Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of vacuum degree and aeration rate on sludge dewatering behavior with the aeration-vacuum method

  • Published:
Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE A Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Due to large-scale dredging operations, a large amount of sludge is inevitably produced. Large areas of land are occupied when the dredged sludge is discarded in the disposal site as waste material. The sludge dewatering with aeration-vacuum (SDAV) method is suit for treating the sludge with high water content and high clay content in the disposal site. The water in the sludge can be discharged out. The volume of the sludge can be reduced quickly, and the recycling of the land can be accelerated by this method. Most importantly, this technique is an efficient way to deal with clogging problems when pumping water from high water content, high clay content dredged sludge. Vacuum degree range tests, the aeration rate range tests, and the influencing factors of sludge dewatering behavior tests were conducted with a self-developed SDAV model test device. Sludge samples were taken from the South-to-North Water Diversion East Line Project in Huai’an White-Horse Lake disposal site, Jiangsu Province, China. The optimal range of vacuum degree and aeration rate were obtained through the test results, and the mechanisms for how the two factors work and how they affect the sludge dewatering behavior were analyzed. The suitable vacuum degree range in SDAV is below 50 kPa, and the suitable aeration rate is about 1.0 m3/h. The low-vacuum degree contributes to reduce the adsorption effect of micro-channels on soil particles in filter material and to maintain the arch structures. Aeration has the effects of expansion, disturbance, changing Reynolds number, and dynamic sieve separating. The pump quantity of water per meter of filter tube (Δm) has different change rules as the vacuum degree changes under different aeration rates. The reason is that the formed arch structures’ conformation and permeability differ greatly under different combined-conditions of vacuum degree and aeration rate. The optimal combined-condition for dewatering the sludge is 35 kPa with 1.0 m3/h.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bhattacharyya, R., Fullen, M., Davies, A.K., Booth, C.A., 2009. Utilizing palm-leaf geotextile mats to conserve loamy sand soil in the United Kingdom. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 130(1–2):50–58. [doi:10.1016/j.agee.2008.11.015]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cargill, K.W., 1984. Prediction of consolidation of very soft soil. Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, ASCE, 110(6):775–795. [doi:10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9410(1984)110:6(775)]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, L., Yi, H., Xu, Q., Zhuang, Y., 2006. The study of the structure stability simulated tests in soil-geotextile filtration system. Journal of Hydroelectric Engineering, 25(4):117–121 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, L., Xu, Q., Yi, H., Zhuang, Y., 2007. Simulating test study on the seepage stability of the soil-geotextile filtration under cyclic flow. Journal of Hydroelectric Engineering, 26(4):115–119 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, R.H., Ho, C.C., Hsu, C.Y., 2008. The effect of fine soil content on the filtration characteristics of geotextile under cyclic flows. Geosynthetics International, 15(2):95–106. [doi:10.1680/gein.2008.15.2.95]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Craven, W., Townsend, T.G., Vogel, K., Laux, S., 1999. Field investigation of landfill leachate collection system clogging. Practice Periodical of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste Management, ASCE, 3(1):2–9. [doi:10.1061/(ASCE)1090-025X(1999)3:1(2)]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Mendonca, M.B., Ehrlich, M., 2006. Column test studies of ochre biofilm formation in geotextile filters. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, ASCE, 132(10):1284–1292. [doi:10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2006)132:10(1284)]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deng, D., 2007. Comparison of remolded shear strength with intrinsic strength line for dredged deposits. China Ocean Engineering, 21(2):363–369.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deng, D., Hong, Z., Zhu, W., Liu, C., Ding, J., Hong, P., 2007. High Water-content Dredged Sludge’s Ventilating Vacuum Dewatering Technique in Yard. China Patent, No. 200710132092.9 (in Chinese).

  • Deng, D., Hong, Z., Liu, C., Ding, J., Hong, P., 2009. Large-scale model tests on dewater of dredged clay by use of ventilating vacuum method. Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 31(2):250–253 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Fannin, R.J., Pishe, R., 2001. Testing and Specifications for Geotextile Filters in Cyclic Flow Applications. Proceedings of the Geosynthetics Conference, Portland, Oregon, USA, p.423–435.

