Extended activated sludge model no. 1 (ASM1) for simulating biodegradation process using bacterial technology

Phosphorus is one of the most important nutrients required to support various kinds of biodegradation processes. As this particular nutrient is not included in the activated sludge model no. 1 （ASM1）, this study extended this model in order to determine the fate of phosphorus during the biodegradation processes. When some of the kinetics parameters are modified using observed data from the restoration project of the Xuxi River in Wuxi City, China, from August 25 to 31 in 2009, the extended model shows excellent results. In order to obtain optimum values of coefficients of nitrogen and phosphorus, the mass fraction method was used to ensure that the final results were reasonable and practically relevant. The temporal distribution of the data calculated with the extended ASM1 approximates that of the observed data.

An Adaptive Time-Step Backward Differentiation Algorithm to Solve Stiff Ordinary Differential Equations: Application to Solve Activated Sludge Models

A backward differentiation formula (BDF) has been shown to be an effective way to solve a system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) that have some degree of stiffness. However, sometimes, due to high-frequency variations in the external time series of boundary conditions, a small time-step is required to solve the ODE system throughout the entire simulation period, which can lead to a high computational cost, slower response, and need for more memory resources. One possible strategy to overcome this problem is to dynamically adjust the time-step with respect to the system’s stiffness. Therefore, small time-steps can be applied when needed, and larger time-steps can be used when allowable. This paper presents a new algorithm for adjusting the dynamic time-step based on a BDF discretization method. The parameters used to dynamically adjust the size of the time-step can be optimally specified to result in a minimum computation time and reasonable accuracy for a particular case of ODEs. The proposed algorithm was applied to solve the system of ODEs obtained from an activated sludge model (ASM) for biological wastewater treatment processes. The algorithm was tested for various solver parameters, and the optimum set of three adjustable parameters that represented minimum computation time was identified. In addition, the accuracy of the algorithm was evaluated for various sets of solver parameters.

Modification of the activated sludge model for chemical dosage

Full-scale experiments have been carried out to adapt the activated sludge model ASM2d to include the influence of metal dosage （Fe^3＋ and Al^3＋） for phosphorus removal. Phosphorus removal rates, nitrification rates, as well as pH and sludge settling performance, were evaluated as functions of the metal dosages. Furthermore, models relating certain parameters to the dosage of chemicals have been derived. Corresponding parameters in the ASM2d and the secondary settler models, included in the Benchmark Simulation Model No 1 （BSM1）, have been modified to take the metal influence into consideration. Based on the effluent limits and penalty policy of China, an equivalent evaluation method was derived for the total cost assessment. A large number of 300-day steady-state and 14-day open-loop dynamic simulations were performed to demonstrate the difference in behavior between the original and the modified BSM1. The results show that 1） both in low and high mole concentrations, Fe^3＋ addition results in a higher phosphorus removal rate than Al^3＋; 2） the sludge settling velocity will increase due to the metal addition; 3） the respiration rate of the activated sludge is decreased more by the dosage of Al^3＋ than Fe^3＋; 4） the inhibition of Al^3＋ on the nitrification rate is stronger than that of Fe^3＋; 5） the total operating cost will reach the minimum point for smaller dosages of Fe^3＋, but always increase with Al^3＋ addition.

Experimental study on zero excess sludge production process with ozonation unit in MBR process

In order to investigate the influence factors of zero excess activated sludge (EAS) process by ozonation, a 100 L membrane bioreactor coupled with a sludge ozonation unit (MBR-SO) was performed for 80 d without EAS wasting. Some mathematical models were developed to elucidate the relationship between process parameters and the operating effects. It is considered that the sludge lysing ratio (ξ), produced COD per unit mass lysed MLSS (η), observed sludge yield coefficient (Yobs) and intrinsic yield coefficient for COD produced by lysed sludge (Y2) significantly affect the flowrate to ozonation unit (q). When q is 0.0067 times of influent flowrate (Q) and ξ is about 0.72 for each batch ozonation, a relatively stable MLSS concentration of 8168 mg/L and zero Yobs are achieved in the MBR-SO system. The calculation of sludge disintegration number indicates that the high ξ can apparently decrease the sludge amount needed for ozonation. At the same ozone dose, the low input ozone concentration and high flowrate can enhance the sludge lysing effects and a low energy consumption of 0.041 Yuan/m3 wastewater is obtained.

