vs, greater than Vc (critical
channel (m), and kinematic viscosity of water (m2/s),
velocity of settling particles) will fall through the entire
respectively.
depth, h0, and be removed. The portion of particles with
settling velocities Vs <Vc, which will be removed, is equal Where the hydraulic diameter of the channel is
to the ratio of the velocities, Vs/Vc. Figure 1 shows that the given by Eq. (3):
particles with Vs <Vc could be removed completely if a
horizontal tray is inserted at the height of h. Without such A
trays, a basin with a length much greater than L0 would be dH  4 (3)
required to capture these particles [10]. P

Where A and P are sectional area (m2) and wetted

perimeter of the channel (m), respectively.
The average flow velocity is given by Eq. (4):

Q Q
Vo  
NA d 2 (4)
N
4

Where N and d are the number of tubes and the

diameter of tubes (m), respectively.
Fig. 1 Ideal settling paths of discrete practices in a horizontal The surface loading rate of high rate settlers is given by
flow basin Eq. (5):

As shown in Figure 1, as the interval h is reduced, the Q

required size of a basin to remove a given percentage of SLR  (5)
AE
the incoming settleable material is decreased. Critical
velocity of settling particle is given by Eq. (1):
Where AE is the effective surface area (m2) which is
h ho Q Q given by:
Vc  SLR  o   (1)
t ho A A
AE  Ld cos (6)
Where Q, A, Vc, t, SLR and ho are flow rate (m3/s),
horizontal area of the basin (m2), critical settling velocity Where, L and θ are the length of tubes (m) and the
(m/s), detention time (s), surface loading rate (m/s), and angle of tubes relative to horizontal (degree), respectively.
height of the basin (m), respectively. According to American Water Work Association
Theory of sedimentation basin and the ratio of Q/A [11,12], the Reynolds number should be remained below
show that the efficiency of a sedimentation basin depends 800 to ensure laminar flow and optimal particle settling.
on surface loading rate (SLR), and as effective surface area Some other researchers, such as Feri (1941) [3], Yao
is increased, the SLR is decreasing. (1970) [13], Tebbutt (1979) [14], Mendis and Benedek

International Journal of Civil Engineering, Vol. 11, No. 4, Transaction A: Civil Engineering, December 2013 273
(1980) [5], Oswald and Nurdogan (1996) [15], Jimenez tube settlers. The samples were collected in different
and Ramos (1997) [6], Saleh and Hamoda (1999) [7], operation periods. The effluent samples from the first and
Sarkar et al. (2007) [8], Navarro et al. (2008) [16], Jardin second stage were analyzed according to the procedures
et al. (2008) [17], and Silva et al. (2009) [18], showed outlined in "Standard Methods for the Examination of
advantages of the high-rate sedimentation in their works. Water and Wastewater" [19] to determine the following
parameters: MLSS of the aeration basin. For monitoring of
2. Materials and Methods turbidity and TSS of the wastewater of the pilot plant a
standard turbidimeter (HACH-2100P) and
2.1. Pilot Plants spectrophotometer (HACH DR-5000) were applied, and
subsequently the results were compared with the
One - and two-stage tube settler pilot plants were consequence of the EWTP’s secondary sedimentation
utilized concurrently. The main body of the settlers was basin effluent (number 2), simultaneously.
made of a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) with 20 cm in First of all, the possibility of the sedimentation in the
diameter and an angle of 45 degrees related to horizontal. two–stage tube settler was investigated by the using of the
The pilot plants were installed at the Ekbatan wastewater theoretical equations. The value of the average flow
treatment plant (EWTP), close to the aeration basin velocity (Eq. (4)) and the Reynolds number (Eq. (2)) were
number 2. The tubes diameter in the two-stage tube settler calculated for the first and second stage of the pilot plants
had an inner diameter of 5 and 1.2 centimeters in the first in the different detention times [11,20].
and second stages, respectively. Tube length was 60 cm in
both stages. A submersible pump was used to deliver the 2.2. Study Site
effluent from the activated sludge aeration basin to the
pilot plants. The effluent of the pilot plants and the settled The EWTP which is located in the west of the capital
sludge were returned to the inlet of the aeration basin. The of Iran, Tehran, is a 600 m3/h conventional activated
sketch of the experimental set-up is shown in Figure 3. sludge treatment plant with the A2O system. The EWTP
The samples were taken at the inlet and outlet of each has two aeration basins (15 hour detention times, 8930 m3
stage separately. volumes) and two circular secondary sedimentation basins
(36.6 diameters, 6-8 hour detention times). In design flow,
surface loading is 0.57 m/h and weir loading rate is 5.22
m3/m.h.

