LECTURE #4 & 5

COAGULATION, MIXING, AND

FLOCCULATION
CLOS

2/1/2018
 Discuss the flocculation and coagulation
processes
 Enlist the various coagulants

 Calculate G value for mixing tank

 Describe the sedimentation theory

 Design a clarifier

2
 2/1/2018
Typical water treatment process flow diagram employing coagulation
(chemical mixing) with conventional treatment, direct filtration, or contact
filtration.

3
COAGULATION PROCESS

2/1/2018
Involve addition of chemical(s) (Coagulant(s))

 Destabilization of small suspended and colloidal

particulate matter

 Adsorption and/or reaction of portion of the colloidal

and dissolved NOM to particulate

 The creation of flocculent particles that will sweep

through the water to be treated
Enmeshing small suspended, colloidal, and dissolved
materials as they settle.
4
COAGULATION PROCESS

2/1/2018
 Alum, ferric chloride, and ferric sulfate
 Hydrolyze rapidly when mixed with water
Form insoluble precipitate
Destabilize particles by neutralizing the charge on fine
particles or
Adsorb on the surface of the particulate

Reduce the repulsive forces

5
 2/1/2018
Surface charge on a particle in water

6
ZETA POTENTIAL
• Electrophoresis
– When a charged particle is subjected to an electrical
field between two electrode
A negatively charged particle will migrate toward the
positive electrode

Fig 9-6
ZETA POTENTIAL
The electrical potential between the actual shear
plane and the bulk solution is called Zeta potential
Electrophoretic mobility, (μm/s)/(V/cm), vE/E

Zeta potential, mV
v k2 
o Dynamic viscosity

Z
Permittivity relative to a vacuum o Permittivity in a vacuum

vE= electrophoretic velocity of migrating particle, μm/s

E= electric field at particle , V/cm
K2=constant = 4π to 6π

Empirically, when the absolute value of the zeta potential is reduced below
about 20 mV, rapid flocculation occurs (Kruyt, 1952).
COAGULATION PROCESS

2/1/2018
 Key properties
 Trivalent cation
 Colloidal are negatively charged
 Effectiveness of cations: trivalent>divalent>monovalent

 Non toxic
 For production of potable water

 insoluble in the neutral pH range

 High concentrations of coagulants in treated water are
undesirable
 Aluminum (Al3+) and ferric iron (Fe3+)
9
2/1/2018
10
 Ex6-2
COAGULATION PRACTICE

2/1/2018
 Stiochiometry of metal ion coagulants

Al 2 (SO 4 )3 .14H 2O  6(HCO3 )  2Al(OH)3 (am)  3SO24  14H 2O  6CO2

Fe2 (SO 4 )3 .9H 2O  6(HCO 3 )  2Fe(OH)3 (am)  3SO 24  9H 2O  6CO2

FeCl3 .7 H 2O  3( HCO3 )  Fe(OH )3 (am)  3Cl   7 H 2O  3CO2

 If natural alkalinity is not sufficient

 NaOH, Ca(OH)2, Na2CO3 (Caustic soda, lime, soda ash)

11
2/1/2018
12
COAGULATION PRACTICE

2/1/2018
 NOT possible to predict coagulation performance
 Due to sequence of reactions
 Jar test

 pH and optimum dose

Optimal pH range for alum =5.5-6.5

Adequate coagulation 5 -8

13
Ex 6-3, 6-4

2/1/2018
14
COAGULATION PRACTICE

2/1/2018
 Interactions with other constituents in water
 SO42-, NOM, F-, PO43-

 Typical dosage
 Alum 10 -150 mg/L
 Ferric Sulfate 10 -250 mg/L
 and Ferric Chloride 5-150 mg/L
 Importance of initial mixing with metal salt

 Half of Al3+ hydrolyzed to Al(OH)2+ within 10-5 s

 Coagulation of silica dispersion with Al3+ in order of 10-3s
15
EXAMPLE

2/1/2018
A water treatment plant with an average flow of Q=0.044
m3.s-1 treat its water with alum (Al2(SO4)3.14H2O) at a dose
of 25 mg.L-1. Alum coagulation is used to remove particulate
matter, reduce the concentration of organic matter, and
reduce the alkalinity of the water according to the reaction
given below
Al 2 (SO 4 )3 .14H 2O  6(HCO3 )  2Al(OH)3 (am)  3SO24  14H 2O  6CO2
If organic matter concentration is reduced from 8 mg.L-1 to 3
mg.L-1, determine the total mass of alkalinity consumed and
the total mass of dry solids removed.

