Study of Air Bubble Formation for Wastewater Treatment

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryan A. Miletta ◽  
R. S. Amano ◽  
Ammar A. T. Alkhalidi ◽  
Jin Li
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Oxygen Transfer ◽  
Surface Membrane ◽  
Bubble Formation ◽  
High Oxygen ◽  
Transfer Efficiency ◽  
Intimate Contact ◽  
Rubber Membrane ◽  
Unit Process ◽  
Oxygen Transfer Efficiency

Aeration, a unit process in which air and water are brought into intimate contact, is an extremely important step in the process of wastewater treatment. The two most common systems of aeration are subsurface and mechanical. A mechanical system agitates the wastewater by various means (e.g. paddles, blades, or propellers) to introduce air from the atmosphere. Subsurface aeration is the release of air, in the form of bubbles, within the tank of wastewater to supply the microorganisms with the required amount of oxygen they need to metabolize and break down the organic material suspended in the wastewater. The bubbles of Air are released from the bottom of the wastewater tank through diffusers. These diffusers have a surface membrane, usually made of punched rubber, to create the fine bubbles with high oxygen transfer efficiency from supplied air to the diffusers. Since the energy crisis in the early 1970’s, there has been increased interest in these systems due to its high oxygen transfer efficiency. This paper covers experimentation of different air diffuser membranes, varying in material, used in the aeration process of wastewater treatment. Rubber, EPDM rubber (ethylene-propylene-diene Monomer) and PTFE Polytetrafluoroethylene membranes coated membranes were tested. Experimental results showed that the rubber membrane produced the smallest bubble size against expectation. This could be a result of the coating being on the top surface only and the bubble starts from inside the punch.

Monitoring the oxygen transfer efficiency of full-scale aeration systems: investigation method and experimental results

2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Riccardo Gori ◽  
Alice Balducci ◽  
Cecilia Caretti ◽  
Claudio Lubello
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plant ◽  
Oxygen Transfer ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Transfer Efficiency ◽  
Chemical Cleaning ◽  
Total Recovery ◽  
Aeration System ◽  
Oxygen Transfer Efficiency ◽  
Urban Wastewater Treatment

This paper reports the results of a series of off-gas tests aimed at monitoring the evolution of the oxygen transfer efficiency in an urban wastewater treatment plant (3,500 population equivalent) located in Tuscany (Italy). The tests were conducted over a 2-year period starting with the testing of the aeration system. It was found that in the absence of membrane-panel cleaning operations, the oxygen transfer efficiency under standard conditions in process water (αSOTE) dropped from 18 to 9.5% in 2 years. This gives rise to a 40% increase in the wastewater treatment plant annual energy costs. The on-site chemical cleaning of the diffusers allowed for an almost total recovery of the transfer efficiency (αSOTE equal to 16%). The use of the off-gas method for monitoring the oxygen transfer efficiency over time is therefore essential for enabling correct planning of the cleaning operations of the diffusers and for cutting the energy consumption and operating costs of the aeration system.

Bulking and Foaming Organism Control at Phoenix, AZ WWTP

1992 ◽  
Vol 26 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 461-472 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. E. Albertson ◽  
P. Hendricks
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Nitrogen Removal ◽  
Retention Time ◽  
Oxygen Transfer ◽  
Average Rate ◽  
Oxygen Transfer Efficiency ◽  
Solids Retention ◽  
Total Nitrogen Removal ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The City

A 1630 L/s activated sludge plant at Phoenix was limited to an average rate of 1050 L/s and operated, at 400-600 mg/L MLSS and 0.8-1.3 day solids retention time (SRT) due to bulking sludge and limited clarification capacity. Higher SRTs also produced uncontrolled Nocardia foaming and low dissolved oxygen due to partial nitrification. The City retained the services of a team of consultants to resolve these problems as well as to upgrade the plant to provide nitrification and total nitrogen removal. An anoxic selector design was implemented within the existing basin and the clarifiers were modified to improve inlet design and sludge transport. The modified advanced wastewater treatment (AWT) plant operating at 1450 L/s has averaged an effluent of 7.6 mg/L BOD5, 8.2 mg/L TSS, 1.3 mg/L NH4N, 4.1 mg/L NO3N and 2.9 mg/L TP. Oxygen transfer efficiency has increased about 80% in the nitrification-denitrification (NdeN) mode. The cost of modification/upgrading to AWT was approximately $730,000 and a 400 L/s increase in hydraulic capacity was realized. Upgrading costs were $5.63/m3 ($0.02/gal.)

