Dynamic Response of Settling Basins

The flow rate and sediment concentration of inflow into settling basins usually vary with respect to time; thus the sediment concentration of effluent also varies following these variations. This sediment concentration variation of settling basin effluents was analyzed theoretically by a lumped-parameter model. The resuspension of deposits from the bottom of the basin by scouring was taken into account in the computation of effluent concentration. Some numerical calculations are carried out and the results prove that the flow rate of settling basins should be carefully controlled because if the volume of water in the basin decreases greatly the sediment concentration in effluent increases sharply.