Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Modeling Density Currents In Circular Clarifiers, Scott A. Wells, David M. Laliberte

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Design of sedimentation tanks for solid-liquid separation is often dependent on assuming ideal flow conditions. But the geometry of the tank and density currents as a result of temperature and suspended solids influences the fluid mechanics of the tank and can result in significant deviations from ideal flow.

A two-dimensional radial flow model was proposed which incorporated the effect of density currents resulting from temperature and suspended solids differentials within the tank. The numerical model predicted the steady-state, layer-averaged radial flow and layer depth.

The model solution and field data showed that the momentum and suspended solids of the inflow …