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Chapter 7
Sedimentation
Abdel Fattah Hasan, Ph.D.
Civil Engineering Department
An-Najah National University

Environmental Engineering II

for use with

Water and Wastewater Engineering
By
Mackenzie L. Davis

Lecture Outline

Sedimentation theory

Sedimentation practice

Sedimentation basin design

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Introduction

Coagulation and flocculation
to enhance the size of particles so that they
will settle in a reasonable period of time

Softening to remove hardness by

forming an insoluble precipitate

 Particles and precipitate are usually removed

from water by gravitational settling in a
sedimentation basin, also called a clarifier or
settling tank

Sedimentation

Water flows into the
settling basins, where
the flow is almost
devoid of turbulence.

The water resides

here for time periods
ranging from 2 to 8
hours and flocculated
particles settle out as
sludge
The sludge is mechanically removed periodically

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Types of Sedmentation:

Type I: discrete particle settling

Type II: flocculant settling

Type III: hindered settling

Type IV: compression settling

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Type 1 Sedimentation

Settling as discrete particles

No flocculation during sedimentation

Examples
 Pre-sedimentation for sand removal prior to
coagulation in surface water treatment plant
 Settling of sand particles in filter bed after
backwashing
 Settling in grit chamber (wastewater
treatment)

Discrete settling

Assume the particles
have a density of ρs, a FB FD
spherical volume of Vp, a
mass, mp, a cross-
sectional area of Ap.

Assume the particle
settles at a velocity of vs.

Assume CD is the
coefficient of drag

Assume the density of
water is ρ FG

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Newtons’ Laws of particle settling:

Drag Coefficient (CD)

takes on different values depending on the flow
regime surrounding the particle

The flow regime may be characterized by Reynolds

number (R)

R > 104 CD = 0.4

R < 0.5 CD = 24/R
0.5 < R < 104

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When the drag force is equal to the driving force, the particle
velocity reaches a constant value called the terminal settling
velocity (v s)

Newton Settling Velocity

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Stokes’ law

Assume flow is laminar (R< 1)

So, CD = 24/R

Then terminal settling velocity:
2
g ( ρ s − ρ )d
vs =
18 µ

where µ = dynamic viscosity of water

Example 7-1

What is the settling velocity of a grit

particle with a radius of 0.10 mm
and a specific gravity of 2.65?

The water temperature is 22 oC.

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Ideal sedimentation basins (Type 1)

Assumptions
 Type 1 Settling
 Four zones in the basin: inlet, outlet,
sludge, settling
 Even distribution of flow entering and
leaving the settling zone
 Uniform distribution of particles through the
depth of the inlet zone
 Particles that enter the sludge zone are
captured
 Particles that enter the outlet zone are
removed with the water.

Zones of sedimentation

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Ideal sedimentation basins (Type 1)

Upflow clarifiers

Ideal sedimentation basins (Type 1)

Upflow clarifiers
 Velocity of water decreases as the water
flows upward (overflow rate = vo,
hydraulic surface loading)
Q
vo =
Ac

 Velocity of the particle remains unchanged

 If vs ≥ vo, then 100% of particles remain
in tank

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Ideal sedimentation basins (Type 1)

Rectangular basins
 Particle removal is dependent on the
overflow rate.

 In order for particle to be removed

Settling velocity must be sufficient so that it
reaches the bottom during the time the water
resides in the tank (td).

Ideal sedimentation basins (Type 1)

Rectangular basins
h h hQ hQ Q Q
vs = = = = = =
to (V Q ) V l ⋅ w ⋅ h l ⋅ w As
Q
vo =
As

P= ( )100%
vs
vo

P: % of
particles
removed

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Ideal sedimentation basins (Type 1)

A large variation in particle size will

exist in a typical suspension of
particles.

Usually requires experimental
analysis using settling column.

Batch settling columns
 Samples withdrawn a various times
and depths
 Solid concentrations determined
 Draw curve like that on next slide

Example (Type 1)

A particle size distribution has been

obtained from a sieve analysis of sand
particles to be removed in a grit
chamber. For each weight fraction an
average settling velocity has been
calculated. What is the overall removal
for an overflow rate of 4000 m3/m2·day.
Settling
velocity 3.0 1.5 0.60 0.30 0.22 0.15
(m/min)
Weight fraction
remaining 0.55 0.46 0.35 0.21 0.11 0.03

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Example (Type 1)
0.6

0.5

Weight Fraction remaining

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5
Settling velocity (m/min)

Example 7-2

Sleepy Hollow has an existing

horizontal-flow sedimentation tank
with an overflow rate of 17 m3/d.m 2.

