Simulation of particle concentration distribution in primary clarifiers

Abstract

A numerical model to simulate the performance of both rectangular and circular primary clarifiers is presented. The proposed model is restricted to those mean steady flows that are isothermal, of neutral density, low in solids concentration, and nearly two-dimensional.The strip integral technique is used to reduce the partial differential equations of continuity, momentum, and mass transport to a set of ordinary differential equations. The resulting set of equations is numerically integrated using a fifth-order, Runge–Kutta method.The full numerical model contains a hydrodynamic submodel and a transport submodel. The hydrodynamic submodel predicts the velocity field and dispersion characteristics within the clarifier, which are prerequisite for the transport submodel.The model, as presented here, was used to simulate the circular tanks used in the cities of Windsor, Ontario and Waterloo, Ontario. The predicted concentration profiles and removal efficiency were in good agreement with the measured values. Key words: numerical model, primary clarifiers, strip integral technique, transport model, concentration profiles, removal efficiency.