3. Results and Discussions

3.1. Evaluation of the Reynolds Number

Figure 4 shows the results of the calculation of the

Reynolds number [9]. As shown in this Figure, the two
stages are in laminar flow limit, because the Reynolds
Fig. 3 Experimental set-up of the two-stage tube settler. (1) number was less than 800.
Aeration basin, (2) Manual value to control feed to inclined tube In spite of the increases in the amounts of average flow
settlers, (3) first stage, (4) second stage, (5) Value to remove velocity in the second stage, the amount of the Reynolds
settled sludge, 6) return sludge line into aeration basin
number was decreased because of a reduction in diameter
of tubes in this stage [9].
The pilot plants were operated at different flow rates to
determine the effect of various hydraulic residence time
(HRT) and the SLR on the performance of the inclined

250 First Stage of Tube 
Settler
Reynolds Number

200
Second Stage Of Tube 
150 Settler
100
50
0
0 10 20 30 40 50
Hydraulic Residence Time in Tubes, (min)

Fig. 4 The relationship between the Reynolds number and hydraulic residence time, kinematic viscosity of water is 0.864×106 m2/s at 27°C [9]

274 A. Faraji, G. Asadollafardi, A. Shevidi

 3.2. Evaluation of the SLR the first stage. As shown in Figure 5, the largest difference
between the first and second stage occurred in short HRT.
Sedimentation basins are normally designed on the Because HRT of tube settler basins commonly is short, the
basis of the SLR called "surface loading rate" which is second stage can help to capture small particles; therefore,
expressed as cubic meter per square meter of surface area the two-stage tube settler is expected to be more efficient
per day (m3/m2/d) [21]. Figure 5 shows that while the HRT than the one-stage in short HRT.
is increased, the SLR is declined. The amount of surface
loading of the second stage tube settler is less than that of

1.2
1
Surface Loding Rate

First Stage of Tube 
(m3/m2.hr)

0.8 Settler
Second Stage of Tube 
0.6
Settler
0.4
0.2
0
0 10 20 30 40 50

Hydraulic Residence Time in Tubes, (min)
Fig. 5 The relationship between surface loading rate and hydraulic residence time

diameter of the tubes and the improvement of hydraulic

3.3. Pilot Plants Operation conditions in the second stage of the tube settler, which
offset the increase of the average flow velocity. In fact, the
The pilot plants were operated at different flow rates to presented results in Tables 1 to 5 of the pilot plants
determine the effects of various of the HRT and the SLR confirm the analytic formulations.
on the performance of the inclined tube settlers. The The maximum removal percent of the second stage
results of HRT at 5, 10, 15, 20, and 40 minutes are shown belonged to HRT of 5 minutes in the tubes, and it was
in Tables 1 to 5, respectively. 43.4%. This result may show the advantage of the two-
As shown in the Tables, despite the increases in the stage tube settler in comparison with the one-stage at the
amount of average flow velocity in the second stage, the short detention times (Table 1).
effluent turbidity and removal efficiencies of TSS in the
two-stage unit, in all cases, is less than those of the one-
stage unit. This may be caused by a reduction in the

Table 1 The performance results of inclined tube settlers in the hydraulic residence time of 5 min in the tubes.
of BOD5

Percentage of BOD5

sedimentation basin
removal of the one-

removal of the one-

Percentage of COD
the two-stage unit
the one-stage unit

stage unit

COD removal of
TSS removal of

TSS removal of

TSS removal of

turbidity of the

turbidity of the

turbidity of the

removal of the
two-stage unit
one-stage unit
belongs to the

sedimentation

sedimentation

sedimentation
Percentage of

Percentage of

of
TSS removal

basin (NTU)
effluent
the Ekbatan

the Ekbatan
stage unit

stage unit
Percentage

Ekbatan

Ekbatan
The(NTU)

