Quantifying physical disintegration of faeces in sewers: Stochastic model and flow reactor experiments.
Water Res
; 152: 159-170, 2019 04 01.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-30665162
We present a novel stochastic model for quantifying gross solids (GS) physical disintegration under varying turbulent flow conditions and used a unique experimental setup for model calibration and validation. The stochastic deterioration model predicts faeces size evolution over time. It conceptually entails the two main processes of solid fragmentation, namely breakage and erosion. Model parameters were calibrated on synthetic faeces and validated with real human ones. A cylindrical reactor was used, where turbulent flow was forced by an array of water jets and the physical disintegration of the faeces was monitored using a high speed camera. Image analysis of breakage experiments obtained under backlight illumination allowed determination of the evolution of the solids' size over time. The flow field in the reactor was characterised by particle image velocimetry (PIV) using tracer particles seeded into the water. We found different disintegration behaviours depending on turbulence intensity and water content of the solid. In conditions of low shear stress, dense solids hardly disintegrated. Generally, the model predictions mirrored the broad range in the solids disintegration rate imparted by the high variability in flow conditions and in solids characteristics. It is expected that, similar to our experiments, also in real sewer systems both flow conditions and solid characteristics are highly variable and the stochastic model can be tailored to capture this variability. We thus anticipate that the model can be integrated into existing sewer models predicting sewer flows and solids' movement. From these, shear stress, flow velocities and transport of individual solids can be inferred. The integration of the present solids disintegration model may provide better predictions of hot-spots for solids accumulation and blockages in sewers.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Aguas del Alcantarillado
/
Movimientos del Agua
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Water Res
Año:
2019
Tipo del documento:
Article
Pais de publicación:
Reino Unido