ABSTRACT
Most wastewater treatment facilities are built using procedures from previous designs which are predominantly from sites and regions not located at high elevation. Recognizing this limitation, we assessed the effects of elevation above sea level on the suitability of process configurations and technologies as well as their associated energy costs. Using the International Water Association (IWA) benchmark simulation model No. 2 (modified Ludzack-Ettinger process layout) as a reference, we simulated scenarios including different activated sludge process configurations, operating under different environmental and process conditions. In order to include a wide sample of environmental conditions, data on atmospheric pressure, wastewater temperature, air temperature, and relative humidity (for average, warmest, and coldest months) were collected from municipal wastewater treatment plants located at different latitudes and elevations. The results confirm that elevation is a driver against the selection of diffused aeration technologies. Aeration costs for aerobic wastewater treatment are highly influenced by local project conditions, particularly by elevation and wastewater temperature, which together influence the driving force for oxygen transfer into water. When the driving force is low, operating costs are high. Recommendations for designing treatment processes effectively, including diffused aeration systems operating at high elevations above sea level, are proposed.
Subject(s)
Waste Disposal, Fluid , Water Purification , Bioreactors , Oxygen , Sewage , WastewaterABSTRACT
In this review, the factors affecting the transfer of oxygen in activated sludge processes using fine-pore diffusers for water resource recovery are critically discussed. In water resource recovery facilities, the energy required for aeration constitutes 50% to 80% of the total energy consumed by the plant. This critical review highlights the use of fine-pore diffuser aeration and emphasizes the significance of accounting for the following factors: diffuser aging and fouling, diffuser layout, diffuser type, selector benefits, local environmental conditions (temperature and atmospheric pressure), influent wastewater variability, dissolved oxygen control systems, and airflow rates. In our review, we were unable to find mathematical models that could be used to develop dynamic α-factor predictions and diffuser fouling predictions. Although the development of a model that considers all the factors that affect oxygen transfer efficiency (OTE) in activated sludge systems would be extremely valuable, the creation of such a model is outside the scope of this review.
Subject(s)
Oxygen/chemistry , Sewage/chemistry , Waste Disposal, Fluid , Diffusion , Wastewater/analysisABSTRACT
Due to the importance of wastewater aeration in meeting treatment requirements and due to its elevated energy intensity, it is important to describe the real nature of an aeration system to improve design and specification, performance prediction, energy consumption, and process sustainability. Because organic loadings drive aeration efficiency to its lowest value when the oxygen demand (energy) is the highest, the implications of considering their dynamic nature on energy costs are of utmost importance. A dynamic model aimed at identifying conservation opportunities is presented. The model developed describes the correlation between the COD concentration and the α factor in activated sludge. Using the proposed model, the aeration efficiency is calculated as a function of the organic loading (i.e. COD). This results in predictions of oxygen transfer values that are more realistic than the traditional method of assuming constant α values. The model was applied to two water resource recovery facilities, and was calibrated and validated with time-sensitive databases. Our improved aeration model structure increases the quality of prediction of field data through the recognition of the dynamic nature of the alpha factor (α) as a function of the applied oxygen demand. For the cases presented herein, the model prediction of airflow improved by 20-35% when dynamic α is used. The proposed model offers a quantitative tool for the prediction of energy demand and for minimizing aeration design uncertainty.
Subject(s)
Oxygen/chemistry , Wastewater , Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis , Sewage , Waste Disposal, FluidABSTRACT
Over the seasonal cycles, the mean cell retention time (MCRT) of the activated sludge process is varied to compensate the wastewater temperature variations. The effects of these variations on the carbon footprint (CFP) and effluent quality index (EQI) of a conventional activated sludge (CAS) process and a nitrification/denitrification (NDN) process were quantified. The carbon emission included both biogenic and non-biogenic carbon. Carbon emissions of wasted biosolids management were also addressed. Our results confirmed that the effluent quality indicated by EQI was not necessarily improved by increasing MCRT. Higher MCRT increased the carbon emission and reduced excess sludge production, which decreased the potential for biogas energy recovery. The NDN process was preferable to the CAS process from the perspective of effluent quality. This consideration extended to the whole plant CFP if the N2O emitted during NDN was limited ([N2O]<1% [NH4(+)]removed) as the carbon emission per unit effluent quality achieved by NDN process is less than that of the CAS process. By putting forward carbon emission intensity (γ) derived from CFP and EQI, our work provides a quantitative tool for decision makers evaluating process alternatives when there is a trade-off between carbon emission and effluent quality.
ABSTRACT
Explica en que consisten los modelos dinámicos y presenta casos reales de su aplicación en ingeniería sanitaria y ambiental. En los últimos años se ha observado un progreso en el desarrollo de modelos de computación para simular el comportamiento de plantas depuradoras de líquidos cloacales. El uso de los modelos dinámicos es cada vez más común en el diseño, optimización y control de sistemas de depuración
Subject(s)
Water Purification , Treatment Plants , Computer Systems , Process OptimizationABSTRACT
Explica en que consisten los modelos dinámicos y presenta casos reales de su aplicación en ingeniería sanitaria y ambiental. En los últimos años se ha observado un progreso en el desarrollo de modelos de computación para simular el comportamiento de plantas depuradoras de líquidos cloacales. El uso de los modelos dinámicos es cada vez más común en el diseño, optimización y control de sistemas de depuración
Subject(s)
Treatment Plants , Process Optimization , Computer Systems , Water PurificationABSTRACT
Se describe las mejoras introducidas en la planta principal de Toronto-Canadá, para el tratamiento de lodos activados, es la mayor del país. Consigna la historia, las mejoras y los resultados obtenidos
