Investigation Into the Retention-Time Distribution of a Hydrodynamic Vortex Separator

This study describes the macromixing within a hydro-dynamic vortex separator and considers its potential as a disinfectant contact tank. It is typically used in the sedimentation process during the treatment of sewage. The macromixing was investigated by conducting tracer experiments from which the retention time distribution was obtained and interpreted to characterize the mixing. The separator was operated in a continuous mode with no baseflow, and the retention-time distribution was obtained using a pulse input for a range of flow-rates. The method of moments was used to obtain various functions and axial dispersion and tanks-in-series model parameters.