Oxygen transfer in activated sludge – new insights and potentials for cost saving

2011 ◽  
Vol 63 (12) ◽  
pp. 3034-3038 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Henkel ◽  
P. Cornel ◽  
M. Wagner

The α-factor has the greatest impact on the calculation of the required standard oxygen transfer rate (SOTR) in activated sludge systems equipped with submerged aeration systems. Knowing the dependencies of the α-factor leads to a better design of the aeration devices and, consequently, to a more efficient use of aeration energy. Applying the current state of knowledge about oxygen transfer leads to the conclusion that, in contrast to current opinion, simultaneous aerobic stabilization requires the same SOTR as conventional activated sludge systems with advanced nutrient removal, even though a higher organic load is degraded.

2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Guenkel ◽  
M. Wagner

The standard oxygen transfer rate (SOTR) is the decisive factor in the dimensioning of activated sludge plants. It depends on the required oxygen uptake rate (OUR) by microorganisms. The dependencies of the SOTR and OUR on the wastewater temperature (range 5–30 °C) are discussed. It is shown that the absolute values of the SOTR depend only slightly on the wastewater temperature, while the specific values, in relation to the aerated tank volume, increase considerably as a function of the wastewater temperature. Within this context, the decisive dimensioning temperature is discussed. In addition, two design approaches for determining the SOTR, temperature-dependant and temperature-independent, are presented and compared, showing the impact of the water dependency. Finally, the sensitivity of the decisive factors for determining the SOTR is discussed, particularly addressing the influence of the α-value.


2000 ◽  
Vol 41 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 453-459 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Schlegel ◽  
B. Teichgräber

Submerged fixed-film reactors are ideal for the pretreatment of industrial effluents. The advantages lie not only in the investment costs, but also in the operating costs. The pretreatment plants can be subject to higher loads than are possible with the activated sludge process. Consequently, considerably less space is required. And, last but not least, it is also possible to treat normally non-degradable industrial effluents. The prerequisites are that system-related general structural requirements are fulfilled and suitable materials are used for the fixed-film reactor. They also offer considerable advantages in terms of operation compared to the activated sludge process, since both a higher oxygen transfer rate and yield are achieved, less sludge is produced and fewer personnel are required. All in all, the upstream submerged fixed-film reactor has proven to be an extremely reliable process, requiring little maintenance, that can cope, to a far-reaching degree, with load fluctuations of all types and reduce these. As a result, the operation of downstream treatment stages is also stabilized.


2008 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 199-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Cascaval ◽  
Anca-Irina Galaction ◽  
Stefanica Camarut ◽  
Radu Z. Tudose

1977 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 191-212
Author(s):  
B. Volesky ◽  
Q. Samak ◽  
P. Waller

Abstract Review of the available results appearing in the recent literature is presented focusing particularly upon the effects of metallic ions such as Cr, Cu, Zn, Cd, Hg, V, Zn, Ni and Co. Some original data involving the effects of Na are presented and discussed. Development of parameters used in evaluating the influence of toxic or inhibitory species on the mixed microbial population of an activated sludge system is of crucial importance and different techniques employed such as BOD-COD-TOC-removal rates, Oxygen Uptake Rate, and others are discussed, showing relative inadequacy of currently applied assays. From the data available, certain trends can be discerned. There is a definite threshold concentration for each metallic ion, depending on the organic load of the feed. In the order of increasing toxicity to activated sludge systems reflected in lower BOD removals the following metals have been listed as inhibiting factors at concentrations starting from 1 ppm applied on a continuous basis: hexavalent chromium, cobalt, zinc, cadmium, trivalent chromium, copper and nickel. Metals in combination have not been reported to exhibit any significantly different effects as compared to those observed with individually introduced metallic ions. Tolerance of some activated sludge systems to shock loadings by various inorganic ions and metals is reviewed. The conclusions are of particular importance for estimating the performance of biox systems handling industrial effluents which are likely to contain toxic components of inorganic or metallic nature.


1996 ◽  
Vol 34 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 413-420
Author(s):  
Y. C. Liao ◽  
D. J. Lee

Transient model of oxygen transfer rate in a sequencing batch reactor is derived and solved numerically. The dissolved oxygen response under several conditions is analyzed. Effects of operational parameters and liquid bath height are studied. When with short, intermittent aeration periods, the transient effects on oxygen transfer rate may be substantial and should be taken into considerations. An example considering bioreaction is also given.


