Ryan Anthony, Elyssa Dixon, Zac Edwards
Abstract:
The purpose of a venturi is to create a low pressure zone in the contraction of a pipe that can be used to pullfluid from another location into the existing ow against the force of gravity. AguaClara can use this technology to implement floc recycle and decrease the necessary size of the flocculator. A pipe will transport heavily flocculated and turbid water from the floc hopper in the sedimentation tank to the horizontal section of the rapid mix pipe that leads into the flocculator. A venturi constructed in this horizontal portion of the rapid mix pipe will pull this turbid water from the floc blanket into the incoming plant flow and thereby increase the incoming turbidity. The flow of the turbid water transported from the floc blanket to the rapid mix pipe is dependent upon difference in head at the end of the system compared to the head in the throat of the venturi. By recycling the turbid water, a greater floc volume fraction will be present at the beginning of the flocculator to increase collisions and thereby reduce the amount of time that the water must spend in the flocculator; this, in return, will reduce the size of the flocculator and reduce material and construction costs.
