Empirical and Multiparameter Approach to Characterize Wetland Treatment Hydrodyanamics

Abstract

Empirical stochastic multi-variable electrokinetic models for prediction of treatment efficiency of wetlands in presented in this document. Wetlands of Two different and their volumetric variants shapes are visualized using tracer studies. Two different variants of experiments are carried out. Numerous flow rate variations are performed keeping bottom surface area of the wetland constant. The experiment is also carried out with a variation in volume of the wetland which helps to study the effect of flow height on the hydrodynamics within the wetland. A multivariable model for treatment efficiency in terms of change in tracer concentration as a function of shape, volumetric height of water within the wetland, time and mass flow rate is considered. Further another set of experiments are performed studying the treatment efficiency in terms of electrokinetic parameters keeping in mind the laws of irreversibility in dilute solutions. This involves measuring the pH, turbidity, temperature, electrical conductivity, total dissolved salts at inlet and outlet and residence time with varying flow rate and height of water for the different wetland models under study. The electro-kinetic parameters changes due to difference in concentration of the tracer dye which simulates impurities. In this case, treatment efficiency is expressed as a function of the above discussed electro-kinetic variables, time variation, water height as well as variation in the mass flow rate. The stochastic multi-parameter models thus empirically derived in the above two cases have high coefficient of determination. The analysis of variance and sensitivity analysis of the models are performed. The models thus derived may be used as a tool for quick analysis of treatment efficiency of any shape and size of a three dimensional wetland.