GRAVITY THICKENER

(SEDIMENTATION)

The process by which bio solids are condensed to produce a concentrated solids product and a
relatively solids-free supernatant. Separation of suspended solid particles from a liquid stream
by gravity settling. The primary purpose of thickening is to increase the solids concentration of
the feed stream. Used at most wastewater treatment plants, economic measure, to reduce the
volume of sludge. It reduces the volume of residuals, improves operation, and reduces costs for
subsequent storage, processing, transfer, end use, or disposal. by settling.

OPERATION
First, the feed will enter to the feedwell, as it moves down to the feedwell flocculant is injected
so that as it moves down to the feedwell, flocculation and deaeration occur. Flocculant causes
fine particles to bind together and settled rapidly. The flocculant feed will go down to the rake
arms. The rake arm rotates slowly with the scraper blades on the bottom to push the solids in
the thickener to the deflector cone. The deflector cone is the cone shaped discharged located in
the center of the thickener. Once the solids enter the deflector cone, they are removed by
pumps, pumping the concentrated solid underflow to a conditioning tank. The clear water
overflows at the top of the thickener which channels the clear water to the overflow
discharged. The overflow is pumped from the thickener.
 DOUBLE CONE CLASSIFIER
(CLASSIFICATION)

Consists of a conical vessel, with a second hollow cone of greater angle arranged apex
downwards inside it, so that there is an annular space of approximately constant cross-section
between the two cones. The bottom portion of the inner cone is cut away and its position
relative to the outer cone can be regulated by a screw adjustment.

OPERATION
The airflow of Air Classifier conveys the material from below between the external and internal
envelope and subsequently reaches the upper part of the separator. The air while passing
through the blades of Air Classifier, which are regulated, from the outside of the separator
assume a rotary motion and enter the central cone.with the centrifugal effect in Air Classifier
the coarse Particles [the heavier ones] are accumulated on the bottom of central cone and are
then conveyed through a suitable pipe. The fine grade of the material is transported by the air
leaving the Separator of Air Classifier and is adjustable within very ample limits by operating
manually on the inclination of the blades.
 Hammer Mill (Size Reduction)

The hammer mill is an impact mill employing a high speed rotating disc, to which are fixed a
number of hammer bars which are swung outwards by centrifugal force. Material is fed in,
either at the top or at the center and it is thrown out centrifugally and crushed by being beaten
between the hammer bars, or against beaker plates fixed around the periphery of the
cylindrical casing.

OPERATION
As the name applies, a hammer mill is a machine that is used to shred or crush matter. The
most important parts of this mill are metal rods that work like hammers. The structure of a
hammer mill is simple. A shaft shaped like a drum is fixed with hammers, that are either
swinging freely with a cross shaped stand, or are fixed with the rotor. The rotor in a mill, rotates
the drum at high speed, to crush the material. Mills apply the law of inertia to work. The
shredded product is expelled out through the screen in the mill. This screen is attached to the
drum, incase of hammer mills where there’s no screen, the yield is ejected and sorted out, from
fine to course by air pressure.
 Rotary Drum Vacuum Filter (filtration)

consists of a drum rotating in a tub of liquid to be filtered.The technique is well suited

to slurries, and liquids with a high solid content, which could clog other forms of filter.
The drum is pre-coated with a filter aid, typically of diatomaceous earth (DE) or Perlite.

OPERATION
Drum filters are designed for all types of liquid/solid separation including medium concentrate
sludge and low-density solids which don’t require efficient washing.
The rotary drum vacuum filter, supported by two bearing blocks, is composed of successive
cells, which form a horizontal cylinder. The cylinder, in turn, supports the filter cloth which is
partially immersed in the tank. The cells are sealed and interconnected by pipes leading to the
distributor, which is divided into several zones, each gathering the various filtrates (mother
liquor, washing and drying waters) coming from the cell suction pipes as they pass during the
rotation of the drum.The slurry passes through the trough shaped tank to be filtered. The tank,
which is part of the filter frame, also supports the drum, the cake discharge system and the
slurry agitation device. For the cake discharge, several methods can be used such as string, belt,
scrapper or roller.