Flow characteristics of multiple plunging jets towards treatment of water and wastewater

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of flow characteristics of multiple plunging jets. A plunging jet is used for the treatment of water and wastewater in activated sludge process. In this study, two sets of plunging jets (series A and series B) were used to study the flow characteristics of multiple plunging jets. Series A and B have flow area (cross-sectional area) of 615.752 mm2 and 452.389 mm2, respectively. Each series has four nomenclatures of 2801, 1404, 1008 and 0716. Four discharge rates were selected: 0.72 ls−1, 0.85 ls−1, 1.28 ls−1, and 1.62 ls−1. The desired disc was placed in the socket jet, and the alteration in flow characteristics was observed. Our results showed that the total surface area per unit length of multiple plunging jets increased √n times in comparison to a single jet for a given flow area. The penetration depth and bubble swarm width were found to be directly proportional to the rate of flow. Also, it was noticed that the composite Froude number is directly proportional to kinetic jet power (kinetic energy) of the plunging jet aeration system. The penetration depth was found to decrease with individual Froude number at a given flow rate when the number of multiple jets is increased under similar flow conditions. The present study showed that multiple plunging jets at optimum configuration under a given flow condition have a better performance than the conventional single plunging jet in the aeration system.