Gravitational Sedimentation & Stokes' Law

Environmental Engineering

How It Works

Sedimentation clarifies potable water and wastewater by allowing suspended solid particulates to settle under gravity. When the submerged buoyant weight of a spherical particle balances the hydrodynamic viscous drag governed by Stokes' law, the particle achieves a steady terminal settling velocity. Discrete non-flocculating settling depends directly on particle diameter squared and fluid viscosity.

Governing Equation
v_s = [g · (ρ_p - ρ_f) · d²] / (18 · μ)  |  Re_p = (ρ_f · v_s · d) / μ < 1