1997 ◽  
Vol 35 (10) ◽  
pp. 87-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Sorm ◽  
J. Wanner ◽  
R. Saltarelli ◽  
G. Bortone ◽  
A. Tilche

The phenomenon of anoxic phosphate uptake with simultaneous denitrification was studied. For this purpose kinetic batch tests have been carried out by using the activated sludge samples from three modifications of nutrient removal activated sludge systems: two based on an anaerobic-anoxic-oxic (A2/O) system and a third on an anaerobic-oxic (A/O) system. The results showed significant differences in anoxic phosphate uptake rate between activated sludge which was alternatively exposed to anoxic conditions and activated sludge from the A/O arrangement. These differences were also accompanied by different denitrification rates. Simultaneously with batch experiments the microscopic observation of activated sludge samples was carried out. Neisser and Gram stained samples showed clear differences in shape, size and distribution of polyphosphate accumulating bacteria between A2/O and A/O Processes. Moreover, experiments performed using genetic probes confirmed the differences in microbiological composition of activated sludge samples from different nutrient removal system arrangements.


Fluids ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 226
Author(s):  
Rashal Abed ◽  
Mohamed M. Hussein ◽  
Wael H. Ahmed ◽  
Sherif Abdou

Airlift pumps can be used in the aquaculture industry to provide aeration while concurrently moving water utilizing the dynamics of two-phase flow in the pump riser. The oxygen mass transfer that occurs from the injected compressed air to the water in the aquaculture systems can be experimentally investigated to determine the pump aeration capabilities. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of various airflow rates as well as the injection methods on the oxygen transfer rate within a dual injector airlift pump system. Experiments were conducted using an airlift pump connected to a vertical pump riser within a recirculating system. Both two-phase flow patterns and the void fraction measurements were used to evaluate the dissolved oxygen mass transfer mechanism through the airlift pump. A dissolved oxygen (DO) sensor was used to determine the DO levels within the airlift pumping system at different operating conditions required by the pump. Flow visualization imaging and particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements were performed in order to better understand the effects of the two-phase flow patterns on the aeration performance. It was found that the radial injection method reached the saturation point faster at lower airflow rates, whereas the axial method performed better as the airflow rates were increased. The standard oxygen transfer rate (SOTR) and standard aeration efficiency (SAE) were calculated and were found to strongly depend on the injection method as well as the two-phase flow patterns in the pump riser.


1993 ◽  
Vol 28 (7) ◽  
pp. 243-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Suzuki ◽  
S. Miyahara ◽  
K. Takeishi

Gas-permeable film can separate air and water, and at the same time, let oxygen diffuse from the air to the water through the film. An oxygen supply method using this film was investigated for the purpose of reducing energy consumption for wastewater treatment. The oxygen transfer rate was measured for the cases with or without biofilm, which proved the high rate of oxygen transfer in the case with nitrifying biofilm which performed nitrification. When the Gas-permeable film with nitrifying biofilm was applied to the treatment of wastewater, denitrifying biofilm formed on the nitrifying biofilm, and simultaneous nitrification and denitrification occurred, resulting in the high rate of organic matter and T-N removal (7 gTOC/m2/d and 4 gT-N/m2/d, respectively). However, periodic sloughing of the denitrifying biofilm was needed to keep the oxygen transfer rate high. Energy consumption of the process using the film in the form of tubes was estimated to be less than 40% of that of the activated sludge process.


2004 ◽  
Vol 127 (3) ◽  
pp. 400-415 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amador M. Guzmán ◽  
Rodrigo A. Escobar ◽  
Cristina H. Amon

Computational investigations of flow mixing and oxygen transfer characteristics in an intravenous membrane oxygenator (IMO) are performed by direct numerical simulations of the conservation of mass, momentum, and species equations. Three-dimensional computational models are developed to investigate flow-mixing and oxygen-transfer characteristics for stationary and pulsating balloons, using the spectral element method. For a stationary balloon, the effect of the fiber placement within the fiber bundle and the number of fiber rings is investigated. In a pulsating balloon, the flow mixing characteristics are determined and the oxygen transfer rate is evaluated. For a stationary balloon, numerical simulations show two well-defined flow patterns that depend on the region of the IMO device. Successive increases of the Reynolds number raise the longitudinal velocity without creating secondary flow. This characteristic is not affected by staggered or non-staggered fiber placement within the fiber bundle. For a pulsating balloon, the flow mixing is enhanced by generating a three-dimensional time-dependent flow characterized by oscillatory radial, pulsatile longitudinal, and both oscillatory and random tangential velocities. This three-dimensional flow increases the flow mixing due to an active time-dependent secondary flow, particularly around the fibers. Analytical models show the fiber bundle placement effect on the pressure gradient and flow pattern. The oxygen transport from the fiber surface to the mean flow is due to a dominant radial diffusion mechanism, for the stationary balloon. The oxygen transfer rate reaches an asymptotic behavior at relatively low Reynolds numbers. For a pulsating balloon, the time-dependent oxygen-concentration field resembles the oscillatory and wavy nature of the time-dependent flow. Sherwood number evaluations demonstrate that balloon pulsations enhance the oxygen transfer rate, even for smaller flow rates.


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