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The energy dissipation rate created through the micro scale mixing plate is dependent upon the total number and area of the micro scale orifices in the micro scale mixing plate, as well as the flow rate through the plant, as shown in the following equation:
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$$\varepsilon = {{{{\left( {{{0.5*{Q_{observed}}} \over {P{i_{VC}}*{A_{MicroScaleOrifice}}}}} \right)}^3}} \over {20*{D_{orifice}}}}$$
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Because the flow rates through plant may vary based on the available source flow, we need to know how the energy dissipation rate will change with these changing flow rates. The following plot was generated in MathCAD to display how energy dissipation rates will change with varying flow rates through the orifice plate in place in Agalteca:
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Another detail that was addressed in the Agalteca Rapid Mix Tube installation was the delivery of the dosed alum into the Rapid Mix Tube itself. To accomplish this delivery, the end of the flexible tubing running off of the doser's level arm was fitted with a small plastic elbow, then attached to the edge of the large scale mixing orifice using a small plastic clip. This allows the alum to be delivered directly into the flow of water entering the tube, improving mixing and reducing the chance that alum will escape into the entrance tank.
This delivery tube will always be submerged in the water in the entrance tank, thereby eliminating the mixture of air, water, and alum that has occurred in the previous dosing designs. This delivery modification was made in an effort to reduce the amount of air introduced to the dosing system, which will theoretically reduce any problems with floating flocs created in the flocculator, reducing plant performance. The following photo was taken at the Agalteca plant showing the new dosing delivery system. Note that the tank was drained at this point for installation of the micro mixing orifice plate, and this is why the delivery elbow is not submerged; under normal operating conditions, this elbow would be submerged and would eliminate the addition of air to dosing of alum with the raw water.
Figure 4. Photo of the attachment of the aluminum sulfate dosing tube to the top of the Rapid Mix Tube in the Agalteca plant. The wire in the left of this photo is attached to the Rapid Mix Plate; this allows for easier removal of the plate as the operator can simply pull it out of the tube instead of reaching into the tank to retrieve the plate.
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