One of the key components in the water treatment process, flocculation, is most effective when the functions of fluid motion, differential settling, and velocity gradient (during each stage of the process) work in harmony to achieve the ultimate goal: maximizing agglomeration for either enhanced settling or filtration. Choosing the right flocculator option is important for all Water Treatment Plants. Vertical Flocculators are some of the most popular styles of flocculators. This is for various reasons from easy maintenance, customization, to plant preferences. So what are the best types of vertical flocculators and what is the best for your plant and process?

Most Popular Types of Vertical Flocculators for Water Treatment Plants:

  • Hyperbolic Flocculator
  • Impeller Flocculator
  • Vertical Paddle Wheel Flocculator

Types of Vertical Flocculators: Hyperbolic Flocculators

Hyperbolic Flocculators create a specific type of turbulence in the basin with their distinct impeller design. Manufacturers take credit for drag coefficient and the relative velocity to create the floc particle. This type of flocculator uses a design that has the gear box handling all radial and axial forces that might occur.

Popular suppliers of Hyperbolic Flocculators: Invent

Pros to Hyperbolic Flocculators

  • All mechanical parts above the water line
  • Minimal wear items
  • Easy access for maintenance
  • Optimum process control
  • Claims to use less energy by taking credit for turbulence induced in water

Cons to Hyperbolic Flocculators

  • High tip speed and high turbulence shears some floc particles and violates Ten States’ Standards
  • Limited installations in water treatment plants
  • Patents prevent competition
  • No radial bearing, so all loads are absorbed by gearbox, lowering its life
  • High initial cost compared to other vertical type flocculators
  • One motor operates one hyperbolic impeller

Reasons to Choose Hyperbolic Flocculators

  • Initial cost is not a concern
  • Reduced energy usage is worth a lower quality floc particle

Types of Vertical Flocculators: Impeller Flocculators

Impeller Flocculators have a simple design with an impeller attached to a shaft that goes into a gear box and motor. The gear box on this type of flocculator handles all of the radial and axial forces that might occur. The tip speed for Impeller Flocculator usually violates the 10 State Standards of 3 ft/sec. This means that floc particles are sheared at the blades and relies on the pumping motion of the water to create the floc. This can create a low quality floc product.

Popular suppliers of Impeller Flocculators: Dynamix, Philadelphia Mixing Solutions, Lightnin Mixers

Pros to Impeller Flocculators

  • All Mechanical Parts are above the water line
  • Minimal wear items
  • Easy access for maintenance
  • Optimum process control

Cons to Impeller Flocculators

  • High tip speed shears some floc particles
  • Violates Ten States’ Standards
  • Floc particle created is not as high quality and settleable as other technologies
  • No radial bearing, so all loads are absorbed by gearbox, lowering its life
  • One motor operates one impeller flocculator, so more wiring and drive supports than horizontal paddlewheel or walking beam flocculators

Reasons to Choose Impeller Flocculators

  • Absolute lowest initial cost is primary concern

Types of Vertical Flocculators: Vertical Paddle Wheel Flocculators

Vertical Paddle Wheel flocculators have most of the benefits that other vertical style of flocculators have but also includes the floc quality that paddle wheel flocculators offer. Most paddle wheel flocculators offer a drive on a stand that includes a radial thrust bearing so the drive and gear motor do not need to handle the radial loads. Also, Vertical Paddle wheel Flocculators meet the Ten States’ Standards.

Popular suppliers of Impeller Flocculators: JMS, WesTech, Amwell

Pros to Vertical Paddle Wheel Flocculators

  • All Mechanical Parts are above the water line
  • Minimal wear items
  • Easy access for maintenance
  • Optimum process control
  • Complies with Ten States Standards
  • Homogeneous mixing
  • Includes radial bearing in drive stand, which prevents gearbox from seeing any radial load, extending gearbox life
  • High quality floc formation

Cons to Vertical Paddle Wheel Flocculators

  • One motor operates one flocculator reel, so more wiring and drive supports than horizontal paddlewheel or walking beam flocculators

Reasons to Choose Vertical Paddle Wheel Flocculators

  • Better quality floc is desired
  • Lower lifetime cost when wear on gearbox is taken into account