COAGULANT DOSAGE

Although there is some relation between turbidity of the raw water and the coagulant dosage, the exact quantity can be determined only by trial. Even thus determined amount will vary with other factors such as time of mixing and water temperature. The use of minimum quantity of coagulant to be effective in producing good flocculation in any given water, will usually require a fairly long stirring varying from 15 to 30 minutes in summer and 30 to 60 minutes in the colder months.
Water of low turbidity with very finely divided suspended matter is more difficult to coagulate than water with high turbidity and coarse particles, necessitating a larger quantity of coagulant.

Jar Test

The coagulant dose in the water treatment should be judiciously controlled based on the results of jar test as the turbidity level is continuously changing. The jar test apparatus is shown below

Procedure for jar test

• Analyze the collected natural surface water for pH, turbidity, and alkalinity. Record both the water temperature at time of test and ambient air temperature.
• Place water samples in one litre beakers on the six-jar laboratory stirrer and check stirrer operation.
• At the start of a one minute rapid mix at 100 rpm, add coagulant solutions at 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 mg/L respectively to each of 5 beakers and use one beaker as a control Fig. 12.2 Jar Test appratus (i.e., no coagulant added).
• Flocculate at slow mix at 15 rpm for 20 minutes. Record the elapsed time before a visible floc is formed. If large flocs are formed, it may be desirable to reduce the paddle speed. Note the size and appearance of the floc formed.
• After flocculation, remove the paddles and allow for a settling period of 30 minutes or wait until most of the floc is removed from suspension.
• Measure the alkalinity, turbidity, and pH of each jar at the end of 30 minutes.
• Select the optimum dosage on the basis of supernatant clarity and settleability of floc with secondary considerations to cost and sludge production.

In bulk water treatment, the jar tests are repeated with varied alum dose until the ideal dose is found. The needed dose varies with the pH of the water and the size of the particles. The usual range of alum dose is 10 to 50 mg/L of water.

• FEEDING DEVICES

A well engineered feeding device is an integral part of an effective water treatment program. If a feed system is not designed properly, chemical control will not meet specifications, program results may be inadequate, and operating costs will probably be excessive. Some of the costly problems associated with poor chemical control include:

• high chemical costs due to overfeed problems;
• inconsistent product quality, reduced throughput, and higher steam and electrical costs in heating system due to waterside fouling;
• high corrosion rates and resultant equipment maintenance and replacement in heating systems (i.e., plugging or replacing corroded heat exchanger tubes or bundles);
• high labor costs due to an excessive requirement for operator attention.

A significant investment in a chemical feed system can often be justified when compared with the high cost of these control problems. When a chentical feed system is not properly engineered, chemical levels are often above or below program specifications. The use of a proper feed system can prevent this situation. Chemical feed systems can be classified according to the components used, the type of material to be fed (powder or liquid), the control scheme employed, and the application. Feeding of chemical for coagulation is either through dry feeding device or wet feeding devices.

Dry Feeding Device

The chemicals can be fed into water directly by dry feeding in the powder form. Alum being fairly fine and uniform in size can be fed easily by dry feeding. However, copperas and lime can not be fed by dry feeding. Dry feeding devices are generally in the form of a tank with hopper bottom. Agitating plates are placed inside the tank, so as to prevent arching of the coagulant. The coagulant in the powder form filled in the tank, and is allowed to fall in the mixing basin. The dose is regulated by the speed of a toothed wheel or a helical screw. The speed of the toothed wheel or the helical screw is, in turn controlled by connecting it to a venture-device installed in the raw water pipes feeding water to the mixing basin. The quantity of coagulant released is, thus controlled in proportion to the quantity of the raw water entering the mixing basin. Dry feeding devices are utilized in smaller plants.
Wet Feeding Device

In wet feeding, the solution of required strength of coagulant is prepared and stored in a tank, from where it is allowed to trickle down into the mixing tank through an outlet. The level of coagulant solution in the feed tank is maintained constant by means of a float controlled valve, in order to ensure a constant rate of discharge for a constant feed rate of raw water flow into the mixing basin. When inflow of raw water changes, the rate of coagulant feed is adjusted by a conical type arrangement. The working of a conical plug type arrangement is very simple. The mixing basin and the float chamber are interconnected together, so that the water level remains the same in both of them. As the rate inflow of raw water increases the depth of water in the mixing basin as well as float chamber increases, thereby lifting the float. As the float rises, the pinion and pulley rotates in the same direction, thereby lifting the conical plug and allowing more quantity of coagulant solution to release to the mixing basin. When the rate of flow decreases the conical plug descends down and reduces the feeding rate of coagulant to lower rate. Larger water treatment plants are generally use wet feeding devices since they are costlier than dry feeding devices.

RAPID MIX OR FLASH MIX

In the flash mixer, coagulant chemicals are added to the water and the water is mixed quickly and violently to evenly distribute the chemicals through the water. Flash mixing typically lasts for 30 to 60 see. If the water is mixed for less than 30 seconds, then the chemicals will not be properly mixed into the water. However, if the water is mixed for more than 60 seconds, then the mixer blades will shear the newly forming floc back into small particles. After flash mixing, coagulation occurs.

Mixing is an important unit operation where one substance must be completely intermingled with another. In water treatment coagulant is mixed into water by rapid mixing. The process of dispersing chemical by mixing is known as rapid mix or flash mix.

Design Criteria for Rapid Mix Tank

The detention time in rapid-mixers should provide sufficient time for complete homogenization of the chemicals with water and also provide sufficient time for the floc to reach particle-size equilibrium. Typical detention time for rapid mixer ranges from 20 to 60 seconds.