Bob
My concern is not in the mixing of the disinfectant, I would always inject at a nominal pipe size then enter the CT pipe. I would want Re’s at the injection point significantly higher than 4000, otherwise the injection point will need some additional mixing device before CT credit begins such as an elbow, multi-point quill or static mixer.
Laminar flow is very rare, so it is typically not a problem as a CT pipe goes, 43 gpm in a 30 pipe has an Re of 4000, most muni wells I work with are at least 100 gpm, so using a 30 pipe is ok...
What are my thoughts on CT theory, as I understand the one drop of water that received the least amount of time is what the time is based upon, so when a pipe has laminar flow the center travels exactly twice the average speed, and when the velocity profile is integrated over the area it ends up flowing 4 times the volumetric speed, since there is no mixing that center water went through 4 times faster than a plug flow example. So a 30 inch pipe in laminar flow is equal to a 8 pipe in plug flow (the water in the center of each pipe received the same CT in both pipes. Moral, if your source is less than 43 gpm, do not size the pipe for maximum economy (30 inch), size it for turbulent flow at least, then size for economy. Since knowing if the flow is turbulent or laminar at Re between 2000 and 4000 is unpredictable stay above 4000.
Turbulent flow has a velocity profile that is nearly flat, except for a very narrow cylinder at the edge of the pipe.
CT’s calculate a log factor in disinfection, so to use the tables, the worst case has to be the sample calculation, since a small amount of failed material has a large effect on the log value.
An Re of 4000 will not keep particles in suspension, research has shown a velocity of 2 ft/sec is required for that through flushing programs (no mater what size pipe)
Does this answer your question?
Hydrae