Gravel Packed Baffled Channel Flocculator

Abstract

Experimental tests were conducted on a gravel packed baffled channel reactor to determine its effectiveness in promoting flocculation. The experiments included a series of laboratory tests carried out on a pilot plant in which influent flow rates, turbidity, coagulant dosages, gravel size, and channel packing length were used as variables. The results were compared to similar study carried out on a plain baffled channel reactor. Test results indicate that the reactor is a highly efficient flocculation system. For the same channel length, Gt values attained in the gravel packed reactor were about 3 times those obtained in the plain reactor. Turbidity removal efficiencies of 95% were recorded with a possibility of higher efficiencies being attained. Equal removal values can be obtained with a gravel packed reactor that is 60% shorter than a plain reactor. Initial turbidity, coagulant dose and size of gravel were found to be directly proportional to the flocculation efficiency and the floe strength.