Types and Components of

Sedimentation Tank
CE5170 – Physicochemical Processes for Water and
Wastewater Treatment
 Types of Clarifiers
Types
 Rectangular
 Circular
 Inclined Plate/tube

Major Arrangements
 Inlet and outlet
 Sludge and scum collection
 Circular Settling Basin Rectangular Settling Basin

Plan/Top View
Plan/Top View

Elevation/Front View Elevation/Front View

Long Rectangular Settling Basin

Length, L

Side Water Depth Board

Free Water Level
Particle trajectory
H0

Settling zone

Sludge zone
 Effluent
Drive Weir
Inlet
Unit Scum Effluent
Baffle Flights
Inlet Trough Launder

Drive
Gear
Idler
Sprockets

Sludge Drive
Trough Chain

Sludge Withdrawal
Pipe
Long Rectangular Clarifier
Influent Baffles
Sludge Cleaning Arrangements
 Effluent Weirs

SingleWeirs

In -Board Weir
 Circular Settling Basin
Center Baffle

Influent

Circular Clarifier
Circular
Clarifier
 Circular Clarifier with
Skimming Removal Facility
Skimming Removal
Arrangement and
Outlet Weir
Design Guidelines
 For rectangular basins, L = 4 W & L = 1- to 20 D
 Bottom slope, 1: 50 to 1:100
 Horizontal flow velocity
 light flocculent suspension – 9.0 m/h
 heavier discrete particles – 36 m/h
 Overflow rates
 Discrete particles  1.0 to 2.5 m/h
 Flocculating particles  0.6 to 1.0 m/h
 Detention time
 Discrete particles 2 to 4 h
 Flocculating particles  4 to 6 h
Design Guidelines
 Weir Overflow rates
 Light flocs  6 m3/ m-h
 Heavier discrete particles  14 m3/ m-h
 Circular tank
 Diameter  max 60 m
 Inlet chamber  4 m
 Outlet weir  4 m
Design of Sedimentation Tank
 A city with a population of 1,50,000 has to be given with a
treated water supply at a rate of 100 LPCD. The water
contains particles/solids and it was decided by the water
authorities to remove them by Type-2 settling. A column
analysis indicates that an overflow rate of 20 m/day will
produce satisfactory removal at a depth of 3.5 m. Determine
the size of the required settling tank.
Solution
 Calculate the surface area of the tank
 Adopt a suitable length to width ratio
 Check for detention time (Volume/flow-rate)
 Check for horizontal velocity (Flow-rate/Area)
 Calculate weir-overflow-rate (Flow-rate/Width of tank)
 Design outlet weir arrangement
 Inclined Plate Clarifiers
Distribution Orifice Discharge Flumes
Feed Box
Overflow Box Flocculation Tank

Flash
Mix Tank

Coagulant
Clarifier Feed
Effluent

Clarifier
Influent

Inclined Plates

Sludge Sludge Discharge

Hopper