Fluid dynamics is believed to be of crucial importance for the removal mechanism in Dissolved Air Flotation. The paper is a presentation of experimental studies on velocity and air-content profiles in a DAF pilot plant. The correlation between air content and flow patterns is discussed. Two flow structures are detected. A stratified flow structure is defined by a horizontal transport of the water in a upper, less-dense layer, and a lower, downwards-vertical transport in the lower, dense layer. Between the layers a return flow is found. The short-circuiting flow is defined as an immediate downward deviation towards the outlet arrangement at the bottom of the tank, probably causing decreasing effluent quality. Density gradients, caused by differences in air content in the tank, are believed to generate a stratification of the water body, thus causing the water to be transported in layers. Measurements of air-content profiles correlate to the measured flow structures, also indicating a separation of the water body in two layers with a distinct boundary.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.