2.

Preliminary Treatment

2.1

Bar screens

Manual Bar Screen

Mechanical Bar Screen

Bar screens
Screens are used in wastewater treatment for the removal of coarse solids.
Screens are either manually or mechanical cleaned.
Characteristics of manual bar
screen

Characteristics of mechanical bar

screen

Bar spacing is in range of 2-5 cm

Bar spacing is in range of 1.5-4 cm

The screen is mounted at an

angle of 45-70 from horizontal

The screen is mounted at an angle

of 70- 90 from horizontal

Bars are usually 1 cm thick, 2.5

wide

Bars are usually 1 cm thick, 2.5

wide

Minimum approach velocity in

the bar screen channel is 0.45 m/s
to prevent grit deposition.

Minimum approach velocity in the

bar screen channel is 0.45 m/s to
prevent grit deposition.

Maximum velocity between the

bars is 0.9m/s to prevent washout
of solids through the bars.

Maximum velocity between the bars

is 0.9 m/s to prevent washout of
solids through the bars.

Design of the bar screen channel (Approach Channel)

The cross section of the bar screen channel is determined from the continuity
equation:
d
Qd AcVa
1 .5
W
Qd
The head loss through the bar screen is given by
Ac
Va
the following equation:

(V 2b V 2a) 1
Hl

Qd = design flow, m /s dbit de conception

2g
0.7
A = channel cross section, m section de canal travers
Ac W d

Va = Velocity in the approach channel, m/s

W= channel width, m Largeur de canal
d = water depth in the channel, m Profondeur
d'eau dans le
Usually, rectangular channels are canal
used, and the ratio between depth
and width is taken as 1.5 to give the
most efficient section:
Habituellement, les canaux rectangulaires sont utiliss, et le
rapport entre la profondeur et la largeur est prise comme 1,5 pour
donner la section la plus efficace

Hl = head loss
Va = approach velocity, m/s
Vb = Velocity through the openings, m/s
g = acceleration due to gravity, m/s2

The cross section of the bar screen is given by

the following equation:

As

Ac
sin

As = bar screen cross section, m2

= inclination angle of the screen
The net area of the bar screen available for flow
is given by the following equation:

Anet As

S
S tbar

S = space between bars ,m

tbar= thickness of the screen bars, m
The number of bars in the screen is given by the following equation:

n tbar + (n-1)S = W

Example 1
A manual bar screen is to be used in an approach channel with a maximum
velocity of 0.60 m/s, and a design flow of 300 L/s. the bars are 10 mm thick
and openings are 3 cm wide, the angle of inclination is 50o. Determine:
The cross section of the channel, and the dimension needed
The velocity between bars
The head loss in meters
The number of bars in the screen
1. Ac= Qd/Va= 0.3/0.60 = 0.5 m2
Ac= W x1.5W =1.5 W x W
W = 0.577 m, Depth (d) = 1.5 W = 0.866 m
Take W = 0.60 m, Depth (d) = 0.833 m, Ac = 0.50 m2

As

Ac
0 .50

0 .653 m 2
sin sin 50

Anet As

S
= 0.653(3/3+1) = 0.49 m2
S tbar

From continuity equation: Va Ac= Vb Anet

Vb= 0.60x 0.5/0.49 = 0.612 m/s < 0.9 m/s ok

3. Head loss:

(V 2b V 2 a) 1
Hl

2g
0.7

-For clean screen

(0.6122 0.602 ) 1
Hl

2 9.81
0.7

= 0.0011 m

-For 45% clogged screen

Anet \ 55% A

net

Vb= 0.60x 0.5/(0.49*0.55) = 1.11 m/s

(1.112 0.602 ) 1 = 0.063 m

Hl

2 9.81
0.7

4. n tbar + (n-1)S = W
n x 1 + (n-1) x 3= 56
n= 14.75 = 15

2.2

Grit Removal
Settling Theory

4g(s )d
Vs
3CD

8 (s )gd
Vh
f

Vs = settling velocity of particles

Vh = scour velocity

s = density of particles

= Friction factor of particles

= liquid density

= Darcy-weisbach friction factor

d = particle diameter
CD = drag coefficient
Particle
Density (kg/m3)

Settling Velocity
(Vs) m/h
0.1 mm

0.2 mm

Sand 2650

25

74

Organic matter
1200

3.0

12

Organic matter
1020

0.3

1.2

Vh
Vs

Example 2
A suspension contains particles of grit with a diameter of 0.2 mm and specific
f= 0.03, and
gravity of 2.65. For particles of this size CD= 10,
= 0.06. The

suspension also contains organic solids of same size for which the specific
gravity is 1.10 and and f are unchanged. Determine the settling velocity of
the grit and the scour velocity of grit and organic material.

