Grit Removal
Grit: sand, dust, cinder, bone chips, coffee grounds, seeds,
eggshells, and other materials in wastewater that are
nonputrescible and are heavier than organic matter.
Reason for grit removal
To protect moving mechanical equipment and pumps
from unnecessary wear and abrasion
To prevent clogging in pipes, heavy deposits in channels
To prevent cementing effects on the bottom of sludge
digesters and primary sedimentation tanks
To reduce accumulation of inert material in aeration
basins and sludge digesters which would result in loss of
usable volume
Specific gravity
Grit: 1.5~2.7
Organic matter in wastewater: 1.02
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Location of Grit Removal Facility
Location Advantages Disadvantages
Ahead of lift Max. protection of pumping Frequently deep in the
station equipment ground, high construction
cost, not easily accessible,
and difficult to raise the grit
to ground level
After pumping Ground level structure - Some abnormal wear to
station easy to access and pumps
operate
Degritter in Usually low capital and Pumping equipment not
conjunction operation and maintenance adequately protected
with primary costs, cleaner and drier
sludge grit
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Velocity-Controlled Grit Channel
A long narrow sedimentation basin with better control of
flow through velocity - used for small plants
Design Factors
Detention time: 60 sec.
Horizontal velocity: 0.3 m/sec
Settling velocity for a 65-mesh material: 1.15 m/min
Headloss: 30~40% of the max. water depth in the channel
Grit removal: manual or mechanical
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Grit Removal
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Grit Removal System
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Grit Removal System
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Removed Grit Hopper
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Grit Loading System
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Pista® Grit Removal System
• Operates on the vortex
principle.
• Headloss: max. 0.25 inch
• Removal efficiency
95% of the 50 mesh size grit
83% of the 80 mesh size grit
73% of the 140 mesh size grit
• Capacity: 1~70 MGD
• Can be installed above or
below ground
• Lower power usage
• Supplied in steel for easy
installation and/or attachment
to a concrete channel
• Installed in multiples
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Pista® Grit
Removal System
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Grit King® Dynamic Separator
• Has no moving parts
• Requires no external power source
• Virtually maintenance free
• Highly efficient w/ min. headloss
• Recovers clean grit
• Self-cleansing
Designed to operate over a wide
range of flows
• Compact, requiring minimal space
• Simple to install and operate
• Easily linked with new or existing
plant
• Economical, reduces long term
expenditure
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Grit Washing/Sludge
Degritting System
• Washing (classifying) and dewatering grit abrasives removed by a
headworks grit chamber
• Degritting dilute primary or
secondary sewage sludges
• The SCS™ uses a very strong
free vortex and an accelerated
boundary layer to separate
abrasives as small as 50 µm
sand from organic solids and
water and concentrate these
abrasives in a slurry stream.
Sand is then separated from
the slurry stream and
dewatered by the total particle
capture GRIT SNAIL™.
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Grit Separation and Washing Unit
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Grit Separation and Washing Unit
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Aerated Grit Chamber
Widely used for selective removal of grits
Create a spiral current within the basin using diffused
compressed air
Designed to remove
grit particles having a
specific gravity of 2.5
and retained over a
65-mesh (0.21-mm )
screen
Used for medium to
large treatment plants
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Aerated Grit Chamber - continued
Advantages
Can be used for chemical addition, mixing, and
flocculation ahead of primary treatment
Fresh wastewater, thus reduce odors and remove BOD5
Minimal headloss
Grease removal by providing a skimming device
Remove low putrescible organic matter by air supply
Remove any desired size by controlling the air supply
Volatile organic compound (VOC) and odor emission
Due to a health risk, covers may be required or
nonaerated type grit chambers may be used.
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Aerated Grit Chamber - continued
Design Factors
Depth: 2~5 m; length: 7.5~20 m; width: 2.5~7 m;
width/depth ratio: 1:1~5:1; length/width ratio: 2.5:1~5:1
Transverse velocity at surface: 0.6~0.8 m/sec
Detention time at peak flow: 2~5 min
Air supply: 4.6~12.4 L/sec·m of tank length (3~8 cfm/ft) -
Higher air rate should be used for wider and deeper tanks;
provision for air flow control
Inlet structure: Inlet to the chamber should introduce the
influent into circulation pattern. > 0.3 m/sec under all
flow conditions
Outlet structure: Outlet should be at a right angle to the
inlet. > 0.3 m/sec under all flow conditions
Baffles: longitudinal and transverse baffles
Chamber geometry: consider location of air diffusers,
sloping tank bottom, grit hopper, and accommodation of
grit collection and removal equipment
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Aerated Grit Chamber
Design Checklist
Design average, peak, and low initial flows
Information on existing facility in case of expansion,
site plan, and topographic maps
Type of grit removal facility to be provided
Influent pipe data, and static head, force main, hydraulic
grade line if grit removal is preceded by a pumping
station
Headloss constraints for grit removal facility
Treatment plant design criteria
Equipment manufacturers and equipment selection
guides
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Design Criteria Used in Example
Two grit chambers with spiral circulation
Typically designed for max. flow delivered by the
pumping station: 1.56 m3/sec ( 24,700 gpm)
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Design peak flow: 1.321 m /sec; due to friction headloss
and installation of variable-drive pumps, use design
peak flow
Detention time: 4 min at Qmax
Air supply rate: 7.8 L/sec·m of tank length
Provide nozzle diffusers with coarse bubbles.
