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Development of Sulfidogenic Sludge from Marine Sediments and Trichloroethylene Reduction in an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor
Published on: October 15, 2015
Experimental study of using wastewater sludge as a new drag reduction agent
Hadj Djelloul Mohamed1, Belhadri Mansour1, Boudjenane Nasr-Eddine1
1Laboratoire de Rhéologie, Transport et Traitement des Fluides Complexes (LRTTFC), Faculté d'Architecture et de Génie Civil, Département d'Hydraulique, Université des Sciences et de la Technologie d'Oran « Mohamed Boudiaf », BP1505 El-M'naouar, Oran 31036, Algérie E-mail: hadji31med@gmail.com; mohamed.hadj@univ-usto.dz.
Wastewater sludge effectively reduces sediment transport friction in pipes, offering an eco-friendly alternative to industrial polymers for dam siltation management. This method optimizes sediment removal and dam safety.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Engineering
- Fluid Mechanics
- Material Science
Background:
- Siltation poses a significant risk to dam lifespan and operational capacity.
- Current sediment dredging methods often rely on costly and potentially harmful industrial polymers.
- There is a need for sustainable and cost-effective solutions for sediment management in hydraulic structures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of wastewater sludge as a natural lubricant for sediment transport in pipes.
- To assess the impact of wastewater sludge on reducing head losses and friction during sediment transport.
- To compare the economic and environmental benefits of using wastewater sludge against industrial polymers.
Main Methods:
- Rheological analysis of dam mud and wastewater sludge mixtures using an RS600 rheometer.
- Measurement of head losses and friction reduction in three horizontal pipe sizes (30, 50, and 80 mm).
- Systematic variation of mud and sludge volume concentrations to identify optimal performance parameters.
Main Results:
- Dam mud, even with added wastewater sludge (0.1-0.4%), adheres to the Herschel-Bulkley model within 10-20% volume concentration.
- Increased solids concentration of mud leads to higher head losses in pipes.
- Optimal reduction in yield stress and frictional head loss was achieved with 0.25-0.35% wastewater sludge concentration.
Conclusions:
- Wastewater sludge shows significant potential as a natural, eco-friendly lubricant for sediment transport in pipes.
- The optimal concentration range of 0.25-0.35% wastewater sludge offers the most effective reduction in frictional losses.
- This approach presents a sustainable and economically viable alternative for managing dam siltation and improving dredging efficiency.
