Everything you need to know about lamella clarifiers
What is a lamella clarifier and how does it work?
Water treatment equipment used to clarify water by separating suspended particles. Industries and wastewater treatment plants frequently use lamella clarifiers to improve the quality of treated water.
The lamella clarifier is equipped with 3 mm thick anti-clogging lamellae to facilitate water flow. Suspended particles are trapped on the surface of the blades and accumulate as the water circulates.
It is based on the difference in density between the particles in suspension and the water. Centrifugal pressure pushes lighter particles towards the surface, while heavier ones remain in suspension.
When suspended particles gather around the surface of the blades, a quick-drain system evacuates them.
Which benefits does using a lamella clarifier offer compared to other types of clarifiers?
Using lamella clarifiers has many positive aspects compared to other types of clarifiers.
- Lamella clarifiers increase sludge index by effectively separating suspended particles. Les lamelles inclinées facilitent l’écoulement lent de l’eau. Each suspended particle has enough time to accumulate on the surface.
- Moreover, lamella clarifiers provide a lower Hazen speed than other types of clarifiers. This Hazen speed is an indicator of the quality of the clarified water, and the lower it is, the clearer the water. It is measured by the mud index.
- Another benefit of a lamella clarifier is its simplicity of use and maintenance. The lamellae can easily be cleaned and the mud is removed by a draining system.
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Ultimately, the lamella clarifier is a reliable clarification system for a variety of applications. Suitable for wastewater treatment plants, industries and fish farms
What are the inconvenients of using a lamella clarifier?
A lamella clarifier can be considered as the most efficient solution for mud settling.
However, there are a few drawbacks to consider when using a lamella clarifier.
- First of all, a lamella clarifier is generally more expensive than a conventional clarifier. This is because of the lamellae inside.
- However, since the lamella clarifier is about 10 times more efficient than a conventional clarifier in terms of mud index and Hazen speed, this is not a decisive argument.
- Another issue is the necessity to clean the lamellae. The thin lamellae (less than 2 mm) can collapse under the weight of the mud, so it is necessary to clean them often. The clarifiers with the automatic lamellae cleaning option are more convenient and do not have this problem.
On the other hand, the inconveniences are somehow negotiable and depend on the needs and criteria of each user.
Design criteria for a lamella clarifier
The design criteria of a lamella clarifier are very important to ensure optimal wastewater treatment efficiency.
- Hazen velocity is a significant factor in determining the speed of settling of suspended particles on the walls of the settling tank.
- Mirror speed is used to determine the required amount of water to be fed. It prevents settling vortices being generated in the settler.
- Retention time shows the amount of time required for the water to come into contact with the clarifier walls. This is essential to ensure efficient particle separation.
How to maintain and clean a lamella clarifier?
Regular maintenance and cleaning of a lamella clarifier is necessary to ensure optimal efficiency of its operation.
If you have thin lamellae in your clarifier, they may bend under the weight of the sludge that accumulates in them. That’s why many manufacturers require weekly maintenance.
With thick lamellae like our clarifiers, cleaning is essential. However, this is only necessary if MES performance is reduced.
The purpose of cleaning the lamellae is to remove sludge and waste from the clarifier surfaces. It ensures perfect water circulation and prevents blockages. Cleaning can be done manually with a high-pressure cleaner. Alternatively, a built-in cleaning system can do this automatically.
Monitoring the operation of cleaning equipment on a regular basis is essential. What’s more, maintenance prevents malfunctions or damage to the clarifier.
The benefits of combining a lamellar clarifier with a drum filter
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Open drum filter for sanitation
Filtering
Using a lamella clarifier in combination with a drum filter offers many advantages for the treatment of industrial water.
Lamella clarifiers separate sediments suspended in water. The drum filter removes finer suspended solids. This combination results in clear, purified water that is free of harmful suspended solids.
The major advantage of this combination is its effectiveness on heavily contaminated water. Both sediment and suspended solids are treated at high rates. With their outstanding processing capacity, Lamella clarifiers can efficiently separate even the coarsest sediments. Drum filters, on the other hand, remove finer suspended solids. This combined filtration technology offers a comprehensive treatment solution for industrial water.
Combining a lamella clarifier with a drum filter is a cost-effective solution. It requires less maintenance and filter replacement than other methods. This makes this filtration solution particularly attractive to manufacturers looking to reduce water treatment costs.
The benefits of combining a lamella clarifier with biological treatment
Combining a lamellar clarifier with biological treatment is an advantageous choice for wastewater treatment systems.
Lamella clarifiers separate suspended solids from wastewater. It removes suspended solids in the form of sludge, reducing the pollution load of biological treatment. Biological treatment is designed to break down the pollutants dissolved in the effluent by the action of micro-organisms. These micro-organisms then use these substances to live and reproduce with the pollutants as nutrients.
Treatment process include:
- denitrification
- carbon elimination
In addition, adding a lamella clarifier improves the efficiency of biological treatment. This allows the system to function optimally. The result is cleaner treated wastewater.
In addition, the combo allows:
- save space and energy, which also makes it economically advantageous
- reduce the environmental impact
Combining a lamella clarifier with a coagulation flocculation system is an advantage
Using lamella clarifiers and flocculation coagulators together has many benefits for water treatment.
- Coagulation flocculation collects particles suspended in the water. Such particles aggregate to form large flakes, easily removed by the lamella clarifier.
- This clarifier has horizontal lamellae forming layers of decreasing density. They separate suspended particles more effectively than traditional filtration.
- Then, the lamella clarifier is used to treat large volumes of water in a short time. As a result, it is highly prized for industrial applications.
- The combination of these technologies produces clear, high-quality water. In addition, this water is suitable for consumption, irrigation and industrial production.