(NTU)
MLSS
mg/l

b i

b i
Percentage
second

1260 96 48.6 97.9 96.9 --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
880 94.9 50 97.4 95.6 --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
1580 97 36.2 98.1 97.5 --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
660 93.8 22 95.2 98.5 --- --- --- 87.9 94 --- ---
1260 95.9 44.3 97.7 99.4 44 19 5 81.7 87 99.3 99.5
1060 96.4 52.6 98.3 99.6 28 9 4 92.9 93.3 98.6 97.7
1100 95.1 42.4 97.2 99.1 40.5 20 5 --- --- --- ---
Average 1114 95.6 42.3 97.4 98.1 37.5 16 4.7 87.5 91.4 99 98.6

International Journal of Civil Engineering, Vol. 11, No. 4, Transaction A: Civil Engineering, December 2013 275
276
Average

Average

Average
MLSS MLSS

660
880
MLSS

1114
1100
1060
1260
1580
1260
mg/l

660
880

1114
1100
1060
1260
1580
1260

660
880
mg/l

1100
3420
1060
1260
1580
1260
mg/l

1402.5
Percentage of TSS removal Percentage of TSS
Percentage of TSS

---
---
---
removal of the one-stage

96.4
96.7
97.5
96.9
93.9
97.6
95.5
96.9
96.5
96.8
97.5
95.5
96.3
of the one-stage unit

98
removal of the one-stage

97.6
99.3
97.9
98.3
96.1
97.8
95.7
97.3
unit
unit
Percentage of TSS removal
Percentage of TSS
Percentage of TSS belongs to the second stage

50
35
30
41
---
---
---
removal belongs to the

38.6
43.5
44.4
26.3
34.5
52.5
22.5
22.5
40.4

26
23
removal belongs to the unit

34.2
43.1
36.4
36.4
38.6
31.6
38.2
second stage unit
second stage unit
Percentage of TSS removal Percentage of TSS
---
---
---
98

Percentage of TSS removal of the two-stage

97.8
98.1
98.6
98.5
96.1
98.2
96.8
98.2
97.7
98.5
96.5
97.8

of the two-stage unit

97
97
removal of the two-stage unit

98.3
98.5
99.6
98.7
98.9
98.6
98.3
unit
Percentage of TSS removal Percentage of TSS
Percentage of TSS of the Ekbatan removal of the Ekbatan

98.1
99.1
99.6
99.4
98.5
97.5
95.6
96.9
98.1
99.1
99.6
99.4
98.5
97.5
95.6
96.9

removal of the Ekbatan

98.2
99.1
99.7
99.6
99.4
98.5
97.5
95.6
96.9
sedimentation basin sedimentation basin
sedimentation basin

The effluent turbidity of The effluent turbidity of the The effluent turbidity of
---
---
---
---
---
---

18
18

---
---
---
---

18
15
17

---
---
---
---

11
11
18
16.7

13.2
12.8
the one-stage unit (NTU) one-stage unit (NTU) the one-stage unit (NTU)

The effluent turbidity of The effluent turbidity of the The effluent turbidity of
9
9

8
6
6
9
7
7
---
---
---
---
---
---

---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---

6.7
6.7
7.7
the two-stage unit (NTU) two-stage unit (NTU) the two-stage unit (NTU)

The effluent turbidity of The effluent turbidity of the

The effluent turbidity of

5
4
5
5
4
5

---
---
---
---
Ekbatan sedimentation

---
---
---
the Ekbatan sedimentation ---

5.1
6.5
4.7
5
4
5
---
---
---
---

the Ekbatan sedimentation

4.7

basin (NTU) basin (NTU) basin (NTU)

Percentage of BOD5 removal Percentage of BOD5 removal

---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---

95

96.4
97.4
97.7
94.2
95.5
96.4
95.2
of the one-stage unit of the one-stage unit Percentage of BOD5 removal
---
---
---
---
---
---

92.2
92.2

of the one-stage unit

Percentage of COD removal Percentage of COD removal of

---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---

97
95

Percentage of COD removal

96.6
95.5
95.9
95.2
97.5
---
---
---
---
---
---

96.36
of the one-stage unit the one-stage unit
93.8
93.8

of the one-stage unit

Percentage of BOD5 removal Percentage of BOD5 removal

Percentage of BOD5 removal
Table 3 The performance results of inclined tube settlers in the hydraulic residence time of 15 min in the tubes

---
---
---
---
---
---
of the Ekbatan sedimentation
---
---
---
---
---

99
99
Table 2 The performance results of inclined tube settlers in the hydraulic residence time of 10 min in the tubes.

