Damköhler number design method to avoid clogging of subsurface flow constructed wetlands by heterotrophic biofilms.
Clogging of subsurface flow (SSF) treatment wetlands from excess biofilm growth is a design problem for which only empirical guidelines exist. A method is proposed to systematically analyse this type of clogging as a design tool. In recognition of the physical reality that most SSF treatment wetland processes are a function of biofilm surface area, a Damköhler number (Da) definition based on aggregate specific surface area is used to investigate a method of predicting clogging induced by heterotrophic biofilms growing on treatment media.
Austin
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North American Wetland Engineering, 4444 Centerville Road, Suite 140, White Bear Lake, MN 55127, USA. daustin@nawe-pa.com
Maciolek
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D
Davis
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B
Wallace
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S
D018441:Biofilms; D004779:Environment Design; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D014872:Water Movements; D053833:Wetlands