Fluid shear influences on the performance of hydraulic flocculation systems

Gravity driven hydraulic flocculators that operate in the absence of reliable electric power are better suited to meet the water treatment needs of green communities, resource-poor communities, and developing countries than conventional mechanical flocculators. However, current understanding regarding the proper design and operation of hydraulic flocculation systems is insufficient. Of particular interest is the optimal fluid shear level needed to produce low turbidity water. A hydraulic tube flocculator was used to study how fluid shear levels affect the settling properties of a flocculated alum-kaolin suspension. A Flocculation Residual Turbidity Analyzer (FReTA) was used to quantitatively compare the sedimentation velocity distributions and the post-sedimentation residual turbidities of the flocculated suspensions to see how they were affected by varying fluid shear, G, and hydraulic residence time, θ, while holding collision potential, Gθ, constant. Results show that floc breakup occurred at all velocity gradients evaluated. High floc settling velocities were correlated with low residual turbidities, both of which were optimized at low fluid shear levels and long fluid residence times. This study shows that, for hydraulic flocculation systems under the conditions described in this paper, low turbidity water is produced when fluid shear is kept at a minimum. Use of the product Gθ for design of laminar flow tube flocculators is insufficient if residual turbidity is used as the metric for performance. At any Gθ within the range tested in this study, best performance is obtained when G is small and θ is long.     

纳米SiO_2用于含表面活性剂原水的处理

在含表面活性剂十二烷基硫酸钠(SDS)的低浊(6 NTU)高岭土原水中,投加纳米SiO_2进行动态混凝与静沉试验,借助图像分析技术与定量控制参数,探讨了纳米SiO_2的作用效果与形态学特性.结果表明:絮体的形成与生长具有分形特征,分形结构是影响颗粒混凝、絮团密实度与沉降特性的主要因素;SDS的存在对絮凝初期絮体的形成起阻碍作用,随后SDS与混凝剂的混合体共同对粒子作用,促进絮凝,絮体变大且密实,沉降性能改善;SDS和SiO_2对高岭土粒子存在竞争吸附;单独投加纳米SiO_2时形成的絮体小而脆弱,而以纳米SiO_2为助凝剂能促使PAC絮体结构向更密实的构型转变,对浊度和SDS的去除率提高.     

吸附架桥机理主导下APAM的多级絮凝效能

对吸附架桥机理主导下阴离子聚丙烯酰胺(APAM)的絮凝过程进行了研究,通过改变絮凝剂投加工况,对比分析常规絮凝与多级絮凝在污染物去除效果、絮体性能、絮体生长动力学与污泥调理能耗等方面的差异。结果表明,相同投药量下,两级絮凝的出水浊度低于三级絮凝和常规絮凝,两级絮凝在最少的APAM投加量(2 mg/L)下达到最低的出水浊度(19.53 NTU);与常规絮凝相比,两级絮凝的絮体成长速率、平均粒径和沉降速率分别增加12.67%、30μm、36.74%。两级絮凝在投加间隔为240 s、投配比为1∶1条件下絮凝效能最优,出水浊度为15.34 NTU,絮体沉降速率为1.1 NTU/s,絮体密度达到1.123 4 g/cm³。絮体破碎再絮凝过程中,两级絮凝与常规絮凝破碎后均能恢复至破碎前水平,但破碎后均出现不可逆的絮体结构破损,粒径在0~100μm的絮体颗粒增多,粒径>400μm的絮体减少,破碎后两级絮凝的絮体强度因子(68.15%)高于常规絮凝(41.63%),两级絮凝的絮体强度和抗破碎剪切能力更高。在剩余污泥调理方面,两级絮凝产生的污泥只需要投加40mg/L的APAM就可以达到最低的滤饼含水率(75.5%)。因此,两级絮凝可以显著提升除浊效能与絮体性能,是强化絮凝的发展方向。     

Experimental and numerical investigations of sedimentation of porous wastewater sludge flocs

The paper studies the properties and sedimentation characteristics of sludge flocs, as they appear in biological wastewater treatment (BWT) plants. The flocs are described as porous and permeable bodies, with their properties defined based on conducted experimental study. The derivation is based on established geometrical properties, high-speed camera data on settling velocities and non-linear numerical model, linking settling velocity with physical properties of porous flocs. The numerical model for derivation is based on generalized Stokes model, with permeability of the floc described by the Brinkman model. As a result, correlation for flocs porosity is obtained as a function of floc diameter. This data is used in establishing a CFD numerical model of sedimentation of flocs in test conditions, as recorded during experimental investigation. The CFD model is based on Euler-Lagrange formulation, where the Lagrange formulation is chosen for computation of flocs trajectories during sedimentation. The results of numerical simulations are compared with experimental results and very good agreement is observed.     

