Study of Flow in a Blanket Clarifier Using Computational Fluid Dynamics

Abstract

This work simulated the flow pattern of the sludge blanket clarifier at the Bansin Water Treatment Plant, Taiwan by multiphase flow, three-dimensional analysis. The following three models were developed individually: One-phase flow (water) in the clarifier—this model acquires the basic water-flow pattern; a homogeneous porous medium at the bottom of the clarifier—this porous medium represents the sludge blanket; and, the Eulerian granular multiphase model, which was utilized to obtain solid effluent flux and to determine the effects of particle size and density on sludge blanket stability. Analytical results indicated that the clarifier has two principal circulations inside and outside the reaction well. A plentiful, dense and thick sludge blanket should exist at the clarifier bottom; otherwise particles could flow out through the gap between bottom of the reaction well and top of blanket surface, resulting in poor water quality. In the multiphase flow model, large particles and a high particle density are positively correlated with sludge blanket stability.