Browsing by Author "Novoa Zamora, Carlos Francisco"

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Evaluación de una tecnología sostenible para potabilización del agua en comunidades rurales: experimentación en un floculador tubular vertical
(Universidad de Cuenca, 2021-11-05) Tenesaca Pintado, Darwin Adrián; Novoa Zamora, Carlos Francisco; García Ávila, Fausto Fernando
The supply of drinking water is unequal and there are marked differences between urban and rural areas. Urban areas are generally supplied with quality portable water, as they have conventional and advanced treatment plants. In rural areas they face technological, financial and operational constraints and generally have poor quality water. The objective of this project was to evaluate the efficiency of a vertical tubular flocculator (VTF) to be used as part of the process of water purification in rural communities. The pilot VTF was implemented at the Bayas Water Board (JAAP-Ba), Azogues. The VTF was designed and constructed to have flow conditions analogous to those of the conventional hydraulic vertical flow screens; PVC pipe, elbows, and tees were used In the experimental tests, two lengths of pipe were tested, 58m and 80 m, which allowed us to determine the most efficient retention times and to work with different flow rates and turbidity. To evaluate the efficiency of the VTF, the removal of turbidity and color was determined. In addition, a high rate rectangular settler was implemented, including sedimentation tubes inside for better sedimentation. The medians of the sedimentation rate of the VTF were determined in the same way as for the VTF. The median maximum turbidity and color removal efficiency in the VTF-settler at 50 and 80 m were 83.33±13.25% and 81.47±14.30% at 0.25 l/s respectively. While the median turbidity removal efficiencies of the VTF-filter were found in all cases to be above 99%, in parallel, the medium color removal efficiencies in all scenarios were 100%. On the other hand, the medians turbidity removal efficiencies were lower in the VTF than in the Bayas treatment plant (PTAP-Ba), with regards to color removal, something similar occurs in the filters, the turbidity and color removal efficiencies are close to those of the PTAP-Ba; since the turbidity and color removal efficiencies were over 99% and color at 100%. The VTF presented a cost of $ 2266.34 due to the fact that it is made up of U/Z components, such as PVC pipes, elbows, tees and valves, demonstrating not only by efficiency, but also the cost of the VTF be feasible for implementation as a treatment alternative in rural areas.
Vertical tubular flocculator: alternative technology for the improvement of drinking water treatment processes in rural areas
(2023) Avilés Añazco, Alex Manuel; García Ávila, Fausto Fernando; Tenesaca Pintado, Darwin Adrian; Guanuchi Quito, Alexandra Elizabeth; Tonon Ordoñez, Maria Dolores; Novoa Zamora, Carlos Francisco
The guarantee of access to safe drinking water for rural communities is a great challenge due to the increase in contamination and deterioration of water sources. Rural areas face technological, financial, and operational limitations, having poor water quality, generally. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of a vertical tubular flocculator (VTF) to be used as part of the purification process in rural areas where small flows are used. An experimental treatment system (ETS) implemented in the field was used. The VTF was implemented using PVC pipes and fittings. Tests were carried out with the same raw water used from a conventional treatment plant with aluminum sulfate as a coagulant. The optimal coagulant dose applied in the ETS was determined by the jar test. In the VTF, the length, turbidity, and flow of the raw water were varied. The hydraulic behaviour of the VTF was evaluated with the analysis of the time distribution curve of concentration of a tracer applying the Wolf-Resnick model. A low residence time VTF was obtained, representing a new efficient flocculation model for the reduction of turbidity and colour. The results showed that the turbidity of the raw water, the residence time, and the degree of agitation are important parameters in the operation and efficiency of a VTF. There was a predominance of plug flow in the reactor. The obtained results were compared with the efficiency of a conventional water treatment plant used in the study site. The results obtained indicated that this ETS that integrates a VTF with settling and filtration can be a useful tool for rural areas. It was recommended to replicate this study with wastewater, other dimensions of the VTF, to establish a specific methodology for the design of the VTF, to evaluate the dosage with dose bombs for improving the results of VTF, and to elaborate a hydraulic model for VTF