Wyoming Department of

Environmental Quality Division

Lagoon Aeration Theory & Design
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Kevin Rood, P.E., BCEE
Just when you know
the answers, theyre to
the wrong questions
Overview
1) Lagoons in general
2) Decision process to determine if the aerated lagoons
are the right answer
3) Facultative lagoons
4) Partially mixed aerated lagoons
5) Mixed aerated lagoons completely
6) Equipment
7) Questions (at any time)
Community Goals
1) Meet treatment requirements
2) Lowest possible capital costs
3) Lowest possible operating costs
4) Be trouble-free

Lagoons
Surface Water
Discharge
Land Application
Continuous Intermittent
Discharging Non Discharging
Lagoon Systems are a Combination of these Process Types
Storage Facilitative Aerobic Anaerobic
Community Needs
Population
Flows
Loads
Type of waste
Water quality issues
Available land
Size of lagoons
Separation distances
Available stream
Discharge requirement
Distance from the
community
Topography
Geology
Lagoons
Mechanical Plant Available Land
Community
Needs
NO YES
NO
Adequate
Non Discharge
NPDES Permit Required
Lagoons
Mechanical
Plant
Available
Land
Community
Needs
NO
YES NO
Discharge
NO
YES
YES
Continuous Intermittent
Land Application
Evaporation
Retention
Retention
1. Storage = Water Gain Weight Loss
2. Water Gain = Water Loss
Hydraulics problem
Evaluation organic loading
Construction controlled by geology
Design controlled by topography and other physical constraints
Weather
Adequate
Non Discharge
NPDES Permit
Lagoons
Mechanical
Plant
Available
Land
Community
Needs
NO
YES NO
Discharge
NO
YES
YES
Continuous Intermittent
Required
Land Application
Evaporation
Retention
Land Application
Industrial
Manufacturing
Mining
Fracking
Agricultural
Grain Crops
Livestock Food
Silviculture
Wetlands
No discharge to surface water
Catch basins needed
Control application
Sampling and monitoring
Beneficial reuse
Adequate
Non Discharge
NPDES Permit
Lagoons
Mechanical
Plant
Available
Land
Community
Needs
NO
YES NO
Discharge
NO
YES
YES
Continuous Intermittent
Required
Land Application
Evaporation
Retention
Intermittent Discharge to Surface Water
Regulatory issues
Effluent quality
Down stream issues
Sizing control / by influent water
Sampling and monitoring
Adequate
Non Discharge
NPDES Permit
Lagoons
Mechanical
Plant
Available
Land
Community
Needs
NO
YES NO
Discharge
NO
YES
YES
Continuous Intermittent
Required
Land Application
Evaporation
Retention
Continuous Discharge
Sizing control by water quality in and out
Most treatment
Sampling and monitoring
Adequate
Non Discharge
NPDES Permit
Lagoons
Mechanical
Plant
Available
Land
Community
Needs
NO
YES NO
Discharge
NO
YES
YES
Continuous Intermittent
Required
Land Application
Evaporation
Retention
Treatment Storage
Facilitative Aerobic Anaerobic
Natural
With
Air
Adequate
Non Discharge
NPDES Permit
Lagoons
Mechanical
Plant
Available
Land
Community
Needs
NO
YES NO
Discharge
NO
YES
YES
Continuous Intermittent
Required
Land Application
Evaporation
Retention
Storage Treatment
Anaerobic
Without oxygen
High strength waste
Energy recovery
Odor issues
Treatment Storage
Facilitative Aerobic Anaerobic
Natural
With
Air
Adequate
Non Discharge
NPDES Permit
Lagoons
Mechanical
Plant
Available
Land
Community
Needs
NO
YES NO
Discharge
NO
YES
YES
Continuous Intermittent
Required Land Application
Evaporation
Retention
Storage Treatment
Aerobic
With oxygen
Physically smaller
More equipment
Completely mixed
Highest quality effluent
Treatment Storage
Facilitative Aerobic Anaerobic
Natural
With
Air
Adequate
Non Discharge
NPDES Permit
Lagoons
Mechanical
Plant
Available
Land
Community
Needs
NO
YES NO
Discharge
NO
YES
YES
Continuous Intermittent
Required Land Application
Evaporation
Retention
Storage Treatment
Facilitative
Anoxic
Anaerobic
Aerobic
Conventional
Supplemental Air
Partial Mixed
Treatment Storage
Facilitative Aerobic Anaerobic
Natural
With
Air
Adequate
Non Discharge
NPDES Permit
Lagoons
Mechanical
Plant
Available
Land
Community
Needs
NO
YES NO
Discharge
NO
YES
YES
Continuous Intermittent
Required Land Application
Evaporation
Retention
Storage Treatment
Facultative
Preliminary
Treatment
Treatment
Cell #1
Treatment
Cell #2
Storage Cell
Polishing
Cell
* Optional
*
*
Wyoming Requirement
Max Loading 40 lbs/Acre/Day
180 HDT Outfall
The Operation of the Facultative Pond
o2
o2
During daylight hours
Co2
Co2 + NH3 + H2S + CH4
Bottom sludge
Organic wastes
Organic acids
alcohols
H
2
S + 20
2
+ H2S0
4
Algae
Dead Cells
Bacteria
Dead Cells
Wastewater
Reaeration
Sunlight
o2
Wind
C0
2

