Tapered vs. Uniform Baffle Configuration

Abstract

The vertical flow hydraulic flocculator has been used to test tapered and uniform baffle configurations during previous semesters, but the two configurations have never been compared with similar raw water conditions. For this reason the Fall 2008 Pilot Plant Flocculation team focused on determining which flocculation configuration is optimal. The tapered flocculation configuration model is based on the G-theta Model, while uniform configuration is based on the energy dissipation model. In our final results, the tapered baffle configuration produced marginally better turbidity than the uniform baffle configuration. However, due to low temperature conditions, the incoming turbidity was too low in order to produce conclusive results.

Introduction and Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

The alum dose set based on plant PAC dosage gave the best results for an incoming turbidity of 2.3 NTU. If this relationship is confirmed to work at a broad range of incoming turbidities, it can hopefully be used by future semesters. The plant operators obviously have much more experience determining alum dosing and this relationship can help us take advantage of their expertise.

The turbiditie profiles along the flocculator show