Both water and wastewater projects are often challenged to make the most (optimize solids removal) of their process using existing infrastructure. The more population, the greater the need is for liquid solids separation. But, greater population can also mean less land for plant expansion, and a need to keep costs within control to maximize the public’s investment. Back in 1904 Sanitary Engineer Allen Hazen introduced the concept that sedimentation is a function of surface area. Today, Lamella sedimentation is used in both the water and wastewater treatment processes.

The use of Plate Settlers, often called Inclined Plate Settlers, or Lamella Plates is quickly developing at Wastewater Treatment Plants worldwide. The case history below describes the innovative approach used at a New England wastewater treatment plant to maximize solids removal using existing infrastructure with the use of Plate Settlers in the Secondary Treatment Process.

JMS Mega-SETTLER (Wastewater Plate Settler) Advantages

TFCA™ Top Flow Control Angle

Patented feature controls headloss and clogging issues other designs (such as top tube) do not address
Can be adapted for any plate spacing, a key factor in wastewater treatment
Provides headloss control for even laminar flow to exit, minimizing clogging, even more important with the solids content of wastewater

Full Stainless Steel Construction

Sturdy and can handle the weight of solids
Corrosion resistance for aggressive environment
Operators can walk on top of plates for wash-down and service

Dual Side-Loaded Effluent Troughs

Addresses the issues of reduced visibility, access to the plates, and velocity accumulations resulting in imbalanced flow
Minimizes distance settled water travels to trough, flow across plate remains balanced
Provides view of, and access to the top of the system

2VNP™ Adjustable V-Notch Weirs

Adjustable weirs fine-tune water elevations to accommodate fluctuations in plant flow
Two V-notch weirs per plate for even flow distribution across all plates

Mega-PROGRAM (Plate Settler Design Program)

The JMS Mega-PROGRAM is the most advanced and comprehensive plate settler design program in use
Thousands of Mega-SETTLER (Plate Settler System) designs optimized for engineers and municipalities

NSF/ANSI 61 by WQA

Mega-SETTLER (Wastewater Plate Settler System)

JMS Mega-SETTLER (Wastewater Plate Settler) Key Features

JMS Mega-SETTLER (Wastewater Plate Settler) TFCA top flow control angle

TFCA Top Flow Control Angle

JMS TFCA controls headloss and clogging issues that other designs do not address. This JMS only feature also allows for operators to walk on top of the plates for wash-down and service. JMS TFCA also allows for the JMS Mega-SETTLER (Plate Settler System) to be used in water and waste water applications.

JMS Mega-SETTLER (Wastewater Plate Settler) 2VNP adjustable v-notch weir

2VNP Adjustable V-Notch Weirs

JMS 2VNP help fine tune water elevations to accommodate fluctuations in plate flow. This JMS only feature also help acquire even flow distribution across all plates.

Learn more about the JMS Mega-SETTLER (Plate Settler System) Key Features Today

JMS expertise in solids removal utilizing the Lamella concept, now extends to wastewater clarification. Wastewater treatment plants find themselves seeking to improve water clarity, or increasing capacity with no increases in the plant footprint. Improved suspended solids removal rates may also eliminate the need for further downstream processing. Applications can include primary, secondary and tertiary sedimentation.

The special JMS Mega-SETTLER design uses our proven lamella plate settler technology adapted for the clarification process. Correct angle and spacing of the stainless steel plates for the wastewater treatment process results in high total suspended solids removal with little maintenance requirements. The high efficiency solids removal within a small footprint can save on land, equipment, construction costs, and can even eliminate further equipment or processing.

Wastewater Plate Settler

JMS Mega-SETTLER (Plate Settler System) Success Story

Wastewater Plate Settler

Woonsocket, RI is a southern New England on the banks of the Blackstone River. The community wastewater plant was built in the 1930s and has had several upgrades over the years. In those same years, the plant was challenged to meet more stringent regulatory requirements as defined by the facility’s RIPDES permit. In 2012 the city selected prominent engineering company Ch2M Hill, now Jacobs, to operate the existing regional facility, and upgrade the plant to improve its capabilities and water quality. River water quality was a concern, with a target to lower nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) discharge.

The plant modifications used the existing aeration tanks which were modified into a two stage activated sludge process. In the first stage of the Secondary Treatment, settling is achieved by gravity. JMS Mega-SETTLER (Wastewater Plate Settler System) was installed in the last zone of this existing basin where after significant solids have settled, the Plate Settlers polish the remaining solids. The addition of Plate Settlers was key to solids removal within the existing footprint and avoided the addition of an additional basin.

The projected plate area was used as the basis for settling, along with the expected incoming TSS. During the trial period, operations at the plant were continued, and construction required taking basins off line. Loading rates on the Plate Settlers during that period were much higher than design rates. Even during these periods the Plate Settlers have been able to handle a solids load with significant organic content.

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