Rheological characteristics of sewage sludge: A granuloviscous material

Abstract

Problems have been experienced in the screw conveying of a centrifuge dewatered sewage sludge, at about 66% by weight water content. The rheology of the sludge was therefore tested in a viscometer in which the normal stress between the platens could be controlled. Rough platens were used to measure internal shear strengths while smooth steel platens were used to study wall slip.

The sludge displayed a number of the characteristics of a granuloviscous material. It was found to possess high initial shear strength, but rapidly softened with shear to lower steady-state strengths. The initial shear strength increased with increasing normal stress, indicating that the sludge was frictional. The initial strength was lower against the smooth platen.

The steady-state shear strengths were both rate and stress dependent using the rough platen, and this internal shear strength could be described by a frictional pseudoplastic equation. Using the smooth platen the material was nearly rate independent, and was best described by a Coulomb friction equation. At the higher rates the wall shear strengths were lower than the internal shear strengths.

The strengths (both initial and steady-state) were characterised by a high degree of variability from sample to sample, and also showed marked hysteresis with the rough platen. They did not show any consistent variation with moisture content.

In terms of screw conveying, the major conclusion is that smooth walls to the flights of the screw and barrel of the conveyor are desirable.