Modelling of wastewater treatment plants – how far shall we go with sophisticated modelling tools?

2006 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 79-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.C. Glover ◽  
C. Printemps ◽  
K. Essemiani ◽  
J. Meinhold
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Structure Identification ◽  
Oxidation Ditch ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis

Several levels of complexity are available for modelling of wastewater treatment plants. Modelling local effects rely on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approaches whereas activated sludge models (ASM) represent the global methodology. By applying both modelling approaches to pilot plant and full scale systems, this paper evaluates the value of each method and especially their potential combination. Model structure identification for ASM is discussed based on a full-scale closed loop oxidation ditch modelling. It is illustrated how and for what circumstances information obtained via CFD (computational fluid dynamics) analysis, residence time distribution (RTD) and other experimental means can be used. Furthermore, CFD analysis of the multiphase flow mechanisms is employed to obtain a correct description of the oxygenation capacity of the system studied, including an easy implementation of this information in the classical ASM modelling (e.g. oxygen transfer). The combination of CFD and activated sludge modelling of wastewater treatment processes is applied to three reactor configurations, a perfectly mixed reactor, a pilot scale activated sludge basin (ASB) and a real scale ASB. The application of the biological models to the CFD model is validated against experimentation for the pilot scale ASB and against a classical global ASM model response. A first step in the evaluation of the potential of the combined CFD-ASM model is performed using a full scale oxidation ditch system as testing scenario.

Modelling and simulation of the steady-state of secondary settlers in wastewater treatment plants

2001 ◽  
Vol 43 (7) ◽  
pp. 39-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Queinnec ◽  
D. Dochain
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Steady State ◽  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Parameter Identification ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Sensitivity Studies ◽  
Activated Sludge Processes

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.

The use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Technique for evaluating the efficiency of an activated sludge reactor

1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (10-11) ◽  
pp. 329-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. B. Karama ◽  
O. O. Onyejekwe ◽  
C. J. Brouckaert ◽  
C. A. Buckley
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Computational Techniques ◽  
Activated Sludge Reactor ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics Cfd ◽  
The Cost ◽  
New Generation

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.

Model structure identification for wastewater treatment simulation based on computational fluid dynamics

2002 ◽  
Vol 45 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 325-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Alex ◽  
G. Kolisch ◽  
K. Krause
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Dynamic Simulation ◽  
Cfd Simulation ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Structure Identification ◽  
Suitable Model ◽  
Model Structure

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.

Enhancing nitrogen removal efficiency in a dyestuff wastewater treatment plant with the IFFAS process: the pilot-scale and full-scale studies

2017 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanjun Mao ◽  
Xie Quan ◽  
Huimin Zhao ◽  
Yaobin Zhang ◽  
Shuo Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Removal Efficiency ◽  
Nitrogen Removal ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Nitrification And Denitrification ◽  
Dyestuff Wastewater

Abstract The activated sludge (AS) process is widely applied in dyestuff wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs); however, the nitrogen removal efficiency is relatively low and the effluent does not meet the indirect discharge standards before being discharged into the industrial park's WWTP. Hence it is necessary to upgrade the WWTP with more advanced technologies. Moving bed biofilm processes with suspended carriers in an aerobic tank are promising methods due to enhanced nitrification and denitrification. Herein, a pilot-scale integrated free-floating biofilm and activated sludge (IFFAS) process was employed to investigate the feasibility of enhancing nitrogen removal efficiency at different hydraulic retention times (HRTs). The results showed that the effluent chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonium nitrate (NH4+-N) and total nitrogen (TN) concentrations of the IFFAS process were significantly lower than those of the AS process, and could meet the indirect discharge standards. PCR-DGGE and FISH results indicated that more nitrifiers and denitrifiers co-existed in the IFFAS system, promoting simultaneous nitrification and denitrification. Based on the pilot results, the IFFAS process was used to upgrade the full-scale AS process, and the effluent COD, NH4+-N and TN of the IFFAS process were 91–291 mg/L, 10.6–28.7 mg/L and 18.9–48.6 mg/L, stably meeting the indirect discharge standards and demonstrating the advantages of IFFAS in dyestuff wastewater treatment.

An investigation into studying of the activated sludge foaming potential by using physicochemical parameters

2002 ◽  
Vol 46 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 525-528 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Hladikova ◽  
I. Ruzickova ◽  
P. Klucova ◽  
J. Wanner
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Physicochemical Parameters ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Physicochemical Characteristics ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Aeration Tank ◽  
Foam Formation ◽  
Individual Parameter

This paper examines how the physicochemical characteristics of the solids are related to foam formation and describes how the foaming potential of full-scale plants can be assessed. The relations among activated sludge and biological foam hydrophobicity, scum index, aeration tank cover and filamentous population are evaluated. Individual parameter comparison reveals the scumming intensity can be estimated only on the assumption that foams is already established. None of the above mentioned characteristics can be reliably used to predict the foaming episodes at wastewater treatment plants.

The Use of Computational Fluid Dynamics for Improving the Design and Operation of Water and Wastewater Treatment Plants

1999 ◽  
Vol 40 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 81-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Brouckaert ◽  
C. A. Buckley
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Potable Water ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Water Treatment Plant ◽  
Outer Wall ◽  
Water And Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Secondary Clarifier

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.

scholarly journals The Microbial Database for Danish wastewater treatment plants with nutrient removal (MiDas-DK) – a tool for understanding activated sludge population dynamics and community stability

2013 ◽  
Vol 67 (11) ◽  
pp. 2519-2526 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. T. Mielczarek ◽  
A. M. Saunders ◽  
P. Larsen ◽  
M. Albertsen ◽  
M. Stevenson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Nutrient Removal ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Amplicon Sequencing ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
16S Rrna Amplicon Sequencing ◽  
Specific Factors ◽  
Operational Data

Since 2006 more than 50 Danish full-scale wastewater treatment plants with nutrient removal have been investigated in a project called ‘The Microbial Database for Danish Activated Sludge Wastewater Treatment Plants with Nutrient Removal (MiDas-DK)’. Comprehensive sets of samples have been collected, analyzed and associated with extensive operational data from the plants. The community composition was analyzed by quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) supported by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and deep metagenomics. MiDas-DK has been a powerful tool to study the complex activated sludge ecosystems, and, besides many scientific articles on fundamental issues on mixed communities encompassing nitrifiers, denitrifiers, bacteria involved in P-removal, hydrolysis, fermentation, and foaming, the project has provided results that can be used to optimize the operation of full-scale plants and carry out trouble-shooting. A core microbial community has been defined comprising the majority of microorganisms present in the plants. Time series have been established, providing an overview of temporal variations in the different plants. Interestingly, although most microorganisms were present in all plants, there seemed to be plant-specific factors that controlled the population composition thereby keeping it unique in each plant over time. Statistical analyses of FISH and operational data revealed some correlations, but less than expected. MiDas-DK (www.midasdk.dk) will continue over the next years and we hope the approach can inspire others to make similar projects in other parts of the world to get a more comprehensive understanding of microbial communities in wastewater engineering.

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