Analysis and design of suitable model structures for activated sludge tanks with circulating flow

1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 55-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Alex ◽  
R. Tschepetzki ◽  
U. Jumar ◽  
F. Obenaus ◽  
K.-H. Rosenwinkel

Activated sludge models are widely used for planning and optimisation of wastewater treatment plants and on line applications are under development to support the operation of complex treatment plants. A proper model is crucial for all of these applications. The task of parameter calibration is focused in several papers and applications. An essential precondition for this task is an appropriately defined model structure, which is often given much less attention. Different model structures for a large scale treatment plant with circulation flow are discussed in this paper. A more systematic method to derive a suitable model structure is applied to this case. Results of a numerical hydraulic model are used for this purpose. The importance of these efforts are proven by a high sensitivity of the simulation results with respect to the selection of the model structure and the hydraulic conditions. Finally it is shown, that model calibration was possible only by adjusting to the hydraulic behaviour and without any changes of biological parameters.

2002 ◽  
Vol 45 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 325-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Alex ◽  
G. Kolisch ◽  
K. Krause

The objective of this presented project is to use the results of an CFD simulation to automatically, systematically and reliably generate an appropriate model structure for simulation of the biological processes using CSTR activated sludge compartments. Models and dynamic simulation have become important tools for research but also increasingly for the design and optimisation of wastewater treatment plants. Besides the biological models several cases are reported about the application of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to wastewater treatment plants. One aim of the presented method to derive model structures from CFD results is to exclude the influence of empirical structure selection to the result of dynamic simulations studies of WWTPs. The second application of the approach developed is the analysis of badly performing treatment plants where the suspicion arises that bad flow behaviour such as short cut flows is part of the problem. The method suggested requires as the first step the calculation of fluid dynamics of the biological treatment step at different loading situations by use of 3-dimensional CFD simulation. The result of this information is used to generate a suitable model structure for conventional dynamic simulation of the treatment plant by use of a number of CSTR modules with a pattern of exchange flows between the tanks automatically. The method is explained in detail and the application to the WWTP Wuppertal Buchenhofen is presented.


1992 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 167-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Siegrist ◽  
M. Tschui

The wastewater of the municipal treatment plants Zürich-Werdhölzli (350000 population equivalents), Zürich-Glatt (110000), and Wattwil (20000) have been characterized with regard to the activated sludge model Nr.1 of the IAWPRC task group. Zürich-Glatt and Wattwil are partly nitrifying treatment plants and Zürich-Werdhölzli is fully nitrifying. The mixing characteristics of the aeration tanks at Werdhölzli and Glatt were determined with sodium bromide as a tracer. The experimental data were used to calibrate hydrolysis, heterotrophic growth and nitrification. Problems arising by calibrating hydrolysis of the paniculate material and by measuring oxygen consumption of heterotrophic and nitrifying microorganisms are discussed. For hydrolysis the experimental data indicate first-order kinetics. For nitrification a maximum growth rate of 0.40±0.07 d−1, corresponding to an observed growth rate of 0.26±0.04 d−1 was calculated at 10°C. The half velocity constant found for 12 and 20°C was 2 mg NH4-N/l. The calibrated model was verified with experimental dam of me Zürich-Werdhölzli treatment plant during ammonia shock load.


1994 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralf Otterpohl ◽  
Thomas Rolfs ◽  
Jörg Londong

Computer simulation of activated sludge plant for nitrogen removal has become a reliable tool to predict the behaviour of the plant Models including biological phosphorus removal still require some practical experience but they should be available soon. This will offer an even wider range than today's work with nitrogen removal. One major benefit of computer simulation of wastewater treatment plants (WTP) is the optimization of operation. This can be done offline if hydrographs of a plant are collected and computer work is done with “historical” analysis. With online simulation the system is fed with hydrographs up to the actual time. Prognosis can be done from the moment of the computer work based on usual hydrographs. The work of the authors shows how accuratly a treatment plant can be described, when many parameters are measured and available as hydrographs. A very careful description of all details of the special plant is essential, requiring a flexible simulation tool. Based on the accurate simulation a wide range of operational decisions can be evaluated. It was possible to demonstrate that the overall efficiency in nitrogen removal and energy consumption of ml activated sludge plant can be improved.


2004 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 251-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.S. Moussa ◽  
A.R. Rojas ◽  
C.M. Hooijmans ◽  
H.J. Gijzen ◽  
M.C.M. van Loosdrecht

Computer modelling has been used in the last 15 years as a powerful tool for understanding the behaviour of activated sludge wastewater treatment systems. However, computer models are mainly applied for domestic wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Application of these types of models to industrial wastewater treatment plants requires a different model structure and an accurate estimation of the kinetics and stoichiometry of the model parameters, which may be different from the ones used for domestic wastewater. Most of these parameters are strongly dependent on the wastewater composition. In this study a modified version of the activated sludge model No. 1 (ASM 1) was used to describe a tannery WWTP. Several biological tests and complementary physical-chemical analyses were performed to characterise the wastewater and sludge composition in the context of activated sludge modelling. The proposed model was calibrated under steady-state conditions and validated under dynamic flow conditions. The model was successfully used to obtain insight into the existing plant performance, possible extension and options for process optimisation. The model illustrated the potential capacity of the plant to achieve full denitrification and to handle a higher hydraulic load. Moreover, the use of a mathematical model as an effective tool in decision making was demonstrated.