Table 4. The performance results of inclined tube settlers in the hydraulic residence time of 20 min in the tubes
of the Ekbatan sedimentation
---
---
---
---
---

99

98.6
99.5
98.6
99.3

of the Ekbatan sedimentation

98.6
99.3

basin basin basin

Percentage of COD Percentage of COD removal

Percentage of COD

---
---
---
---
---
---
removal of the Ekbatan of the Ekbatan
---
---
---
---
---

98.6
97.7
99.5
---
---
---
---
---

removal of the Ekbatan

98.6
97.7
99.5
98.6
97.7
99.5

sedimentation basin sedimentation basin sedimentation basin

A. Faraji, G. Asadollafardi, A. Shevidi

 Table 5 The performance results of inclined tube settlers in the hydraulic residence time of 40 min in the tubes

Percentage of BOD5 removal

Percentage of BOD5 removal

of the Ekbatan sedimentation
Percentage of COD removal
the Ekbatan sedimentation
removal of the one-stage

the two-stage unit (NTU)

the one-stage unit (NTU)
removal of the two-stage

The effluent turbidity of

The effluent turbidity of

The effluent turbidity of

removal of the Ekbatan

removal of the Ekbatan

removal belongs to the

of the one-stage unit

of the one-stage unit

sedimentation basin

sedimentation basin
Percentage of COD
Percentage of TSS

Percentage of TSS

Percentage of TSS

Percentage of TSS
second stage unit

basin (NTU)
MLSS

basin
mg/l

unit

unit
1060 98.1 34 98.8 99.6 7 5.4 4 98.6 97.7 98.6 97.7
1100 98 24 98.5 99.1 10 7 5 --- --- --- ---
1540 98.6 30.2 99 99.4 10.7 7 5.8 --- --- --- ---
Average 1233 98.2 29.4 98.8 99.4 9.2 6.5 4.9 98.6 97.7 98.6 97.7

average TSS removal efficiencies. As shown in Figure 6,

However, as the HRT increases, the difference between when the HRT increases, the TSS removal efficiency
removal efficiency of TSS in the first and second stages augments. This result has a good agreement with the
reduces. It may be as a result of occurrence of large and results of some researchers such as Saleh and Hamoda
heavy floc in the first stage which causes an increase in (1999) on the pilot plant studies in wastewater
sedimentation velocity and opportunity for more particle treatment[7]. In additional, in all cases the effluent of the
sedimentation. Hence, the efficiency of the two-stage tube two-stage tube settler has a better quality than that of the
settler in short HRT may be higher than the one-stage. one-stage one.
Figure 6 shows the relationship between the HRT and

99
The Average TSS Removal 

98.5
98
Efficiency, (%)

97.5
97
96.5 TSS of one‐stage
96
95.5
95
0 10 20 30 40 50

Hydraulic Residence Time in Tubes (min)
Fig. 6 The effect of HRT on efficiency of total suspended solid removal.

Figure 7 illustrates the relationship between the HRT in tend to be flattened out as HRT is increased. Therefore, it
the tubes and the average effluent turbidity. The Figure seems that HRT of 15 min in the tubes is adequate for
demonstrates that while HRT increases, the average settling in the two-stage tube settler pilot plant. The
effluent turbidity decreases, and the two-stage unit has average TSS removal efficiency of 20 minutes in the tubes
better effluent quality than the one-stage one in all cases. in the one-stage, of 15 minutes in the tubes in the two-
After 20 minutes in the tubes of the one-stage unit and stage and of the EWTP’s conventional sedimentation basin
after 15 minutes in the tubes of the two-stage unit, there is is 97.6%, 97.8%, and 98.2%, respectively.
no significant difference in the effluents, and the curves

40
The Avrage  Effluent 

one‐stage
30
Turbidity
(NTU)

20

10

0
0 10 20 30 40 50

Hydraulic Residence Time in Tubes (min)
Fig. 7 The relationship between hydraulic residence time and the average effluent turbidity

International Journal of Civil Engineering, Vol. 11, No. 4, Transaction A: Civil Engineering, December 2013 277
 Figure 8 shows the relationship between the average the turbidity of wastewater. This result has a good
effluent turbidity and the Reynolds number. As shown in agreement with the results of Shevidi et al. (2011) on pilot
Figure 8, while the Reynolds number increases, the plant studies[ 9].
average effluent turbidity increases, and the two-stage tube
settler are more effective than the one-stage for removal of

