Pilot Plant Tube Flocculator Meeting Minutes

Fall 2008 Minutes

October 16, 2008

Accomplishments

• cleaned floc tank Weds and Thurs
• cleaned turbidimeters and backwashed lines to tube settlers Thurs
• ran tests with uniform baffle spacing Thurs and Friday
• attempted to use peristaltic pump with tube flocculator
• Worked on wiki page

Outcomes

• Weds test was inaccurate due to unclean turbidimeters
• Results from Thurs' test seem inaccurate, raw water turbidity is very low.
• cleared raw water line on Friday by backwashing lines and opening/shutting inlet valve several times. Line was not clogged so most likely clog was in inlet valve. After opening and shutting several times to increase/decrease pressure clog seemed to break up and run through tube.

Issues

• Floc tank will need more regular cleaning from group
• will need stronger pumps for tube flocculator
• sink to drain flocs clogs easily, extra care is needed when cleaning tank to avoid flooding of plant.
• need to replace bulb on tank light
• level in plant grit chamber fluctuates greatly during this season. Air gets caught in Pilot plant pump line preventing flow. Unthreading the pipe joint to let air out solves this problem.