Flocculation of kaolinite suspensions in water by chitosan

Flocculation of kaolinite suspensions in water using chitosan was studied in the pH range 5-9 and the turbidity ranging from 10 to 160 NTU. Chitosan, in presence of trace quantities of a substance present in aqueous soil extracts, effectively reduces turbidity due to kaolinite by flocculation and settling. Flocculation efficiency is very sensitive to pH, and reaches a maximum at pH 7.5. The optimal chitosan concentration required to effect flocculation is independent of kaolinite concentration within the range examined. Flocculation is faster at higher concentrations of kaolinite and the flocs are large and settle rapidly.     

微絮凝拦截沉淀处理低温低浊水

拦截沉淀池是根据中微絮体的凝聚沉淀特性,用一种特殊材料设计构造的以接触凝聚和拦截沉淀为主要功能的新型沉淀池。以北京市第九水原水为主要对象,研究了拦截沉淀对低 氏浊水的处理效果,并与传统的平流以沉淀池进行了对比。结果表明,拦截没淀池有优异的拦截聚沉和对水质变化的适应能力,处理效果要明显优于平流沉淀池而接近于斜板沉淀池,有很好的开发及应用前景。     

混凝剂加注量的自动控制新方法

报导了净水过程中使用计算机实时采集和定量分析絮凝池絮体图像,算出絮体沉淀“等效直径”作为控制混凝剂加注率的目标值,并用进水流量和沉淀水浊度信号自动修正目标设定植,加注量为进水流量与加注率之积。实验数据表明,该方法能适应水质和其他因素的变化自动调整加注量,达到了稳定沉淀水浊度的目的。     

高压静电场促进活性污泥絮体沉淀的试验研究

将带有绝缘层的金属电极接通高压静电后置入沉淀筒中，通过对比试验考察了施加高压静电场对活性污泥絮体沉淀的影响。结果表明，施加高压静电场能够明显促进活性污泥絮体的沉淀，但促沉效果受污泥浓度（SS）、电极入水长度（L）、电压（U）等因素影响。促沉效果随SS的增大而变差；SS不同则最佳的L也不同，L值过大或过小时促沉效果都不好；当电压≤20kV时，促沉效果随电压的增加而提高，20kV时的总体促沉效果较好。当SS〈2．5g／L（SVI为300～400mL／g）和SS〈4．5g／L（SVI为100mL／g左右）时，施加高压静电场可使SV减小20％～30％。此外，经高压静电场处理后对COD、浊度的去除速度加快，而DO值下降，电导率和pH值则变化不大。     

碱渣回填地下废弃盐腔室内一维沉降试验研究

盐矿水溶开采产出卤水的同时会在地下形成大量的废弃溶腔,而盐化工企业利用采出的卤水制碱时会产生大量的固体废渣（即碱渣）,将碱渣与饱和卤水混合制成浆体注填到废弃盐腔的过程称为碱渣回填废弃盐腔。碱渣在充满卤水的溶腔内的沉降特性对回填效果会产生重要影响,作为初步研究,对两种不同类型碱渣与饱和卤水混合而成的碱渣浆进行了室内一维沉降试验研究。试验发现：黏粒含量少的碱渣浆絮团发育程度低,絮团小而相互独立,沉降类型为絮凝均匀沉降,黏粒含量多的碱渣浆絮团发育程度高,絮团大而联结成网,发生絮网沉降;碱渣浆沉降过程可以分为4个阶段：絮凝阶段、沉降阶段、主固结阶段和次固结阶段;对比两种碱渣的沉降过程发现,发生絮网沉降的碱渣浆在前3个阶段用时均较长;沉降基本结束后,形成的沉积体孔隙比较大,沉积体内仍含有大量的自由水。本研究揭示了两种不同类型碱渣的一维沉降规律,为进一步探索碱渣沉降固结机理及现场碱渣回填废弃盐腔工程提供一定参考。     

V形斜板强化接触絮凝沉淀设备的研发与应用

V形斜板强化接触絮凝沉淀技术利用设备的流体上升流道截面差造成水流沿重力方向的速度差,使斜板沉淀单元内部形成一定厚度的具有自我更新能力的絮体动态悬浮层,同时通过增设的垂直板来增加絮体悬浮层厚度,实现强化接触絮凝、提高絮体沉淀分离性能的目的.中试结果表明,当斜板长为850 mm、斜板间距为25 mm、直板长为150 mm时,沉淀设备达到最佳性能;在处理水量超过设计负荷的20%时,设备仍运行效果良好.在水厂改造项目中,V形斜板沉淀设备的出水浊度稳定在0.4 NTU以下,低于原设备的出水浊度(1.63 NTU),同时节省了49%的投药量.     