H2S
New Cells
Nutrients
New Cells
Design Considerations
Solids loading rate to primary cells
Hydraulic detention time
Temperature
Minimize short circuiting
Predominant wind direction
Solids Loading
Models can be used to predict loading rates
Regulatory agency usual sets max. rate
Average Winter
Temperature
lbs/ac/day
Greater than 15 C 40-80
0-15 20-40
Less than 0 10-20
Wyoming Regulations = Max 40 lbs/pc/day
Hydraulic Detention Time
BOD reduction and Coliform reduction are generally modeled
as 1
st
order kinetic

BOD

BOD (eff) = BOD (Inf)
1 + K
e
(T)
T = Time (days)
K
e
= K
20
THETA
(t-20)
K
20
= 0.276 per day
THETA = 1.07 range (1.05 1.09)
95% BOD Removal Days
Temp
Days
Deg C Deg F
5 41 190
10 50 135
15 59 96
20 68 68
25 77 66
Coliform
N
e
= N
i
1 + K
t
(T)
N
i
= Influent Coliforms
N
e
= Effluent Coliforms
K
t
= removal constant per day
T = time days
K
t
= 2.6 (1.19)
(t-20)
t = Temperature C

Hydraulic Detention times range 30-180 days
Wyoming regulation = 180 days
99% Removal in Days
Temp
Days
Deg C Deg F
5 41 521
10 50 216
15 59 90
20 68 38
25 77 16
Treatment
Cell No. 1 Treatment
Cell No. 2
Storage Cell
Polishing Cell
2
Treatment cells: 2 to 6 deep
Storage cell: 6 to 10 deep
Polishing cell: approx. 2 deep
Facultative Lagoon
Seepage
Wyoming limits - 1/8-inch day max
Common 2.6x10
-9
cm/sec/ft depth - approx. 0.1 inch/day
Common - no seepage, use impervious liner
Compacted Soil 95% Standard Proctor, MR O, + 3%
1 ft select cover material
Erosion Control
(RIP RAP)
Impervious Liner
Leak Detection System
Partial Mixed Aerated Lagoon
Satisfy oxygen requirement but not mixing requirements

Wyoming requirements loading for treatment
Cells less than 2 lbs/1000 cft
Minimum D.O. = 2 mg/l
HDT = 7 day for treatment

