Unit II Plain Sedimentation

Dr.
AJAY BHARTI
Plain Sedimentation
 The basic principle behind sedimentation is to retard the turbulence by storage of

water to settle down the impurities at the bottom of the tank.
 A plain sedimentation tank under normal condition may remove as much as 70 % of
the suspended impurities present in water.
 Sedimentation tank/Sedimentation basin/Settling tank/clarifier – The tank in which
flow of water is retarded.
 Detention time/Detention period/Retention time/Retention period/ Hydraulic retention
time – It is the theoretical average time for which the water is detained in the tank.
 Very fine suspended particles and colloidal matter (less than 50 µm) cannot be settled
in plain sedimentation tank in ordinary detention time.
 Settling velocity of various size particles (of specific gravity 2.65 in water at 20 0C)
Particle diameter Settling velocity
S No Size typical of
(mm) (m/s)
1. 10 Pebble 0.73
2. 1 Coarse sand 0.23
3. 0.1 Fine sand 1.0 x 10–2 0.6 m/min
4. 0.01 Silt 1.0 x 10–4 8.6 m/day
5. 0.0001 Large colloid 1.0 x 10–8 0.3 m/year
6. 0.000001 Small colloid 1.0 x 10–13 3m/million year
Theory of Sedimentation
(i) Flow velocity: If the flow velocity is decreased, particle will settle down easily.
Flow velocity is decreased by increasing flow area.
(ii) Specific gravity: The greater the specific gravity, more readily the particle will
settle.
(iii) Shape & Size of particles: Very small sized particle will settle very slowly.
(iv) Settling velocity of a spherical particle (having diameter ≤ 0.1 mm and Reynold’s
number ≤ 1) is expressed by Stoke’s law:
𝒈 𝒅𝟐
vs = 𝟏𝟖 (G–1) 𝝂
Where, vs = settling velocity, m/s
1
Plain SEDIMENTATION
Dr. AJAY BHARTI
g = acceleration due to gravity, m/s2

d = diameter of particle, m
𝝆𝒔 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒
G = specific gravity of the particle = =
𝝆𝒘 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟
𝜈 = kinematic viscosity of water, m2/s

𝝁 𝑑𝑦𝑛𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑐 𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟
= =
𝝆𝒘 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟
𝒅
Re = Reynold’s number = vs
𝝂
Limitations of Stoke’s law:

1) Particles should be spherical
2) Diameter of particle, d ≤ 0.1 mm
3) Reynold’s number, Re ≤ 1 (i.e., flow is laminar)
Design consideration of plain sedimentation tank:

 Overflow rate (or, surface loading rate) normally vary between 12 to 18 m3/day/m2 of
plan area,
 Depth of tank should be 1.8 to 6.0 m, (3.0 to 4.5 m normally)
 Detention time ranges between 4 to 8 hours
 Width of tank should not greater than 12 m, (normally 10 m)
 Length of tank may vary 1 to 6 times its width, (generally not greater than 4 times)
 Horizontal flow velocity = 0.15 to 0.9 m/min, (normally 0.3 m/min)
 The total amount of flow from the tank within 24 hours, generally equals the
maximum daily demand of water.
 For tanks without mechanical sludge removal equipment, an additional minimum
depth of about 0.8 to 1.2 m should be provided for storage of sediment and is called
the sludge zone.
 Capacity of tank (i.e., Volume) = Quantity of water to be treated within the
Detention Period.
 A free board of about 0.5 m should be provided as an extra depth of the tank.
2
Plain SEDIMENTATION
Dr. AJAY BHARTI
Prob.1 Find the settling velocity of a discrete particle in water, when Reynold’s number is
less than 0.5. Diameter and specific gravity of the particle is 5 x 10 –5 m and 2.65
respectively. Water temperature is 20 0C. (Kinematic viscosity of water at 20 0C is
1.01 x 10–6 m2/s).
Soln. Given, diameter of the particle, d = 5 x 10–5 m = 5 x 10–2 mm = 0.05 mm
d ≤ 0.1 mm
and Re ≤ 1
Hence Stoke’s law is applicable here
𝑔 𝑑2
vs = 18 (G–1) 𝜈
Putting the value of
g = 9.81 m/s2
G = 2.65
d = 5 x 10–5 m
𝜈 = 1.01 x 10–6 m2/s
9.81 (5 x 10–5 )2
vs = (2.65–1) 1.01 x 10–6 m/s
18
= 0.223 x 10–2 m/s
Prob.2 The maximum daily demand at a water purification plant has been estimated as 10
MLD. Design the dimensions of a suitable sedimentation tank (fitted with
mechanical sludge removal arrangements) for the raw supplies, assuming a detention
time of 4 hours and a velocity of flow as 0.2 m/min.
Soln. Maximum daily demand = 10 MLD = 10 x 106 litres/day = 10 x 106 x 10–3 m3/day
= 10 x 103 m3/d
Volume of tank = Quantity of water to be treated during the detention time of 4 hour
= 10 x 103 x 4 m3 = 1666.66 m3 = 1670 m3 (say)
24
Length of tank required = Velocity of flow x detention time
= 0.2 m/min x 4 hour = 0.2 m/min x 4 x 60 min
= 48 m
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑘 1670 𝑚3
Cross sectional area of the tank = = = 34.79 m2 = 35 m2
𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑘 48𝑚
(say)
3
Plain SEDIMENTATION
Dr. AJAY BHARTI
Assume water depth in the tank = 3 m

Cross sectional area of the tank
Width of tank required = =35 m2/3 m = 11.66= 12 m
water depth in the tank
Using a free board of 0.5 m,

Overall depth = 3 + 0.5 = 3.5 m.
Hence the dimensions of the rectangular sedimentation tank is 48 m x 12 m x 3.5 m
Check for surface loading rate:

𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑎𝑦 𝑀𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑑𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑦 𝑑𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑑
Surface loading rate = =
𝑆𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑥 𝑊𝑖𝑑𝑡ℎ
10 x 103 𝑚3 /𝑑
= = 17.36 m3/day/m2 of plan area
48 m x 12 m
Which is within the range of design (i.e., 12 to 18 m3/day/m2)
Hence OK.
4
Plain SEDIMENTATION
Dr. AJAY BHARTI
5
Plain SEDIMENTATION

Unit II Plain Sedimentation

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Dr.

 The basic principle behind sedimentation is to retard the turbulence by storage of

g = acceleration due to gravity, m/s2

𝜈 = kinematic viscosity of water, m2/s

Limitations of Stoke’s law:

Design consideration of plain sedimentation tank:

Assume water depth in the tank = 3 m

Using a free board of 0.5 m,

Check for surface loading rate:

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