Power Generation and Oxygen Transfer Analyses for Micro Hydro-Turbine Installed in Wastewater Treatment Aeration Tank

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Abdel Rahman Salem ◽  
Alaa Hasan ◽  
Ahmad Abdelhadi ◽  
Saif Al Hamad ◽  
Mohammad Qandil ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Oxygen Transfer ◽  
Power Loss ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Aeration Tank ◽  
Hydro Turbine ◽  
Oxygen Transfer Efficiency ◽  
Aeration Process ◽  
The U.S ◽  
Water Height

Abstract This study targets one of the major energy consumers in the U.S. It suggests a new mechanical system that can recover a portion of the energy in Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs). The proposed system entails a hydro-turbine installed above the air diffuser in the aeration tank to extract the water-bubble current's kinetic energy and converts it to electricity. Observing the optimum location of the turbine required multiple experiments where turbine height varies between 35% and 95% (water height percentages above the diffuser), while varying the airflow between 1.42 L/s (3 CFM) and 2.12 L/s (4.5 CFM) with a 0.24 L/s (0.5 CFM) increment. Additionally, three water heights of 38.1 cm (15”), 53.4 cm (21”), and 68.6 cm (27”) were considered to study the influence of the water height. It was noticed that the presence of the system has an adverse effect on the Standard Oxygen Transfer Efficiency (SOTE). Therefore, a small dual-blade propeller was installed right above the diffuser to directly mix the water in the bottom of the tank with the incoming air to enhance the SOTE. The results showed that the maximum reclaimed power was obtained where the hydro-turbine is installed at 65% - 80% above the diffuser. A reduction of up to 7.32% in SOTE was observed when the setup was placed inside the tank compared to the tank alone. The addition of the dual-blade propeller showed an increase in SOTE of 7.27% with a power loss of 6.21%, ensuring the aeration process was at its standards.

The Effect of Nozzle Type on Air Entrainment by Plunging Water Jets

2002 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 599-612 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamer Bagatur ◽  
Ahmet Baylar ◽  
Nusret Sekerdag
Keyword(s):  
Penetration Depth ◽  
Oxygen Transfer ◽  
Free Water ◽  
Air Entrainment ◽  
Water Jet ◽  
Transfer Efficiency ◽  
Entrainment Rate ◽  
Water Jets ◽  
Air Entrainment Rate ◽  
Oxygen Transfer Efficiency

Abstract In this study, for the plunging water jet aeration system using various inclined nozzle types, bubble penetration depth, air entrainment rate, water jet expansion, effect of water jet circumference at impact point, oxygen transfer coefficient and oxygen transfer efficiency which changed depending on the water jet velocity, were researched in an air-water system. Numerous studies were conducted with circular nozzles. The present study describes new experiments performed with different nozzle types. Three types of nozzles were examined, i.e., those with circular, ellipse and rectangle duct with rounded ends. Experimental results showed that water jets produced with ellipse and rectangle duct with rounded ends nozzles have very different flow characteristics, entrainment patterns on free water jet surface, and submerged water jet region within the receiving tank. Higher air entrainment rate and oxygen transfer efficiency was observed in the rectangle duct with rounded ends nozzle due to water jet expansion. Bubble penetration depth, however, is lower for the rectangle duct with rounded ends nozzle than for the other nozzles. The ellipse nozzle provided the highest bubble penetration depth. These results showed that it is appropriate to use ellipse nozzle in aeration of deep pool and rectangle duct with rounded ends nozzle in the applications where high bubble concentration is desirable.

Oxygen Transfer Efficiency Measurements Using Off-Gas Techniques

1989 ◽  
Vol 21 (10-11) ◽  
pp. 1295-1300 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. C. Boyle ◽  
B. G. Hellstrom ◽  
L. Ewing
Keyword(s):  
Oxygen Uptake ◽  
Uptake Rate ◽  
Oxygen Transfer ◽  
Oxygen Uptake Rate ◽  
Transfer Efficiency ◽  
Theoretical Development ◽  
Process Conditions ◽  
Uptake Rates ◽  
Oxygen Transfer Efficiency ◽  
On Line

The off-gas technique for measuring oxygen transfer efficiency in aeration tanks under process conditions was proposed as an accurate technique for calibrating or verifying on-line methods used to estimate oxygen uptake rates. The theoretical development of the off-gas technique was presented. Application of this technique in verifying or calibrating existing on-line methods for estimating oxygen uptake rate was presented. Direct application as an on-line method for estimating oxygen uptake rate was also discussed.

Experience with Ceramic Plate Diffusers in Large Activated Sludge Plants

1992 ◽  
Vol 25 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 127-134
Author(s):  
R. Warriner ◽  
T. C. Rooney
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Oxygen Transfer ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Transfer Efficiency ◽  
Ceramic Plate ◽  
Flat Plates ◽  
Higher Power ◽  
Oxygen Transfer Efficiency ◽  
Basin Floor ◽  
The Difference

Fine pore aeration systems were evaluated in a U.S.EPA sponsored study of oxygen transfer efficiency in 26 activated sludge plants. Two plants in the study, those of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, had aeration systems composed of flat plates grouted into containers placed flush with the basin floor. The remaining plants in the study had aeration systems utilizing various disk, dome, and tube devices that are now in far more widespread use than the flat plates. The District's aeration basins gave better oxygen transfer efficiency than the other ceramic diffuser systems studied. The difference may have been the result of the high tank area to diffuser area ratio and the low air flux rates associated with the plate systems. At one MMSD plant there were also four basins with recently installed ceramic disk diffuser systems. This provided an opportunity for side-by-side comparisons between the disks and the flat plates in containers. An analysis of diffuser system first costs and energy costs indicated that the ceramic plate system could be cost effective at higher power costs, but not at the prices presently paid by the District for power.

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