What percentage removal should be

expected for each of the following
particle settling velocities in an ideal
sedimentation tank:
• 0.1 mm/s
• 0.2 mm/s
• 1 mm/s

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Type II Sedimentation

Particles that aggregated or flocculate
during sedimentation

Sedimentation after alum or iron
coagulation

In wastewater during primary
sedimentation

In settling tanks after trickling filtration

In upper portions of secondary clarifiers
after activated sludge treatment

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Type II Sedimentation

Causes
 Differences in settling velocities of particles
whereby faster-settling particles overtake those
that settle more slowly and coalesce with them
 Velocity gradients within liquid cause particles in
a region of higher velocity to overtake those in
adjacent stream paths moving at slower
velocities.

Benefits
 Combination of smaller particles to make larger
particles – results in faster settling sludge
 Flocculation tends to have a sweeping effect –
faster particles tend to “sweep”

Type II Sedimentation

No good theory

Settling Column Model
 Want diameter sufficiently large to avoid
wall effects
 Usually 6” (~15 cm) diameter
 Height = depth of the proposed tank (or
greater)
 Sampling ports every 20 in (50 cm) or so

% removal is plotted vs depth

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Type II Sedimentation

Settling Column Model
 C 
% Removal = 1 - t  × 100%
 Co 

Each intersection pt. of an isoconcentration line and the

bottom of the column defines the overflow rate, vo

H
vo =
ti

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Type II sedimentation

RTo = Ra + HH1 (Rb − Ra ) + HH2 (Rc − Rb )

The series of vo, t and R% are used to

plot 2 curves:
 R% vs t

 R% vs vo

These can be used to size the settling

tank.

Eckenfelder (1980) recommends that
scale-up factor:
 vo by 0.65
 t by 1.75

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Example (Type II Sedimentation)

The following test data were obtained

to design a settling tank. The initial
solids concentration for the test was
20.0 mg/L. Determine the detention
time and overflow rate that will yield
60% removal of suspended solids.

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Example (Type II Sedimentation

Suspended Solids Concentrations (mg/L)

Depth Time (min)

(m) 10 20 35 50 70 85
0.5 14.0 10.0 7.0 6.2 5.0 4.0
1.0 15.0 13.0 10.6 8.2 7.0 6.0
1.5 15.4 14.2 12.0 10.0 7.8 7.0
2.0 16.0 14.6 12.6 11.0 9.0 8.0
2.5 17.0 15.0 13.0 11.4 10.0 8.8

Example (Type II Sedimentation

Percent removals

Depth Time (min)

(m) 10 20 35 50 70 85
0.5 30 50 65 69 75 80
1.0 25 35 47 59 65 70
1.5 23 29 40 50 61 65
2.0 20 27 37 45 55 60
2.5 15 25 35 43 50 56

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Example (Type II Sedimentation)

20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 65% 70%
Time [min] Depth [m] Depth [m] Depth [m] Depth [m] Depth [m] Depth [m] Depth [m]
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10 2 0.5 0.35 0.23 0.18 0.12 0.05
20 1.4 0.75 0.5 0.35 0.25 0.15
30 1.22 0.75 0.55 0.42 0.23
40 1.8 1.1 0.75 0.57 0.34
50 1.5 1 0.72 0.46
60 1.95 1.25 0.85 0.6
70 2.5 1.55 1.03 0.75
80 1.85 1.33 0.9

Example (Type II Sedimentation)

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Example (Type II Sedimentation)

Detention Time

69
67
65
% Removal

63
61
59
57
55
40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75
Detention time [min]

Overflow Rate

69
67
65
% Removal

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61
59
57
55
40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85
Overflow rate [m/d]

Type III Sedimentation

Hindered or zone
 Example: settling in lime soda ash
sedimentation, activated sludge
sedimentation, sludge thickeners

Particles settle as a zone or blanket

Usually have a clear interface between
the settling sludge and the clarified
effluent

Rate of settling = f(concentration of
solids and their characteristics)

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Type IV (Compression Settling)

Settling tests are required
Rate of consolidation in region is ∝ to difference
in depth at time t and depth to which sludge
will settle after long time (24 hrs)

Models:
http://www.wastewaterhandbook.com/webpg/
th_settling_60intro.htm

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SEDIMENTATION PRACTICE

Circular sedimentation Basin

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Flocculator-clarifier provides mixing,

flocculation, & sedimentation in a
compartmented concentric circular tank

Flocculator-clarifier, plan view

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Horizontal (rectangular)
sedimentation basin

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Ballasted sedimentation

High Rate Sedimentation – Lamella Clarifier

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High-Rate Settling
Clarification process can be accelerated by:
 Increasing the particle density

 Reducing the distance a particle must fall prior to

removal

To reduce the distance the particle must fall:

