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Optimal aeration control in a nitrifying activated sludge process.

L Amand1, B Carlsson

  • 1IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, P.O. Box 210 60, 100 31 Stockholm, Sweden. linda.amand@ivl.se

Water Research
|February 21, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Controlling aeration in activated sludge processes can save energy. This study shows that allowing some variation in effluent ammonium levels, rather than strictly controlling them, optimizes aeration efficiency and reduces energy use.

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Engineering
  • Wastewater Treatment
  • Process Control

Background:

  • Aeration is a significant energy consumer in activated sludge wastewater treatment.
  • Dissolved oxygen levels directly impact treatment efficiency and effluent quality.
  • Effluent criteria, particularly nitrogen limits defined over long periods, influence optimal control strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate energy-efficient aeration control strategies for activated sludge processes.
  • To explore how to meet long-term average effluent nitrogen criteria while minimizing energy consumption.
  • To determine the impact of suppressing effluent ammonium concentration variations on energy use.

Main Methods:

  • Simulations using the Benchmark Simulation Model No. 1.
  • Optimization of the oxygen transfer coefficient (K(L)a) with constraints on average daily ammonium concentration.
  • Comparison of optimized control with constant dissolved oxygen and supervisory ammonium control.

Main Results:

  • Energy consumption can be optimized by allowing effluent ammonium concentration to vary around a target average.
  • Optimal control involves a peak-to-peak oxygen amplitude range of 0.7–1.8 mg/l, depending on influent variations.
  • Air flow requirements are reduced by 1–4% compared to constant dissolved oxygen set-points.

Conclusions:

  • Tolerating controlled variations in effluent ammonium concentration leads to significant energy savings in aeration.
  • Slow feedback control of ammonium is effective for achieving energy optimization.
  • Optimal aeration control can reduce energy demand by up to 14% compared to fast feedback control.