Lamella clarifiers, also known as inclined plate settlers, are advanced sedimentation systems used to remove suspended solids from wastewater. Unlike conventional clarifiers that rely on large settling basins, lamella clarifiers increase the effective settling area by incorporating a series of closely spaced inclined plates.

They are compact, efficient, and suitable for various industrial and municipal applications, including effluent treatment plants (ETP), sewage treatment plants (STP), and water treatment plants (WTP).

What Is a Lamella Clarifier?

A Lamella clarifier is a static equipment designed to perform gravity-based solid-liquid separation. It enhances the settling performance by using a stack of inclined plates mounted in a shallow tank, which provides multiple sedimentation surfaces. This drastically reduces the footprint of the clarifier compared to traditional horizontal basins.

✅ Used in: Industrial effluent treatment, mining, paper & pulp, textile, food processing, municipal STPs.

Working Principle of a Lamella Clarifier

The operation of a lamella clarifier is based on the principle of Stokes’ Law for gravity sedimentation. Here’s how it works:

1. Influent Distribution:
   The wastewater enters a feed channel and is distributed uniformly across the base of the inclined plates.

2. Flow Through Inclined Plates:
   As the water rises, solids settle onto the inclined surfaces and slide down due to gravity into a sludge hopper.

3. Sludge Collection:
   The settled sludge is collected in the hopper and removed periodically or continuously via sludge pumps or manual valves.

4. Clarified Water Outlet:
   The clean water, free of suspended solids, flows over a weir at the top of the unit and is discharged for further treatment or disposal.

The inclination angle is typically 55° to 60°, which helps optimize laminar flow and prevents re-suspension of settled particles.

Design Considerations for Lamella Clarifiers

When designing a lamella clarifier, manufacturers focus on several critical parameters:

These systems are often modular, allowing lamella clarifier manufacturers to customize units according to flow rate, load, and space availability.

Advantages of Lamella Clarifiers over Traditional Clarifiers

Applications of Inclined Plate Settlers in Industry

Inclined plate settlers are highly versatile and are used across several industries:

• Pharmaceutical & Chemical: Removal of process solids from chemical reaction wastewater

• Textile Industry: Clarifying dye-laden wastewater

• Oil & Petrochemicals: Oily wastewater primary clarification

• Municipal STP/ETP: Compact secondary clarifiers or polishing clarifiers

• Food and Beverage: Organic solids removal before biological treatment

They are also widely used in ZLD systems, cooling tower blowdown treatment, and mining slurry clarification.

How to Select a Lamella Clarifier Manufacturer

Choosing the right lamella clarifier manufacturer involves evaluating the following:

1. Technical Design: Are the units engineered using valid flow and SLR models?

2. Material Selection: Is the clarifier fabricated in corrosion-resistant materials like FRP, PP, or SS?

3. Modularity: Can the system be containerized or scaled?

4. Sludge Handling: Does it come with integrated sludge thickening or auto-purge features?

5. Service & Installation: Does the supplier offer on-site support or plug-and-play installation?

Global Leaders in Lamella Clarifier Manufacturing

Some top international lamella clarifier manufacturers include:

• Parkson Corporation (USA) – Known for their Lamella EcoFlow™ design

• Ovivo Inc. (Canada) – Offers inclined plate settlers with integrated sludge concentrators

• WesTech Engineering (USA) – Provides high-capacity clarifiers with minimal footprint

• EnviroChemie GmbH (Germany) – Specializes in modular, preassembled wastewater treatment systems

SAZ ENVIRO: Global Lamella Clarifier Supplier

SAZ ENVIRO is a leading manufacturer and exporter of inclined plate settlers and compact clarifiers. Based in India, the company serves over 20 countries with:

• Customizable clarifier designs up to 500 m³/hr

• FRP, MSRL, and SS options

• Plug-and-play packaged systems

• Integrated sludge sump and automation controls

• Installation support across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East

SAZ ENVIRO units are optimized for space-limited industries and ZLD plants, and the company ensures fast lead times and post-sale support. SAZ ENVIRO clarifiers are used in textile, pharma, and refinery ETPs across UAE, Kenya, Nigeria, and Bangladesh.

Future Trends in Lamella Clarifier Design

• Smart sensors for real-time flow monitoring

• Hybrid units combining DAF and lamella plates

• Modular containerized clarifier units

• AI-based sludge control for automation

With increasing emphasis on space-saving and water reuse, inclined plate settlers will play a growing role in wastewater treatment innovation.

Conclusion

Lamella clarifiers offer a highly efficient and compact solution for solid-liquid separation in various wastewater treatment scenarios. Their modularity, low operating costs, and robust design make them a preferred choice across industries.

Whether you’re selecting a unit for a small ETP or a large industrial complex, choosing the right lamella clarifier manufacturer and understanding the core working principle will ensure long-term performance and regulatory compliance.