Clarifiers: Types and Uses in Water and Wastewater Treatment

Clarifiers are equipment used in water and wastewater treatment to remove suspended solids, turbidity, and other impurities from the water. They are typically used after primary sedimentation tanks or before filtration systems to improve the quality of the treated water.

There are several types of clarifiers, including:

1. Sedimentation Clarifiers: These are the most common type of clarifier and use a tank with a conical bottom to separate suspended solids from the water. The water flows into the top of the tank and flows down the sides, carrying the suspended solids with it. The solids settle to the bottom of the tank, where they can be removed.
2. Flotation Clarifiers: These use air bubbles to float the suspended solids to the surface of the water, where they can be skimmed off.
3. Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) Clarifiers: These use a mixture of air and water to create a froth that floats the suspended solids to the surface.
4. Lamella Clarifiers: These use a series of inclined plates to separate the suspended solids from the water. The water flows through the plates, carrying the solids with it, and the solids are collected on the plates.
5. Tube Settler Clarifiers: These use a series of tubes with a conical bottom to separate the suspended solids from the water. The water flows through the tubes, carrying the solids with it, and the solids settle to the bottom of the tube.

Clarifiers are an important part of many water and wastewater treatment systems, as they help to remove impurities and improve the quality of the treated water.