The Monroe Environmental Parallel Plate Settler can greatly increase the effective surface area of the sedimentation tanks at water treatment facilities. The ground or floor space occupied can be as little as one tenth that required by conventional sedimentation tanks. This is because suspended solids removal in gravity separators depends primarily on the surface area for settling, not the tank depth, and the multiple parallel plates provide a large surface area in a small space.
Monroe uses NSF certified 304 stainless steel in the construction of its lamella plates and support structures for potable water applications. Tanks are normally manufactured of stainless steel or, in the case of larger units, concrete. This type of clarifier is also applicable to municipal wastewater treatment facilities. Though most commonly used for primary clarification, these units can also be effective in decreasing the MLSS (mixed liquor suspended solids) entering secondary settling tanks when located at the entrance to the secondary settling tank or at the end of the aeration tanks. These units can also be used to increase the design flow of existing treatment plants.
Standard Design
A rectangular tank is typically used in Monroe’s standard design. Raw water enters through the inlet piping at one end of the tank and passes into the flocculation zone. Paddle wheel type flocculators are employed which use a gentle mechanical stirring to bring suspended particles together to form a larger and more settleable floc. Propeller, turbine, and axial flow impellers might also be used in the case of a rapid mix tank design. At this point, depending on the application, either chemical flocculants or hydraulic flocculation may also be employed. Monroe will design either a horizontal or vertical channel hydraulic flocculator depending on customer requirements.
Flow then passes through multiple inlet channels to the settling zone and proceeds upward through the plates, which are typically spaced between 1 and 4 inches apart and are at an angle close to 55° for potable water applications. Careful attention is paid to the design flow velocity between the plates, in order to maximizes settling capabilities. The effluent passes over adjustable weirs made of stainless steel into stainless steel collection troughs. The sludge that settles at the bottom of the tank is removed through outlet piping by means of pump suction. Mechanical drag conveyors can also be utilized to provide removal of the collected sludge. Complete electrical controls and monitoring will be provided according to customer specifications.
Custom Engineered Systems
The Monroe Parallel Plate Settler serves as a stand-alone bolt together sedimentation system. However, because Monroe brings complete engineering and manufacturing capabilities together under one roof, customization is an easy process. Our facility can achieve virtually any variant on the basic design. Also, individual components, such as individual flocculator tanks or individual lamella plate assemblies, can easily be suited to a particular customer’s needs. We can assist in upgrading existing facilities to achieve greater cost efficiency, lower space requirements, or greater flow rate requirements.
 Water & Wastewater Treatment
Plate & Tube Settlers Brochure, download pdf (2.3Mb)
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| Plate modules installed in a concrete basin at a water treatment plant. |
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| Cutaway showing standalone clean water clarifier with flocculation section and modular plates. |
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