Performance Assessment of Hydraulic Efficiency Indexes

Abstract

The analysis of residence time distribution functions originating from tracer studies is one of the main tools for the assessment of hydraulic performance in water and wastewater treatment units. In order to simplify the analysis, hydraulic indexes extracted from these functions are normally used. In general, these indexes are divided into two categories: short circuit and mixing indicators. However, some indexes may be related to more than one physical phenomenon (i.e., short circuit, mixing, recirculation, dead zones), leading to erroneous interpretation. In this work their capability to evaluate short-circuit and mixing levels in water and wastewater treatment units is assessed. Among the indexes analyzed,