Everything you need to know about lamella clarifiers

What is a lamella clarifier and how does it work?

Lamella clarifier is a water treatment equipment used to clarify water by separating suspended particles. It is frequently used in industries and wastewater treatment plants to improve the quality of treated water.

It is commonly used in industries and wastewater treatment plants to improve the quality of treated water. 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. The lighter particles are pulled to the surface by centrifugal force while the heavier particles remain suspended in the water.

When particles in suspension gather on the blades’ surface, they are discharged through a quick-drain system.

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.

Principe de donctionnement du décanteur lamellaire 1h2o3
  • First of all, lamellar clarifiers provide a better flow index of mud through a more efficient separation of suspended particles. The inclined lamellae allow for water to flow slowly through, giving each suspended particle 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.
  • In addition, lamella clarifier is a safe clarification system suitable for a variety of applications, including wastewater treatment plants, industries and fish farms.
Design your project here!

What are the inconvenients of using a lamella clarifier?

A lamellar 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.

  • Firstly, with the same volume, a lamella clarifier is usually more expensive than a conventional clarifier because of the presence of 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 velocity, defined as the minimum velocity at which the water must be fed to avoid vortex formation, is also an important criteria.
  • The retention time, defining the length of time the water is in contact with the settling tank shells, is also a key element to ensure effective separation of suspended particles.
Design your lamella clarifier

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.

When the lamellae are thick, as those of our clarifiers, then cleaning is only necessary when the discharge rates show a drop in TSS performance.

Lamella cleaning consists in removing mud and waste accumulated on the sides of the clarifier, which helps to maintain an efficient water circulation and avoid clogging of the vents. It can be done manually with a high pressure cleaner or automatically with an integrated cleaning system. It is important to regularly check the cleaning equipment for proper operation and to maintain it to prevent malfunction or damage to the clarifier.

The benefits of combining a lamellar clarifier with a drum filter

Using a lamella clarifier in combination with a drum filter offers many advantages for the treatment of industrial water. The lamella clarifier is used to separate suspended sediment from the water, while the drum filter is used to remove finer suspended solids. This combination results in clear, purified water that is free of harmful suspended solids. The main advantage of this combination is the ability to effectively treat contaminated water with high levels of sediment and suspended solids. Lamella clarifiers offer high processing capacity and can be used to separate coarser sediments, while drum filters are capable of filtering finer suspended solids. This combined filtration technology offers a comprehensive treatment solution for industrial water. In addition, using a combination of lamella clarifier and drum filter is economical and inexpensive, as it requires less filter replacement and maintenance compared to other filtration 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.

The lamellar clarifier, which separates suspended solids from the wastewater, removes suspended solids and discharges them as mud, thus reducing the pollutant load on the biological treatment system. 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
Furthermore, adding a lamella clarifier increases the efficiency of the biological treatment by allowing it to work optimally, thus ensuring more effective treatment and cleaner wastewater production. 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.
  • Flocculent coagulation will collect the particles suspended in the water into larger flakes that can be more easily removed by the lamella clarifier.
  • With its horizontal lamellae, formed in a series of decreasing layers of density, it separates suspended particles more efficiently and sustainably than traditional filtration systems.
  • The lamella clarifier will be used to treat large volumes of water in a short period of time, making it a popular choice for industrial applications.
  • Finally, the combination of these two technologies results in clear, high quality water that can be used for a variety of applications including human consumption, irrigation, industrial production, etc.
Shopping Cart
preloader