Paddle Flocculator Power from Geometry
The power flocculation-g-value needs, computed from the paddle wheel: P = 0.5 x Cd x rho x A x v_rel^3, the Newtonian drag. Two subtleties - the power goes as the CUBE of the relative velocity, and the water slips (rotates with the paddles) so v_rel is only (1 - k) of the tip speed; ignoring the slip roughly doubles the power. A 6-ft wheel at 3 rpm with 40 ft^2 of blade delivers ~267 W. Cd (~1.8) and slip k (~0.25) are user inputs because references disagree; the drag is exact once chosen. A design aid, not a metered power.
Formula and source
v_tip = 2 x pi x paddle_radius_ft x wheel_rpm / 60; v_rel = v_tip x (1 - slip_factor); power_ftlbs = 0.5 x drag_coeff x 1.937 x paddle_area_ft2 x v_rel^3; power_w = power_ftlbs x 1.35582; power_hp = power_ftlbs / 550.
Camp paddle flocculator power (water-treatment design practice), by name.
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