The New Stamford Density Current Baffle – Modeling for Improved Performance

CFD modeling studies of the Stamford Density Current Baffle have provided a deeper understanding of the several baffle design parameters and have led to the first significant improvements in baffle design and performance in more than twenty years.A matrix of seven configuration variables were defined for the study, representing all of the practical variations of the baffle design parameters. Each of these was simulated in two virtual clarifiers and the effluent solids concentrations calculated over a typical 110 minute retention period. Results were then compared with the “no-baffle“ concentration. Key design parameters were identified and evaluated for a variety of operational scenarios. While all of the baffles reduced effluent solids to varying degrees, some were clearly more effective than others. The results led to the development of a new Stamford Density Current Baffle configuration that is calculated to reduce effluent total suspended solids (TSS) by as much as 30% more than the original Stamford Baffle.