Experimental Evaluation of Tubular Flocculator Implemented in the Field for Drinking Water Supply: Application in the Developing World

Author:

García-Ávila Fernando12,Méndez-Heredia Angel1,Trelles-Agurto Alex1,Sánchez-Cordero Esteban34ORCID,Alfaro-Paredes Emigdio Antonio5,Criollo-Illescas Freddy1,Tonon-Ordoñez María D.1,Heredia-Cabrera Gina6

Affiliation:

1. Carrera de Ingeniería Ambiental, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad de Cuenca, Cuenca 010203, Ecuador

2. Grupo de Evaluación de Riesgos Ambientales en Sistemas de Producción y Servicios (RISKEN), Departamento de Química Aplicada y Sistemas de Producción, Cuenca 010203, Ecuador

3. Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Cuenca, Cuenca 010203, Ecuador

4. Departamento de Ingeniería Civil, Universidad de Cuenca, Cuenca 010203, Ecuador

5. Professional School of Systems Engineering, Universidad César Vallejo, Lima 15314, Peru

6. Carrera de Medicina, Universidad Católica de Cuenca, Campus Azogues, Azogues 030102, Ecuador

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of a large-scale Horizontal Tubular Flocculator (HTF) as an easy-to-implement technology for potable water provision compared to the efficiency of a traditional baffle flocculator. The HTF was built with a 4-inch diameter PVC pipe and coupled to a sedimentation and filtration process. Experimental tests were performed using lengths of 68.4 m and 97.6 m for the HTF. These lengths were combined with raw water flow rates of 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, and 2 L/s and five turbidity ranges <10 NTU, 10–20 NTU, 21–50 NTU, 51–100 NTU, >100 NTU, giving a total of 100 tests for one year. Jar tests were performed to determine the optimal dose of aluminum sulfate used as a coagulant. Hydraulic characteristics such as time of retention (TR) and velocity gradient (G) were evaluated; likewise, plug flow, dead volume, and short-circuit ratios were determined by tracer tests using the Wolf–Resnick model. The average results determined a removal of 98.8% of turbidity and 99.93% of color. The TR varied between 4.62 and 36.97 min and G varied between 6.15 and 109.62 s−1. The results showed that HTF can be useful as a flocculation unit in a purification system.

Publisher

MDPI AG

Subject

Water Science and Technology,Aquatic Science,Geography, Planning and Development,Biochemistry

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