Klarifierare

Klarifierare is a term used for a unit or device that clarifies liquids by removing suspended solids, most commonly in water and wastewater treatment. Clarification is typically achieved through sedimentation under gravity or through flotation, often aided by chemical coagulants and flocculants. The process produces a clarified liquid and a sludge layer that is removed for disposal or further treatment.

The main types of klarifierare include gravity-based clarifiers, such as circular or rectangular tanks, and lamella or inclined-plate clarifiers that increase the effective settling area. Dissolved air flotation (DAF) clarifiers remove solids by attaching them to microbubbles and bringing them to the surface. Some installations combine sedimentation and flotation or integrate rapid mixing and coagulation for enhanced removal. Key design features include inlet and outlet structures, baffles, sludge withdrawal mechanisms, and, in flotation systems, the air supply and circulation system.

Operation and performance depend on several factors, including detention time, flow rate, solids loading, and sludge handling. Efficiency is influenced by influent turbidity, particle size, and the use of coagulants or flocculants. In municipal wastewater treatment, klarifierare are typically followed by biological treatment steps, while in potable water pretreatment they remove coarse particulates before filtration. Maintenance considerations cover sludge management, scraper or sludge withdrawal equipment, scour, odor control, and energy use.

In practice, klarifierare are a standard component in many water, wastewater, and industrial processing plants, serving to reduce turbidity and prepare streams for subsequent treatment or discharge.