A realistic dynamic blower energy consumption model for wastewater applications

Area of Science:

• Environmental Engineering
• Wastewater Treatment Technologies
• Energy Management in Industrial Processes

Background:

• Aeration is the primary energy consumer in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs).
• Existing process models lack sufficient detail for accurate energy production prediction and global WWTP optimization.
• Accurate energy consumption assessment is crucial for WWTP optimization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and demonstrate a new dynamic model for predicting aeration energy costs in activated sludge systems.
• To improve the accuracy of energy consumption prediction compared to current average power consumption models.
• To enable better multi-criteria optimization for minimizing energy consumption in WWTPs.

Main Methods:

• Development of a new dynamic model for aeration energy prediction in activated sludge systems with submerged diffusers and blowers.
• Model calibration and application to a real-world WWTP (Mekolalde, Spain).
• Comparison of the dynamic model's predictions against constant average power consumption models.

Main Results:

• The new dynamic model accurately predicts real energy consumption by blowers.
• The model captures energy consumption trends more effectively than existing models.
• Enhanced prediction of energy peak demand, which significantly influences energy pricing.

Conclusions:

• The developed dynamic model provides a more accurate prediction of aeration energy costs.
• This enhanced prediction capability supports better energy management and cost optimization in WWTPs.
• The dynamic model is highly recommended for multi-criteria optimization aiming to minimize energy consumption.