Provisions for 150% air capacity for peaking purposes
Inlet and outlet min. velocity: 0.3 m/sec
Chamber width: 3.5 m
Screw conveyer to move the grit to the hopper and grab
buckets for grit removal
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Design Example
A. Geometry of Grit Chamber
1. Qmax through each chamber: 0.661 m3/sec
Volume: 0.661 m3/sec 4 min 60 sec/min = 158.6 m3
Average water depth at midwidth: 3.65 m
Freeboard: 0.8 m
Total depth: 3.65 m + 0.8 m = 4.45 m
Surface area: 158.6 m3/3.65 m = 43.5 m2
Length: 43.5 m2/3.5 m = 12.5 m 13 m
Design surface area: 3.5 m 13 m = 45.5 m2
2. Diffuser arrangement: along the length of the chamber
on one side and place them 0.6 m above the bottom
3. Actual detention time at Qmax = (3.5 m 13 m 3.65
m) (0.661 m3/sec 60 sec/min) = 4.2 min
When only one chamber is in operation, HRT = 2.1 min
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Design Example - continued
B. Design of Air Supply System
1. Air requirements
Air required = 7.8 L/sec·m 13 m = 101.4 L/sec
Total capacity of diffusers: 1.5 101.4 L/sec = 152.1
L/sec per chamber
Blower capacity: 2 152.1 L/sec = 18.3 standard m3/min
Provide two 20 m3/min blowers (one standby unit) at the
operating pressure of 27.6 kN/m2 (4 psig) at the outlet.
Air piping shall deliver a min. of 0.15 m3/sec air to each
chamber. Provide control valves and flow meters on all
branch lines to balance the air flow.
2. Diffusers and blowers
Provide coarse diffusers with air pipe headers and hanger
feed pipes having swing joint assembly.
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Design Example - continued
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Design Example - continued
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Design Example - continued
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Design Example - continued
C. Surface Rise Rate
1. Overflow rate when both chambers are in operation
Overflow rate: (0.661 m3/sec 86,400 sec/day) (3.5 m
13 m) = 1,255.2 m3/m2·day (30,805 gpd/ft2)
2. Overflow rate when one chamber is in out of service
Overflow rate: 2 1,255.2 = 2,510.4 m3/m2·day
D. Influent Structure
1. Arrangement of influent structure
Provide 1-m wide submerged influent channel with two
1 m 1 m orifices. Provide a baffle at the influent to
divert the flow transversally to follow the circulation
pattern. Provide sluice gates to remove one chamber
from service for maintenance purposes.
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Design Example - continued
2. Headloss calculation through the influent structure
v 22 v12
Δz hL
2g 2g
z = z1 - z2 = difference in elevation of free water
surface into the channel and the chamber (m).
1.321 m3 /sec
v1 0.33 m/sec
1 m 4.06 m (assumed water depth in the channel)
1.321 m3 /sec
v2 0.10 m/sec
3.5 m 3.82 m (assumed water depth in the chamber)
v 22 v12
0.005 m (neglegibl e)
2g 2g
hL = hL (into influent channel) + hL (exit loss thru port)
0 negligible
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Design Example - continued
Q Cd A 2gh L
where A = orifice area, m2 and
Cd = discharge coef. = 0.61 - square-edged entrance
2
3
1.321 m /sec
Δz h L 0.24 m
0.611 m 1 m 2 9.81 m/sec
2
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Design Example - continued
E. Effluent Structure
1. Arrangement of effluent structure
Provide a 2.5-m long rectangular weir, an effluent trough
(2.5 m long 1.5 m wide), an effluent box (2.3 m 1.5
m), and an outlet pipe. Provide removable gates at the
effluent box to drain the effluent trough when one
chamber is removed from service.
2. Head over the effluent weir
2
Q C d L' 2gH 3
3 3
where Q= flow over weir, m /sec;
H = head over weir, m;
Cd = discharge coef. = 0.624; and
L’ = L - 0.2 H (L = length of weir).
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Design Example - continued
At peak design flow when both chambers are in operation,
Q = 0.661 m3/sec. Calculate H by trial & error
Assume L’ = 2.47 m H = 0.28 m L = 2.5 - 0.2·0.28 =
2.47 m (same - ok); thus, H = 0.28 m
3. Height of the weir crest above the bottom of the chamber
Height of weir crest = 3.65 m - 0.28 m = 3.37 m
4. Head over the effluent weir at Qmax when one chamber is
out of service
Assume L’ = 2.41 m H = 0.45 m L = 2.5 - 0.2·0.45 =
2.41 m (same - ok); thus, H = 0.45 m
5. Water depth in the chamber at Qmax when one chamber is
out of service
Height of weir crest above
Water depth head over weir
the bottom of the chamber
= 3.37 m + 0.45 m = 3.82 m
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Design Example - continued
6. Depth of the effluent trough
Flow varies in a free falling weir discharge. For uniform
velocity distribution, the drop in the water surface
elevation between two sections is expressed as follows:
q1vave v2
Δy' Δv Δq (SE )ave Δx
g q ave q1
where y’ = drop in water surface elevation between
sections 1 and 2, m;
x = horizontal distance between sections 1 & 2, m;
y1 and y2 = depth of flow at sections 1 and 2, m;
q1 and q2 = discharge at sections 1 and 2, m;
v1 and v2 = velocity at sections 1 and 2, m;
(SE)ave = average slope of the energy line, m/m;
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Design Example - continued
(SE )ave
2
n vave 2
Rave = (R1 + R2)/2
R ave 4/3
where n = roughness coefficient and
R = hydraulic mean radius, m.
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Design Example - continued
Depth of flow in the trough at the upstream section
2q' L N
2
y1 y22
gb 2 y2
where y1 = water depth at the upstream end, m;
y2 = water depth in the trough at a distance L from
the upstream end, m;
q’ = discharge per unit length of the weir, m3/sec·m;
b = width of the trough, m; and
N = number of sides the weir receives flow (1 or 2).
Q 1.321 m3 /sec
q' 0.5284 m3 /sec m
Length of weir 2.5 m
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Design Example - continued
Assume water depth in the effluent box at the exit point
(center of the effluent pipe) is 1.5 m; thus, the water depth
in the trough at the effluent box, y2, is also 1.5 m.
y1 (1.5 m)
2 3
2
2 0.5284 m /sec m 2.5 m 1
1.54 m
9.81 m/sec (1.5 m) 1.5 m
2 2
2/3
3
1.321 m /sec
dc 0.43 m submerged outfall
2
1.5 m 9.81 m/sec
Allow 12% additional depth to account for friction losses,
and add 15 cm to ensure a free fall. Thus,
Total depth of trough = 1.54 m 1.12 + 0.15 m = 1.88 m
F. Headloss through the Grit Chamber
Total headloss = hL at the effluent structure + hL at the
influent structure + hL in the basin + hL due to baffles
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Design Example - continued
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Design Example - continued
Headloss due to influent and effluent baffles
v 22 A b
h L CD
2g A
where v2 = velocity through the chamber;
Ab = vertical projection of the area of the baffle; and
CD = drag coef. = 1.9 for flat plates.
v2 = 1.321 m3/sec [(3.5 m width)(3.82 m water depth)]
= 0.099 m/sec 2
(0.099 m/sec) 0.5
h L 1.9 0.0005 m
2 9.81 m/sec 1
2
The headloss is small; so it can be neglected. Similarly,
the headloss due to effluent baffle can also be ignored.
G. Quantity of Grit
Grit produced = 30 m3/106 m3 0.44 m3/sec 86400 sec/day
= 1.14 m3/day
Combined system: 10~30 ft3/Mil gal; Separate system: 2~10 ft3/Mil 40
gal
Operation and Maintenance
Requires well-trained operators
Maximize grit removal efficiency
Adjust the air flow to allow grit to settle but prevent
organic material from settling
Use swing type diffusers for easy maintenance
Trouble Shooting Guide
Rotten-egg odor, corrosion or wear on equipment:
increase air supply and inspect the walls, channels, and
the chamber for debris
Low recovery of grit: reduce air supply
Grit chamber overflow: adjust pump controls
Reduced surface turbulence: clean diffusers
High volatile matter content in grit: reduce air supply
Grey in color, smelly, greasy: increase air supply
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