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At the beginning of flocculation the particles are small. The vertical flocculator has many more tight turns, and therefore creates much more mixing in the early sections of the tank as compared with the later sections. As the stream mixes more and larger flocs form, the number of baffles per unit length of the tank decreases to reduce the strain on the larger flocs. The exact values for mixing parameters at various stages of floc formation is currently a central focus for the AguaClara laboratory research team.
Research
Developing Turbity Profiles along the Flocculator
Testing of Uniform Baffle Configuration
Construction History
Since 2004, Cornell University's AguaClara team has worked in conjunction with Engineers for a Sustainable World (ESW), and Agua Para El Pueblo (APP) to design and build four water treatment plants in Honduras. In addition to providing clean water to La 34 and Ojojona, a plant in Marcala is under construction and a design for a plant in Tamara is also being completed. The plant at Ojojona also functions as a pilot operation, demonstrating successes and potential problems for future plants.
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