Laboratory tests of electro-osmotic consolidation combined with vacuum preloading on kaolinite using electrokinetic geosynthetics

Laboratory tests were conducted on kaolinite to investigate the effectiveness of electro-osmotic consolidation combined with vacuum preloading using electrokinetic geosynthetics (EKG). The results showed that the combined method could remove more water and induce larger surface ground settlements compared with the traditional vacuum preloading or electro-osmotic consolidation. Vacuum preloading was quite effective during the first 4?h, though the electro-osmotic consolidation took a main role in dewatering process after 9?h. The combined method could also hinder the development of cracks, induce higher negative pore water pressure and hence increase the efficiency of electro-osmotic consolidation. The results showed that deep electro-osmotic consolidation technique combined with vacuum preloading could result in significant water removal efficiency along with shorter electrode length. Furthermore, both electro-osmotic consolidation and the combined method could consolidate the soil efficiently with low energy consumption.     

含盐量对软黏土电渗排水影响的试验研究

为了研究土体含盐量对软黏土电渗排水的影响,在自制的试验槽里进行室内一维试验,利用试验数据从排水量、排水速率、能量消耗、含水率和电化学反应等 5 方面对电渗性状进行对比分析。试验结果表明：含盐量对软黏土电渗性状有着明显影响,并存在最佳含盐量;较高的含盐量不利于电渗排水和含水率降低,而且会导致能量消耗、阳极腐蚀量和电渗后酸碱不平衡较大;能量消耗系数、阳极腐蚀百分比和排水速率与电流强度的比值这 3 者都与土体含盐量存在一定的定量关系。试验结果能为判别电渗的工程适宜性提供一定的参考依据。     

Pressurised electro-osmotic dewatering of activated and anaerobically digested sludges: electrical variables analysis

Pressurised electro-osmotic dewatering (PEOD) of two sewage sludges (activated and anaerobically digested) was studied under constant electric current (C.C.) and constant voltage (C.V.) with a laboratory chamber simulating closely an industrial filter. The influence of sludge characteristics, process parameters, and electrode/filter cloth position was investigated. The next parameters were tested: 40 and 80 A/m², 20, 30, and 50 V—for digested sludge dewatering; and 20, 40 and 80 A/m², 20, 30, and 50 V—for activated sludge dewatering. Effects of filter cloth electric resistance and initial cake thickness were also investigated.The application of PEOD provides a gain of 12 points of dry solids content for the digested sludge (47.0% w/w) and for the activated sludge (31.7% w/w). In PEOD processed at C.C. or at C.V., the dewatering flow rate was similar for the same electric field intensity. In C.C. mode, both the electric resistance of cake and voltage increase, causing a temperature rise by ohmic effect. In C.V. mode, a current intensity peak was observed in the earlier dewatering period. Applying at first a constant current and later on a constant voltage, permitted to have better control of ohmic heating effect. The dewatering rate was not significantly affected by the presence of filter cloth on electrodes, but the use of a thin filter cloth reduced remarkably the energy consumption compared to a thicker one: 69% of reduction energy input at 45% w/w of dry solids content. The reduction of the initial cake thickness is advantageous to increase the final dry solids content.     

软黏土二维电渗固结性状的试验研究

 利用自制的试验装置,进行轴对称条件下的饱和软黏土电渗固结试验,通过测量电渗过程中的电势、电流和排出的水量以及电渗结束后土体的沉降量和含水率分布,从电渗机制和能量消耗的角度研究土体的性状。结果表明：(1) 土体中的电势不仅与到阴极的距离有关,而且与通电时间有关。轴对称条件下电势以折线形式分布,折点在阴极附近。(2) 土体中的电场强度并不是不变的,当忽略界面电阻的影响时,它随电渗时间线性减小。(3) 在电渗的后期,土体电阻率和能量消耗急剧增加,并且存在突变点。试验证明,可以通过能耗系数曲线来控制电渗时间,减少能量消耗,提高电渗效益。     

化学电渗法加固软基位移场观测透明土模型试验

化学电渗法是通过电极添加化学溶液以提高电渗效率、增强加固效果的新技术。基于新型透明黏土材料和PIV技术,开展化学电渗法加固软基透明土模型试验,可视化观测土体内部位移场、排水量等变化规律;着重分析了电压梯度、电渗时长、以及化学溶液浓度等因素对软基加固效果的影响规律。研究结果表明:本文试验条件下,电压梯度每增大0.2V/cm,电流峰值平均增大35%,排水速率峰值平均增大30%;加入化学溶液能降低40%的有效电阻,试剂浓度每增大0.5 mol/L,排水速率峰值平均增幅为25%。     

