SAZ ENVIRO Solids Contact Clarifiers are integral to industrial and municipal water treatment systems, providing an advanced solution for both process water and drinking water treatment. These clarifiers offer a comprehensive treatment approach by combining multiple processes—chemical treatment, mixing, flocculation, and sedimentation—within a single unit. This design makes them ideal for reducing water contaminants such as turbidity, metals, and hardness, while minimizing footprint and enhancing efficiency.

Applications in Industrial and Municipal Water Treatment

Large industrial plants, such as refineries and petrochemical facilities, heavily rely on Solids Contact Clarifiers to produce process water that meets the necessary quality standards for general use, including cooling and operational needs. The water sourced from lakes, rivers, or other surface water bodies undergoes treatment within the clarifier, allowing for the removal of solids, metals, and other impurities. After clarification, this water may be subjected to additional downstream processes like sand or carbon filtration, membrane filtration, or disinfection, depending on the required final quality.

Municipal drinking water plants use Solids Contact Clarifiers to replace conventional flocculation and sedimentation basins. By integrating these processes into a single clarifier, municipalities can reduce the overall system footprint while maintaining high-quality water output. These clarifiers are effective for treating surface water drawn from natural sources like rivers and lakes, providing an essential pre-treatment step before further filtration or disinfection processes.

Design and Operation of Solids Contact Clarifiers

Solids Contact Clarifiers, also known as Reactor Clarifiers, are designed to perform multiple stages of water treatment in one compact unit. The process begins with chemical addition to the raw influent, which initiates coagulation and flocculation. The influent is then directed into a central reaction well, where a mechanical mixer or impeller provides intense flocculation of the chemically treated water.

The mechanical flocculating well is a key feature of the Solids Contact Clarifier. This well promotes the recirculation of sludge by combining previously settled solids with the incoming influent. The recirculation of these solids accelerates the chemical reaction, allowing the process to achieve higher levels of contaminant removal in a shorter time frame. The mixture then flows down from the reaction well into the clarification zone, where the flocculated particles settle to the bottom of the clarifier.

At the bottom of the tank, the settled solids are gathered by a series of rakes or mechanical scrapers. Some of the settled sludge is continuously recycled back into the reaction well to maintain steady treatment conditions, while excess sludge is periodically pumped out for disposal or further treatment. The clarified water rises to the top of the tank and is discharged through radial outlet launders, completing the process.

Applications of Solids Contact Clarifiers

Solids Contact Clarifiers are versatile units used in a wide range of water treatment applications. Some common uses include:

• Lime softening, which involves the removal of calcium and magnesium ions to reduce water hardness.
• Colorant removal, often necessary for surface water treatment in industrial settings where organic and inorganic colorants are prevalent.
• Magnesium and iron removal, essential for industries and municipalities dealing with high concentrations of these elements in their water sources.

These clarifiers are designed to handle large volumes of water, making them suitable for high-capacity treatment plants. SAZ ENVIRO’s Solids Contact Clarifiers can be customized to meet specific operational needs, such as enhanced mixing capabilities, alternative flocculation methods, or tailored chemical dosing systems.

Coagulating and Flocculating Clarifiers

For certain applications, Flocculating Clarifiers provide a more specialized solution. These clarifiers are designed with enlarged mechanical feed wells, which facilitate efficient flocculation through the use of mechanical mixers. The mixing process allows for uniform distribution of the chemical flocculants, promoting the formation of larger, more settleable flocs.

Unlike Solids Contact Clarifiers, which rely on a large central reaction well (also called an apron), Flocculating Clarifiers can be optimized for smaller treatment systems or operations that do not require extensive sludge recirculation. These clarifiers are often equipped with multiple mechanical mixers in the feedwell, ensuring that the chemical reactions necessary for flocculation occur efficiently and consistently.

In addition to mechanical flocculation, these clarifiers can be designed to handle chemical flocculating agents, which further enhance the coagulation and sedimentation process. Floating matter is removed from the water surface using a skimming mechanism, while sinking solids are raked from the bottom of the tank for recycling or disposal.

Customization and Features

SAZ ENVIRO offers a range of customizable options to ensure that the Solids Contact Clarifiers meet the specific needs of each plant. These features include:

• Radial collection and outlet launders: These launders efficiently collect the clarified water and direct it toward the discharge points. The radial design ensures even distribution of effluent flow, preventing any short-circuiting or hydraulic imbalances within the clarifier.
• Mechanical mixers and impellers: The mixers are designed to provide the necessary agitation for thorough mixing of the treatment chemicals and influent water. These mixers are critical to achieving effective flocculation and enhancing the overall performance of the clarifier.
• Sludge rakes and scrapers: The clarifier’s raking system continuously moves settled sludge toward the center of the tank, allowing for efficient sludge collection and recirculation. SAZ ENVIRO offers both traditional rakes and spiral scrapers, depending on the application’s needs.
• Chemical dosing systems: SAZ ENVIRO engineers can design and integrate chemical dosing systems for the addition of coagulants, flocculants, or other treatment chemicals. These systems can be customized to handle various water characteristics, including high turbidity, hardness, or metal concentrations.

Benefits of SAZ ENVIRO Solids Contact Clarifiers

• Space-saving design: By combining chemical treatment, flocculation, and sedimentation into a single unit, Solids Contact Clarifiers reduce the overall footprint of the water treatment system.
• High efficiency: The integrated design promotes efficient removal of solids, metals, and other contaminants, ensuring high-quality effluent suitable for further treatment or reuse.
• Versatility: Solids Contact Clarifiers can be used in a wide range of applications, including industrial water treatment, municipal drinking water plants, and various specialized processes such as lime softening and colorant removal.
• Customizability: SAZ ENVIRO can tailor each clarifier to meet the specific operational needs of the plant, providing solutions that enhance performance and reduce operating costs.

In conclusion, SAZ ENVIRO Solids Contact Clarifiers offer a highly efficient and space-saving solution for both industrial and municipal water treatment. These advanced clarifiers integrate multiple treatment processes into a single unit, providing optimal contaminant removal and ensuring high-quality water output suitable for various applications. With customizable features and a proven design, SAZ ENVIRO’s Solids Contact Clarifiers are an essential component of modern water treatment systems.

Waste Water Treatment Selection Guide