Storage to provide
30 days overall
HDT

*Optional
Stream
Outfall

Preliminary
Treatment
*****
* * *
Aerated
Cell No. 1
Aerated
Cell No. 2
Storage Cell
Polishing Cell
*
*
Partial Mixed Aerated Lagoon
Upgrade of overloaded lagoons
Reduce the footprint of lagoon to fit specific location
Good for BOD removal less effective in other areas
Add oxygen to shorten treatment time
Mixing and Oxygenation
How much is the question
Complete mix is considered 10-50 Hp/MG
Partial mix is considered 5-15 Hp/MG
Complete mix with air 0.15-0.3 scfm/sft fine bubble
Complete mix with air 0.15-1.0 scfm/sft course bubble
BOD lb needs 1.2-1.5 lbs of oxygen
Lb Ammonia to nitrate needs 4.6 lbs of oxygen
Mechanical aerators 2.5-3.5 lbs of O
2
/hp-hour
Diffused aeration 6.0-6.5 lbs O
2
/hp-hour
Oxygen
1. Flow (mgd) x BOD (mgll) x 8.34 lbs/gal = lbs BOD/Day
2. Flow (mgd) x TKN (mgll) x 8.34 lbs/gal = lbs TKN/Day
Oxygen (lbs/day) = 1.5 (lbs BOD/Day) + 4.6 (lbs TKN/Day)
at 20 C & 1 ATM
Air contains approximately 21% oxygen and weighs
approximately 0.0749 lbs/cft
Oxygen (cont)
Standard oxygen required equal lbs of oxygen to meet
the applied load
Actual oxygen required accounts for temperature,
wastewater characteristic, and dissolved oxygen
residual
AOR = Alpha (SOR (beta x C
sw
C) 1.024
(t-20)
Cs
alpha = oxygen-transfer correction factor
alpha = 0.8-0.85 (surface aerator)
alpha = 0.6-0.65 (diffused aerator)
Beta = salinity correction factor B = 0.9-0.95 Typical
C
SW
= Oxygen saturation for water at temperature & elevation
Cs = oxygen saturation at 20 C and sea level (9.17 mg/l)
C = residual dissolved oxygen
t = temperature in Degrees C
Elev. Cheyenne Wyoming ~ 6,100 ft elevation
Temp.
Solubility
of Oxygen
5 C 41 F 10.2 mg/l
10 C 50 F 9.1 mg/l
15 C 59 F 8.1 mg/l
20 C 68 F 7.3 mg/l
25 C 76 F 6.7 mg/l
Oxygen (cont)
Use corrected lbs of oxygen to mechanical
Use corrected lbs of oxygen to convert to cubic feet of
air per minute at standard condition SCFM
Size blowers based on SCFM corrected for
Temperature
Elevation
Humidity
Corrected conditions call ICFM or inlet
cubic feet per minute
Oxygen (cont)
Wyoming requirements
Surface aerator intervals 200 ft or less
Minimum of two aerators
Transfer oxygen needed with larger unit out of service
Diffused aerator minimum of two blowers
Transfer oxygen needed with largest blower out of service
Treatment
Cell No. 1 Treatment
Cell No. 2
Storage Cell
Polishing Cell
Depth in treatment cells: 4 to 12
Depth in storage cell: 6 to 15
Depth in polishing cell: approx. 2
Partially Mixed Aerated Lagoon
Complete Mixed Aerated Lagoon
Preliminary
Treatment
*****
* * *
Wyoming requirements
Max loading treatment cell No. 1
10 lbs/ BOD /1000 cft
HDT = 1.5 days

Max loading treatment cell No. 2
2lbs BOD/1000 cft
HDT-7days
DO level 2.0 mg/l minimum

Increase storage to 30 days overall
Treatment
Cell No. 1
Treatment
Cell No. 2
Storage Cell
Polishing
Cell
Out Fall
Complete Mix Lagoons
Almost activated sludge
Significant amount of equipment
If we would add a clarifier and return it, it would be
activated sludge
Requires frequent solids removal depending upon the
size of the storage cell
Higher loading
Same oxygen calculations a partial mixing
Complete Mix Lagoon
No sedimentation in process basin
Mixing = 30 50 hp/mg
= 0.15 0.3 scfm/ft
2
fine bubble
= 0.5 1.0 scfm/ft
2
course bubble

Wyoming Requirement
Surface aerator interval 200 ft or less (much less)
Minimum two aerators
Transfer oxygen needed with largest aerator out of service
Diffused aeration minimum of two blowers
Transfer oxygen needed with largest blower out of service
Treatment
Cell No. 1 Treatment
Cell No. 2
Storage Cell
Polishing Cell
Depth in treatment cells: 8 to 18
Depth in storage cell: 8 to 18
Depth in polishing cell: approx. 2
Complete Mixed Aerated Lagoon







EQUIPMENT
Aeration Equipment
Broadly classified into two categories based on location
of operation:
Surface Aerators
Sub-surface Aerators
Parameters used to measure system performance
OTR Oxygen Transfer Rate, lb O2/h
SOTR Standard Oxygen Transfer Rate (OTR @ STP*), lb O2/h
OTE Oxygen Transfer Efficiency, %
SOTE Standard Oxygen Transfer Efficiency (OTE @ STP), %
SAE Standard Aeration Efficiency (AE @ STP), lb O2/KW.h
STP Standard Temperature & Pressure of 70F & 1 atm
Surface Aerators
Surface aerators, as the name indicates, are stationed
(floating or fixed) and operate at the water surface
Types include:
Floating Mechanical Aerators
Aspirators
Reel Type/Paddle Wheel Aerators
Aerators operating on renewable sources are further
classified as:
Solar powered Aerators
Wind powered Aerators
Surface aerators usually tend to have moderate OTRs
and low SAEs
Oxygen transfers rates of 1.5 to 3 lbs O
2
/ Hp-hr

