Fractal mixers and terminal velocity for the formed aggregates

• Grant number: 23/08052-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: November 01, 2023
• End date: October 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment
• Principal Investigator: Rodrigo Braga Moruzzi
• Grantee: Rodrigo Braga Moruzzi
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciência e Tecnologia (ICT). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de São José dos Campos. São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Adriano Gonçalves dos Reis ; Soroosh Sharifi

Abstract

This research seeks to persui the new challenges posed to the group of research, which is coordinated by the proponent, referring to the study of flocculation and solid/liquid separation in drinking water treatment. Partucularlly, the proposal was built on two main and complementary fronts. In the first front, we will investigate the effect of fractal mixers on flocculation performance. This includes the development and application of mixers, associated with the improvement of tools for the direct evaluation of fractal aggregates, using image particle velocimetry and direct measurements of aggregate morphology. Experiments will be developed using image acquisition and treatment techniques. For the second front, fractal geometry will be used to evaluate the non-uniform and permeable features of the formed aggregates. Thus, the morphological dynamics, porosity and apparent specific gravity of aggregates formed after flocculation and their effects on the terminal velocity of the aggregates can be evaluated. Thus, the velocity of the aggregates will be evaluated individually by image technique associated with velocimetry. The proposal has practical application, as mechanized flocculation is widely used and also 90% of Brazilian treatment plants employ sedimentation as a pre-clarification step, and important design parameters depend on the speed of the aggregate formed during flocculation, with consequences on the performance and costs of the separation units. Finally, the proposal herein presented is in alignment with current collaborative projects, in which the proponent is involved: University College London (UCL) and University of Birmingham. (AU)