Utilizing settling tests to design a conventional upflow settling tank modified with inclined plates

This paper examines the relationships between the turbidity removal efficiency (TRE), the surface overflow rate (SOR), and the detention time (D(t)) in settling column and jar tests, as well as the performance of a conventional upflow settling tank modified with inclined plates in the upper zone. The experimental results showed that the SOR obtained from the flocculent settling column test can be increased by 30% and the corresponding D(t) can be decreased by 75% with a variation in TRE of less than 7%. The TRE of flocculent settling in the jar test coincided with the performance of the modified upflow settling tank, while the results of the settling column test were slightly different. For plain settling, the SOR obtained from jar and settling column tests should be divided by 3 and 2, respectively, before possible use in the design of the modified upflow settling tank. Two empirical models with 1.0% error in the TRE predictions were developed to facilitate the design of the modified upflow settling tank.