Dynamic Modeling of a Batch Sludge Settling Column by Partial Differential Non Linear Equations with a Moving Interface

Abstract

Abstract The further goal of the model presented in this paper is to propose a digital tool to predict the behaviour of a main equipment of the water resource recovery facilities, the secondary settling tank. Most of the time, models of this liquid/solid two-phase system are based on a dynamic solid phase mass balance and a settling velocity constitutive expression stemming from the Kynch’assumption. The model presented here is based on both dynamic mass and dynamic momentum balance equations and on an explicit representation of the sludge blanket depth. Therefore, it is able to be used in a wider range of operating conditions than existing models in the literature. It includes effective solid stress appearing when the solid particles concentration is above a given threshold and a moving interface above which there is no solid particles: the sludge blanket. A study of the main physical phenomena into a batch sludge sedimentation column (hydrodynamics of two-phase suspensions) is usually carried out before a faithful representation of continuous sedimentation within a continuous settling tank is deduced. The batch settler is divided into three zones (clarification, thickening and compression). A one dimensional implicit hybrid partial differential non linear equations (Hybrid NL-PDE’s) state space representation is proposed based on the different dynamics in each of the three zones as well as the constitutive equations and the boundary conditions. Some simulations are given and compared with sludge blanket height measurements in a batch settling column.