Dynamic simulation models of the activated sludge process are a planning and designing tool solving and answering problems that cannot be dealt with by static design models or procedures. In dynamic modelling, however, the settling and thickening processes have to be taken into account which have been neglected until now. Therefore, a dynamic model simulating the processes of settling and of thickening in the secondary clarifier is developed and finally integrated into a dynamic biochemical reaction model. The validity of the model approach is evaluated by simulation runs showing the velocities of hindered settling, the concentration profiles of MLSS over the tank depth, and the effluent concentrations of MLSS. Basic variables for the validation are the influent MLSS concentrations and the sludge volume index quantifying the settling characteristics of the sludge. The consequences for the MLSS content in the aeration tank, as well as for the plant effluent quality, of neglecting and of including the clarifier model into the integrated model are shown at variable conditions of wastewater inflow, especially for periods of higher storm water flows to the treatment plant
During the start-up phase of an enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) plant, the amount of eliminated phosphorus during wastewater treatment and the subsequent release during anaerobic sludge digestion was investigated. Different approaches were used to determine the mechanisms of enhanced phosphorus removal. From a comparison of the EBPR plant with a control, a strong correlation between the potassium, the magnesium and the phosphorus content of the sludge and the results gained from phosphorus fractionations we conclude that the major part of the eliminated phosphorus was stored in form of polyphosphate. During digestion of excess and a mixture of excess and primary sludge a complete release of the stored polyphosphate was found. The release of phosphorus was accompanied by a release of potassium and magnesium ions, from which only potassium remains in soluble form. Therefore, the soluble potassium concentration seems to be a good measure for the amount of phosphate released. Only a part of the released phosphate remains in soluble form. When digesting excess and mixed sludge this accounts for approximately 40% of the total phosphorus brought into the digester. The difference between the measured soluble phosphate concentration and the amount of released phosphorus was fixed, mainly due to chemical precipitation. It was found that a fixation in the form of magnesium ammonium phosphate (struvite) was likely to occur under the conditions of anaerobic sludge digestion. The amount of phosphate precipitation as struvite could be estimated using theoretical calculations at approximately 20% of the total phosphorus in the digester. Calcium dosing experiments show that calcium-phosphate precipitation plays only a minor role in phosphate fixation.
Oxygen transfer rates of fine bubble aeration systems in uniform arrangement are reduced down to 40% to 70% in wastewater compared to clean water conditions. Surfactants in wastewater are the main reason for the inferior and therefore uneconomic performance. The influence of different types of surfactants (anionic and nonionic) and of their concentration on oxygen transfer is investigated at various properties of pure water (content of electrolytes, hardness) by means of extensive experiments. The main results of the investigations are:in dependence of the type of surfactant, its concentration and the types of water:– the aeration coefficient kLa decreases (down to 55%)– the specific interfacial area (a) increases (up to 350%)– the oxygen transfer coefficient (kL) decreases (down to 20%)nonionic surfactants reduce the oxygen transfer more strongly than anionic surfactantsat the same surface tension, but different types of surfactant α-values can vary over a range of 0.12. Therefore α-values can not be calculated from surface tension measurementsα-values of approximately 0.55 should be taken for designing fine bubble aeration systemsIn new guidelines for the measurement of oxygen transfer rates, addition of 5 gm−3 of an arbitrary surfactant into clean water to simulate wastewater conditions must be abandoned.
The main factors of fine bubble aeration systems in uniform arrangement in clean water are the air flow rate, the depth of submergence of the diffusers, and the diffuser density. While the influence of the air flow rate on the oxygen transfer parameters is known, knowledge of the influence of the depth of submergence and the diffuser density on the specific oxygen transfer efficiency SOTE [%/m] and on the specific oxygen absorption SOA [g/m3·m at STP] is very limited. Both parameters are of great importance in dimensioning fine bubble aeration systems. Therefore, a literature review was conducted to show the influence of the diffuser submergence and density and the type of blower on oxygen transfer and aeration efficiency. The main review results are, that higher values of specific oxygen absorption can be obtained at higher diffuser density; secondly, the volumetric oxygen transfer rate VOTR [g/m3·h] is higher with increasing depth of submergence at the same air flow rate. Also it can be stated that with greater depth of submergence the specific oxygen absorption [g/m3·m at STP] is reduced. Dependent on the air flow rate and the pressure head, the energy consumption [Wh/m3·m at STP] of the blowers used in wastewater treatment plants is different. For example, the energy consumption varies from 4.3 [Wh/m3·m at STP] (positive displacement blower) to 3.0 [Wh/m3·m at STP] (turbo-compressors) at a pressure of 10 m and an air flow rate of 5,000 m3/h at STP. From the results of the literature review the following conclusions can be drawn: (1) High specific oxygen absorption values (SOA) [g/m3·m at STP] can be achieved applying shallow tanks, high diffuser densities and low specific air flow rates; (2) High aeration efficiencies (AE) [kg/kWh] can be obtained by applying high volumetric oxygen transfer rates and adequate selection of the blowers used at the wastewater treatment plants.
In the last few years, numerous studies were carried out, dealing with the application of fuzzy-logic to improve the control of the activated sludge process. In this paper, fuzzy-logic based control strategies for wastewater treatment plants with pre-denitrification are presented that should lead to better effluent quality and, in parallel, to a reduction of energy consumption. Extensive experimental investigations on a large scale pilot plant as well as simulation studies (ASM1 with SIMBA) were carried out in order to design, evaluate and compare different fuzzy-controllers with each other and with comparable conventional control systems. The fuzzy-controllers were designed as high-level controllers that determine the DO-setpoints in the aerated zones and the ratio between aerated and non-aerated zones. Conventional PI-controllers were used to maintain the DO-concentration at the set-point levels. The ammonia and nitrate concentration in the effluent and the ammonia load in the influent were considered as input variables for the different fuzzy-controllers. Compared to the operation with fixed nitrification/denitrification zones and constant DO concentrations, the required air-flow could be reduced up to 24% by using fuzzy-logic based control strategies. In comparison with a more advanced conventional control strategy (relay controller with two thresholds and the NH4-N concentration in the effluent as single control variable) a reduction of air-flow-rate up to 14% could be achieved. At the same time, NH4-N peaks in the effluent that are normally caused by peak flow conditions could be reduced significantly. The large scale experiments show that the fuzzy-controllers can be easily implemented in modern control and supervision systems and that the control characteristics can be followed and modified during operation. It therefore can be expected that the developed fuzzy-control systems will be accepted by the operating personnel in wastewater treatment plants.
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