Break-up Strength of Flocs Analyzed Using Orifice Converging Flow

Abstract

Break-up strength of flocs against hydrodynamic strain generated in a converging flow adjacent to orifice was analyzed using polystyrene latex flocs of different structures. A simple method to find the largest surviving floc after passing through the orifice as a function of flow rate allows us to evaluate the bond strength in flocs. It was confirmed that the strength of floc is constant irrespective of the diameter of floc as long as the number of contact between colliding clusters is constant. However, the strength increases with increasing number of contacts between clusters. This result is consistent with our previous result on the floc strength in a turbulent flow.