FILTRATION

FILTRATION
 Filtration involves the removal of
suspended and colloidal particles from
the water by passing it through a layer or
bed of a porous granular material, such as
sand.

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CLASSIFICATION OF FILTERS
Based on the filter media
 Sand filters, e.g. natural silica sand
 Anthracite filters, e.g. crushed anthracitic
coal
 Diatomaceous earth filters, e.g.
diatomaceous earth
 Metal fabric filters (microstrainers), e.g.
stainless
 Steel fabric filter.

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CLASSIFICATION OF FILTERS
Based on the depth of filter media
 Deep granular filters, e.g. sand, dual‐media
and
 multi‐media (combination of two or more
media),
 granular activated carbon
 Precoat filters, e.g. diatomaceous earth,
and
 powdered activated carbon, filters

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CLASSIFICATION OF FILTERS
Based on the rate of filtration, sand filters
can be further classified as
 Gravity filters
 Slow sand filters
 rapid sand filters
 high‐rate sand filters
 Pressure filters

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RATE OF FILTRATION
 Rate of filtration (loading rate) is the flow
rate of water applied per unit area of the filter.
It is the velocity of the water approaching the
face of the filter:

 where va = face velocity, m/d = loading rate, m3/d.m2

 Q = flow rate onto filter surface, m3/d
 As = surface are of filter, m2

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MECHANISM OF FILTRATION
 The theory of filtration basically involves,
transport mechanisms, and attachment
mechanisms.
 The transport mechanism brings small
particles from the bulk solution to the
surface of the media.
a) gravitational settling,
b) diffusion,
c) interception and
d) hydrodynamics

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MECHANISM OF FILTRATION
 They are affected by physical
characteristics such as size of the filter
medium, filtration rate, fluid temperature,
size and density of suspended solids.
 As the particles reach the surface of the
filter media, an attachment mechanism is
required to retain it. This occurs due to
(i) electrostatic interactions
(ii) chemical bridging or specific adsorption.
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FILTRATION:-

 Though screening and sedimentation removes a

large proportion of suspended matter, but they do
not effectively remove the fine floc particles,
colors, dissolved minerals and micro-organisms.
 During filtration turbidity and colloidal matter of
non settleable type are removed. It precipitates
the color and chemical characteristics of water
are changed. The bacterial content of water is
considerably reduced due to presence of an active
zoological layer on the top of filtering.
THEORY OF FILTRATION:-
 When water is filtered through the bed of filter media, usually
consisting of clean sand, the following action takes place.
 Mechanical Straining:-The suspended particles are usually larger
than the pore space of the filter media, and hence are arrested and
removed, when water passes through the filter media. The major
removal takes place only in few centimeters of filter media.
 Sedimentation:-In mechanical straining, only those particles
whose are coarser than the void size arrested. Finer particles are
settled by sedimentation action. The continuous voids of the filter
media acts as (tube settler) and all the colloids are thus removed
by this action.
 Biological Action:-After few days upper sand layer becomes
reddish brown and sticky. After sometime, there exists in the
uppermost layer of sand as a film of algae, bacteria and protozoa
etc. This is called as dirty skin. The organic impurities in water
become food to different microorganisms residing in the filter bed.
The bacteria not only break down the organic impurities and
convert them into harmless compounds.
ELECTROLYTIC ACTION:-
 By electrostatic charge. The charge of the filter medium
neutralizes the charge of the floc, thereby permitting the floc
to be removed. During the back washing the electro statically
neutral material is removed and the charge of the filter is
replaced.
 CLASSIFICATION OF FILTERS:-
 Slow Sand Filter
 Rapid Sand Filter
The difference between these types of filter is mainly in:-
 Head required for filtration
 Rate of filtration
 Composition of filter media
 Method and frequency of cleaning the filter media
SLOW SAND FILTERS
 In SSF water is allowed at a slow rate
through a bed of sand, so that coarse
suspended solids are retained on or near the
surface of the bed.
 Loading rate of 2.9 to 7.6 m3/d.m2
 The raw water turbidity has to be < 50
NTU.
 The filtering action is a combination of
straining, adsorption, and biological
flocculation.

