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• Sufficient inlet velocity to prevent sedimentation prior to entry into the tank
• No excessive velocities anywhere in the pipe, outlets, or in the tank that might cause result in a high energy dissipation rate causing floc breakup.
• An even distribution of the flocculated influent along the length of the sedimentation tank without horizontal circulation or other non-uniform flow patterns that will create non-uniform rising flow and/or non-optimal sediment tank performance. Optimal flow is vertically upwards until reaching the lamella plates.
While our team is specifically looking at the inlet manifold, some other aspects of the sedimentation tank may also be considered for an overall optimal design. For example, the behavior of the effluent launders and overall geometry may create interactions with the flow from the inlet manifold and may be considered. However, the length and spacing of the lamella separation plates (a primary sedimentation tank technology in Agua Clara tanks) are the subject of another group's research and assessment and are not the focus of the Inlet Manifold Team.
Below is a video that exhibits the current behavior of the inlet manifold using a simple dye test in a home-made miniature sedimentation tank, according to current AguaClara design. One can observe that the dye is highly concentrated at the far end of the sedimentation tank, revealing an uneven flow distribution through the pipe.
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