User talk:Jamesttaylor

Trickling filters
You wrote : ''I am trying to design a simple trickling filter in a third world country without using a motor drive for the distribitor arm. Your photo appears to show a trickling filter that uses only a hydraulic design. Do you know I can get information on the design criteria of how to make a hydraulically operated distributor arm. Thanks.--Jamesttaylor 00:13, 16 February 2007 (UTC)''

The quick answer is that almost all trickling filters are self driven by the flow of sewage liquor. Most medium to large works operating circular filter beds used balanced pairs of arms with discharge holes set along the arms so that the liquor, as it flows out propels the distributor round. Traditionally the flow is first contained in a small tank which is then emptied by a siphon so as to avoid very low trickle flows when flow levels are low. For very small works, there is often a simple tipping bucket arrangement rather than the more complicated siphon. In the smallest works the arms are replaced by simple perforated gutters laid over the surface of the filter media. All of these designs are very well documented in very many books on sewage work design. Be assured that there is absolutely no requirement to provide additional source of power to drive the distributor arms round. However........you still have to get the sewage to the works and that often does require power ! Velela 00:24, 16 February 2007 (UTC)


 * and as a footnote, if you're having to ask the question you shouldn't even be contemplating building a treatment facility. The developing world needs and deserves the same level of expertise and commitment as the rest of the world. Velela 20:10, 16 February 2007 (UTC)

We're familiar with very large industrial motor driven units and not come across simple distributor, so just canvassing the idea on whether anything beyond basic hydraulics was involved. Appreciate your commentary. For the record, you'll be happy to know the treatment goals will not be shortchanged...still doing the right thing with extremely limited resources...