Trickling Filters and RBCs · Recirculation and Loading
What Is Hydraulic Loading on a Trickling Filter?
Hydraulic loading tells you how much water is applied to each square foot of a filter's surface in a set time. For a round or rectangular trickling filter, use the flat surface area your plant has on record. Hydraulic loading compares the total applied flow with the filter surface area.
Total applied flow includes the influent plus any recirculation going to the filter. Always state the units, such as gallons per day per square foot. If the flow and area units do not match, convert them before you divide.
The math box shows the formula and a worked example. This is a math example, not an operating target.
Compare your result with your plant's approved design. Too little water leaves dry spots, uneven growth, and more flies. Too much water cuts the time the water spends on the film, can wash growth off, and sends more solids to the clarifier.
Key point: Hydraulic loading compares all the water applied to a filter with its flat surface area.
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Trickling Filters and Rotating Biological Contactors
This page comes from the course. It covers biofilm, trickling filter equipment, recirculation and loading, lab tests, sloughing, RBCs and common operating problems, one step at a time, with short knowledge checks and a certificate of completion.
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