Full text
| |
| Author(s): |
Juan Camilo Salcedo Ramirez
Total Authors: 1
|
| Document type: | Master's Dissertation |
| Press: | Campinas, SP. |
| Institution: | Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Faculdade de Engenharia Agrícola |
| Defense date: | 2010-07-12 |
| Examining board members: |
Roberto Testezlaf;
Alberto Colombo;
Edson Eiji Matsura
|
| Advisor: | Roberto Testezlaf |
| Abstract | |
The adequate sand filters performance in localized irrigation requires that filtration and backwash processes are capable to retain unwanted suspension particles and to wash properly the media depth, returning the equipment operation to its original condition of cleanliness. The backwash process can be more effective when it reaches bed uniform expansions with low head losses, which depends on the grain size and the depth of media bed. The lack of experience of farmers and technical information from the manufacturers determine that the backwash process has been performed incorrectly in the field, affecting adversely the functionality and efficiency of the sand filters. In this context, the objective of this study was to develop studies on the hydrodynamic behavior of the relationship of working pressure and flow rate in the backwash process of sand filters with variations in sand physical characteristics and the internal hydraulic components of the filters. This study was divided into three parts. Initially, a field survey on the farmers backwash procedures and management was performed. In a second step, an experimental methodology was developed to evaluate three commercial types of Brazilian sand filters to assess the effects of different grains diameters and media layer depths on the head losses and the process of layer fluidization. Finally, the experimental results of the minimum fluidization velocity were compared with estimated values using the theoretical behavior of the process. The results showed that the procedures performed by the producers showed a lack of knowledge in the backwash process, which is executed based on empirical basis, oriented by imprecise information of suppliers. The experimental part demonstrated that the backwash process is affected significantly by the head loss originated from the internal structural components of the filter (underdrain and diffuser). The mathematical comparisons of the experimental results with the values estimated by the equation & WEN YU (1966) showed explicit agreements for smaller particle size. The research allowed concluding that the values backwash flow rate required for an adequate expansion, increases proportionally with the depth and the particle size of sand layer (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 08/07565-5 - Effect of grain size and height layer in the process of sand filters backwashing |
| Grantee: | Juan Camilo Salcedo Ramirez |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Master |