Floating Mechanical Aerators
Uses the principle of
agitation and
turbulence
Uses electrical energy
to create turbulence
Can be moored in
different ways to suit
needs
Floating Mechanical Aerators
Aspirators
Utilizes both air injection and mechanical mixing
Units can be operated to suit the needs:
Angle of mixing and air injection can be changed
Dentrification mode only mechanical mixing
Nitrification mode Both mechanical mixing and air injection
No additional blower(s) required for operation
Can operate effectively during winter
Aspirators
Installation at
Moorhead, MN
Aspirators
Paddle Wheel Aerators
Installation at Austin, TX
Utilizes paddle wheels to agitate the surface of the water
Typically operates at lower speeds compared to other aerators
Induces more horizontal mixing than vertical
Can be installed as floating or fixed units
Paddle Wheel Aerators
Solar Powered Aerators/ Mixers
Utilizes solar power
Water is drawn from the depths and circulated at the surface
For very deep waters (>10ft), multiple pipes/draft tubes may
be used
Installation at Richmond, CA Installation at Guatemala
Solar Powered Aerators
Wind Powered Aerators/ Mixers
Utilizes wind power
Can operate at wind speeds as low as 5 mph
Backup motors can be used during low wind speeds
Installation at Holkham, UK
Wind Powered Aerators
Subsurface Aerators/ Mixers
Subsurface aerators are installed below the water surface
and they operate by forcing/diffusing air bubbles through
the water. Types of subsurface aerators are:
Coarse Bubble Systems
Fine Bubble Systems
Submersible Mechanical Aerators
With the exception of subsurface mechanical aerators, all
subsurface aerators require air blowers, air blowers are
further classified into:
Centrifugal blowers
Positive displacement blowers
Coarse Bubble Systems
Coarse bubble systems use pores/orifices to release air
bubbles in the order of 50 mm (50,000 micron) in size
Offers high OTR and low SAE (2 to 5.5 Kg O
2

/KWh)
Considered low maintenance
Types of coarse bubble systems are:
Air spargers
Broadband diffusers (chicken feeders)
Static tube aerators
Snap cap/permacap aerators
Non-clog diffusers
Coarse Bubble Systems
Static Tube
Aerators
Permacap Diffusers
Broadband
Diffusers
Coarse Bubble Systems
Air Sparger System
Tideflex Diffusers
Coarse Bubble Systems
Fine bubbles are created by passing compressed air
through a porous material (diffusers)or by mechanically
shearing (e.g. Jet Aeration) large air bubbles into smaller
ones
Jet aerators usually have lower SAEs, in the order of 2.6 4 lb O2 /Hp-hr
Fine pore diffusers have higher SAEs, in the order of 8 11 lb O2 /Hp-hr
Fine pore diffusers require periodic cleaning
Based on diffuser geometry, fine bubble diffusers can be
classified into:
Tube Diffusers
Membrane Diffusers
Ceramic Diffusers
Fine Bubble Systems
Biolac process utilizes fine bubble diffusion
Fine Bubble Systems
Fine Bubble Tube Diffuser
Jet Aeration
Fine Bubble
Ceramic Diffuser
Fine Bubble Diffuser Video
Biolac Process
Activated sludge process invented by Parkson co
Required mixing and suspension achieved at 4
CFM/1000 Cu.Ft
Diffusers are suspended above the floor by means
of hanging chains


Biolac Process
Biolac Process
Submersible Mechanical Aerators
Self aspirating
Blower assistance can be provided for deeper
installations
Installation at Groveland, FL Installation at Lake City, TN
Submersible Mechanical Aerators Video
Blowers
All sub surface aerators (except submersible aerators)
require blowers
Blowers are compressors that operate at low pressures
Offer limited turn up or turn down and are energy
hungry
Classified into:
Positive Displacement (PD) Blowers - constant flow, variable
pressure
Centrifugal Blowers constant pressure, variable flow
Smaller plants use PD blowers or centrifugal blowers
Larger plants use centrifugal blowers

Centrifugal Blowers
Newer centrifugal blowers can be throttled using variable
inlet guide vanes and variable outlet diffusers
Have an optimum range and outside of it their efficiency
drops
Single Stage Centrifugal Blower Multi Stage Centrifugal Blower
PD Blowers
Due to mode of operation, PD compression is not as
efficient as centrifugal blowers , but achieve higher
pressures for same air flow
Variable Freq. Drives (VFDs) can be used to vary the flow
With VFDs, flow is proportional to blower rpm
Positive Displacement Blower






QUESTIONS
Thank You
RoodKL@CDMsmith.com
Kevin Rood, P.E., BCEE