50

The Average Effluent  40 8.963e0.012x =y
0.945 =R²
Turbidity 30
(NTU)
20 Effluent Turbidity Of 
One‐Stage 
10 5.092e0.020x = y
0.988= R² 
0
0 50 100 150
Reynols Number
Fig. 8 The relationship between the average effluent turbidity and Reynolds number

The relationship between the average effluent turbidity average TSS removal efficiencies of 5, 15, and 20 minutes
and the Reynolds number for the one- and two-stage unit in the one-stage unit, which is clear that the removal
could be explained by Eqs. (8) and (9): efficiency increases as MLSS of the pilot plant increases.
Nonetheless, the effluent of TSS is increasing as a result of
The average effluent t urbidity of one - stage (NTU)  8 .963 e 0 .012  R (8) high MLSS. The reason for this could be due to a high
concentration of MLSS and influence of particles together
The average effluent turbidity of one - stage (NTU)  8.963e 0.012  R (9) (type 3 of sedimentation) and; hence, the removal
efficiencies have been increased.
Figure 9 shows the relationship between MLSS and the

100
TSS Removal, (%)

98
96
94
92
0 1000 … 2000 3000 4000

Fig. 9 The relationship between the percentage of TSS removal and MLSS

3.3.1. Evaluation of BOD and COD Removal Efficiencies relationship between the SLR and the percentage of BOD
removal, and the relationship between the SLR and the
The effluent BOD of the activated sludge process percentage of COD removal for the one-stage tube settler,
depends on the solids removal in the clarifier. Dick stated respectively.
that one mg/l of solids lost over the weir of the final
settling basin commonly increases the effluent BOD by
about 0.6 mg/l[23]. Figures 10 and 11 show the

150
BOD Removal, (%)

100

50 BOD removal (%) = ‐18.06 × (SLR) + 99.51

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8
Surface Loding Rate, (m3/m2.hr)
Fig. 10 The relationship between the percentage of BOD removal and SLR

278 A. Faraji, G. Asadollafardi, A. Shevidi

 120
100

COD Removal, (%)
80
COD removal (%) = ‐10.26×(SLR) + 98.14
60
40
20
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8
3 2
Surface Loding Rate, (m /m .hr)
Fig. 11 The relationship between the percentage of COD removal and SLR

In both figures, while SLR increases, the percentage of authors would like to thank TPWW for providing financial
BOD and COD removal decreases. The average BOD and assistance and logistical (equipment) support for this work.
COD removal percentages of 20 minutes in the tubes were
96.4% and 96.36%, and for the EWTP’s conventional 5. Notation
sedimentation basin (with HRT of 6-8 hour) were 99% and
98.6%, respectively. In all cases, experiments show that The following symbols and abbreviations are used in
BOD and COD removal efficiencies for the one-stage at a this paper:
detention time of 20 minutes in the tubes were in the A2O: Anaerobic, Anoxic, Aerobic system;
standard range for Iran for discharge to the surface waters BOD: Biochemical Oxygen Demand;
[24] [Department of Environment (DOE)]. The results of COD: Chemical Oxygen Demand;
this study, as illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, have a good HRT: Hydraulic Retention Time;
agreement with the consequences of Saleh and Hamoda MLSS: Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids;
(1999) on pilot plant studies in wastewater treatment[7]. SLR: Surface Loading Rate;
TSS: Total Suspended Solid;
4. Conclusion t: hydraulic residence time in tubes;
Vf: average flow velocity;
The results of the study indicate that the effluent of the Vs : particle settling velocity;
tube settler pilot plant, with HRT of 20 minutes in the A: cross-section area (perpendicular to the flow);
tubes, meets the Iranian standard of TSS and turbidity for AE: effective sedimentation area;
discharging to the surface waters. The average removal dh : hydraulic diameter of the channel;
efficiencies of TSS, BOD5, and COD, at 20 minutes in the L: length of the tubes;
tubes, in the one-stage pilot plant were 97.6%, 96.4%, and N: number of cells
96.36%, respectively, while the effluent of the secondary P: perimeter of channel;
conventional sedimentation basin of EWTP,s with HRT of Q: flow rate through the device;
6-8 hours, were 98.2%, 99%, and 98.6%, respectively. R: Reynolds number;
Theoretical analyses and experiments in the pilot study θ: angle of the tube relative to horizontal;
had a good agreement. The pilot plant study outcomes υ: cinematic viscosity
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280 A. Faraji, G. Asadollafardi, A. Shevidi