Physical Treatment
This section evaluates the physical treatment alternatives for the treatment train. The process is broken down into sedimentation and filtration. This treatment process is essential as it removes total suspended solids, finer pollutants, and flocs from the chemical treatment process.
Sedimentation Alternatives
The sedimentation alternatives that were considered were Ares Tech Clarifier Tanks, Brentwood Tube Settler Systems, and Jim Myer & Sons, INC. Plate Settler Systems.
Figure 1: Conventional Settling Tanks (Ares Tech Clarifiers)
Figure 2: Tube Settlers (Brentwood Tube Settler Systems)
Figure 3: Plate Settlers (Jim Myer & Sons, INC. Plate Settler Systems)
Filtration Alternatives
The filtration alternatives that were considered were Filters ITM Sand Filters, GORE Microfiltration Media, and Nalco UltraSand High Efficient Filter.
Figure 4: Rapid Sand (Filters ITM Sand Filters)
Figure 5: Microfiltration (GORE Microfiltration Media)
Figure 6: Slow Sand (Nalco UltraSand High Efficient Filter)
Sedimentation Scoring Criteria
Each alternative for physical separation was given a score from one to three. One being the least suitable alternative and three being the most suitable from the given criteria. The following table provides how each criteria was scored with the reasoning. It also provides the reasoning for the weighting of each criterion.
Table 1: Sedimentation Scoring and Weighting Table
Filtration Scoring Criteria
Each alternative for physical separation was given a score from one to three. One being the least suitable alternative and three being the most suitable from the given criteria. The following table provides how each criteria was scored with the reasoning. It also provides the reasoning for the weighting of each criterion.
Table 2: Filtration Scoring and Weighting Table
Sedimentation​ Decision Matrix
Using the scoring criteria for sedimentation, the decision matrix for sedimentation was created to find the most suitable alternative for the treatment train. The decision matrix below is a simplified decision matrix, you can find the complete matrix in the final report, Appendix M: Scoring, Weighting, and Decision Matrix for Sedimentation Treatment.
Table 3: Sedimentation Simplified Decision Matrix
Filtration​ Decision Matrix
Using the scoring criteria for sedimentation, the decision matrix for filtration was created to find the most suitable alternative for the treatment train. The decision matrix below is a simplified decision matrix, you can find the complete matrix in the final report, Appendix Q: Scoring, Weighting, and Decision Matrix for Sedimentation Treatment.
Table 4: Filtration Simplified Decision Matrix