Evaluation of factors influencing soluble microbial product in submerged MBR through hybrid ASM model

In this study,a mathematical model was established to predict the formation of the soluble microbial product(SMP)in a submerged membrane bioreactor.The developed model was calibrated under the reference condition.Simulation results were in good agreement with the measured results under the reference condition.The calibrated model was then used in the scenario studies to evaluate the effect of three chosen operating parameters:hydraulic retention time(HRT),dissolved oxygen concentration,and sludge retention time(SRT).Simulation results revealed that the SMP dominated the soluble organic substances in the supernatant.The scenario studies also revealed that the HRT can be decreased to 1 h without deteriorating the effluent quality;dissolved oxygen concentration in the reactor can be kept at 2–3 mg/L to maintain the effluent quality,reduce the content of SMP,and minimize operating costs;the optimal SRT can be controlled to 10–15 d to achieve complete nitrification process,less membrane fouling potential,and acceptable organic removal efficiency.

Cost-performance analysis of nutrient removal in a full-scale oxidation ditch process based on kinetic modeling

A full-scale oxidation ditch process for treating sewage was simulated with the ASM2d model and optimized for minimal cost with acceptable performance in terms of ammonium and phosphorus removal. A unified index was introduced by integrating operational costs （aeration energy and sludge production） with effluent violations for performance evaluation. Scenario analysis showed that, in comparison with the baseline （all of the 9 aerators activated）, the strategy of activating 5 aerators could save aeration energy significantly with an ammonium violation below 10%. Sludge discharge scenario analysis showed that a sludge discharge flow of 250- 300 ma/day （solid retention time （SRT）, 13-15 days） was appropriate for the enhancement of phosphorus removal without excessive sludge production. The proposed optimal control strategy was： activating 5 rotating disks operated with a mode of ＂111100100＂ （ ＂1＂ represents activation and ＂0＂ represents inactivation） for aeration and sludge discharge flow of 200 m3/day （SRT, 19 days）. Compared with the baseline, this strategy could achieve ammonium violation below 10% and TP violation below 30% with substantial reduction of aeration energy cost （46%） and minimal increment of sludge production （〈 2%）. This study provides a useful approach for the optimization of process operation and control.

Comparison of conventional and inverted A^2/O processes:Phosphorus release and uptake behaviors

Two full-scale systems operated in parallel, a conventional A2/O system consisting of anaerobic, anoxic and oxic compartments in succession and an inverted system consisting of anoxic, anaerobic and oxic compartments without internal recycle, were compared in terms of their phosphorus removal performance, with an emphasis on phosphate （P） release behaviors, using both operational data and simulation results. The inverted system exhibited better long-term phosphorus removal performance （0.2 ± 0.3 vs. 0.7 ±0.7 mg/L）, which should be attributed to the higher P release rate （0.79 vs. 0.60 kg P/（kg MLSS.day）） in the non-aerated compartments. The P release occurred in both the anoxic and anaerobic compartments of the inverted system, resulting in more efficient P release. Although the abundances of the ＇Candidatus Accumulibacter phosphatis＇ population in the two systems were quite similar （（19.1 ＋ 3.27）% and （18.4 ＋ 4.15）% of the total microbe （DAPI stained particles） population in the inverted and conventional systems, respectively, by fluorescence in situ hybridization （FISH））, the high-concentration DAPI staining results show that the abundances of the whole polyphosphate accumulating organisms （PAOs） in the aerobic ends were quite different （the average ratios of the poly-P granules to total microbes （DAPI stained particles） were （45 ±4.18）% and （35 ± 5.39）%, respectively）. Both the operational data and simulation results showed that the inverted system retained more abundant PAO populations due to its special configuration, which permitted efficient P release in the non-aerated compartment and better P removal,

Simulation of long-term nutrient removal in a full-scale closed-loop bioreactor for sewage treatment： an example of Bayesian inference

In this study, the performance of nitrogen and phosphorus removal in a full-scale closed-loop bioreactor （oxidation ditch） system was simulated using the ASM2d model. Routine data describing the process for two years were compiled for calibration and validation. To overcome the identifiability problem, the classic Bayesian inference approach was utilized for parameter estimation. The calibrated model could describe the long-term trend of nutrient removal and short-term variations of the process performance, showing that the Bayesian method was a reliable and useful tool for the parameter estimation of the activated sludge models. The anoxic phosphate uptake by polyphosphate accumulating organisms （PAO） contributed 71.2% of the total Poly-P storage, which reveals the dominance of denitrifying phosphorus removal process under the oxygen limiting conditions. It was found that 58.7% of the anoxic Poly-P storage and denitrification by PAO in the reactor was achieved in the aerated compartment, implying that the PAO＇s anoxic activity was significantly stimulated by the low dissolved oxygen （DO） level in this compartment due to the oxygen gradient caused by brush aerator.