16
IRON

2/1/2018
 With alkalinity

FeCl3 .7 H 2O  3( HCO3 )  Fe(OH )3 (am)  3Cl   7 H 2O  3CO2

 Without alkalinity

FeCl3  3H 2O  Fe(OH )3 (am)  3Cl   3H 

Effective pH range 4-9

17
COAGULANT AND FLOCCULANT AIDS

2/1/2018
 Coagulant Aid
 Insoluble particulate materials
 Added to enhance coagulation

 Clay (bentonite, kaolinite)

 Sodium silicate

 Powdered activated carbon

 Added to water that contain low concentration of

particles
 To form nucleating sites

18
COAGULANT AND FLOCCULANT AIDS

2/1/2018
 Flocculent aids
 Uncharged and –vely charged organic polymers

 Added after coagulants are added (already

destabilized particles)

 Jar test
 Floc strength
 Size

 Settling rate

 Activated Silica
 Inorganic flocculant aid
19
MIXING

2/1/2018
 Mixing (rapid mixing)
 Chemicals are quickly and uniformly dispersed in the
water

 Chemical reaction in coagulation is completed within

0.1 s
 Mixing must be instantaneous and complete as possible

20
RAPID MIXING

2/1/2018
 Volume of rapid mixing tank
V= td*Q td= detention time
Volume not more than 8m3
- mixing equipment and geometry constrains
Mixing equipment
electric motor, gear-type speed reducer
turbine or axial-flow impeller

Design liquid depth = 0.5 to 1.1 times of diameter or

width
Impeller diameter = 0.30-0.50 times of tank diameter or
width 21
2/1/2018
22
 Portion of influent
flow used to
disperse chemical
into bulk flow

Pumps

2/1/2018
Water to be mixed
with chemicals

Inline static mixer (b)

Water to be mixed
with chemical

Converging section results in

increased fluid velocity
Water to be mixed with
chemical In-line venturi mixture

23
EXAMPLE 2

2/1/2018
A water treatment plant is to be turned into
a research facility treating 0.044 m3/s. A
low-turbidity iron coagulation plant has
been proposed with the following design
parameters
Rapid mixing to= 10 s ,
water temperature =18oC
Determine the size of the rapid-mix tank

24
SOLUTION

2/1/2018
- Volume of the rapid-mix tank
V= Qxto = 0.044m3/s x 10 s = 0.44 m3
Less then 8 m3 OK

Two tanks are need in case of failure

Two alternate tanks, each with volume 0.44 m3 (because
volume of tank is very small)

Depth-to-dia (or width) ratio = 0.75

Depth = 0.75xdiameter
Volume of cylinder = [pi(dia)2]/4 x depth
0.44 m3=[pi(d)2]/4 0.75 d => d= 0.907
25
Surface area = pi x d2/4 = 0.646 m or 0.65 m2
Depth = volume/surface area = 0.44 m3/0.65m2 = 0.68m
SOLUTION

2/1/2018
 Practical problem – not suitable dimensions

Let’s pick a tank with diameter = 1 m

Depth = 0.75
Volume = pi(d)2/4 * depth = pi(1)2/4 *0.75=0.59m3

Detention time = 0.59m3/0.044m3/s = 13.4 s

Detention time within suggested guidelines

26
ROOT MEAN SQUARE VELOCITY GRADIENT

2/1/2018
 RMS velocity gradient
G
 Design parameter
 Speed of flocculation is directly proportional to the
velocity gradient
 Simple relation for G
equate with the velocity gradient with power
dissipated per unit volume (P/V)

P
G
Global RMS velocity gradient
(energy input rate, s-1) Power of mixing input to vessel, J/s
V
Dynamic viscosity of water, N.s/m2 Volume of mixing vessel, m3
(Pa.s)
G is widely adopted standard used by engineers for assessing energy input in all mixing 27
processes
 2/1/2018
 Recommended G values for
adsorption/destabilization reactions
 G values= 3,000 to 5,000 s -1 and
 detention times =on the order of 0.5 s.

