Turbulent Tube Flocculator, Spring 2014

Felice Chan, Jonathan Christensen, Stephen Jacobs, Ana Oliveira

Abstract

Since the Summer of 2013, the Turbulent Tube Flocculator team has been developing and optimizing a design for a lab scale turbulent tube occulator to better mimic the processes that occur at full scale plants. From this, a vertical occulator of approximately 1.5 m was constructed with 30 coils of exible tubings connected with pieces of metal pipe. Currently, the team is working on the rest of the experimental setup, which involves pumps, turbidimeters, pinch valves, clay stock, temperature and pressure sensors, Settled Water Turbidity analyzer (SWaT), rapid mix, and Process Controller software. Clay will be added directly to the head tank to keep the suspension stable in absence of coagulant. The coagulant, injected immediately following rapid mix, is responsible for aggregation of suspended particles present in the solution. Experiments will measure turbidity reduction as a function of coagulant dosage.

Turbulent Tube Flocculation, Summer 2014

Shreya Jain, Tanya Peifer, Nadia Shebaro, Luke Zhu

Abstract

Over the summer of 2014, the turbulent tube flocculation team has worked to implement and test a SWaT system for analyzing residual turbidity from the flocculator. The group is also working to implement PID control for the turbulent tube occulator to regulate the amount of clay added to the system. The team made minor physical adjustments to the turbulent occulator through the shortening of tubes and the tube settler position. By the end of the summer research period, the team has established a working occulation system to facilitate experiments done by future teams.

Turbulent Tube Flocculator, Fall 2014

Felice Chan, Mingze Niu, William Pennock

Abstract

Over the fall semester of 2014, the Turbulent Tube Flocculator Team improved the turbulent tube flocculation apparatus in terms of flow control, turbidity control and general structure. The objective of this improvement was to prepare the apparatus by the end of the semester for experimentation. The team made a number of updates this semester, including building a support structure for SWaT and the effluent line. In addition, two air releases were installed as well as a diffuser system in the constant head tank to eliminate air from the flocculator. In addition to the structural modifications of the apparatus, the team updated the process controller method file for experimentation. The experiments performed on this apparatus will be used to validate the equation derived by Dr. Monroe Weber­Shirk based on the experimental work of Dr. Karen Swetland.

Fluidized Bed Flocculator -Spring 2014

Felice Chan, Jonathan Christensen, Stephen Jacobs, Ana Oliveira

Abstract:

Novel methods of water treatment, that do not use electricity and only require basic construction materials, are in demand worldwide in remote regions without established centralized water treatment. Gravity-driven unit processes must be developed for these water treatment facilities. Current hydraulic flocculators use baffles with dimensions on the order of meters to generate turbulence and achieve particle aggregation. An alternative approach is to use sand grains, rather than large solid sheets, as flocculator baffles. A fluidized sand bed flocculator occupies much less plan view area, but generates much more head loss. Implementation will depend on a balance of the cost of land and materials against the available hydraulic head.