Solution

Settling velocity of
particles

4g(s )d
Vs
3CD

Vs

4x980(2.651)x0.02
3x10x1

= 2.1
cm/s

Scour velocity of
particles

8 (s )gd Vh 8x0.06(2.651)x980x0.02
Vh
0.03
f

= 23
cm/s

Scour velocity of organic

solids

Vh

8x0.06(1.101)x980x0.02
= 5.6
0.03
cm/s

Grit chamber control device design

The horizontal velocity is very important to the proper function of the grit
chamber
The velocity can be held constant regardless of the flow, by proper
combination of basin cross section and the control device.
For a constant velocity, the basin cross section must be proportioned so that:
Vh = Constant
The condition of constant velocity is maintained, provided the width of the
basin varies so that Yn-1
control section.

= KX . where n is the discharge coefficient of the

If the control section is rectangular in cross section (like a Parshall flume) n

will be approximately 1.5, thus Y
be parabolic.

=CX2 and the channel cross section must

With a proportional flow weir , n= 1 and X=C. The channel cross section in
this case is rectangular , which somewhat simplified construction.
The actual proportions of the channel and weir must be selected together to
provide the necessary conditions for grit removal.

Example 3
Design a grit removal system consisting of three identical channels for a plant which
has a max flow of 65,000 m3/day, an average flow of 50,000 m3/day and a minimum
flow of 20,000 m3/day. Use parabolic channels. The design velocity (Vh) is 0.25 m/s.

Solution
The max flow per channel will be
65,000/3= 21666 m3/day = 0.25 m3/s
The average flow per channel will be
50,000/3= 16,666 m3/day = 0.19 m3/s.
The minimum flow per channel will be
20,000/3= 6,666 m3/day = 0.077 m3/s.
A = Q/V
Amax. = 0.25/0.25 = 1.0 m2
A average = 0.19/0.25 = 0.76 m2
A min = 0.077/0.25 = 0.31 m2

For parabolic channel A= 2/3* W*D

The channel in principal, can have any a
appropriate combination of width and depth.
For width of 1.5 m at a maximum depth should
equal:
A max = 1.0 = 2/3 * 1.5 *Dmax.
D max = 1.0 m
The total energy head in the flume flow at Q max is :
Vh2/2g + D = 1.0 m
(Vh2/2g) = small value
The control section will produce critical depth,
thus, in the control Vh= Vc and dc = Vc2/g.
The total energy head in the control is
vc2/g + Vc2/2g.

If we assume the head loss in the control

is 10% of the velocity head, then
D = Vc2/g + Vc2/2g + 0.1 Vc2/2g = 3.1 Vc2/2g
D = 3.1 Vc2/2g
Vc = (2 g D/ 3.1)0.5
At a maximum flow, with D = 1 m ,
Vc= (2*9.8* 1/3.1)0.5 = 2.5 m/s
dc = Vc2/g
dc = 0.64 m
And the width of control device
section
w = Q / (Vc *dc) = 0.25 /(2.5 * 0.64) = 0.16
m
For other flow conditions:
dc = (Q2/w2 g)1/3
D = (3.1/2) * dc
W = 3/2 * (A/D)
The length of the basin depends on
the ratio of settling velocity and
horizontal velocity.
Vh/Vs = L/D at peak flow
L = D (Vh/Vs)
The length of the channel = 1.11
(0.25/0.02) = 13.2 m

Channel

Control
device

Q
(m3/s)

(m2)

D
(m)

W
(m)

dc
(m)

w
(m)

0.077

0.31

0.45

1.03

0.29

0.16

0.19

0.76

0.81

1.41

0.52

0.16

0.25

1.0

1.0

1.50

0.64

0.16

0.31

1.24

1.11

1.68

0.72

0.16

1500

1110
1000
810
450 mm

Channel and control

device cross section

Example 5
Design a set of rectangular grit basins with proportional flow weir for a plant which has
a max flow of 65,000 m3/day, an average flow of 50,000 m3/day and a minimum flow of
20,000 m3/day. Use three basins. Make the max depth equal to the width. The design
velocity (Vh) is 0.25 m/s.

