Optimizing the configuration of a clearwell by integrating pilot and full-scale tracer testing

In this paper, the main factors impacting the plug flow pattern of a clearwell were investigated by integrating pilot-scale, full-scale clearwell tracer testing and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation. It was found that pilot tracer testing, full-scale tracer testing and CFD simulation all demonstrated that the correlation between the ratio of t 10/T and L/W can be approximately expressed by: t 10/T = 0.189 4ln(L/W)-0.049 4. This study confirmed that the installation of baffles within clearwells is an efficient way to optimize their configuration. In addition, the inlet velocity has a minimal contribution to the ratio of t 10/T. However, the ratio of turning channel width to channel width (d/W) significantly contributes to the ratio of t 10/T. The optimal ratio of d/W is 0.8-1.2 for maintaining better plug flow pattern. The number of turning channels is one of the main factors that impact the ratio of t 10/T. When increasing the number of turning channels, a lower ratio of t 10/T is obtained. © 2007 Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag.