García Ávila, Fausto FernandoTonon Ordoñez, Maria DoloresCriollo Illescas, Freeddy AdrianSánchez Cordero, Esteban RemigioTrelles Agurto, Alex FabricioMendez Heredia, Angel Olmedo2023-03-142023-03-1420232073-4441http://dspace.ucuenca.edu.ec/handle/123456789/41459https://www.scopus.com/record/display.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85149922790&origin=resultslist&sort=plf-f&src=s&sot=b&sdt=b&s=TITLE-ABS-KEY%28Experimental+evaluation+of+tubular+flocculator+implemented+in+the+Field+for%29&sessionSearchId=1caef2203167963c968a5dfcab3c2431&relpos=1The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of a large-scale Horizontal Tubular Flocculator (HTF) as an easy-to-implement technology for potable water provision compared to the efficiency of a traditional baffle flocculator. The HTF was built with a 4-inch diameter PVC pipe and coupled to a sedimentation and filtration process. Experimental tests were performed using lengths of 68.4 m and 97.6 m for the HTF. These lengths were combined with raw water flow rates of 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, and 2 L/s and five turbidity ranges <10 NTU, 10–20 NTU, 21–50 NTU, 51–100 NTU, >100 NTU, giving a total of 100 tests for one year. Jar tests were performed to determine the optimal dose of aluminum sulfate used as a coagulant. Hydraulic characteristics such as time of retention (TR) and velocity gradient (G) were evaluated; likewise, plug flow, dead volume, and short-circuit ratios were determined by tracer tests using the Wolf–Resnick model. The average results determined a removal of 98.8% of turbidity and 99.93% of color. The TR varied between 4.62 and 36.97 min and G varied between 6.15 and 109.62 s−1. The results showed that HTF can be useful as a flocculation unit in a purification system.es-ESTubular flocculatorDrinking waterTurbidity removalEnhanced flocculationRural communitiesARTÍCULO10.3390/w15050833