Abstract
Internal wave motion was studied in a laboratory rectangular, primary clarifier. A photo-extinction device was used as a turbidimeter to measure concentration fluctuations in a small volume within the clarifier as a function of time. The signal from this device was fed to a HP21MX minicomputer and the power spectrum plotted from data records lasting approximately 30 min. Results show large changes of wave amplitude as frequency increases. Two distinct regions occur: one with high amplitudes at frequencies below 0.03 Hz, the second with very small amplitudes appears for frequencies greater than 0.1 Hz. The former is associated with internal waves, the latter with flow-generated turbulence. Depth, velocity in the clarifier and inlet suspended solids influence wave amplitudes and the spectra. A variation with position or orientation of the probe was not detected. Contradictory results were found for the influence of flow contraction baffles on internal wave amplitude.
