Achieving low effluent NO3-N and TN concentrations in low influent chemical oxygen demand (COD) to total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) ratio without using external carbon source

Two mathematical models were used to optimize the performance of a full-scale biological nutrient removal(BNR) activated treatment plant, a plug-flow bioreactors operated in a 3-stage phoredox process configuration, anaerobic anoxic oxic(A2 /O). The ASM2 d implemented on the platform of WEST2011 software and the Bio Win activated sludge/anaerobic digestion(AS/AD) models were used in this study with the aim of consistently achieving the designed effluent criteria at a low operational cost. Four ASM2 d parameters(the reduction factor for denitrification(η NO3, H), the maximum growth rate of heterotrophs( μ H), the rate constant for stored polyphosphates in PAOs(q pp), and the hydrolysis rate constant(k h)) were adjusted. Whereas three Bio Win parameters(aerobic decay rate(b H), heterotrophic dissolved oxygen(DO) half saturation(K OA), and Y P /acetic) were adjusted. Calibration of the two models was successful; both models have average relative deviations(ARD) less than 10% for all the output variables. Low effluent concentrations of nitrate nitrogen(N-NO3), total nitrogen(TN), and total phosphorus(TP) were achieved in a full-scale BNR treatment plant having low influent chemical oxygen demand(COD) to total Kjeldahl nitrogen(TKN) ratio(COD/TKN). The effluent total nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen concentrations were improved by 50% and energy consumption was reduced by approximately 25%, which was accomplished by converting the two-pass aerobic compartment of the plug-flow bioreactor to anoxic reactors and being operated in an alternating mode. Findings in this work are helpful in improving the operation of wastewater treatment plant while eliminating the cost of external carbon source and reducing energy consumption.     

Evaluation and improvement of wastewater treatment plant performance using BioWin

In this study,the activated sludge model implemented in the BioWin software was validated against full-scale wastewater treatment plant data. Only two stoichiometric parameters(Y p /acetic and the heterotrophic yield(Y H)) required calibration. The value 0.42 was used for Yp /acetic in this study,while the default value of the BioWin software is 0.49,making it comparable with the default values of the corresponding parameter(yield of phosphorus release to substrate uptake(YPO4)) used in ASM2,ASM2 d,and ASM3 P,respectively. Three scenarios were evaluated to improve the performance of the wastewater treatment plant,the possibility of wasting sludge from either the aeration tank or the secondary clarifier,the construction of a new oxidation ditch,and the construction of an equalization tank. The results suggest that construction of a new oxidation ditch or an equalization tank for the wastewater treatment plant is not necessary. However,sludge should be wasted from the aeration tank during wet weather to reduce the solids loading of the clarifiers and avoid effluent violations. Therefore,it is recommended that the design of wastewater treatment plants(WWTPs) should include flexibility to operate the plants in various modes. This is helpful in selection of the appropriate operating mode when necessary,resulting in substantial reductions in operating costs.