© Pergamon Wat Sl Tech Vol. 38, No. 8, pp. 93-98, 1999 © 1999 Published by Elsevier Science L1d on behalf of the IAW ‘Printed in Great Britain, All rights reserved (0273-1223/99 $20.00 + 0.00 PIL: $0273-1223(99)00190-0 ACTIVATED SLUDGE SYSTEM MODELLING AND SIMULATIONS FOR IMPROVING THE EFFLUENT WATER QUALITY Chia-Yau Cheng* and Irina Ribarova** $ University of Porto, Faculty of Engineering, 4099 Porto Codex, Portugal “* University of Arch, Civil Eng. and Geodery, 1421 Sofia, Bulgaria ABSTRACT ‘This paper describes the results from a study carried out to investigate the feasibility of upgrading Parada wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) for biological nitogen removal. The biological treatment of Parada ‘WWTP is a conventional activated sludge process. Since 1992 only one of the three available reraton tanks has been used. Activated Sludge Model No.1 was used as a base for modelling of the activated sludge system. To ‘accomplish all the calculations, AQUASIM software was applied. The model was calibrated and verified with data from Parada WWTP operation. Very good correlations between measured data and simulation results were achieved using stoichiometric and kinetic parameter values proposed by the authors of [AWQ Model No. 1. However, characterisation ofthe actual wastewater was necessary. Computer simulations with a verified and extended model were done to study whether the capacity of the ‘weatment plant is enough for biological nitrogen removal. Very high effluent quality can be achieved if the first tank volume is used for denitrification, the second and third tank volumes are used for BOD removal and nitrification, the ecirculatng effluent flow ratio is 1.5 and the sludge age is 15 days. © 1999 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd on behalf of the IAWO. All rights reserved KEYWORDS Activated sludge system; calibration; modelling; nitrogen removal; simulation; verification. NOMENCLATURE BRT sludge age (T), Cin inflow concentration of dissolved inert organic matter (ML”), C_Sin inflow concentration of readily biodegradable substrate (ML”), DegCOD _ fraction of biodegradable COD in total COD in inflow (-), Dissl fraction of dissolved inert COD in total inert COD in inflow (-), Diss. fraction of dissolved biodegradable COD in total biodegradable COD in inflow (-), Q water flow (L'T"), Qin water inflow (L'T"), ss MLSS concentration in the reactor (ML*), SSw waste sludge SS concentration (ML”), T temperature (°C), X tin inflow concentration of particulate inert organic matter (ML"), X_Sin inflow concentration of slowly biodegradable substrate (ML”) 93oa C-Y. CHENG and I, RIBAROVA, INTRODUCTION Almost all of the existing municipal WWTPs in the coastal areas of Portugal and Bulgaria were designed, and have been operated, to reduce only the organic pollutants. In order to prevent eutrophication in coastal water bodies, these treatment plants should be upgraded to remove nutrients as well. For WWTP upgrading, there are always options that can be conveniently studied by computer simulations to make the best decision. Computer simulation requires the following steps: = formulation or selection of an appropriate model, = characterisation of the wastewater and activated sludge, = calibration of the model, - verification of the calibration, - computer simulations with different operating parameters This paper describes our experience in modelling of the activated sludge system in Parada WWTP. The final goal of the research is to assess the feasibility of nitrogen removal, using the existing treatment plant capacity, METHODS, Parada WWTP. Parada WWTP, constructed in 1991, was designed as a conventional activated sludge plant for a population ‘equivalent of 160,000 inhabitants, 18,400 m'/d total average flow and 8,600 kg BOD/d organic load. Three activated sludge aeration tanks with a total volume of 6,600 m are available. Two surface aerators having a total oxygen transfer capacity of 130 kg/h were installed in each one of the aeration tanks. During the operation of the WWTP the actual BOD load was about 2,700 kg/d, lower than the designed value, which determined that only one aeration tank was used. However, starting from early 1998, two tanks have been used in parallel Measuri Experiments were carried out in two stages: first - to collect data for model calibration and second — to collect data for model verification. A short characterisation of these stages is given in Table 1 Table 1. Characterisation of the study stages Stage Period of Number of tanks and Characterisation of the activated sludge processes, time period of operation _ First 14-20.11.97 1 tank in operation Conventional without nitrification, because of the short since 1992 retention time Second 19-25,01.98 2 tanks in operation Conventional without nitrification, because of the short for 2 weeks _operational period The diurnal variations of the primary and secondary effluent COD, as well as oxygen consumption of heterotrophic growth in the reactor, were measured at intervals of two hours during a 36 hour period in the first stage and a 26 hour period in the second stage. For oxygen consumption measurement, activated sludge was transferred from the aeration tank to a batch reactor. After aeration of the sludge, the dissolved oxygen concentration in a closed vessel was registered every minute for a 10 minute period. The oxygen consumption rate was calculated from the oxygen depletion gradient. The COD and BOD measurements of non-filtered and filtered composed samples were used for determination of the degradable, non-degradable, soluble and particulate fractions of the organic pollutants (Henze, 1992)Activated sludge system modelling and simulations 95 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Experimental data The average weekly values of measured data in reactor influent and effluent are presented in Table 2. The calculated parameters, necessary for model calibration and verification, are given in Table 3. Table 2. Average weekly values from Parada WWTP Stage T SS SSw COD. BOD. NH NOs Tnfluent effluent influent effluent influent effluent influent effluent °C mgl_mg/ mg/l mg/l mp/l_—mp/l_—mg/l_— mg/l mg/ml Fit 17.9 2446 4649215 66 ~~=«91 SCO? ASG : : Second 16 1495 381513563 B33 : Li Table 3. Model parameters Stage _DegCOD _Dissl_DissS__ BRT First 0.55 06 017 5 Second 0.75 065 0.17 3.7 tion The Activated Sludge Model No.1 (Henze et al., 1986) was used as a base model. As if neither nitrification nor denitrification occurs in the investigated WWTP, only three biological processes, namely, aerobic growth of heterotrophs, decay of heterotrophs, and hydrolysis of organics are included. To accomplish the calculations, AQUASIM software (Reichert, 1994) was employed and accordingly, the activated sludge system in Parada WWTP was divided into two compartments: reactor and clarifier (Table 4). All the terminology used is according to the AQUASIM package (Reichert, 1994). Table 4. Model compartments Taput Compartment —_Reactor type Volume, m?