Page History

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Our attempt to validate our clear well design consisted of three stages: 1) review of existing filtration/backwash technology and research, 2) development of a MATHCAD file that can generate backwash and filtration design parameters for both an actual AguaClara plant and a bench-scale or pilot plant model of the plant for testing and 3) experiments of bench-scale or pilot plant model to confirm design success.

During the first stage, we conducted a literature and online review of existing filtration technology and research. We determined the flow rate needed to sufficiently expand and clean the sand filter bed. This will help us determine how high the clear well needs to be above the filter, how large the flow pipes should be, and how much water should be in the clear well.
.|Research of Existing Work]

Using what we learned from our research, we developed a MATHCAD file, which generated design parameters for our filtration/backwash system when provided with plant flow rate and properties of the granular filter. The MathCAD file contains Besides being the basics important Important parameters for the final design of the filtration and backwash system for an actual AguaClara plant this program would also generate scaled down parameters and for bench-scale or pilot plant-scale testing are in the following MATHCAD file.
Click here for our MATHCAD File and description.

(Although I won't hold you to it this time, generally, you should create a separate page for your MathCAD document that lays out important equations and rationale of your design. Something that you must always consider is which parameters will not necessarily scale down in the same order of magnitude that you intend.)

The accuracy of our MATHCAD generated design parameters depends on the accuracy of the is based upon empirical fluidization velocity equations that we used. We developed a bench-scale model of our filtration system and conducted an experiment measuring the expansion of a filter bed as backwash velocity is varied. We then compared the empirically calculated fluidization velocities with the actual fluidization velocities required.
Click here for the Fluidization Velocity Experiment.

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