Effect of polyelectrolyte conditioning on the enhanced dewatering of activated sludge by application of an electric field during the expression phase

Activated sludge is known to be poorly dewaterable due to its high surface charge density and the extreme solids compressibility, even after polyelectrolyte conditioning. The application of an electric field during pressure dewatering (PDW) of sludge can enhance the dewaterability by the electroosmosis effect. A comparative study was conducted to investigate the additional effect of an electric field, applied during the expression phase, on the dewatering course of polyelectrolyte conditioned sludge, compared to mere PDW. It was found that the application of an electric field markedly improved the dewatering kinetics for all sludge samples, regardless of the conditioning treatment. Although the conditioning polyelectrolyte characteristics and dose had a major effect on the PDW of sludge, the conditioning history did not have a significant effect on the electroosmotic water transport efficiency during the sludge expression phase. By means of on-line streaming potential measurements and fractionated filtrate electrophoretic mobility measurements, it could be demonstrated that even at high polyelectrolyte doses, leading to positively charged sludge flocs, negative surface charges were still present inside the sludge matrix. During the expression of the sludge cake, when liquid is forced to move through the floc inside pores, these negative surface charges hampered PDW, but enhanced electroosmotic dewatering. Electroosmosis is therefore an appropriate technique to remove the water fraction that is associated with these negative surface charges.     

Electrical field: A historical review of its application and contributions in wastewater sludge dewatering

Electric field-assisted dewatering, also called electro-dewatering, is a technology in which a conventional dewatering mechanism such a pressure dewatering is combined with electrokinetic effects to realize an improved liquid/solids separation, to increase the final dry solids content and to accelerate the dewatering process with low energy consumption compared to thermal drying. Electro-dewatering is not a new idea, but the practical industrial applications have been limited to niche areas in soil mechanics, civil engineering, and the ceramics industry. Recently, it has received great attention, specially, in the fields of fine-particle sludge, gelatinous sludge, sewage sludge, pharmaceutical industries, food waste and bull kelp, which could not be successfully dewatered with conventional mechanical methods. This review focuses on the scientific and practical aspects of the application of an electrical field in laboratory/industrial dewatering, and discusses this in relation to conventional dewatering techniques. A comprehensive bibliography of research in the electro-dewatering of wastewater sludges is included.As the fine-particle suspensions possess a surface charge, usually negative, they are surrounded by a layer with a higher density of positive charges, the electric double layer. When an electric field is applied, the usually negative charged particles move towards the electrode of the opposite charge. The water, commonly with cations, is driven towards the negative electrode. Electro-dewatering thus involves the well-known phenomena of electrophoresis, electro-osmosis, and electromigration. Following a detailed outline of the role of the electric double layer and electrokinetic phenomena, an analysis of the components of applied voltage and their significance is presented from an electrochemical viewpoint. The aim of this elementary analysis is to provide a fundamental understanding of the different process variables and configurations in order to identify potential improvements. Also discussed herein is the investigation of the electrical behaviour of a porous medium, with particular emphasis on porous medium conductivity determination.     

污泥电渗透脱水操作条件的优化研究

城市污水厂污泥的电渗透脱水技术具有脱水效果好的特点,但能耗较高,为此考察了电压梯度、泥饼厚度和机械压力等操作条件对脱水效果的影响。结果显示,选择较大的电压梯度并辅以适当的机械压力对电渗透脱水有利;通过优化操作条件可降低电耗。     

真空脱水工艺改善混凝土抗冲磨性能试验研究

采用透水模板衬与真空脱水工艺相结合的方法浇注低水灰比混凝土,探讨以中高强度配比的真空成型混凝土达到高强混凝土抗冲磨性能的可行性.试验结果表明： 降低水泥的比表面积可提高低水胶比混凝土的真空脱水率,进而提高混凝土抗冲磨性能;采用透水模板衬和真空脱水工艺相结合的方法,可使配制强度为C50的真空成型混凝土抗冲磨性能达到或超出配制强度为C70的非真空高强混凝土,由此可减少单方混凝土胶凝材料用量,有利于减少混凝土的收缩.真空脱水工艺提高混凝土抗冲磨性能的机理在于其明显降低了混凝土孔隙率,靠近表层的混凝土最可几孔径、临界孔径和平均孔径均明显减小,孔结构得到明显优化.     

