Floc Hopper Probe, Fall 2015

Miguel Castellanos, John Lopez

Abstract

The floc hopper probe team aims to create a fully functional floc hopper probe design for future visits to Honduras and elsewhere. Currently, very little information is know about the location or condition of the floc blanket in the floc hopper. This year’s research should lead to a better understanding of the events preceding sedimentation as well as more details on the location of the floc blanket inside the hopper. An experimental setup was created to test different floc hopper probe designs and observe which one gave accurate readings. This year’s team contributions include: a final design of the floc hopper probe and an assembling manual for the current probe design. The team has tackled the problem in the lab and now field testing is required for further improvement of design.

Floc Hopper Probe, Spring 2015

Steve Love and Garret Jancich

Abstract

The Fabrication Team’s purpose is to address current issues or areas of improvement in AguaClara plants. This semester, the team’s tasks included designing and fabricating a probe for monitoring sludge accumulation in the floc hopper. The floc hopper probe team created an operational tool for peering into the floc hopper in order to know when to drain it. The team also began work for developing the research capabilities of the probe. This would be achieved by taking image data via borescope snake camera and translating it into meaningful turbidity/DOM readings.

Floc Probe, Spring 2014

Alexandra Green, Tiago Viegas, Paul Vieselmeyer

Abstract

The visualization of the floc blanket in Aguaclara plants has been difficult and limited, so our team has tried to simulate it and create a new apparatus to solve or at least to reduce the problem. We found reports and materials from the turbidimeter team that could help in our task. Research was done on commercial sensors that could help monitor the floc blanket level, but none of the results were feasible. An experimental set up was also created in order to simulate the floc blanket and clear water interface with no success. Finally, a sludge judge apparatus was created to hopefully help with the observation of the floc blanket in San Nicolas.

Floc Probe - Fall 2014

Surya Kumar, Larry Ge

Abstract:

The sedimentation tanks at AguaClara sustainable drinking water treatment plants are performing well, but they can perform better. When floc settles it becomes sludge. If there is sludge buildup in a sedimentation tank, a host of problems follow: uneven water flow through the sedimentation tank, impaired performance, anaerobic digestion, and methane production. However, if a sedimentation tank can be designed to prevent any flocs from settling, then the drinking water treatment process will never have to be stopped, and the sedimentation tanks will never have to be cleaned. AguaClara is investigating the creation/use of a “Floc Probe” to better understand floc behavior and achieve this improved tank design. The research tool will be used to survey currently functioning sedimentation tanks in Honduras to identify where sludge is building up. Sonar has been found to be a potential solution. Sonar can detect substances of varying densities as well as record at what depth the substance was found. This technology can therefore distinguish between flocs and sludge, and can also recognize the amount of sludge buildup.