The plate settler support frame is used to support the plate settlers at a certain height. It consists of a grid of PVC pipes linked together by tees.
In the old design, the plate settler support frame was designed as a rectangular grid spanning the entire sedimentation tank. The problem with this design is that it would be inconvenient for plant operators to clean or maintain individual bays in future plants when AguaClara builds plants with multiple bays.
The new plate settler support frame design is based on the design from Agalteca. The new plate settler support frame is designed for each individual bay so that the plant operator can access each individual sedimentation tank bay without having to disassemble all the bays in one tank.
Additionally stubs are placed along the top of the plate settler support frame in order to hold the plate settler modules in place and provide guidance for the plant operator when placing the plate settler modules.
There has been some progress in the new plate settler support frame design:
The new design of the sedimentation tank requires the plate settlers to be a distance above the sedimentation bays. In order for the pipe frame to support the plate settlers, the plate settler support frame will need to include a support system for the plate settler support frame itself. Threaded galvanized pipes will be embedded between the sedimentation bays with flanges screwed on top of the pipe. The plate settler support frame at the edges of the sedimentation tank will be able to rest on top of the flanges. A concrete ledge on the sides of the sedimentation tank wall will further support the plate settler support frame at the edges of the sedimentation tank. Thus the galvanized pipe and flange system will only be required for cases with multiple bays per sedimentation tank.
The support system for the plate settler support frame has been designed. However the stub arrangements and stub dimensions along the plate settler support frame still need to be coordinated with the plate settler module design.