A protocol for the use of computational fluid dynamics as a supportive tool for wastewater treatment plant modelling

2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (10) ◽  
pp. 1575-1584 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Laurent ◽  
R. W. Samstag ◽  
J. M. Ducoste ◽  
A. Griborio ◽  
I. Nopens ◽  
...  

To date, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models have been primarily used for evaluation of hydraulic problems at wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). A potentially more powerful use, however, is to simulate integrated physical, chemical and/or biological processes involved in WWTP unit processes on a spatial scale and to use the gathered knowledge to accelerate improvement in plant models for everyday use, that is, design and optimized operation. Evolving improvements in computer speed and memory and improved software for implementing CFD, as well as for integrated processes, has allowed for broader usage of this tool for understanding, troubleshooting, and optimal design of WWTP unit processes. This paper proposes a protocol for an alternative use of CFD in process modelling, as a way to gain insight into complex systems leading to improved modelling approaches used in combination with the IWA activated sludge models and other kinetic models.

1999 ◽  
Vol 40 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 81-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Brouckaert ◽  
C. A. Buckley

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) studies of a secondary clarifier at Durban's Northern Wastewater Treatment Works, and of a clarifier at the potable water treatment plant at Umzinto, a small town near Durban, have been undertaken with a view to improving their load capacities. In both cases the units are located in relatively old treatment plants, which face continually increasing loads due to population growth. Increasing the capacity of existing equipment, rather than installing new equipment, constitutes an efficient use of development capital. Although the two clarifiers have considerable design differences, the CFD studies indicated remarkably similar circulating flows, which concentrate up-flow near the outer wall of the clarifier in the region of the clarified water overflow weirs. Baffles were designed to disrupt the circulation so as to distribute up-flow over a wider area, thereby reducing the maximum vertical velocities. In the case of the wastewater secondary clarifier, the modification has been implemented, and evaluated in comparative tests involving an otherwise identical unmodified clarifier. In the case of the potable water clarifier, the modification has still to be implemented.


1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (10-11) ◽  
pp. 329-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. B. Karama ◽  
O. O. Onyejekwe ◽  
C. J. Brouckaert ◽  
C. A. Buckley

Adequate models for wastewater treatment are limited by the cost of constructing them. Many a time, studies carried out on wastewater treatment plants have not been very useful in enhancing their performance. As a result, numerous mathematical models presented by different researchers on sedimentation tanks and clarifiers have not been getting much attention. Recently, improvement in computers and computational techniques have led to the development of a new generation of highly efficient programs for simulating real fluid flow within any type of geometry including clarifiers and activated sludge reactors. Herein, a computational fluid dynamics code, PHOENICS, is used to determine the performance of an anaerobic zone in an activated sludge reactor. Plausible results were achieved when experimental data were compared with numerical results.


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.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2059 (1) ◽  
pp. 012003
Author(s):  
A Burmistrov ◽  
A Raykov ◽  
S Salikeev ◽  
E Kapustin

Abstract Numerical mathematical models of non-contact oil free scroll, Roots and screw vacuum pumps are developed. Modelling was carried out with the help of software CFD ANSYS-CFX and program TwinMesh for dynamic meshing. Pumping characteristics of non-contact pumps in viscous flow with the help of SST-turbulence model were calculated for varying rotors profiles, clearances, and rotating speeds. Comparison with experimental data verified adequacy of developed CFD models.


Author(s):  
Jian-Xun Wang ◽  
Christopher J. Roy ◽  
Heng Xiao

Proper quantification and propagation of uncertainties in computational simulations are of critical importance. This issue is especially challenging for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) applications. A particular obstacle for uncertainty quantifications in CFD problems is the large model discrepancies associated with the CFD models used for uncertainty propagation. Neglecting or improperly representing the model discrepancies leads to inaccurate and distorted uncertainty distribution for the quantities of interest (QoI). High-fidelity models, being accurate yet expensive, can accommodate only a small ensemble of simulations and thus lead to large interpolation errors and/or sampling errors; low-fidelity models can propagate a large ensemble, but can introduce large modeling errors. In this work, we propose a multimodel strategy to account for the influences of model discrepancies in uncertainty propagation and to reduce their impact on the predictions. Specifically, we take advantage of CFD models of multiple fidelities to estimate the model discrepancies associated with the lower-fidelity model in the parameter space. A Gaussian process (GP) is adopted to construct the model discrepancy function, and a Bayesian approach is used to infer the discrepancies and corresponding uncertainties in the regions of the parameter space where the high-fidelity simulations are not performed. Several examples of relevance to CFD applications are performed to demonstrate the merits of the proposed strategy. Simulation results suggest that, by combining low- and high-fidelity models, the proposed approach produces better results than what either model can achieve individually.


2015 ◽  
Vol 73 (5) ◽  
pp. 969-982 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward Wicklein ◽  
Damien J. Batstone ◽  
Joel Ducoste ◽  
Julien Laurent ◽  
Alonso Griborio ◽  
...  

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling in the wastewater treatment (WWT) field is continuing to grow and be used to solve increasingly complex problems. However, the future of CFD models and their value to the wastewater field are a function of their proper application and knowledge of their limits. As has been established for other types of wastewater modelling (i.e. biokinetic models), it is timely to define a good modelling practice (GMP) for wastewater CFD applications. An International Water Association (IWA) working group has been formed to investigate a variety of issues and challenges related to CFD modelling in water and WWT. This paper summarizes the recommendations for GMP of the IWA working group on CFD. The paper provides an overview of GMP and, though it is written for the wastewater application, is based on general CFD procedures. A forthcoming companion paper to provide specific details on modelling of individual wastewater components forms the next step of the working group.


2001 ◽  
Vol 43 (7) ◽  
pp. 39-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Queinnec ◽  
D. Dochain

This paper discusses the steady-state modelling of thickening in circular secondary settlers of activated sludge processes. The limitations of the solid flux theory basic models to represent steady-state operating conditions serve as a basis to introduce more sophisticated models derived from computational fluid dynamics. Parameter identification and sensitivity studies have been performed from lab-scale continuous experiments.


Author(s):  
Jason Smith ◽  
Robert N. Eli

This paper reports on a laboratory experiment conducted more than 30 years ago (Eli, 1974, unpublished), and recent Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) investigations, focusing on the properties of a plane tangential jet produced by an apparatus called a “centrifugal nozzle.” The authors believe that the centrifugal nozzle has potential industrial applications in several areas related to fluid mixing and particulate matter suspension in mixing tanks. It is also believed that this experiment, or one similar, may provide data useful for benchmarking CFD models.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document