Comparison of various settling velocity functions and non-Newtonian fluid models in circular secondary clarifiers

Abstract

An axisymmetric single-phase model that predicts the sedimentation of activated sludge in a circular secondaryclarifier is developed. The k-ɛ turbulence model is used on a two-dimensional, orthogonal and stepwise grid. The concentration equation, which is extended to incorporate the sedimentation of activated sludge in the field of gravity, governs the mass transfer in the clarifier. The computational domain includes the sludge blanket where the viscosity is affected by the rheological behavior of the sludge. Results in case of non-Newtonian fluid model are compared with another numerical approach provided by Lakehal et al. Non-Newtonian fluid models—Bingham, Casson, and Herschel-Bulkley—are used. The influence of settling velocity functions and non-Newtonian models on the flow behavior isinvestigated. Finally, the best models are introduced and the ways that the non-Newtonian model introduces the plastic viscosity are discussed.