 For sweep coagulation,

 Detention times of 1 to 10 s and
 G values in the range of 600 to 1,000 s s -1 are
recommended (Amirtharajah, 1978).

28
2/1/2018
29
 P
EXAMPLE G
V
Using Table 6-4 select an in-
line blender for an alum
coagulant. The jar test data

2/1/2018
resemble that shown in Figure
6-11 . The design flow rate is
383 m3 /h, and the design
water temperature is 17oC.
viscosity of the water is 1.081 x10-3 Pa · s at 17o C

Recommended G values for adsorption/destabilization reactions

G values= 3,000 to 5,000 s -1 and
detention times =on the order of 0.5 s.
30
SOLUTION
 G values in the range of 3,000 to 5,000 s-1 and detention times on
the order of 0.5 s are recommended for adsorption/destabilization
reactions

2/1/2018
 As a first trial, select model AZ-6,
 reaction chamber diameter of 36 cm (dimension C in Table 6-4 )
 length of 60 cm (dimension D in Table 6-4 ) and
 calculate the volume of the reaction chamber

 Check the detention time , t=V/Q

Close to recommended

 Estimate the value of G assuming that the water power is 80% of

the motor power. From Table 6-4find the motor power is 1,500 W
P = 0.8x 1500W= 1200 W viscosity of the water is 1.081
x10-3 Pa · s at 17o C

P
G 31
This meets the velocity gradient criteria.
V
 2/1/2018
Comparison of (a) radial and (b) axial flow mixers with
respect to shape, velocity profiles, and circulation patterns. (Adapted 32
from Oldshue and Trussell, 1991.)
2/1/2018
33
IMPELLER

2/1/2018
 The power imparted to the liquid in a baffled
tank by an impeller for fully turbulent flow
(Rushton,1952)

P power, W
N p impeller constant (also called power
number)
n rotational speed, revolutions/s
D i impeller diameter, m
r density of liquid, kg/m 3

34
2/1/2018
35
2/1/2018
36
 2/1/2018
37
V
P
G
 2/1/2018
38

Source: MHW’s Water treatment: Principles and design

FLOCCULATION PROCESS

2/1/2018
 Production of particles by aggregation for
removal in subsequent particle separation
process
Depending on size

 Microflocculation (perikinetic flocculation)

 Random thermal motion of fluid molecules

 Macroflocuulation (orthokinetic flocculation)

 Inducing velocity gradient and mixing in the fluid

39
 FLOCCULATION

2/1/2018
Schematic illustrating the progression of the particle aggregation
process
40
 FLOCCULATION PRACTICE

2/1/2018
Vertical-shaft turbine flocculation system

Horizontal paddle wheel flocculation system

Hydraulic flocculation systems

41

Source: MHW’s Water treatment: Principles and design

2/1/2018
42
DESIGN APPROACH

2/1/2018
 Basic Design criteria (mechanical flocculator)

 Velocity gradient G

 Hydraulic detention time, t

 Depend more on downstream process
 Direct filtration - shorter detention time (10-20 min)

 Conventional treatment – 20-30 min

 Longer time for cold climates

43

Source: Water and wastewater engineering by Mackenzie

 2/1/2018
44

Source: MHW’s Water treatment: Principles and design

 2/1/2018
45

Source: MHW’s Water treatment: Principles and design

DESIGN OF VERTICAL TURBINE
FLOCCULATOR

2/1/2018
46

Source: MHW’s Water treatment: Principles and design

SOLUTION

2/1/2018
47
2/1/2018
48