1. UPFLOW CLARIFIERS SIMPLIFIED

2. CLEARER WATER RISES UP TO OVERFLOW OUT THE TOP
THICK FLOATING SLUDGE
(SLUDGE BLANKET)
COAGULATED WATER ENTERS

3. (SLUDGE BLANKET)
WATER WITH TINY COAGULATED PARTICLES

4. WOW. I THOUGHT I’D GO FLOAT ON UP AND OUT OF THE CLARIFIER
WOW! I THOUGHT I’D GO FLOAT ON UP AND OUT OF THE CLARIFIER.. BUT WHAT A CROWD! I’LL NEVER GET THROUGH. GUESS I WILL JUST HANG OUT HERE IN THE SLUDGE BLANKET WITH ALL MY FRIENDS!

5. THIS IS GETTNG SCARY: IT’S TOO CROWDED. THERE’S TOO MANY PARTICLES
THIS IS GETTNG SCARY: IT’S TOO CROWDED! THERE’S TOO MANY PARTICLES ! WE’LL ALL SINK TO THE BOTTOM AND GO SEPTIC.. OR BE PUSHED OVER THE WEIRS AT THE TOP! HELP, SOMEBODY SAVE ME !

6. When the sludge blanket gets too thick or starts to go septic..
Increase the recirculation rate to keep the particles cycling through the process…
Remove some of the particles by ‘wasting’
(withdrawing and disposing)

7. WHEW! A BUNCH OF PARTICLES JUST WENT FOR A SPIN THROUGH THE RECIRCULATION SYSTEM… SOME OF THEM WILL BE BACK LATER… BUT SOME OF THEM WILL JUST GET WASTED …(DO YOU HAVE FRIENDS LIKE THAT TOO?)

8. OK THIS PLACE IS DEAD – THE CROWD HAS REALLY THINNED OUT!
I’M GOING TO FLOAT RIGHT OUT OF HERE AND ON UP OUT OF THE TOP OF THE CLARIFIER… THERE’S NOT ENOUGH OF YOU GUYS TO STOP ME!

9. Polymer can also be added to the floc in the sludge blanket to help retain more particles…

10. HEY GOOD LOOKIN’, WHERE DID YOU COME FROM?....ARE YOU WEARING…POLYMER???
I JUST CAN’T RESIST A PARTICLE WEARING POLYMER… I’LL HAVE TO ‘STICK’ AROUND…

11. Managing an upflow clarifier is a lot like managing a bar or restaurant….
Keep the place ‘full’ but not uncomfortably crowded
You want people circulating in and out, not just hanging there forever taking up table space
A certain percentage will get wasted.
Sludge blanket should the have right amount of particles:
not too thick, not too thin.
Sludge recirculation rate must be carefully controlled.