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Tube
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Flocculator
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Construction
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History
Original Construction,
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Configuration
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and
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Modifications
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The
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tube
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flocculator
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was
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constructed
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in
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the
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summer
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of
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2008.
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In
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order
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to
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prevent
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flocs
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from
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settling
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in
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the
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tube
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flocculator
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it
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was
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arranged
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in
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a
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vertical
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figure-eight.
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The
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flocculator
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has
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the
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same
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configuration
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and
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dimensions
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as
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the
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lab
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flocculator.
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The
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flocculator
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was
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originally
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made
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of
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soft
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flexible
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clear
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tubing.
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The
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tubing
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was
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deformed
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and
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pinched
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as
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coiled
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along
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the
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flocculator.
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Additionally,
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the
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tubing
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degraded
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at
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the
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joints
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(See
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Figure
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1).
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Figure 1: Deformed and pinched tubing. (12/13/08)
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Air
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leaked
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into
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the
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tube
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at
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each
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of
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the
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bulkhead
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fittings.
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This
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air
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prevented
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flow
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through
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the
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flocculator.
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The
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plant
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operators
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advised
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using
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a
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thicker,
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more
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resistant
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tubing
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to
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solve
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the
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problem
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of
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degradation.
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One
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attempted
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solution
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to
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this
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problem
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was
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to
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reconstruct
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the
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flocculator
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out
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of
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rigid
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tubing.
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The
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tubing
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was
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opaque
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and
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could
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not
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be
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forced
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into
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a
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figure
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eight
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configuration.
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Finally,
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clear
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braid-reinforced
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tubing
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was
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used
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to
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set
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up
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the
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flocculator.
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This
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tubing
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was
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flexible
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enough
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to
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form
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a
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figure
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eight
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and
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very
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durable
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(Figure
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2).
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Figure 2: Clear braid-reinforced
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tubing.
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(12/14/08)
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The
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flocculator
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was
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set
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up
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vertically
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at
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ground
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level.
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Elevation
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differences
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between
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the
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flocculation
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tank
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and
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the
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outlet
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of
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the
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tube
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flocculator
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drive
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flow
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through
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the
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tube
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flocculator.
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A
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tee
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with
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one
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end
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open
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to
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the
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atmosphere
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was
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connected
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to
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the
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outlet.
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The
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tee
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can
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be
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elevated
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or
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lowered
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to
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control
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the
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flow
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rate
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through
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the
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flocculator.
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Issues
Raw water particles were settling out in the 1/4
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diameter
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line
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drawing
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water
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from
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the
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flocculation
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tank.
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The
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incoming
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NTU
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to
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the
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line
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was
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8.2
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NTU
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while
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the
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effluent
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turbidity
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was
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4.9
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NTU.
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It
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is
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presumed
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that
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particles
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were
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settling
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because
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no
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flocs
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were
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seen
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in
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the
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effluent.
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In
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the
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future,
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the
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sampling
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line
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should
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be
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shortened
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to
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avoid
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this
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issue.
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The
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flocculator
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could
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either
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be
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set
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up
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closer
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to
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the
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floc
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tank
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or
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another
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option
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would
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be
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to
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measure
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raw
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water
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turbidity
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from
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the
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point
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which
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water
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enters
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the
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flocculator.
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Data
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Collection
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FReTA
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was
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constructed
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by
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the
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lab
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tube
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floc
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team
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for
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the
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plant
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and
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can
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be
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used
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in
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future
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semesters.
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FReTA
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measures
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the
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rate
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of
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change
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in
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turbidity
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as
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opposed
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to
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just
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measuring
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the
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turbidity
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at
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a
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specific
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point
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in
...
the
...
flocculator.
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This
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is
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advantageous
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because
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the
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the
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change
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in
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turbidity
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rate
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is
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comparable
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to
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the
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settling
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velocity
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.
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