> Processes Water Fluxes flow Mixed reactor Hydrolysis Clin*Q in Reactor Constant 2200 (1 stage) Growth Qin Sin*Q in volume 4400 (2™ stage) Decay Clarifier Mixed reactor 2800 Sludge removal 0 : Constant volume Advective links were used to describe water flow and advective substance transport between compartments as well as to model bifurcations (Table 5). ‘Table 5. Advective links ‘Compartment Bifurcation eke In out name compartment Fluxes Reactor-Clarifier Reactor Clarifier - ~ = Clarifier-Out Clarifier = recirculation reactor = Q*X_H,Q*X 1, Q*XPQ*X'S96 C-Y. CHENG and I, RIBAROVA, Model calibrat For the first simulation (model calibration), proposed values of the stoichiometric and kinetic parameters of the Activated Sludge Model No.1 were adopted. The values of the coefficients for wastewater characterisation were determined in the experiment described above (Table 3). The simulation result shows very good correlation between measurement and calculation for both respiration rate and effluent dissolved substrate concentration (Figure 1). 1 Fed wae = menue dats 650 110: calculated data a 100° F ss0 90: cs as 10: 450 wo. 8 400: ; 50: pe o 40: » bad 20: 280 10 200 0. -1 08 06 04-02 0 02 04 -1 08 06 04 02 0 02 04 time, 4 time, d Figure |. Simulation results of model calibration. Model verification Values of the coefficients of wastewater characteristics determined in the second stage experiment (Table 3) were introduced for the calculation. The result shows again very good correlation between measurements and calculations for both respiration rate and effluent dissolved substrate concentration (Figure 2). The biomass concentration was used as an additional criterion for the confirmation of the reliability of the model. 130. 120 nao) —— calculated data © eCOD/n* eS8888S8888 1 08 06 04 02 0 time, d Figure 2. Simulation results of model verification, Experience obtained from this treatment plant shows that: 1) characterisation of wastewater is very important and obligatory in modelling of the activated sludge system, and 2) determination of all other stoichiometric and kinetic parameters is not necessary.Activated sludge system modelling and simulations 7 Simulations Since 1992 only one of the three available tanks in Parada WWTP had been used until carly 1998 and, according to the WWTP reports, reduction of organic pollutants to the legally required degree had been achieved, However, nitrogen data are not available (Table 2). Due to the enforcement of new national legislation for water quality control, Parada WWTP must be upgraded in order to meet the discharge standard requirements. In order to assess if the existing available capacity of the treatment plant is enough for this purpose, the verified model was extended to include additional parameters and processes for biological nitrogen removal: anoxic growth of heterotrophs, aerobic growth of autotrophs, decay of autotrophs, ammonification, and hydrolysis of organic nitrogen. On the grounds of the results from the calibration and verification of the conventional process in Parada WWTP, the values of the stoichiometric and kinetic parameters, proposed by the authors of IAWQ Model No.1, were adopted. The simulation results (Figure 3) show that good effluent quality can be obtained if the first aeration tank is used for denitrification, and the others for BOD removal and nitrification, the recirculating flow ratio is 1.5 and the sludge age is 15 days. 20 18 6 4 32 * 10 8 6 4 2 0 0 02 04 06 08 1! 6 02 Of 08 o8 1 ‘ime, ‘ime, d © @ Figure 3, Results of model simulation for effluent concentration (a) dissolved biodegradable substrate (b) dissolved organic nitrogen (c) ammonium nitrogen (4) nitrate nitrogen, CONCLUSIONS Activated Sludge Model No.1 was used as a base for modelling the conventional activated sludge system in Parada WWTP. Very good correlations between measured data and simulation results were achieved usingos C-¥. CHENG and 1. RIBAROVA stoichiometric and kinetic parameters values proposed by the authors of the model. However, the wastewater characterisation must be carried out by laboratory analyses. ‘Computer simulations with verified and extended models show that the existing capacity of Parada WWTP is enough to achieve biological nitrogen removal without further expansion in construction work. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT This study was partly financed by grants from Camoes Institute, Portugal. We greatly appreciate technical support from the Institute of Hydraulics and Hydraulic Resources and the Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto. We also thank the staff of Parada WWTP for their cooperation and indispensable assistance during the research REFERENCES, Gujer, W. and M, Henze (1991), Activated sludge modeling and simulation, Wat, Sci. Tech, 234-6), 1011-1023 Henze, M, Grady C. P. L. Jr, Gujer W., Marais G. V. R, and Matsuo T. (1986). Activated Sludge Mode! No.1. 1AWPRC, Scientific & Technical Reports, 1, London. Henze, M (1992). Characterisation of wastewater fr modelling of activated sludge processes, Wat Sei. Pech, 28(6), 1-15, Reicher, P. (1994). Concepts underiying a Computer Program for the Idenifisation and Simulation of Aquatic Systems EAWAG. ISBN 3-906484-08-4CH-8600 Dubendor, Switeriand