Goals for Summer 2009

Subteam Leader: Rachel Philipson

Other team members

• Michael Brancato
• Maura Carroll
• Alex Duncan
• Zachary Romeo

Task List

1. First, we will keep all parameters (length, angle, upflow velocity) constant while varying the diameter of the plate settler tube. This will be done for a few different lengths of tubing. We will then repeat this process varying the length of the tube instead for fixed diameters. This will allow us to construct a chart to determine the optimal geometry of the plate settler tube under ideal conditions.

2. The first set of experiments will be run with the floc blanket at a high level and the second with it a low level to determine the ideal geometry of the plate settler at each operating condition.

3. Subject our optimum geometry to non-ideal conditions (varying influent turbidity and alum dosage).

4. Re-evaluate ideal geometry and make changes as needed.

5. Analyze the system in terms of fluid residence time and determine ideal residence times (which will depend on optimized parameters d and L) for applicable flow rates and capture velocities.

6. Design experiments that continue to investigate the "threshold velocity gradient" observed by previous team members. Use these results to analyze stress factors and energy dissipation in the tube settler system.

7. Use results to quantify tube settler efficiency (as measured by influent and effluent turbidity) as a function of relevant parameters and determine ways to maximize it.

Bibliography

Sarkar, Kamilya and Mal. Effect of Geometric and Process Variables on the Performance of Inclined Plate Settlers in treating Aquacultural Waste. Water Research 41 (2007) pp. 993-1000

Deliverables