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A settling tank has an influent rate of 0.6 mgd. It is 12 ft deep and has a surface area of 8000 ft². What is the hydraulic retention time?

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Answer: hydraulic retention time,τ=28.67 hours

Step-by-step explanation:

The hydraulic retention time τ (tau), is given as The volume of the settling tank(V) divided by the influent flowrate(Q)

τ =V/Q

But Volume is not known and is given as

Volume = surface area x depth of the tank

= 8000 ft² X 12 ft

= 96,000 ft³

Also, the influent flow rate is in mgd ( million gallons per day), we change it to ft³/sec so as to be in same unit with the volume in ft³

1 million gallons/day = 1.5472286365101 cubic feet/second

0.6mgd = 1.5472286365101 cubic feet/second x 0.6

=0.93cubic feet/second

τ =V/Q

96,000 ft³/0.93 ft³/sec

τ=103,225.8 secs

changing to hours

103,225.8 /3600 =28.67 hours

The hydraulic retention time =28.67 hours

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