Floc structural characteristics using conventional coagulation for a high doc, low alkalinity surface water source

Removal of natural organic matter (NOM) is well established using metal salt coagulants. In addition, flocculant aids are also commonly used to improve solid removal. The objectives of this paper is to describe the impacts of both NOM and polymer on floc structure. The study offers a comparison of floc physical characteristics for coagulant precipitate flocs, organic-coagulant flocs and organic-coagulant-polymer flocs for optimum coagulant and polymer doses. A ferric sulphate-based coagulant was used as the primary coagulant and the polymer selected was a high molecular weight (MW) cationic polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride (polyDADMAC). Floc size, breakage, re-growth and settling characteristics were measured. Precipitate flocs were larger than organic flocs and had better settling characteristics when compared to NOM-coagulant flocs. When polymer was added, floc size and compaction was seen to further reduce. An explanation was offered in terms of the mode of flocculation involved. Floc breakage behaviour showed that polymer reduced the rate of floc degradation but did not greatly improve floc re-growth potential after breakage, which was generally poor for all of the suspensions.     

水平管沉淀新技术在水厂改造中的工程应用

针对斜管沉淀池出水浊度高、跑矾的问题,采用专利技术"高效絮凝塔"改善反应絮凝效果,采用专利技术"水平管沉淀技术"改造斜管沉淀池,成功地将淮安市东方自来水公司三期老水厂的处理水量由2.0×104m3/d提升到4.5×104m3/d,沉淀池出水浊度<3 NTU,降低了滤池的过滤负荷,改善了出厂水水质。该工程应用是老水厂改造方式的一次重大突破。     

絮凝体沉速在线测量方法及其应用研究

提出了在絮凝池在线测量絮凝体沉速的方法,通过连续采集絮凝体图像和计算机数据处理,跟踪絮凝体运动轨迹,从而计算每一个絮凝体的沉速,同时介绍了数据处理的过程和基本算法。将基于该方法的絮凝体沉速测量设备(FVD)应用于临江水厂,对试验结果进行的分析表明,絮凝体沉速既可作为评价絮凝效果的指标,又可作为控制混凝剂加注量的依据。     

A study of titanium sulfate flocculation for water treatment

There are limited studies available on titanium salt flocculation. In this research, coagulation experiments of titanium sulfate were conducted using both distilled water and kaolin clay suspension. Results showed that titanium sulfate flocculation was most effective in the pH range 4-6, and negligible concentrations of titanium were found in the well-flocculated water. The floc isoelectric point (IEP) was found to be near pH 5. Measurements showed that the titanium flocs possessed greater density, diameter and settling velocity than the aluminum flocs. The titanium flocs were composed of TiO(OH)₂, which would change from the amorphous phase into anatase titanium dioxide under elevated temperatures. Floc images showed the structural similarity of titanium and aluminum flocs. Laboratory results and a pilot experiment showed that titanium sulfate could be an alternative coagulant for water and wastewater treatment.     

沉淀—过滤工艺对水蚤去除效能的研究

探讨了沉淀一过滤工艺对水蚤的去除效能.试验结果表明,水蚤的活性是影响沉淀池去除效果的关键因素,水蚤活体在沉淀池中可以自由活动而无法将其有效去除;水蚤死体则可以自然沉降,加之水蚤死体易和矾花结合而使其沉降速度加快,但由于水蚤密度和水的接近,在生产中仍然会有部分水蚤死体在其他因素的干扰下难以沉降.此外水蚤可穿透滤池,穿透个数与进水中的水蚤密度有关.滤池中可能会滋生水蚤,一旦出现该情况,砂滤出水中水蚤密度将难以控制,可在强化预氧化的基础上采取加氯反冲洗方式.     