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Working Principle
Freshwater flows through a sand-bed with a thin layer populated
by microorganisms. Hereby, the water gets purified through

}
various biological, physical and chemical processes.
Biological processes
Physical
Chemical
Polluted water

Microorganisms
Sand
Gravel Drinking-water

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SLOW SAND FILTERS
 Gelatinous slimes of bacterial growth called
‘schmutzdecke’ form on the surface and in
the upper sand layer, consists of bacteria,
fungi, protozoa, rotifera and a range of
aquatic insect larvae.
 The underlying sand provides the support
medium for this biological treatment layer.
 Slow sand filters slowly lose their
performance as the Schmutzdecke grows and
thereby reduces the rate of flow through the
filter. requires refurbishing
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CLEANING SLOW SAND
FILTERS
 Scrapping: the top few mm of sand is
carefully scraped off using mechanical plant and
this exposes a new layer of clean sand. Water is
then decanted back into the filter and
re‐circulated for a few hours to allow a new
Schmutzedecke to develop.The filter is then filled to
full depth and brought back into service.
 wet harrowing: lower the water level to just
above the Schmutzdecke, stirring the sand and
thereby suspending any solids held in that layer
and then running the water to waste. The filter is
then filled to full depth and brought back into
service.

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TYPICAL SLOW SAND FILTER

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TYPICAL SLOW SAND FILTER

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SLOW SAND FILTER
TYPICAL SLOW SAND FILTER

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ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

 Advantages
 Simple to construct and supervise
 Suitable where sand is readily available
 Effective in bacterial removal
 Preferable for uniform quality of treated
water
 Disadvantages
 Large area is required
 Unsuitable for treating highly turbid waters
 Less flexibility in operation due to seasonal
variations in raw water quality
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DESIGN CRITERIA FOR SSF
Parameter Recommended level
Design life 10-15 year
Period of operation 24 h/day
Filtration rate 0.1 – 0.2 m/h
Filter bed area 5-200 m2/filter (minimum of two filters)
Height of filter bed
Initial 0.8-0.9 m
Minimum 0.5-0.6 m
Effective size 0.15-0.3 mm
Uniformity coefficient <3
Height of underdrains + gravel layer 0.3-0.5 m
Height of supernatant water 1m

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RAPID SAND FILTERS
 The most common type of filter for
treating municipal water supplies.
 During filtration, the water flows
downward through the bed under the
force of gravity.
 When the filter is washed, clean water is
forced upward, expanding the filter bed
slightly and carrying away the accumulated
impurities. This process is called
backwashing.
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ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

Advantages
 Turbid water may be treated
 Land required is less compared to slow sand
filter
 Operation is continuous.
Disadvantages
 Requires skilled personnel for operation and
maintenance
 Less effective in bacteria removal
 Operational troubles

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TYPICAL GRADATION OF RSF

after backwashing, the larger

sand grains settle to the bottom
first, leaving the smaller sand
grains at the filter surface.

Allows in-depth filtration:

provides more storage space for
the solids, offer less resistance to
flow, and allows longer filter runs.

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 Theory Of Filtration
 Mechanical straining
 Sedimentation

 Biological action
 Electrolytic action
Filter Media :-
Sand:-
 Uniformity Coefficient Cu=D60/D10
 D60= Size in mm, such that 60% of the particles are finer
than this size.
(Effective size or diameter)
 D10= Size in mm, such that 10% of the particles are finer
than this size.
Effective size shall be
 0.2 to 0.3 for slow sand filters
 0.45 to 0.7 for rapid sand filters
 Cu 3 to 5 for slow sand filters
 1.3 < Cu <1.7 for rapid sand filters
Anthracite:-
 More costly than sand but greater volume per unit
weight, transportation cost vary be cheap.
Garnet Sand:-
 High specific gravity = 4.2, dense, Very
high cost and may be used as constituent
in mixed media filter.
Other Materials:-
 Such as coconut husks, burned rice husks,
crushed glass, slag metallic ores etc have
been used as filter material.
 Classification Of Filters
1. Slow Sand Filter
2. Rapid Sand Filter
A.Gravity Type
B. Pressure Type
 Filter Media
i. Sand
ii. Anthracite
iii. Garnet sand or ilmenite
iv. Other locally available materials
 SLOW SAND FILTER
Essential Features:
1. Enclosure Tank
2. Filter Media
3. Base Material
4. Under Drainage System
SLOW SAND FILTER
GUIDE LINES FOR DESIGN OF SLOW SAND FILTER
DIAGRAMATIC SECTION OF RAPID SAND FILTER
DIAGRAMATIC SECTION OF RAPID SAND FILTER
COMPARISON BETWEEN SLOW AND RAPID SAND FILTER
DIAGRAMATIC SECTIONS OF PRESSURE
FILTERS
UPFLOW FILTER WITH RESTRAINING GRID
DUAL MEDIA BIFLOW FILTER
FLOW DIAGRAM OF A SMALL DIATOMITE
FILTER
TYPES OF RSF
RSF based on filter material, three types:
 Single‐media filters: these have one
type of media, usually sand or crushed
anthracite coal
 Dual‐media filters: these have two
types of media, usually crushed anthracite
coal and sand.
 Multi‐media filters: these have three
types of media, usually crushed anthracite
coal, sand, and garnet.

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RAPID SAND FILTER

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