Influence of density flow on treated water turbidity in a sedimentation basin with inclined plate settler

Abstract

The removal efficiency of particulate matter from a sedimentation basin with an inclined plate settler in drinking water treatment facilities is sometimes reduced by density flow caused by temperature increases in the raw water. In this study, the structure of the density flow and its prevention are investigated by means of three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The results of CFD show that upward velocity is uniform and normal operations are performed before the increase in inlet water temperatures. After the onset of a temperature increase in the raw water, the upward flow velocity on the inclined plate settler increases, especially in the upstream zone of the plate. This velocity increment has a strong correlation with increase in turbidity as a result of the overflow of particulate matter. The effects of the installation of baffle plates on the inclined plate settler to reduce turbidity were explored. The CFD results using baffle plates show a significant decrease in upward velocity on the inclined plate settler. This suggests that baffle plates are effective in suppressing the overflow of particulate matter. To verify the prediction by CFD, baffle plates were installed in a drinking water treatment facility. The results show that the turbidity of treated water was reduced by the proposed procedure.