Skip to content Go to sitemap View accessibility statement
  • M-F 7a-5p EST
  • 800-222-2177
  • [email protected]
  • LinkedIn
ChemTec Equipment Company
  • About
    • Quality
    • Example Applications
    • Media
  • Product Catalog
    • Adjustable Flow Monitors, Sensors & Switches
    • Non-Adjustable Flow Monitors, Sensors & Switches
    • Flow Meters
    • Excess Flow Valves
    • Accessories
    • Request a Quote
    • Application Inquiry
  • Find A Distributor
  • Resources
    • News
    • Join Our Email List
    • Terms & Conditions of Sale
  • Contact
Menu
  • About
    • Quality
    • Example Applications
    • Media
  • Product Catalog
    • Adjustable Flow Monitors, Sensors & Switches
    • Non-Adjustable Flow Monitors, Sensors & Switches
    • Flow Meters
    • Excess Flow Valves
    • Accessories
    • Request a Quote
    • Application Inquiry
  • Find A Distributor
  • Resources
    • News
    • Join Our Email List
    • Terms & Conditions of Sale
  • Contact
Search
Close

More Than You Wanted to Know About Activated Sludge

Home » News » More Than You Wanted to Know About Activated Sludge
activated sludge
  • Originally published January 5, 2016
  • in ChemTec News & Updates

Sludge sounds unattractive, and indeed usually is. Defined as, “a muddy or slushy mass, deposit, or sediment,” it's the kind of thick, viscous goo you'll find at the bottom of a pond. The thought of activating it conjurors up images of some science-fiction blob slithering through your town or city.

That's actually not too far from reality. While it's probably not in your neighborhood, activated sludge may well be just outside your city limits. The good news is that it's far from harmful. In fact it's positively beneficial as it forms an essential component of many large-scale wastewater treatment systems.

Keeping waterways clean

In many places rainwater is captured by storm sewers that channel it directly into lakes and rivers. However, discharging water that's been used for industrial or sanitary purposes this way isn't an option. Instead, this gets sent to a wastewater treatment facility for cleaning. Contaminants and solids are separated using processes mimicking natural water purification. The clean water can then be put safely into rivers, or, as happens in some larger urban centers, reused.

Multi-stage purification

Wastewater treatment facilities usually employ a multi-stage process. Incoming wastewater is screened to remove larger solids before being pumped into settling tanks. Lighter materials like plastics and grease rise to the surface where they're scraped off while heavier particles sink to the bottom.

The remaining liquid moves into aeration tanks for secondary treatment. Here bacteria is introduced that “eats” the remaining contaminants. This cleans the water to the point where it needs only a final filtration step before being discharged. (Water that will be reused also gets disinfected.)

Aerobic digestion

These micro-organisms thrive in oxygen-rich environments, where they consume organic matter, transforming it into energy, water and CO2. To help the process along, air is bubbled up through the thick wastewater, ensuring the bacteria are exposed to plenty of air and organic material. The result is a kind of bubbling broth that's known as “activated sludge.”

IMG_9949-e1433168120931-300x400The ChemTec contribution

Wastewater plants process thousands of gallons per hour, so each purification stage must be quick. In the “activated sludge” step air is pumped continuously at a precise rate. Too much or too little slows the rate of bacterial digestion, possibly resulting in the release of dirty water.

Air pumping and distribution system like these can easily suffer leaks or blockages, potentially putting human health at risk. Flow monitors can help avoid this. They are a simple and cost-effective technology for sensing and when air flow rates are outside target limits.

ChemTec's series of LPH flow monitors are suitable for this kind of application. These employ a magnetic piston floating in the fluid stream. (LPH flow monitors are suitable for both liquids and gases.) A sensor detects the position of the piston, which changes as flow increases or decreases. If the alarm level is exceeded a signal goes out notifying process operators of an abnormal condition.

To learn more about flow monitoring technology, contact a ChemTec product specialist today.

  • Tagged as: activated sludge, chemtec, flow monitoring technology, flow monitors, lph, wastewater

Recent Articles

Flow Switches: Function & Applications

January 25, 2023

Employee Spotlight: Stephanie Best

October 20, 2022
EFV MRS Series Adjustable Excess Flow Valve

Excess Flow Valves: Function & Applications

September 16, 2022

Quick Links

  • Online Product Catalog
  • Download Product Catalog (PDF)
  • Find A Distributor
  • News
  • Request a Quote
  • Application Inquiry
  • Join Our Email List
  • Online Product Catalog
  • Download Product Catalog (PDF)
  • Find A Distributor
  • News
  • Request a Quote
  • Application Inquiry
  • Join Our Email List
ChemTec Equipment Company

Monitoring Perfection Since 1968

Based in the USA
3077 S.W. 13th Drive
Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

Toll-Free: (800) 222-2177
Local/Int’l: +1 (954) 428-8259

Proud Supporter of Florida Trade

Florida Trade Logo - ChemTec is Proud Supporter of Florida Trade
As seen in: Industry News Alert. Hydraulics and Pneumatics. Process Cooling. The Morning Bell.
Copyright © 2023 ChemTec Equipment Company, Inc., All Rights Reserved. Web Marketing by Connect Agency.
  • Quality
  • Terms & Conditions of Sale
  • Website Privacy / Terms
  • Cookie Policy
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Sitemap
  • Quality
  • Terms & Conditions of Sale
  • Website Privacy / Terms
  • Cookie Policy
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Sitemap
By continuing to use our site, you acknowledge that you accept our Website's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. We also use cookies to provide you with the best possible website experience. You can learn more about the cookies we use and how to manage them here.Okay