CIVL 3240: Sanitary and
Environmental Engineering
Lecture 8
Chapter 2: Preliminary and Primary Treatment
INSTRUCTOR
Prof. Ahmed ElDyasti
CIVL 3240: Sanitary and Environmental Engineering 1
Primary Treatment
Preliminary Primary Secondary Advanced
Nutrient Removal
Flow Primary Aeration tank and
equalization clarifier Secondary Disinfection
WW clarifier
Treated
Screen Grit effluent
chamber chamber
Sludge Sludge
Biogas (CH4)
Sludge
Anaerobic
disposal
Solid management digester Sludge
Sludge thickener dewatering
Land disposal Incineration
CIVL 3240: Sanitary and Environmental Engineering 2
PRIMARY SEDIMENTATION
Used to remove readily settleable solids from wastewater.
Reduces loading of suspended solids (SS) and particulate COD (pCOD) in
downstream treatment processes.
Chemical coagulant can be added to enhance the process
Typical removal efficiency
• SS (50-60%)
• COD (20-30%)
• Two different configuration used in WWTPs
1. Rectangular clarifier
2. Circular clarifier
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RECTANGULAR CLARIFIER
‒Effluent weirs are installed at the tank
outlet
‒Uniformly distributes effluent WW
leaving the tank
‒Minimizes re-suspension of settling
particles.
‒If the flow through the weir becomes too
high then suspended solids may wash out
Source: Riffat, R. (2012). Fundamentals of wastewater treatment and engineering. CRC Press.
CIRCULAR CLARIFIER
Source: Riffat, R. (2012). Fundamentals of wastewater treatment and
engineering. CRC Press.
[Link]
RECTANGULAR VS. CIRCULAR
CLARIFIER
The selection of type of clarifier depends on:
• Preference of regulatory authorities
• Size of installation
• Local site condition
Comparison: Rectangular clarifiers over circular clarifiers
Advantages:
• Occupy less space when multiple units used
• Provide longer travel distance for settling to occur
Disadvantages:
• Possible dead corners
• Sensitive to flow surge
• Higher maintenance costs of chains & flights
2
DESIGN PARAMETERS
Design
parameters
Detention Surface Weir
time overflow rate overflow rate
Selected based on the settling characteristics of the WW
•Design should satisfy both average and peak flow rates
FUNDAMENTALS TO DESIGN: PRIMARY
SEDIMENTATION
Gravity settling in primary sedimentation, predominantly via Type
II or Flocculent settling.
Flocculated particles
(Settle quickly)
Type I or Discrete settling Type II or Flocculent settling
(Grit Chamber) (Primary sedimentation)
FUNDAMENTALS TO DESIGN: PRIMARY
SEDIMENTATION
As particle size increases due to flocculation of suspended
particles, they settle at a faster velocity. Therefore, Stoke's
equation that typically used for discrete settling is not applicable
here.
In fact, it is impossible to develop a general formula for
determining settling velocities of flocculent particles. Therefore,
batch settling column can be used to determine the settling
characteristics (e.g, can be used to determine the detention
time).
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3
FUNDAMENTALS TO DESIGN: PRIMARY
SEDIMENTATION
The performance of sedimentation will be influenced by
temperature, particle size, and so on.
When the temperature decreases, the rate of settling becomes
slower due to increase in the viscosity of water at low
temperatures.
In cold weather, the detention time in the sedimentation tanks
must increase. In that case, coagulants can be added to
compensate for the decreased settling rate.
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DESIGN EQUATIONS
Length (L)
Width (W)
A= pr2
Settling surface area, A = L x W Depth (d)
In
Out Circular Clarifier
Depth (d)
Rectangular Clarifier
1. Detention time = Volume of tank/Flow rate= V/Q
2. Surface Overflow or loading rate: Surface loading
rate is the volume of wastewater passing over unit
surface area of tank per day (m 3/m 2-d)
Surface overflow rate= Flow rate/ Settling surface area=Q/A
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Primary Treatment
Detention Times for Various Overflow Rates and Tank Depth
Overflow rate Detention period (hrs)
(m3/m2·day) d = 2 d = 2.5 d = 3 d = 3.5 d = 4 d = 4.5
30 1.6 2.0 2.4 2.8 3.2 3.6
40 1.2 1.5 1.8 2.1 2.4 2.7
50 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.7 1.9 2.2
60 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8
70 0.7 0.9 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.5
80 0.6 0.8 0.9 1.1 1.2 1.4
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4
DESIGN EQUATIONS
3. Weir loading rate: Weir overflow rate or weir loading
rate is the volume of wastewater leaving the settling tank
per unit length of the weir per day (m 3/m-d)
Weir loading rate=Flow rate/weir length
Rectangular Clarifier
Circular
Clarifier
Weir length → Width Weir length → perimeter
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DESIGN CRITERIA
•Minimum two tanks for continuous operation
Range Typical
Detention time, hr 1.5-2.5 2
Overflow rate, m3/m2-d
At average flow 30-50 40
At peak flow 70-130 100
Weir loading rate, m3/m-d 125-500 260
Dimensions
Rectangular tank
Length, m 15-90 25-40
Width, m 3-24 5-10
Depth, m 3-5 4.5
Length to width ratio 1-7.5 4
Length to depth ratio 4.2-25 7-18
Circular tank
Diameter, m 3-60 12-40
Depth, m 3-5 4.5
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Primary Treatment
BOD5 and TSS removal efficiency based on SLR and detention
time for the primary clarifier prior to activated sludge process
Parameter a b
R = expected removal efficiency
t = detention time in hr BOD 0.018 0.020
a, b = empirical constants TSS 0.0075 0.014
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5
Primary Treatment
Influent structure
Objectives
• Dissipate the inlet velocity (the velocity in the influent channel
shall be less than 0.35 m/sec at peak flow)
• Distribute flow equally both horizontally & vertically
• Eliminate corner pockets and dead ends
• Provide small head loss
ü Flow control, scum removal, and maintenance
ü Velocity at inlet pipe: 0.3 m/sec
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Primary Treatment
Influent structure
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Primary Treatment
Horizontal flow circular clarifier
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6
Primary Treatment
Influent structure
The influent structure includes:
• 1-m wide influent channel that runs across the width of the tank.
