High Rate Sedimentation - Summer 2017

Christopher Galantino and Andrew Kang

Abstract:

The High Rate Sedimentation team designed, fabricated, and experimented on various sedimentation designs with an upflow velocity of 3 mm/s while maintaining a efficient effluent turbidity and reducing cost and space. Working off where the Spring 2017 team left off, the HRS team continued to research the effects of floc blanket height, tube settler length, varying geometries, and the size-driven floc blanket formation hypothesis. The HRS team concluded that the height of floc blanket may not provide better performance, as originally thought. Also, it has been concluded that the Trapezoidal geometry is not necessary, but provided insight on the behavior of floc on bends.

UASB - Summer 2017

Zac Chen

Abstract:

No abstract included in report.

Conclusion:

The granule settling experiment from Spring 2017 has reached a conclusive result. Due to the high capture velocity relative to the upflow velocity, a full system of plate settlers will not be required of a full scale UASB reactor. There is no substantial impact from drastically decreasing capture velocity. Rather, a smaller settling apparatus such as a sloped exit weir can achieve the similar solid retention rates. More specifically, it was established that a 0.023 mm/s capture velocity can be utilized to increase effluent turbidity. It is with these conclusions, that the Summer 2017 UASB team recommend that future UASB teams move forward with the fabrication of the full-scale design.