  • Faure, Y.H., Baudoin, A., Pierson, P., Plé, O., 2006. A contribution for predicting geotextile clogging during filtration of suspended solids. Geotextiles and Geomembranes, 24(1):11–20. [doi:10.1016/j.geotexmem.2005.07.002]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao, Y., Zhou, Y., Deng, D., Hong, Z., Tao, H., Chai, Y., 2009. Compound Filter Structure and Its Binding Method for Aeration and Clogging-proof. China Patent, No. 200910028430.3 (in Chinese).

  • Guo, H., 1986. Design and Calculation of Vacuum System. Metallurgy Industry Press, Beijing, China, p.7–9 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hong, Z., Liu, S., Shen, S., Negami, T., 2006. Comparison in undrained shear strength between undisturbed and remolded Ariake clays. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, ASCE, 132(2):272–275. [doi:10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2006)132:2(272)]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koerner, G.R., Koerner, R.M., 1992. Leachate flow rate behavior through geotextile and soil filters and possible remediation methods. Geotextiles & Geomembranes, 11(4–6):401–430. [doi:10.1016/0266-1144(92)90022-3]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, C., 2008. Experimental Study on Dewatering Behavior of Baimahu Dredged Clays with Ventilating Vacuum Method. MS Thesis, Hohai University, Nanjing, China (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, C., Zhou, Y., Ji, F., 2008. Experimental Study on High Moisture Content Dredged Sludge Dewatering Technique. China’s Scientific and Technological Papers Online. Available from: http://www.paper.edu.cn/index.php/default/releasepaper/content/21206 [Accessed on Aug. 19, 2010] (in Chinese).

  • McIsaac, R., Rowe, R.K., 2006. Effect of filter-separators on the clogging of leachate collection systems. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 43(7):674–693. [doi:10.1139/T06-030]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Narejo, D.B., Koerner, R.M., 1992. A dynamic filtration test for geotextile filters. Geotextiles & Geomembranes, 11(4–6):395–400. [doi:10.1016/0266-1144(92)90021-2]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palmeira, E.M., Fannin, R.J., Vaid, Y.P., 1996. A study on the behaviour of soil-geotextile systems in filtration tests. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 33(6):899–912. [doi:10.1139/t96-120]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reddi, L.N., 1997. Particle transport in soils: review of significant processes in infrastructure systems. Journal of Infrastructure Systems, ASCE, 3(2):78–86. [doi:10.1061/(ASCE)1076-0342(1997)3:2(78)]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rowe, R.K., Gnanendran, C.T., Landva, A.O., Valsangkar, A.J., 1996. Calculated and observed behaviors of a reinforced embankment over soft compressible soil. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 33(2):324–338.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wakeman, R.J., 2007. Separation technologies for sludge dewatering. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 144(3): 614–619. [doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2007.01.084]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xie, K., Wen, J., Xia, J., 2005. Solution to 1-D consolidation of non-homogeneous soft clay. Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE, 6A(Suppl. I):29–34. [doi:10.1631/jzus.AS0029]

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Xie, K., Qi, T., Dong, Y., 2006. Nonlinear analytical solution for one-dimensional consolidation of soft soil under cyclic loading. Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE A, 7(8):1358–1364. [doi:10.1631/jzus.2006.A1358]

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Zhuang, Y., Xie, K., Li, X., 2005. Nonlinear analysis of consolidation with variable compressibility and permeability. Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE, 6A(3):181–187. [doi:10.1631/jzus.2005.A0181]

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Geomechanics and Embankment Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China

    Yu-feng Gao

  2. Geotechnical Research Institute, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China

    Yu-feng Gao & Yuan Zhou

  3. The Science and Technology Division, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China

    Yuan Zhou

Authors
  1. Yu-feng Gao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yuan Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yu-feng Gao.

Additional information

Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 50879023), the National Hi-Tech Research and Development Program (863) of China (No. 2007AA11Z135), and the Ministry of Water Resources Non-profit Public Industry Special Foundation of China (No. 200701045)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gao, Yf., Zhou, Y. Effect of vacuum degree and aeration rate on sludge dewatering behavior with the aeration-vacuum method. J. Zhejiang Univ. Sci. A 11, 638–655 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.A0900651

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.A0900651

Key words

CLC number

Search

Navigation