Pumping against a sand filter
Pumping against a sand filter
(OP)
Hello everybody:
For a particular industrial process, it is needed to pump out an effluent with solids in suspension to (against) a gravel and sand filter of around 16 feet height, 5 ft x 5 ft and, inside a pipe, the filtered liquid will flow out of that sand filter by gravity to a trench.
The questions are: how to relate the losses in the sand filter to the losses in the discharge of the pump, as if it was pumping through a discharge pipe? Which is the proper way to calculate the losses in the sand filter?
Your comments are welcome. Thanks.
For a particular industrial process, it is needed to pump out an effluent with solids in suspension to (against) a gravel and sand filter of around 16 feet height, 5 ft x 5 ft and, inside a pipe, the filtered liquid will flow out of that sand filter by gravity to a trench.
The questions are: how to relate the losses in the sand filter to the losses in the discharge of the pump, as if it was pumping through a discharge pipe? Which is the proper way to calculate the losses in the sand filter?
Your comments are welcome. Thanks.





RE: Pumping against a sand filter
If these figures are not available you will need to flow test it to give the head losses before you can finalise you pump selection etc.
RE: Pumping against a sand filter
If there isnt then Wastewater Engineering by Metcalfe and Eddy gives a methodology for estimating losses through clean and dirty filters. These calcs are quite sensitive to assumptions and data available. I would compare this with data from existing sites and speak to suppliers of the sub layer distribution systems or other types of sand filters.
Regards