Technical Bulletin 128

Basic Aeration Design

Calculations

by:

Environmental Dynamics
Dyna s International
Published: 1/2017
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Technical Bulletin 128BasicBasic

Aerationration
Design Calculations
Design Calculations
Revisedevised
September 9,
September2013
9, 2013
Copyright Environmental Dynamics International 2017 All Rights Reserved
1 Environmental Dynamics International
 TECHNICAL BULLETIN 128 BASIC AERATION DESIGN
CALCULATIONS

Aeration requirements
requirements are
areusually
usuallydeveloped
evelopedfrom
developed frombasic process
basic processdesign data
design applicable
data devel toedeach
developed at each
site.
site. We
Air have providedare
requirements common air calculations
most co in the as
monly developed examples
follows: below.

Example Number 1

Known data:

Population: 3,000
Typical domestic
1. Population of 3wastewater
0 persons
Allow 0.2 lb BOD/person per day (0.0972 kg/person)
2. Typical domesti wastewater
BOD
Allow 2 lb O2/lb BODerson per day
(2 kg/kg) (0.0972 kg/person)
to accommodate some nitrification when NH3
/lb BOD
B D (2 kg/kg) to accommodate some nitrification when
wh NH
(ammonia) concentration is not known.
(ammonia) not g en.

Oxygen Calculations

Estimated field O2 requirement for extended aeration:

e nded
/day =O2/day = 3000 persons
3000 persons * 0.2 lb BOD/person * 2 lb O2/lb BOD = 1,200 lb O2/day
(0. lb BOD/
(544.32kg/day)

O2 required = /hr
50 (lb O2/hr
.68 kg* O
22.68 kg O2/hr = field or process conditions = AOR

Oxygen Transfer SOTE= 1 % at 10 ft Diffuser Submergence (typical) = SOTE

Oxygen Transfer SOTE = 18% at 10 ft Diffuser Submergence (typical) = SOTE
(5.5% per meter and 3.05 diffuser submergen
(5.5% per meter and 3.05m diffuser submergence)
Note: SOTE increases as air/diffuser is reduced.

Assumed AOR/SOR* = 0.45 (typical correction for clean water efficiency to field
Assumed AOR/SOR* = 0.45 0.4 (typical correction of clean water efficiency to field
efficiency). This value is calculated from site elevation, process, DO level in the
efficiency) This value calc ted from site elevation, process, DO level in tank,
tank, and
temperature, temperature,
density and density of diffusers.

SOR = 50 lb/hr/0.45 = 111.72 lb/hr (50.68 kg O2/hr)

SOR = 50 lb/hr/0.45 = 111 2 lb/hr (50.68 kg O
(0.18) * 0.18
Air = 111.72/1.044 9 = 595 SCFM (942 Nm3/hr)
Note: SCFM = Standard Cubic Foot of Air per Minute. 1 SCFM of air equals 1.584
SCFM equals Sta ard Cubic Foot or Air per Minute
1 scfm ofNm3/hr or approximately
air equals 1.584 m 1.7 Sm3/hr.

*Note: For process calculations of AOR/SOR, see EDIs computerized Design Brief procedures or
Integrated Diffusedcalculations
For process System Analysis Procedures.
of AOR/SOR Calculations
R/SOR see EDIs are available
computerized Designupon
Brief request fromor
procedures
proc dures EDI.
Integrated Diffused System Analys Procedures. Calculations available upon requ st from EDI.

Basic ration Design Calculations

Technical Bulletin 128Basic Aeration Design Calculations
evised September 9, 2013
Revised September 9, 2013
2 Copyright Environmental Dynamics
Environmental International
Dynamics 2017 All Rights Reserved
International
 Example Number 2
onventional activated
Known data: 5 mgd (18 1m
Municipal waste
30mg/l
Conventional
(A activated sludge
onia)
requir ents
Flow 5 mgd (18,931 m3/day) per kilogram o OD)
BOD 250 mg/l
c. % SOTE
SOT = 18% @ 10 ft diffuser submergence (clean water efficiency)
fficiency)
(5.5% p r meter and 3.05 m submergence)
NH3 (ammonia) 30 mg/l
d. Assumed AOR/SOR
A /SOR = 0.45 (typical correction of clean water effefficiency
iency
to field effi ency)
Process O2 requirements
c bonaceous 5 mgd (8.34) 250 mg/l (1.2 lb/lb
o 1.2 lb O2/lb carbonaceous BOD (1.2 kg O2/kg of BOD)
/hr OR (236.5 kg O
o 4.6 lb O2/lb NH3 (4.6 kg O2/kg of ammonia)
o % SOTE = 18% @ 10 ft diffuser submergence (clean water efficiency)
7. SOR = 521.25/0.45 = 58.4 lb O
(5.5% per meter and 3.05 m submergence)
8. Air for Carbonaceous 158.4/1.044 (0.18) = 6165 scfm (9765
o Assumed AOR/SOR = 0.45 (typical correction for clean water efficiency to
for ammonia = 5 m (8.34) 30 mg/l (4.6 lb/lb) = AOR
field efficiency)
a OR = 5754.6 lb/day (2610.3 kg O
b OR = /day = 532.9 lb/hr (241 2 kg O
Oxygen Calculations
10. Air for ammonia = 532 lb/hr/1.044 (0.18) = 2836 scfm (4492 Nm
Process or field O2 for carbonaceous BOD:
Total air = Carbonaceous
Carbonac us + Nitrogenous = 6165 scfm + 2836 scfm = 960
9601
5 mgd * 8.34 * 250 mg/l * 1.2 lb O2/lb BOD = 521.25 lb O2/hr AOR (236.5 kg O2/hr)
SCFM equals Sta ar
SOR = 521.25/0.45 = 1,158.4 lb O2/hr (525.4 kg O2/hr)
1 scfm of air equals 1.584 m
Air for Carbonaceous = 1,158.4/1.044 * 0.18 = 6,165 SCFM (9,765 Nm3/hr)

O2 for ammonia = 5 mgd * 8.34 * 30 mg/l * 4.6 lb O2/lb NH3 = AOR

o AOR = 5,754.6 lb/day (2,610.3 kg O2/day)
o SOR = 5,754.6/0.45 = 12,788 lb O2/day = 532.9 lb/hr (241.72 kg O2/hr)
The calculation of air volumes allowsows confirmation of design including blower sselections.
ctions. For
Integrated
Air Diffused
for ammonia = 532.9
Aeration lb/hr/1.044
Syst * 0.18and
ms Analysis = 2,836 SCFM (4,492
optimization, Nm3/hr)
a more rigorous valuation is
Total air = Carbonaceous + Nitrogenous = 6,165 SCFM + 2,836 SCFM = 9,601
SCFM (16,562 Nm3/day)

Note: SCFM = Standard Cubic Foot of Air per Minute. 1 SCFM of air equals 1.584 Nm3/hr
or approximately 1.7 Sm3/hr.

Calculating air volumes allows confirmation of design and blower selections. For Integrated Diffused
Aeration Systems analysis and optimization, EDI conducts a more rigorous evaluation.

Basic ration Design Calculations

Technical Bulletin 128Basic Aeration Design
evised Calculations
September 9, 2013
Revised September 9, 2013
3 Copyright
Environmental Dynamics
Environmental DynamicsInternational 2017 All Rights Reserved
Internationa