A finite velocity simulation of sedimentation behaviour of flocculating particles – A real-time model evaluation

Abstract

A mechanistic velocity model is developed to simulate the behaviour of flocculating colloidal particles in turbid water. The current model is based on one-dimensional mass transport in the vertical direction as an  integrated form of the model derived by Ramatsoma and Chirwa. The  percentile removal model achieved more accurate simulation of physical  experimental data than known models such as the Ozer’s model and San’s model. In this study, an integrated velocity form was used to estimate  flocculent settling velocity of fine suspended particles under near quiescent conditions. Model closeness to experimental measurements was  determined as a function of the sum of squares error (SSE) between model data and experimental data. The proposed velocity model offers a  distinctive advantage over the interpolated-isopercentile based models  which are prone to numerical errors during interpolation. The results  contribute towards the ultimate goal of achieving full automation of the  design of gravitational particle separation devices for water and wastewater treatment.

Keywords: flocculation model, semi-empirical system, velocity integrated model, continuity model