Advancing High-Rate Solids Separation with Folded Flow Dissolved Air Flotation
Wednesday, September 30, 2026 9:00 AM to 9:30 AM · 30 min. (US/Central)
New Orleans Convention Center
Technology Spotlight
Hall H Booth 7249
Information
As wastewater treatment facilities face increasing hydraulic loading, tightening discharge requirements, and space constraints, conventional clarification and flotation systems are often limited by hydraulic inefficiencies such as short-circuiting, turbulence, and incomplete utilization of available tank volume. These limitations restrict achievable performance at elevated surface loading rates and constrain opportunities for capacity expansion within existing treatment systems.
This presentation introduces Folded Flow Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) as an advanced hydraulic configuration developed to enable high-rate solids separation. The design incorporates a structured internal flow path that improves flow distribution and promotes effective contact between bubbles and flocculated solids. Residence time distribution testing indicates that this configuration increases plug-flow characteristics and reduces short-circuiting relative to conventional DAF systems, resulting in improved hydraulic efficiency and more effective utilization of the flotation volume. Field and demonstration results across a range of municipal and industrial applications, including biological sludge thickening, industrial wastewater treatment, and water reuse, demonstrate that Folded Flow DAF can achieve high total suspended solids (TSS) removal efficiencies, with performance approaching 99% under optimized operating conditions, at average surface loading rates in the order of 8 gpm/ft². The systems evaluated treated a range of solid types, including biological solids, iron-based precipitates, and oil- and grease-associated particulates, representing varying densities, surface properties, and separation challenges.
The results highlight the importance of hydraulic configuration in enabling high-rate DAF operation. The observed performance across multiple applications provides a basis for applying folded flow designs to wastewater streams with diverse solids characteristics, while maintaining effective solids separation at elevated loading conditions.
This presentation introduces Folded Flow Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) as an advanced hydraulic configuration developed to enable high-rate solids separation. The design incorporates a structured internal flow path that improves flow distribution and promotes effective contact between bubbles and flocculated solids. Residence time distribution testing indicates that this configuration increases plug-flow characteristics and reduces short-circuiting relative to conventional DAF systems, resulting in improved hydraulic efficiency and more effective utilization of the flotation volume. Field and demonstration results across a range of municipal and industrial applications, including biological sludge thickening, industrial wastewater treatment, and water reuse, demonstrate that Folded Flow DAF can achieve high total suspended solids (TSS) removal efficiencies, with performance approaching 99% under optimized operating conditions, at average surface loading rates in the order of 8 gpm/ft². The systems evaluated treated a range of solid types, including biological solids, iron-based precipitates, and oil- and grease-associated particulates, representing varying densities, surface properties, and separation challenges.
The results highlight the importance of hydraulic configuration in enabling high-rate DAF operation. The observed performance across multiple applications provides a basis for applying folded flow designs to wastewater streams with diverse solids characteristics, while maintaining effective solids separation at elevated loading conditions.