DESCRIPTION

Depth filtration with sand filters is a key unit operation in water treatment. CE 579 enables this process to be demonstrated.

Raw water contaminated with solids is pumped from above into a sand filter. The solids are captured and retained as the raw water flows through the filter bed. The water itself passes through the filter bed and emerges at the bottom end of the sand filter. The treated water (filtrate) flows into a tank. Over time, more and more solids are deposited in the filter bed which increases its flow resistance. This process is detectable by the increasing pressure loss between the sand filter inlet and outlet. The flow through the sand filter decreases. Backwashing with treated water cleans the filter bed and reduces the pressure loss again.

The sand filter is equipped with a differential pressure gauge. There are also several pressure measuring points along the filter bed. The pressures are transmitted to tube manometers via hoses and displayed there as water columns. This can be used to plot Micheau diagrams. The flow rate, temperature, differential pressure and system pressure are measured. The flow velocity in the filter bed (filter velocity) can be adjusted. Samples can be taken at all relevant points.

A software program is provided to control the operating states and measure data. A process schematic shows the current operating states of the individual components and the measured data. E.g. diatomite can be used to produce the raw water.

The well-structured instructional material sets out the fundamentals and provides a step-by-step guide through the experiments.

Learning Objectives / Experiments

- learning the fundamental principle of depth filtration by sand filters
- observation of the pressure conditions in a filter bed
- determination of pressure losses
- plotting of Micheau diagrams
- principle of backwash