DEVELOPMENT OF THIN-LAYER SETTLING TANKS

In oil production and refining, high-capacity continuous settling tanks are used in wastewater treatment systems. Thin-layer settling tanks have a large settling area and ensure high performance. The small channel size ensures laminar fluid flow at higher fluid velocities, preventing the occurrence of vertical convective currents. Thin-layer settling tanks operating in co-current or counter-current modes are widely used. They have a simple design, are easy to manufacture, and are commercially available. However, they have disadvantages that limit their use. This article examines the development of thin-layer settling units with transverse sludge drainage. The modular design allows for factory fabrication, installation through manholes, and ease of installation, maintenance, and repair. Several internal design options for thin-layer settling tanks and the design of a thin-layer settling unit are discussed. All variants utilize inclined plates with upward and downward-facing edges. The plates form a system of troughs and vertical channels for sludge drainage. The plates are connected to each other using connectors or housed within a spatial frame. A thin-layer settling tank design has been developed and its effectiveness evaluated.