 A series of inclined plates or tubes are placed in a
rectangular horizontal flow settling basin.
 The plates or tubes are inclined to a degree that
allows the collected solids to slide down the surface
to the sludge zone.
 Typically the tube is a square, about 5 cm on each
side, and the angle is about 60o

Inclined
Plates
Settler

Inclined
Tubes
Settler

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High-Rate Settling:

Three typical configurations are named to reflect
the direction of flow of water with respect to the
direction that the particles will leave the plates or
tubes:
Countercurrent Countercurrent
Cocurrent
Crosscurrent

Cocurrent
Crosscu-
rrent

Countercurrent high rate settling:

settling time t for a particle

to move between parallel plates

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Countercurrent high rate settling:

If the trajectory of a particle that is shown
in Countercurrent settling is considered:

All particles with a settling velocity vs will
be removed

particles with a larger settling velocity are
also removed;

Cocurrent high rate settling:

All particles with a settling velocity vs will be removed

particles with a larger settling velocity are also
removed;

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Crosscurrent high rate settling:

All particles with a settling velocity vs will be removed

particles with a larger settling velocity are also
removed;

Non-Ideal Behavior of Settling Tanks

Numerous factors affect settling tank

performance, such as:

Turbulence

Inlet energy dissipation

Density currents

Wind effects

Outlet currents

Sludge equipment movement

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High rate sedimentation

SEDIMENTATION BASIN DESIGN

Primary focus of this chapter are:
 Design of rectangular tanks
 Design of high-rate settlers

No. of Tanks:
 Usually, 2 tanks placed together in parallel with
a common wall.
 In general, 4 tanks are preferred for maximum
flexibility in operation over a wide range of flow
rates with allowance for one unit being out of
service at the maximum flow rate, however
may result in an unacceptable capital cost.

ST design include: inlet, settling, outlet and

sludge zones.

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Inlet Zone Design

Preferred arrangement:
 direct connection between the flocculation basin and
the settling tank through a diffuser wall. Designed
using the same procedure that was used for baffle
walls in flocculation tanks

Diffuser wall design criteria:

 Location: 2 m downstream of the inlet pipe.
 Headloss: 4 to 5 times the velocity head of the
approaching flow.
 Port velocities typically must be about 0.20 to 0.30
m/s for sufficient headloss.
 Holes (diffusers): 0.10 to 0.20 m in diameter
spaced about 0.25 to 0.60 m apart and evenly
distributed on the wall. The lowest port should be
about 0.6 m above the basin floor

Settling Zone Design

Overflow rate (vo)is the primary design
parameter for sizing the sedimentation basin

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Settling Zone Design

SWD: 3-5 m; practical minimum depth required for
sludge removal equipment, and controlling
parameter to limit scour of particles from the sludge
blanket

L/W: min of 4:1; to provide plug flow and minimize

short circuiting

L/D: min of 15:1

L > 30m of open tanks is affected by wind, so:

- Wind breakers placed every 30 m
- Free board of 0.6 m is used to act as wind
barrier

Settling Zone Design

Horizontal flow velocities (=Q/Av): 0.005-0.018 m/s.
Must be controlled to avoid:
 Turbulence (R < 20,000)
 Backmixing (Fr > 10-5)
 scour of particles from
the sludge

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Large R indicates a high degree of turbulence

low Fr indicates that water flow is not dominated

by horizontal flow, and backmixing may occur

R may be reduced and Fr increased by the

placement of baffles parallel to the direction of flow.
Baffles must be placed above the sludge collection
equipment and should be about 3 m apart

Detention time (t)

GLUMRB (2003) recommends:

- min t of 4 h of detention time
- or an overflow rate (vo) <= 1.2 m/h

Modern designs use t of 1.5 to 2.0 h

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Outlet Zone Design

The outlet zone is composed of launders running
parallel to the length of the tank.

The weirs should cover at least 1/3, and preferably
up to 1/2, the basin length

The water level in the tank is controlled by the
end wall or overflow weirs.

V-notch weirs are attached to the launders and
broad-crested weirs are attached to the end
wall

Orifices may

be used on
the launders

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(Q>40,000 m3 /d)

(Q<40,000 m3 /d)

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t of Tube
settlers: 3.5-5
min.

t in parallel
plate modules:
5-20 min

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Example (Sedimentation Design)

Two sedimentation tanks operate in

parallel in a plant used for color removal
with alum coagulation. The combined flow
to the two tanks is 0.30 m3/s. The depth
of the tank is 2.0 m and each tank has a
detention time of 1.5 hr:

What is the surface area of each tank?

What is the overflow rate?

What is the weir length required?

Outcomes

Based on this lecture and Chapter 7, you

should be able to
 Describe the physical phenomena that
underlie the design and operation of
sedimentation tanks
 Design a sedimentation tank

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