Optimal design of a flocculator

Abstract An approach is presented for the least cost design of a flocculator with respect to flocculation time and velocity gradient, in order to obtain a desired effluent condition, which is measured using the negative slope of power law distribution function (β). The model proposed is a non-linear programming problem involving a non-linear constraint, which in turn comprises a verified simulation model. The case study demonstrates the existence of a relationship between design criterion and design parameters. It also shows that the optimal solution is sensitive to influent particle size distribution (PSD) and particle contact efficiency (α).