Low Cost Optimization of

Final Clarifiers
The Value of Knowledge-Based Tools

Sam Jeyanayagam, PhD, P.E, BCEE

Senior Associate
Malcolm Pirnie
Phone: 614-430-2611
Sjeyanayagam@Pirnie.com

OWEA Conference
17 June 2010
 Presentation Outline

• Background
• Functions of a Clarifier
• Tools for Clarifier Analysis
• Application of State Point Analysis
• Take Home Messages
 Presentation Outline

• Background
• Functions of a Clarifier
• Tools for Clarifier Analysis
• Take Home Messages
 Clarifier is a Key Component of the
Treatment Train

• It often limits the capacity of the entire

facility
• Plays a central role in wet weather
treatment
• Care should be taken in its design &
operation
Clarifier Analysis should be based on
a Systems Approach
Air Influent
SLR

Settleability
Settleability Clarifier Effl.
Performance
TSS

MLSS RAS WAS

SRT
Aeration Basin
 Important Terminology

• Overflow rate (OFR), Surface overflow rate (SOR)

• OFR = SOR = Q/A Q + Qras
Q
X
• Underflow rate (UFR)
• UFR = QRAS/A Qras

• Flux: Movement of solids through the clarifier

• Flux = Mass of solids (lb/d)/A

• Solids loading rate (lb/d/ft2) = [(Q + Qras)*X*8.34]/A

• State Point: Clarifier operating point

• Defined in terms of OFR & UFR
 Presentation Outline

• Background
• Functions of a Clarifier
• Tools for Clarifier Analysis
• Take Home Messages
 The Clarifier Must Perform
Two Basic Functions
1. Clarification:
 Solids separation Liquid
Liquid
 Involves a small fraction of Solids
Clarification Solids

the solids inventory

Thickening

2. Thickening

Solids
Liquid
 Transport & compaction
 Involves a majority of the
solids inventory

A clarifier must perform both functions.

 Clarification Function

• Clarification involves two velocities

• Downward velocity of solids
• Solids settling velocity (Vs)
Q
• Upward velocity of water Vs
OFR
• Rise velocity = Overflow rate (OFR)
= Q/A

• If OFR > Vs
• Solids carryover Clarification
failure means
• This is clarification failure high effl. TSS
 Thickening Function

• The Concept of limiting flux: Maximum rate at which

solids can be conveyed to the bottom of clarifier
Q + Qras
• If Solids in > Limiting flux Q
X Solids
washout
• Solids accumulate in clarifier
Thickening
Failure Normal
• Rising sludge blanket

• This is thickening failure

Qras

• If this continues, sludge will reach close to

effluent weir
• Solids carryover
 In Summary

Clarification
Failure
High Effluent
Solids

Thickening Sludge Blanket

Failure Increase
Sludge settleability is the single most 
important factor impacting clarifier 
performance
 Presentation Outline

• Background
• Functions of a Clarifier
• Tools for Clarifier Analysis
• Application of State Point
Analysis
• Take Home Messages
 Tools for Analyzing/
Predicting Clarifier Performance

• State Point Analysis

• Daigger-Roper Operating diagram
• Keinath operating charts
• Wilson approach
• Ekama-Marais approach
• Others
 State Point Analysis

• Extension of the solids flux theory

• Keinath & Wahlberg
• CRTC protocol

Allows the behavior of the clarifier to be 
examined in conjunction with the activated 
sludge process
State Point Analysis Starts with
Simple Settling Tests
 Settling Velocity
Settling Curve
Colum for
n #6 a given MLSS (X)

40

35

30
Settling Velocity (Vs) = Slope of Linear Portion
25
Interface Height

20

15

10

0
00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 24:00 28:00 40:00
Tim e

Run 1 Run 2
 Solids Flux Theory

Good Settling Sludge

Vesilind Equation Low SVI

Vs = V0 exp (-k X) G

Poor Settling
Solids Flux (G), kg/m2 - h Sludge High SVI
G = Vs X

X
Good settleability = Greater area under the curve relative
to poor settleability
 State Point Analysis (SPA)

 Superimpose Clarifier Operating Parameters

 Overflow rate (OFR=Q/A)
 Underflow rate (UFR=Qras/A)
 Rate = Slope
State Point is
Clarifier
Vs< SOR Operating Point
Vs = SOR
Vs> SOR

G
OFR State Point
Clarification Failure:
Location of the State Point

UFR Thickening Failure: Location

MLSS, X
Solids of UFR.
 Application of SPA

• When clarification or thickening failure occurs:

• Operator intervenes to correct the situation &
minimize the impact on the biological system

If this doesn’t happen

• Clarifier responds by self-correcting itself, but this

may impact the biological process
• SPA can be used to explain these two
eventualities
 Application of SPA
Diurnal Flow Variation
Safety
Factor
G G
OFR OFR

UFR
UFR

MLSS Solids MLSS Solids

Small flow increase due to

normal diurnal variation
• Stable operation
• Reduced safety factor
• No action by operator
 Application of SPA
Wet Weather Flows
SP outside the
“Safe Region”
OFR
Vs < SOR
G G
Vs= SOR
OFR

UFR UFR

MLSS Solids MLSS Solids

Large flow increase due
to wet weather
Operator response:
Clarifier response: • Convert to step-feed
• Solids washout • Reduced MLSS to
• Reduced MLSS & SRT clarifier
• Nitrification loss • SRT not impacted
• Nitrification maintained
 Application of SPA
SVI Increase
Good Settleability Good Settleability

G OFR G OFR

Operator response

Poor
Settleability

UFR UFR
MLSS Solids MLSS Solids

Good settleability (low SVI) Poor settleability (High Operator response

• Stable operation
SVI) • RAS chlorination
Clarifier response • Polymer addition
• Clarification failure
• Solids washout
• Lower MLSS
• Nitrification loss
 Application of SPA
MLSS Increase

G OFR
Large MLSS (SRT) Increase to target value:
• Solids in > Solids transport capacity
(limiting flux)
• Sludge blanket increase
• Thickening failure
UFR

MLSS Solids
Target MLSS
 Application of SPA
MLSS Increase
OFR G
G OFR

UFR UFR
MLSS Solids MLSS Solids
Target MLSS

Clarifier Response: Operator Action:

• Solids washout
• MLSS is reduced until limiting flux
• Stable operation with solids in = solids
transport capacity
• But MLSS (SRT) < Target value
• Increase RAS rate until limiting flux
• Maintain target MLSS
• Avoid thickening failure
 Presentation Outline

• Background
• Functions of a Clarifier
• Tools for Clarifier Analysis
• Take Home Messages
 Take Home Messages

• Sludge settleability is the single most important factor impacting

clarifier performance
• Clarifier design should be based on a systems approach
• SPA and similar tools can be used to improve the design and
operation of clarifiers:
• Use of site-specific sludge settleability data – avoid large safety factors
• Examine several operating scenarios (flow, SVI, MLSS) – process
optimization
• Size of aeration basin vs. size of clarifier – cost optimization
• Number of clarifiers in operation
• Clarifiers should not be used for storing sludge
• Minimize sludge blanket depth during normal operation
• Keep solids in the aeration basin
Questions?