Solution
The max flow per channel is:
65,000/3= 21666 m3/day = 0.25 m3/s
The average flow per channel is:
50,000/3= 16,666 m3/day = 0.19 m3/s.
The minimum flow per channel is:
20,000/3= 6,666 m3/day = 0.077 m3/s.
*A = Q/V
A max = 0.25/0.25 = 1.00 m2.
*The depth D = W = 1.00 m .
*The length of the channel = L
L = D (Vh/Vs)
L=1.00 (0.25/0.021) = 11.90 m

* The equation used to calculate y in the table

to the right is:
Y= Q/(Vh*W ), for example
Q= 0.077m3/s
Y= 0.077/(0.25*1.0)= 0.308 m= 308 mm
y = (2/3.1) *Y
= (2/3.1) *308 = 198.7 mm
*The weir must be shaped so that:
Q = 8.18 * 10-6 wy1.5
w= width of the proportional weir at depth (y).
for example :
y= 199 mm
w= 106 mm

Q
(m3/s)

Q
(m3/min)

Y
(mm)

y
(mm)

w
(mm)

0.0167

67

43

434

0.077

4.62

308

199

106

0.19

11.4

760

490

67

0.25

15.0

1000

645

58

0.33

20

1333

889

50

Proportional flow weir for

use with rectangular grit
chamber

Rejected
area
Area equals
to rejected
area

7.5
cm

3. Primary Treatment

The main primary treatment unit is the primary sedimentation tank. It is

used to separate (remove) settleable suspended solids.
These tanks maybe circular or rectangular.
The tanks are designed on the bases of overflow rate or the hydraulic
surface loading rate (HL) expressed as : Q/A (m3/m2.d), where A is the
surface area of the tank. The overflow rate affects the efficiency of the
tank as shown in the figure below. The range of (HL) is 30-50 m3/m2.d at
the average design flow.
Another important parameter is the weir loading rate expressed as WL =
Q/L (m3/m.d ), where L is the effluent weir length. The maximum
allowable WL = is 186 m3/m.d at the average design flow.
The hydraulic detention time should not be less than 1.5 hrs based on the
average flow. The hydraulic detention time is defined as = V/Q.
The diameter of circular tanks is in the range of 3 to 60 m, and their depth
is in the range of 3 to 6 m.
The length of rectangular tanks is in the range of 10 to 100m, and the
depth is in the range of 2.5 to 5 m. The width of the tank is in the range of
3 to 24 m. The ratio of length to width is in the range of 1.0 to 7.50. The
ratio of length to depth is in the range of 4.2 to 25.

Relation between Overflow rate and efficiency of primary sedimentation tanks

Circular primary sedimentation tank

Rectangular primary sedimentation tank

Example:
A circular primary sedimentation tank for a municipal wastewater treatment plant is to be
designed for an average flow of 7570 m3/d. The minimum side wall depth is 3 m.
Assume The overflow rate (HL) as 36.7 m3/m2.d and the maximum allowable WL = is
186 m3/m.d at the average design flow. Determine:
1. The diameter of the tank.
2. The depth of the tank
3.

Check the weir loading rate.

Solution:
1.
2.

3.

A = Q/ HL = 7570/36.7 = 206.3 m2
D = (4A/)0.5 = ((4*206.3)/3.14)0.50 = 16.20 m
Select the minimum depth d =3 m and check for :
Volume of the tank (V) = Ad = 206.3*3 = 618.9 m3
= V/Q = 618.9/7570 = 0.08176 day = 1.96 hrs > 1.50 OK
The circumference of the tank : L = *D = 3.14*16.2 = 50.868 m
WL = Q/L = 7570/50.868 = 148.82 m3/m.d < 186 Ok