The tube flocculator was constructed in the summer of 2008. To prevent flocs from settling in the tube flocculator is arranged in a vertical figure-eight. The flocculator has the same configuration and dimensions as the lab flocculator. FReTA will be constructed at the plant in Fall of 2008. FReTA measures the rate of change in turbidity as opposed just measuring the turbidity at a specific point in the flocculator. This is advantageous because the the change in turbidity rate is comparable to the settling velocity.
The current flocculator is made of soft flexible clear tubing. The tubing is pinched as it coils along the flocculator. Additionally, when water is pumped through the tubing it compresses. Air leaks into the tube at each of the bulkhead fittings. This air prevents flow through the flocculator. A possible solution to this problem would be to reconstruct the flocculator out of more rigid tubing. Disadvantages to using rigid tubing are that it is opaque and may not solve the problem of air entering the flocculator through the fittings. Air entering the flocculator is not a problem in the lab flocculator. It is unclear what difference between the two flocculator set up is causing this problem.