Gravel in Water Treatment
Water treatment is the process of removing contaminants from water to make it safe for drinking, irrigation, industrial use, and other purposes. One of the methods used in water treatment is filtration, which involves passing water through a porous material that traps particles and impurities. Gravel is one of the common materials used as a filter medium in water treatment plants.
Gravel is a natural aggregate of rock fragments that have a particle size range of 2 to 64 mm. Gravel can be classified into different types based on its shape, size, and composition. Some of the common types of gravel used in water treatment are:
- Pea gravel: small, rounded, and smooth stones that are typically 4 to 10 mm in diameter. Pea gravel is often used as a support layer for finer filter media, such as sand or anthracite coal.
- Crushed gravel: irregular, angular, and sharp stones that are produced by crushing larger rocks. Crushed gravel has a higher surface area and roughness than pea gravel, which makes it more effective at trapping particles and bacteria. Crushed gravel is usually 10 to 20 mm in diameter.
- River gravel: naturally occurring stones that are shaped by water erosion and sedimentation. River gravel has a smooth surface and a rounded shape, which reduces friction and pressure loss in the filter bed. River gravel can vary in size from 2 to 64 mm, depending on the source.
Gravel has several advantages as a filter medium in water treatment plants. Some of these advantages are:
- Gravel is cheap and readily available in most regions.
- Gravel is durable and resistant to abrasion and chemical corrosion.
- Gravel has a high porosity and permeability, which allows water to flow through it easily.
- Gravel can be cleaned and reused by backwashing or air scouring.
Gravel also has some disadvantages as a filter medium in water treatment plants. Some of these disadvantages are:
- Gravel can have a high content of organic matter and clay, which can clog the pores and reduce the filtration efficiency.
- Gravel can have a high variability in size and shape, which can affect the uniformity and stability of the filter bed.
- Gravel can have a low specific gravity, which can cause it to float or dislodge during backwashing or air scouring.
Gravel is an important component of water treatment systems that can improve the quality and safety of water. However, gravel also has some limitations that need to be considered when designing and operating water treatment plants. By choosing the right type and size of gravel, and by maintaining it properly, gravel can be an effective and economical filter medium for water treatment.
To order Gravel whatsapp