Effects of chemical amendments on aquatic floc structure, settling and strength

Using a shear-cell/flow-cell combination integrated with an inverted microscope, the behaviour of Hamilton Harbour sediments was studied mixed with three different amendments: alum, chitosan (both coagulants) and a polyacrylamide (a flocculant). Samples from the shear cell were drawn into the flow cell, where floc structure and size were assessed throughout the floc formation and breakage stages using computer image analysis. Settling velocity, density and porosity were also assessed, with results suggesting that amendment addition may be an effective method for the management of high-turbidity environments, provided there are no toxicological effects. In an assessment of performance, it was found that the polyacrylamide flocculant showed the greatest promise in reducing turbidity levels as it produced the largest flocs with the highest settling velocity. Although more prone to break-up, these flocs still remained larger than those formed with alum or chitosan at the same shear. All flocs, regardless of amendment, broke up due to a fracture mechanism rather than by microscale erosion. By improving our understanding of how these amendments may influence floc properties and behaviours, more effective management tools may be developed for the remediation and control of high-turbidity aquatic environments.     

Flocculation of river silt using chitosan

Flocculation of silt in river water using chitosan was studied in the pH range 4-9, and suspended solid concentrations in the range 20-80 mg/L. Chitosan effectively reduces turbidity due to silt by flocculation and settling. Flocculation efficiency is very sensitive to pH, and reaches a maximum at pH 7. The optimal chitosan concentration required to effect flocculation is 0.5 mg/L and is independent of silt concentration within the range examined. Restabilisation of the suspension is observed at higher concentrations of chitosan, and the amount required for restabilisation increases with increasing concentration of suspended solids. Flocculation is faster at higher concentrations of silt and the flocs are large and fibrous.     

长春市第四净水厂絮凝池的技术改造

为解决净水厂絮凝池效率低、投药量大的问题,对絮凝池的过孔流速进行了调整,合理设置了速度梯度.实施上述改造后,絮凝池的效率得以提高,沉淀池的出水浊度＜3.0 NTU,滤后水浊度＜1.0 NTU,药耗降低26%.     

Predicting the settling velocity of flocs formed in water treatment using multiple fractal dimensions

Here we introduce a distribution of floc fractal dimensions as opposed to a single fractal dimension value into the floc settling velocity model developed in earlier studies. The distribution of fractal dimensions for a single floc size was assumed to cover a range from 1.9 to 3.0. This range was selected based on the theoretically determined fractal dimensions for diffusion-limited and cluster-cluster aggregation. These two aggregation mechanisms are involved in the formation of the lime softening flocs analyzed in this study. Fractal dimensions were generated under the assumption that a floc can have any value of normally distributed fractal dimensions ranging from 1.9-3.0. A range of settling velocities for a single floc size was calculated based on the distribution of fractal dimensions. The assumption of multiple fractal dimensions for a single floc size resulted in a non-unique relationship between the floc size and the floc settling velocity, i.e., several different settling velocities were calculated for one floc size. The settling velocities calculated according to the model ranged from 0 to 10 mm/s (average 2.22 mm/s) for the majority of flocs in the size range of 1-250 μm (average 125 μm). The experimentally measured settling velocities of flocs ranged from 0.1 to 7.1 mm/s (average 2.37 mm/s) for the flocs with equivalent diameters from 10 μm to 260 μm (average 124 μm). Experimentally determined floc settling velocities were predicted well by the floc settling model incorporating distributions of floc fractal dimensions calculated based on the knowledge of the mechanisms of aggregation, i.e., cluster-cluster aggregation and diffusion-limited aggregation.     

天津滨海吹填泥浆的自重沉降固结特性研究

以天津滨海新区吹填泥浆为研究对象,对初始含水率w_0=200%~2000%的泥浆开展长达100 d的自然沉降模型试验,研究吹填泥浆的自重沉降固结规律与形成土的微观结构特性,据此提出吹填工程设计的控制指标,为吹填工程的设计与施工提供可靠的技术支撑。结果表明,天津吹填泥浆的沉降类型主要是沉积沉降和固结沉降,沉积沉降过程分为絮凝阶段、阻碍沉降阶段、自重固结阶段。含水率临界值(或土的形成含水率)w_0*=400%,且w_0*与液限w_L具有较好的线性关系。初始含水率w_0≤w_0*,发生固结沉降,沉降量可以用一维固结理论计算;w_0w_0*,发生沉积沉降,沉降量可以用沉积规律计算。土的形成孔隙比e_0*=10.92;沉降稳定时间Tc可用Tc=159(w_0/w_L)~(-1)计算;稳定孔隙比e_c可由分段公式计算,e_c=0.08+5.4(e_0≥13.65),e_c=0.4+1.03(e_013.65);絮凝屈服应力P_s=0.3 k Pa,界限孔隙比e_s=6.4。研究还表明,泥浆沉降过程其实是絮凝屈服应力与有效应力相互影响的过程,进而产生不同的沉降特征;吹填形成土在平行于沉降方向为絮凝结构,而垂直沉降方向呈堆叠结构。