Improved estimates of power consumption during dewatering of mine tailings using electrokinetic geosynthetics (EKGs)

Electrokinetic geosynthetics (EKGs) were developed about a decade ago, producing a material that did not experience the same corrosion problems as metal electrodes when used in electro-osmotic (EO) dewatering applications. The conductive polymeric material from which EKGs are made has the additional advantage of being able to be formed into a variety of shapes, including drainage tubes such as those used in this study. One of the primary concerns regarding EO dewatering applications is the rate of energy consumption. This paper reports experiments at three different scales, on different mine tailings materials, that illustrates the potentially misleading results obtained from small scale laboratory tests. Using large, outdoor tests, power consumption rates for treating a kaolinitic mineral sands tailings and a smectitic diamond tailings were found to be up to 30 times lower than the power consumption rates obtained from laboratory tests using small samples in a purpose built EO cell. The primary reason for the improved performance is thought to be the lower voltage gradient used in the field tests, plus the geometric advantages offered by a field layout where a greater volume of material is exposed to the EO effect than only the material directly between the electrodes, which is the case in the EO cell tests. Finally, in the field tests the EO treatment caused the early development of vertical cracks in the tailings, resulting in increased exposure of the tailings to the effects of solar drying. This effect cannot obviously be reproduced in the EO cell laboratory tests, and can be a major advantage for the in situ treatment of mine tailings lagoons, where in some materials the onset of cracking is significantly delayed by the development of an impermeable surface crust.     

武汉地区工程中的地下水问题及其处理对策

本文介绍了武汉地区的水文地质概况 ,基坑工程中的地下水问题及其处理对策。重点讨论了管井降水、隔渗和降水与隔渗的配合使用。对地下水处理过程中的环境保护问题进行了详细的讨论。     

井点降水联合强夯法加固饱和淤泥质地基的试验研究

 针对传统强夯法不适用于高地下水位条件下加固饱和淤泥质黏土地基的不足,提出井点降水联合强夯新型静–动力排水固结技术与施工工艺,并结合广州港南沙港区粮食及通用码头工程软基处理试验区科研项目,通过对地下水位、孔隙水压力和表层沉降等实施现场监测及室内土工试验,分析其加固机制,进而验证施工参数。地基处理后,经静力触探试验、十字板剪切试验、标准贯入试验和静载荷板试验检测,证明加固效果显著,比贯入阻力提高200～300 kPa,标贯击数增加2击,地基承载力达130 kPa。研究工作为今后软基处理工程提供一种新的方法和思路。     

武汉某湖泊底泥的机械脱水性能研究

通过测定污泥比阻值来评价污泥的脱水性能,探讨采用机械脱水的方法处理武汉某湖泊疏浚底泥的可行性和经济性。结果表明,底泥脱水性能良好,可以采用机械脱水的处理方法。CaO、PAC、FeCl3和PAM都可以进一步改善污泥的脱水性能,而CaO和PAC的处理效果更好,且PAC的成本更低。较佳的控制条件：温度为16～18℃,过滤压强为0．015MPa左右,PAC投加量为0．09％左右。采用机械脱水方式处理底泥,操作压强低、药剂投加量少、脱水效果好、经济可行。     

高含水率疏浚淤泥透气真空防淤堵模型

透气真空技术解决了传统真空处理高含水率疏浚淤泥存在的淤堵问题,但其防淤堵控制尚缺乏有效分析方法.利用Ruth滤水理论建立了高含水率疏浚淤泥径向排水模型,采用透气真空抽水模型的试验结果验证了模型的有效性.同时,明确了反映淤泥排水层滤水性能的径向平均比阻arav在抽水过程中的变化规律:传统真空抽水形成的淤泥排水层有一个被压密的过程,孔隙结构不稳定,排水管道易发生淤堵;而采用透气真空抽水可以使淤泥排水层形成相对稳定的孔隙结构,有效地防止淤堵现象的发生.     

真空脱水与非真空脱水混凝土的抗碳化性能比较研究

提出制作真空脱水小试件的试验方法;分析了真空脱水对混凝土抗碳化能力的影响;建立了真空脱水混凝土碳化速度的预测数学模型;推断出真空脱水技术能改善混凝土的抗碳化性能.     