1993 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob H. Bruus ◽  
Jimmy R. Christensen ◽  
Hanne Rasmussen

Since dewatering equipment is commonly operated only during normal working hours, activated sludge must often be stored in an anaerobic condition prior to conditioning. It is the objective of this study to investigate the influence of anaerobic storage on conditioning requirements and dewatering performance on a laboratory scale. Sludges were collected at two large treatment plants (removal of organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus) and one small treatment plant (removal of organic matter). Thickened activated sludges from the three wastewater treatment plants were stored anaerobically in the laboratory and analyzed frequently during fourteen days of storage. Both organic and inorganic conditioning was used. Turbidity and Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) in the sludge bulk water increased as a result of the anaerobic storage. These parameters indicated a release of colloids, dissolved exopolymers and fermentation waste products such as fatty acids to the bulk water. These constituents consumed additional cationic polyelectrolyte. Filterability at the optimal dosage of polyelectrolyte was not affected by anaerobic storage. Therefore, polyelectrolyte requirements are governed by the bulk water constituents, whereas filterability of the sludge is determined by the degree of sludge floc conditioning. Iron requirements seemed unaffected by anaerobic storage, but lime requirements to obtain good filterability increased with anaerobic storage time.


1994 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 181-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
René Dupont ◽  
Ole Sinkjær

The objective of the work presented is to demonstrate how computer based models can be used to improve the effluent quality from wastewater treatment plants by optimisation of the operation. The investigation was carried out in connection with pilot plant investigations at Damhusllen Wastewater Treatment Plant in order to establish the design basis for upgrading the treatment plants in the city of Copenhagen. Calibration of the model was done with thorough characterisation of the wastewater and the activated sludge as the primary calibration tool. Special attention was paid to the nitrification process, which by previous investigations was shown to be occasionally inhibited. Model constants for the nitrification process were detennined from experiments. Default constants were used for nearly all other constants. The pilot plant was optimized with the calibrated model. Different operational strategies for improvement of the denitrification process were tested. The denitrification process was operated relatively poorly at the time for the optimisation. The calibration showed that it was possible to calibrate the model using the characterization of the wastewater and the activated sludge as the primary calibration tool. Further it was shown that the calihrated model could be used as a tool for optimising the operation of the pilot plant. The suggested operation correlated well with the practical realisable operation.


1997 ◽  
Vol 36 (11) ◽  
pp. 171-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. Rensink ◽  
W. H. Rulkens

Pilot plant experiments have been carried out to study the mineralization of sludge from biological wastewater treatment plants by worms such as Tubificidae. Trickling filters filled with lava slags were continuously fed with a certain quantity of excess activated sludge of a Dutch brewery wastewater treatment plant (Bavaria) by recirculation during 10 to 14 days. At the starting point of each experiment the trickling filters were inoculated with Tubificidae. Recirculation of sludge showed that use of Tubificidae resulted in a COD reduction of the sludge (mixed liquor) of 18–67–. Without worms this reduction was substantially lower. The sludge production in a pilot activated sludge system for treating settled domestic wastewater reduced from 0.40 to 0.15 g MLSS/g COD removed when Tubificidae were added to the system. The lower amounts of sludge were always accompanied by an increase of nitrate and phosphate concentration in the wastewater. There was no disturbance of the nitrification process. Application of Tubificidae or other worms may have interesting potential for practical application.


1992 ◽  
Vol 26 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 783-790
Author(s):  
J. Pedersen

A newly developed simulation program, based on the Activated Sludge Model No. 1, has been investigated for its controlling abilities. The program is capable of simulating most of the control types which have been applied to wastewater treatment plants. The program was tested on a nitrifying and a denitrifying treatment plant. The results showed that the model makes good simulations of the applied controls.


Membranes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 421
Author(s):  
Dimitra C. Banti ◽  
Michail Tsangas ◽  
Petros Samaras ◽  
Antonis Zorpas

Membrane bioreactor (MBR) systems are connected to several advantages compared to the conventional activated sludge (CAS) units. This work aims to the examination of the life cycle environmental impact of an MBR against a CAS unit when treating municipal wastewater with similar influent loading (BOD = 400 mg/L) and giving similar high-quality effluent (BOD < 5 mg/L). The MBR unit contained a denitrification, an aeration and a membrane tank, whereas the CAS unit included an equalization, a denitrification, a nitrification, a sedimentation, a mixing, a flocculation tank and a drum filter. Several impact categories factors were calculated by implementing the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, including acidification potential, eutrophication potential, global warming potential (GWP), ozone depletion potential and photochemical ozone creation potential of the plants throughout their life cycle. Real data from two wastewater treatment plants were used. The research focused on two parameters which constitute the main differences between the two treatment plants: The excess sludge removal life cycle contribution—where GWPMBR = 0.50 kg CO2-eq*FU−1 and GWPCAS = 2.67 kg CO2-eq*FU−1 without sludge removal—and the wastewater treatment plant life cycle contribution—where GWPMBR = 0.002 kg CO2-eq*FU−1 and GWPCAS = 0.14 kg CO2-eq*FU−1 without land area contribution. Finally, in all the examined cases the environmental superiority of the MBR process was found.


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