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ACTIVATED CARBON PROCESSES 14.23

Effluent
Influent

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• .:.~..-
.:~ !. i
?. ~:.!i"2.:
. . .. • .
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• .....
. ..."'". ..
Effluent

Downflow in series
Influent
Pulsed bed
Influent Effluent

r

T t
D
Effluent Influent
Downflow in parallel Upflow-expanded in series
FIGURE 14.12 Commonly used GAC contactor configurations.

TABLE 14.5 Guide to Selection of GAC System Configuration
Adsorption system
configuration Applicable if:
Single adsorber Low carbon exhaustion rate (usage rate) occurs.
Fixed beds in series High carbon exhaustion rate occurs. High effluent quality must be
ensured at all times.
Fixed beds in parallel
High system pressure drop is minimized. Large total flow rate is
required.
Moving beds, upflow
High carbon exhaustion rate occurs. High effluent quality is required.
Either some carbon fines can be tolerated in the effluent, or carbon
adsorption is followed by filtration.
Expanded beds, upflow High suspended solids are present in the influent, and some suspended
solids can be tolerated in the effluent.