Non-mechanical behaviors of soft clay in two-dimensional electro-osmotic consolidation

To investigate the soil behaviors in a direct current field on both spatial and temporal scales, a 1: 5 scale model test was conducted in laboratory to simulate the two-dimensional (2D) electro-osmotic consolidation of soft clay foundation. Volume of drainage, intensity, voltage, water content and pH value of water collected in the cathodes were monitored. The pH values of soil and the mass of anodes were measured before and after the test. The test results indicate that the unsaturated state, resultant from fissures induced by the differences in water contents, is favorable to dynamic compaction of soil during electro-osmotic drainage. The results also demonstrate that water content, degree of saturation and electric potential distributions can be used to deduce the electro-osmotic drainage process. Water content of soil decreases first near electrodes, while keeps nearly constant in the center of the model. The area with constant water content is larger than half of the sample surface. Moving anodes towards cathodes by about one third of the electrode spacing is effective to improve the treatment effect after electro-osmosis stops due to the large resistance. Moreover, it is observed that during electro-osmosis, the corrosion rate of anodes becomes smaller, while the variation in pH values of soil near anodes becomes larger.     

裂缝对电渗模型尺寸效应影响的试验研究

通过对电渗-堆载模型试验、单纯电渗模型试验和现场试验的比较发现：裂缝发展的巨大差异是导致单纯电渗模型试验与现场情况差别较大的原因,适当的堆载可消除几何边界引起的尺寸效应,使试验裂缝开展较准确地反映了现场电渗的真实情况,其结果可更好地模拟现场电渗情况;消除尺寸效应后,影响电渗排水效果的主要因素是有效电场面积,电流密度仅为次要影响因素,在梅花形、长方形与平行错位三种布置形式中,有效面积占比最大的梅花形布置效果最优、经济性最好,建议实际工程中采用梅花形布置。     

The thickening and treatment of sewage sludges to minimize phosphorus release

The Johannesburg City Council has operated biological and chemical nutrient removal wastewater treatment plants for the past 15–16 years. With the advent of more sophisticated sludge handling techniques, problems have been experienced with the recycle of phosphorus-rich sludge processing liquors to the liquid phase. These problems are expected to increase in the future. This paper describes laboratory and pilot scale experiments to determine viable methods for phosphorus removal from sludge liquors and ways of obviating phosphorus release from phosphorus-rich activated sludges. The design of new full-scale plants being constructed to pretreat phosphorus-rich sludges prior to dewatering are also discussed. The paper also describes innovative process layouts for sludge treatment keeping in mind various options for final sludge disposal. Emphasis is placed on the pre-aeration and phosphate precipitation from anaerobically digested and raw primary sludges and techniques for the thickening and dewatering of primary and waste activated sludges to minimize phosphate release into the liquors so produced. The technique of sludge thickening on linear screens is described and the coupling of linear screens to belt presses to complete the dewatering operation.     

地下水回收再利用技术

本文介绍了一种自主创新的地下水回收再利用方法,即建立消防水箱和消防泵房,将部分地下水集中回收,再泵送到现场用水点,使得整个工程施工期间除饮用水外的消防、降尘、车辆冲洗、厕所冲洗、结构施工(主要为混凝土养护)、装修施工等用水全部采用回收再利用的地下水,不仅降低了工程成本,而且节约了水资源。本方法对有降水要求的施工项目的水资源利用具有很大的借鉴作用。     

Electro-dewatering of wastewater sludge: influence of the operating conditions and their interactions effects

Electric field-assisted dewatering, also called electro-dewatering (EDW), is a technology in which a conventional dewatering mechanism such a pressure dewatering is combined with electrokinetic effects to realize an improved liquid/solids separation, to increase the final dry solids content and to accelerate the dewatering process with low energy consumption compared to thermal drying. The application of these additional fields can be applied to either or both dewatering stages (filtration and/or compression), or as a pre-or post-treatment of the dewatering process. In this study, the performance of the EDW on wastewater sludge was investigated. Experiments were carried out on a laboratory filtration/compression cell, provided with electrodes, in order to apply an electrical field. The chosen operating conditions pressure (200-1200 kPa) and voltage (10-50 V) are sufficient to remove a significant proportion of the water that cannot be removed using mechanical dewatering technologies alone. A response surface methodology (RSM) was used to evaluate the effects of the processing parameters of EDW on (i) the final dry solids content, which is a fundamental dewatering parameter and an excellent indicator of the extent of EDW and (ii) the energy consumption calculated for each additional mass of water removed. A two-factor central composite design was used to establish the optimum conditions for the EDW of wastewater sludge. Experiments showed that the use of an electric field combined with mechanical compression requires less than 10 and 25% of the theoretical thermal drying energy for the low and moderate voltages cases, respectively.