h1. Plate Settler Spacing
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h5. Introduction
This research is focused on a deeper understanding of the sedimentation process so that plants can remove dirt particles from dirty water as efficiently as possible, allowing for successful chlorination of the outgoing water. Currently the plants all use lamella, which are corrugated parallel plates that decrease the distance that a floc must fall to be settled out. To make things simpler for a lab, we use tube settlers of various diameters, and experiment with different flow rates and turbidities, because these things fluctuate often in the plants in Honduras based on the season.
One of the main reasons for this focus is that sedimentation is the only process in which particulates are actually removed from the water. Flocculation and rapid mix may be working well, but if the particles are not being settled out, people will still be drinking dirty water. Low turbidity water is not only aesthetically pleasing, it's also safer because the disease causing pathogens are more likely to be exposed and killed when the water is chlorinated. AguaClara has had the goal of 1 NTU water since its beginning, and the Plate Settler Spacing team has been able to accomplish this in the lab, but now is trying to see how this can be transferred to our future plants in Honduras. Sedimentation is also the limiting factor for the height requirement of the plants, so if we can find a way to produce the same results with a smaller amount of space, the plant cost will decrease significantly.
[Subteam Semester Goals|Plate Settler Spacing Goals]
[Weekly Subteam Progress|Plate Settler Spacing Meeting Minutes].
h2. Experimental Methods and Results
The following experiments are based on research completed in [Fall 2008 | Plate Settler Spacing Research Fall 2008].
h3. Spring 2009
h5. [Experiments with Flow Rates and Inner Tube Diameters|PSS Tube Settler Experiments]
These experiments run our system while varying the flow rates and inner tube diameters. From that, the ideal L/d ratio is found and more experiments are run holding this ratio constant.
h5. [Experiment 3: Floc Blanket Formation|PSS Floc Blanket Formation]
Ongoing research concerning the rate of formation and density of floc blankets.
h3. Summer 2008 Preliminary Testing
h5. [Experiment 4: Using Straws for Tube Settlers|Plate Settler Spacing Research Summer 2008]
The research performed used different diameter straws as the tube settlers to see how it affected the effluent turbidity.
h3. Fall 2008 Preliminary Testing
h2. Additional Information
[Annotated Bibliography of Relevant Literature|PSS Bibliograhpy]
[Processor Controller Information|Computer System---Process Controller]
[PSS Quiz for New Members |PSS Quiz]
[Fall 2008 Photo Gallery|Photo Gallery]
[PSS Apparatus Design] | 