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Improving the nitrogen removal efficiency of an A2/O based WWTP by using an on-line knowledge based expert system
J A Baeza1, D Gabriel, J Lafuente
1Department d'Enginyeria Química, ETSE, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain. juanantonio.baeza@uab.es
Water Research
|July 3, 2002
Summary
An expert system enhanced nutrient removal in wastewater treatment. The advanced control system optimized nitrogen reduction by 11% with minimal energy use.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Engineering
- Wastewater Treatment Technologies
- Process Control
Background:
- Activated sludge processes are crucial for wastewater treatment.
- Nutrient removal, particularly nitrogen, is a key challenge in wastewater management.
- Optimizing operational strategies is essential for efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To implement and evaluate an expert system for controlling an activated sludge process.
- To minimize nitrogen levels in the effluent while reducing energy consumption.
- To develop and test a novel distributed control system for nutrient removal.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an Anaerobic/Anoxic/Oxic (A2/O) pilot plant scheme.
- Developed a specialized distributed control system supervised by a Knowledge Based Expert System (KBES) using G2.
- Conducted experiments with variable loads and flow-rates to assess system performance.
Main Results:
- Achieved an 11% increase in nitrogen removal compared to standard operations.
- Reduced total nitrogen and ammonium nitrogen in the effluent by 49% and 64%, respectively.
- Demonstrated significant improvements in treatment efficiency with minimal energy expenditure.
Conclusions:
- The developed expert system effectively controls activated sludge processes for enhanced nutrient removal.
- Real-time implementation of operating rules optimizes plant performance and reduces energy costs.
- The A2/O scheme integrated with KBES offers a promising approach for efficient wastewater treatment.