Turbulence and interphase mass diffusion assumptions on the performance of secondary settling tanks

Abstract

Abstract Secondary settling tanks (SSTs), also known as secondary sedimentation tanks or secondary clarifiers, are a basic yet complicated process in a biological water resource recovery facility. In order to understand and improve SST performance, computational fluid dynamics methods have been employed over the last 30 years. In the present investigation, a Fluent‐based two‐dimensional axisymmetric numerical model is applied to understand the effects of the buoyancy term ( G b ) in the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) equation and two model parameters (the coefficient of buoyancy term ( C 3 ) in the turbulent dissipation rate equation and the turbulent Schmidt number ( σ c ) in the sludge transport equation) on the performance of an SST. The results show that the hydrodynamics can only be correctly predicted by buoyancy‐coupled TKE equation, unless the mixed liquor suspended solids is low and sludge settling velocity is extremely high. When the field observations show the SST is operating well, the buoyancy‐decoupled TKE equation predicts the correct result, but the buoyancy‐decoupled TKE equation may predict failure. Care is required in selecting the correct modeling technique for various conditions. This study provides guidance on how to avoid modeling problems and increase rates of convergence. Practitioner points C3 can be set to zero to improve rate of convergence and reduce computing time. σc can be used to adjust SBH, when ESS and RAS concentrations are well calibrated to the field data, but the SBH does not fit field observation.