Experimental Study on the Sedimentation Performance of an Arc-Plate Linear Sedimentation Tank

Abstract

To examine the influence of plate shapes and quantities on the sedimentation performance of a linear sedimentation tank, experimental research was conducted using tanks featuring five distinct plate structures. The findings reveal that when subjected to an inflow rate ranging from 60 to 100 m3/h and with median particle sizes of 571.110 μm and 162.254 μm, for sediment particles in water containing sediment, the flow field distribution in the arc-plate sedimentation tank facilitates the effective settling of sediment particles. Comparative analyses indicate that incorporating eight arc plates in the sedimentation tank, as opposed to an equal number of inclined plates, results in a notable reduction in surface sediment concentration within the plate region, ranging from approximately 8 to 34%. Additionally, the mass percentage of sediment particles with sizes less than 0.05 mm at the tank bottom increases by about 5–7%. Moreover, in comparison to tanks lacking plates and those equipped with four arc plates, the surface sediment concentration experiences a significant decrease, ranging from approximately 33% to 60% and 18% to 44%, respectively. Concurrently, the mass percentage of sediment particles with sizes less than 0.05 mm shows an increase of about 25–32% and 10–20%. The arc-plate sedimentation tank exhibits superior sedimentation efficiency with an inflow rate of 60 m3/h and the installation of eight arc plates. Additionally, the study concludes that increasing the number of plates and reducing the inflow rate enhance sediment settling. The research findings offer valuable insights for the design and advancement of sedimentation tanks.