• Submerged square orifices are provided in the inside wall of the channel.
Ø Each orifice can be 0.4 m by 0.4 m.
Ø Total number of orifices can be 10 (5 in each side of the channel)
• Submerged baffle
A submerged influent baffle is
provided: Potential constructability issue
0.8 m in front, 1 m deep, and 5- To prevent settling
15 cm below the liquid surface.
W
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Primary Treatment
Influent channel
The velocity in the influent channel (v) should be less than 0.35 m/sec at peak flow.
Q influent channel = Q peak / (N x 2)
N = Number of tanks
Why we divided the flow by 2?
Half of the flow divides on each side of the basin.
The depth of water into the influent channel is fixed by the designer.
Assume the depth of water at the entrance of the influent channel is 1 m and the
width of the influent channel is 1 m.
vinfluent channel = Q influent channel / L x W = Q influent channel / 1 m x 1 m
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Primary Treatment
Head loss at the influent structure
The horizontal velocity in the sedimentation tank is small and is
ignored.
Qorifice = Qinfluent channel / n
n = number of orifices per one side of the influent channel
Flow rate for orifice:
Qorifice = C dA√2 g hL
hL = [Qorifice/(Cd . A . √2 g)]2
A = area of each orifice = 0.4 * 0.4 = 0.16 m 2
Cd = discharge coefficient = 0.6
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7
EXAMPLE #1
A wastewater treatment plant uses rectangular sedimentation
tanks for primary clarification. The average design flow is 14000
m 3/d with a peaking factor of 2.5.
• Two rectangular tanks are used.
• The length, width and depth of the tank are 24 m, 7 m, and 4
m, respectively.
• Single effluent weir is provided at the outlet zone.
Calculate the surface overflow rate and weir loading rate
for the average design flow.
What happens in peak flow conditions?
Comment on the design
State regulation specify a minimum detention time of 1 h.
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SOLUTION
Average design flow rate:
Minimum two tanks for continuous operation
Flow in each tank=14000/2=7000 m 3/d
Overflow rate=Q/A=7000/(24×7) Given,
The average design flow is 14000 m3/d.
=41.66 m 3/m 2-d → within range The length, width and depth of the tank are
24 m, 7 m, and 4 m, respectively.
Detention time=V/Q
=(24×7×4)/7000=2.3 h → within range
Weir loading rate=Q/ weir length
= 7000/7=1000 m 3/m-d → very high Weir loading rate, m3/m-d 125-500
Comment: A second set of weir may be added to reduce the
weir loading rate to 500 m 3/m-d
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SOLUTION
Peak flow rate
Peak Flow rate=(14000×2.5)=35000 m 3/d
Minimum two tanks for continuous operation
The average design flow is
Flow in each tank=35000/2=17500 m 3/d
14000 m3/d with a peaking
Overflow rate=Q/A=17500/(24×7) factor of 2.5. The length, width
=104.17 m 3/m 2-d → within range and depth of the tank are 24
m, 7 m, and 4 m, respectively.
Detention time=V/Q=(24×7×4)/17500
=0.92 h → slightly less than the specified 1 h minimum
Weir loading rate=Q/ weir length
= 17500/7=2500 m 3/m-d → very high Weir loading rate, m3/m-d 125-500
Comment: One option is to add additional effluent weirs to reduce weir loading rate.
Another option is to use an equalization basin during peak flow period. That would
increase the detention time in the primary clarifier as well as reduce weir loading rate.
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EXAMPLE #2
You have been assigned to design a primary clarifier for an
industrial WWTP.
The average design flow rate is 32000 m 3/d.
The total suspended solids (TSS) concentration is 300 mg/L.
The goal is to remove 60% TSS in primary treatment.
Two circular tanks are used.
Determine the following:
1. The diameter of the primary clarifier for a surface overflow rate of 40
m 3/m 2-d
2. The detention time in each primary clarifier
3. Total mass of primary sludge produced in kg TSS/d
Assume depth is 3.5 m
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SOLUTION
Flow in each tank, Q=32000/2=16000 m 3/d
1. Diameter of clarifier:
Surface area, A=πD2/4
Surface overflow rate=Q/A=4Q/πD2 → 40 m 3/m 2-d (given)
or, 4Q/πD2=40
or, D=22.56 m πD2/4 3.5 m (given)
2. Detention time:
Detention time=V/Q = (Area × depth)/Q =2.1 h
3. Sludge production rate:
Total mass primary sludge produced per day (60% TSS removed)
= (32000 m 3/d) × (300 mg TSS/L) × (1000 L/1 m 3) × (1 kg/106 mg) × 0.6
=5760 kg TSS/d
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References
• Ronald L. Droste, "Theory and Practice of Water and Wastewater Treatment", John Wiley
and Sons, 1997.
• Metcalf and Eddy Inc., "Wastewater Engineering: Origins, Characteristics, Treatment", 5th
edition, McGraw Hill, 2013
Water Use and Management
CIVL 3240: Sanitary and Environmental Engineering 27
