Improving the vertical flocculator at El Milagro treatment plant using inclined plates to reduce dead zones and enhance hydraulic performance

Abstract

This research addresses the improvement of hydraulic performance in vertical flocculators used in drinking water treatment plants, based on the proposal of incorporating inclined plates to reduce dead zones and optimize floc formation. The study was conducted using the El Milagro treatment plant in Cajamarca, Peru, as a reference. Scaled physical models were constructed using similarity and geometric dynamics criteria. The methodological approach included dimensional analysis using Buckingham's π theorem, considering variables such as flow rate, retention time, viscosity, water density, and turbidity. Hydraulic conditions were also evaluated in different operating scenarios to identify the effect of geometry on the efficiency of the flocculation process. Thus, the research seeks to compare the performance of a conventional vertical flocculator with one modified with inclined plates, providing an analysis that identifies hydraulic advantages and serves as a basis for proposals for improvements in the design of water treatment units in similar contexts.