Clarifier Equipment

Slant Plate Clarifier (Lamella Clarifier)

Slant Plate Clarifier

Since 1991, Pan America Environmental has 35+ years experience producing industrial wastewater treatment equipment.

Overview of the key features and benefits of our Slant Plate Clarifier (also known as a lamella clarifier, lamella settler, or inclined plate clarifier). The SPC systems are widely used in industrial and municipal wastewater treatment, process water clarification, mining, metal finishing, surface water treatment and other solids separation applications.

Key Design & Performance Features

• Inclined plates (lamella plates): A series of parallel plates installed at an angle, typically 55–60 degrees from horizontal (sometimes 45°). Common materials include corrosion-resistant FRP (fiberglass), polypropylene (PP), PVC, or stainless steel (e.g., 316 SS).
• Shallow-depth sedimentation: Plates are closely spaced (typically 1–3” apart), creating many thin settling zones instead of one deep tank.
• Counter-current design: Wastewater flows upward between the plates while settled solids slide downward along the plate surfaces into a sludge hopper.
• End-entry inlet distribution: SPC designs use end-entry ports for even flow distribution and to avoid disturbing the settling zone.
• Effluent collection: Weir troughs, submerged orifices and launder channels located above plate packs for uniform clarified water flow path.
• Sludge hopper/cone bottom: Collects thickened sludge (often 3–5% solids) for periodic or continuous removal.
• Modular plate packs: Removable or clean-in-place designs for easy maintenance.
• Skid-mounted or compact tank options: Available in steel, stainless steel, or polypropylene construction.

Main Benefits

Inclined plate clarifiers offer significant advantages over conventional sedimentation basins or circular clarifiers:

Additional Advantages of a Slant Plate Clarifier

• Space-limited or indoor installations — Units fit in tight areas with low ceiling heights and containerized systems.
• High-rate clarification — Suitable for pretreatment, post-biological treatment, backwash water, or mining/process water.
• Environmental benefits — Higher water recovery, reduced waste volume, and sometimes lower chemical demand.

Note: Performance depends on proper upstream chemical conditioning (coagulation/flocculation), correct plate spacing/angle, and flow rates (typically designed around 0.25–0.5 GPM per sq. ft. of projected plate area). Overloading or poor floc formation can reduce effectiveness. If you need details for a specific flow rate, application (e.g., metal hydroxide removal, stone/concrete slurry, or mining), or comparison with other technologies like DAF contact us today.

Industrial Applications

Ideal For:

• Metals precipitation/settling
• River water treatment
• Municipal water treatment
• Stationary and portable applications
• Groundwater remediation
• Mining Washdown
• Power plant water
• Plating waste
• Snack food processing
• Stone cutting/polishing
• Membrane filter pretreatment
• Filter backwash water