Settling properties of particles are categorized in three classes:

Class I: Discrete particle settling occurs when particles settle as individual particles and do not flocculate
to other particles during settling at constant velocity.
Class II: Flocculent settling occurs when neighboring particles come into contact with each other,
changing particle size and hindering settling.
Class III: Zone sedimentation (thickening) occurs when particles are at high concentration such that
particles tend to settle as a mass, and a distinct clear zone and sludge zone are present.

The simplest case is Class I. The three forces acting on the particle: gravity, drag and buoyancy. The
three forces are defined as follows:
𝐹𝐺 = 𝜌𝑠 𝑔𝑉
𝐹𝐵 = 𝜌𝑔𝑉
𝑣2
𝐹𝐷 = 𝐶𝐷 𝐴𝜌
2
Where: 𝐹𝐺 = 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒
𝐹𝐵 = 𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑦𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑦 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒
𝐹𝐷 = 𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑔 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒
𝜌𝑠 = 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒, 𝑘𝑔⁄𝑚3
𝜌 = 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑, 𝑘𝑔⁄𝑚3
𝑔 = 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑑𝑢𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦, 𝑚⁄𝑠 2
𝑉 = 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒, 𝑚3
𝐶𝐷 = 𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑔 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡
𝐴 = 𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒, 𝑚2
𝑣 = 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒, 𝑚⁄𝑠

The driving force for acceleration of the particle is the difference between the gravitational and buoyant
force. When the drag force is equal to the driving force, the particle velocity reaches a constant value
called the terminal settling velocity (𝑣𝑠 ). Solving for 𝑣𝑠 :
𝑔(𝜌𝑠 − 𝜌)
𝑣𝑠 = √2𝑉
𝐶𝐷 𝜌

Assuming that the particle is sphere:

4𝑑𝑔(𝜌𝑠 − 𝜌)
𝑣𝑠 = √
3𝐶𝐷 𝜌
which is the well-known Newtonian equation. The drag coefficient takes on different values depending
on the flow regime surrounding the particle. The flow regime may be characterized as laminar or
turbulent. Osborne Reynolds (1883) developed a quantitative means of describing the different flow
regimes using the Reynolds number;
𝑑𝑣𝑠
𝑅=
𝑣
Where: 𝑅 = 𝑅𝑒𝑦𝑛𝑜𝑙𝑑𝑠 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟
𝑑 = 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑝ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒, 𝑚
𝑣𝑠 = 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑝ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒, 𝑚⁄𝑠
𝑣 = 𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦, 𝑚2 ⁄𝑠 = 𝜇⁄𝜌
𝜌 = 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑, 𝑘𝑔⁄𝑚3
𝜇 = 𝑑𝑦𝑛𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑐 𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦, 𝑃𝑎 ∙ 𝑠
If Reynolds number is low and a laminar boundary layer is maintained; (R < 0.5) for spheres:
24
𝐶𝐷 =
𝑅
If 𝐶𝐷 > 1, this no longer holds, and the drag coefficient may be approximated as
24 3
𝐶𝐷 = 𝑅 + √𝑅 + 0.34

For laminar flow, substituting 𝐶𝐷 = 24⁄𝑅 into the Newtonian equation yields the Stoke equation.
𝑔𝑑2 (𝜌𝑠 − 𝜌)
𝑣𝑠 =
18𝜇

Sample Problem:
1. Will a grit particle with a radius of 0.10 mm and a specific gravity of 2.65 be collected in a
horizontal grit chamber that is 13.5 m in length if the average grit-chamber flow is 0.15 𝑚3 ⁄𝑠,
the width of the chamber is 0.56 m, and the horizontal velocity is 0.25 m/s? The wastewater
temperature is 22˚C. (At a wastewater temperature of 22˚C, assume water density 1000 𝑘𝑔⁄𝑚3 ,
viscosity is 0.995 mPa∙ 𝑠)
Answer: yes
time to reach the bottom = 38.2 s
time the wastewater remains in the chamber = 54 s

2. A primary clarifier has an overflow rate of 600 gal/day-ft2 and a depth of 6 ft. What is the
hydraulic retention time? Answer: DT = 1.8 h

3. The BOD5 of the liquid from the primary clarifier is 120 mg/L at a flow rate of 0.05 mgd. The
dimensions of the aeration tank are 20 x 10 x 20 ft3 and the MLSS = 2000 mg/L. Calculate the
F/M ratio. Answer: F/M = 0.22 day-1

4. A sample sludge has an SS concentration of 4000 mg/L. After settling for 30 min in a 1-L cylinder,
the sludge occupies 400 mL. Calculate the SVI. Answer: SVI = 100

5. The 5-day BOD of an industrial waste is 235 mg/L. The first stage ultimate oxygen demand is 350
mg/L.
a. At what rate is the waste being oxidized (assume temperature = 20˚C)?
Answer: k = 0.097
b. At this rate 50% of the oxygen demand will be exerted in how many hours?
Answer: time = 3.10 days
c. What is the oxidation rate at 25˚C? Answer: k25˚C = 0.122
6.