The application of model predictive control of ammonia nitrogen in an activated sludge process

In this paper a model predictive controller (MPC) for ammonia nitrogen is presented and evaluated in a real activated sludge process. A reduced nonlinear mathematical model based on mass balances is used to model the ammonia nitrogen in the activated sludge plant. An MPC algorithm that minimises only the control error at the end of the prediction interval is applied. The results of the ammonia MPC were compared with the results of the ammonia feedforward-PI and ammonia PI controllers from our previous study. The ammonia MPC and ammonia feedforward-PI controller give better results in terms of ammonia removal and aeration energy consumption than the ammonia PI controller because of the measurable disturbances used. On the other hand, with the ammonia MPC, comparable or even slightly poorer results than with the ammonia feedforward-PI controller are obtained. Further improvements to the MPC could be possible with an improved accuracy of the nonlinear reduced model of the ammonia nitrogen, more sophisticated control criteria used inside the controller and the extension of the problem from univariable ammonia to multivariable total nitrogen control.     

Integration of performance,molecular biology and modeling to describe the activated sludge process

To study process performance and population dynamics in activated sludge, a pilot-scale Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) was installed in a municipal wastewater treatment plant (Aubergenville, France). Since no solids losses occur in the MBR effluent, the sludge residence time (SRT) can be: i) easily controlled by means of the sludge withdrawal, and ii) dissociated from the hydraulic residence time (HRT). A complete characterization of this activated sludge system was performed at three sludge ages (5, 10 and 20 days). Raw and treated wastewater quality, as well as sludge concentration, was analyzed, nucleic probe analysts was performed to determine the heterotrophic and nitrifier populations, and the results were compared to the output from a multispecies model that integrates substrate removal kinetics and soluble microbial products (SMP) production/consumption. This paper presents an integrated analysis of the activated sludge process based on chemical, molecular biology, and mathematical tools. The model was able to describe the MBR system with a high degree of accuracy, in terms of COD removal and nitrification, as well as sludge production and population dynamics through the ratio of active nitrifters/bacteria. Both steady-state and transient conditions could be described accurately by the model, except for technical problems or sudden variations in the wastewater composition.     

Improving oxygen concentration control in activated sludge process with estimation of respiration and scheduling control.

The paper presents an efficient and simple model-based method of on-line estimation of respiration from the current values of dissolved oxygen concentration and airflow signals. Fast estimation of respiration is important because respiration appears as the most important disturbance signal in the control of dissolved oxygen concentration, and could therefore be used for improving control efficiency. A parameter scheduling PI (proportional and integral) control scheme is proposed, where the estimated respiration signal is used for scheduling of the PI controller parameters, by using local linearization of the process dynamics. The performance of the scheduling controller is compared to a conventional PI controller in simulation using the COST simulation benchmark, and experimentally on an activated sludge process pilot plant.     

A comparison between model and rule based control of a periodic activated sludge process

Two strategies for control of nitrogen removal in an alternating activated sludge plant are compared. One is based on simple model predictions determining the cycle length at the beginning of each cycle. The other is based on simple rules relating present ammonia and nitrate concentrations. Both strategies are close in efficiency measured as effluent total (inorganic) nitrogen and both perform better than using fixed phase lengths for a test scenario describing a typical dry weather diurnal variation. After modifying the criterion functions of the rule based strategy the two strategies are found to produce equivalent controls, which means that the optimal criteria of the model based strategy can be fulfilled without the need for model predictions.     

循环式活性污泥法工程设计方法探讨

分析了CASS与CAST工艺的异同点,指出SBR工艺可以模拟多种不同的连续处理工艺,而CAST可以根据连续流A2/O工艺的设计方法进行设计.通过定义(进水 反应)阶段占每个运行周期的比例(§),引入有效污泥龄与有效水力停留时间的概念,分析了CAST同步硝化反硝化功能对主反应区DO的控制要求及对好氧SRT的影响,推荐采用CAST处理城市污水时使用经验值θc厌∶θc缺∶θc好=1∶2∶17;强调系统生物量的衰减由系统总SRT决定,调整(§)即可调整总污泥龄,并影响总产率系数.最后,给出了设计步骤和计算实例.当采用平均日流量设计时,建议采用较长的运行周期(6 h),便于在峰值流量时增加周期数,以保持CAST运行的灵活性.     

Molecular microbial ecology of nitrification in an activated sludge process treating refinery wastewater

The diversity of autotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) of the b-subdivision of the class Proteobacteria was investigated in a laboratory-scale denitrification-nitrification bioreactor (DNB) treating a synthetic waste stream. 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequences were amplified from DNA extracted from the oxic DNB sludge. Comparative analysis of the rRNA sequences revealed considerable diversity among the AOB-like sequences. The majority of sequences recovered were related to Nitrosomonas spp. but a smaller number of Nitrosospira-like sequences were obtained. Since different AOB may have different kinetic properties the high diversity of AOB, even in a simple laboratory biotreater treating a simple waste stream, has important implications for the operation of nitrifying wastewater treatment processes.     

Iterative design of a nitrate controller using an external carbon source in an activated sludge process

More stringent effluent and cost requirements are increasing the need for better control of wastewater treatment plants. In an activated sludge process, the nitrogen removal efficiency may be improved by adding an external carbon source. In this paper, automatic control of the nitrate level by regulating external carbon flow is discussed. More specifically, an iterative tuning procedure for the controller is outlined. Iterative controller design schemes aim at tuning high performance controllers of low complexity using closed loop data. The basic strategy used in this paper is an iterative pole placement controller design procedure. The suggested approach is compared with conventional design in a simulation study.     

Treatment of an ECF effluent by combined use of activated sludge and advanced oxidation process.

The combined biological and chemical treatments of the cellulose effluents have been studied aiming to promote a more significant degradation of their recalcitrant compounds and to reduce their toxicity, as compared with the isolated treatments. In this work the effluent from acid stages of the ECF bleaching of Eucalyptus urograndis pulp was treated by using separately activated sludge and UV radiation and its combination. The treatment efficiency was evaluated by colour, total phenol, COD, BOD, UV spectroscopy, molar weight distribution and toxicity. The untreated effluent presented 587 +/- 18 CU, 19.3 +/- 0.6 mg.L(-1) of total phenol, 2246 +/- 137 mgO2.L(-1) of COD and 904 +/- 48 mgO2.L(-1) of BOD. It did not show acute toxicity to Escherichia coli, but presented chronic toxicity to Selenastrum capricornutum (EC50 = 25%). The sludge treatment resulted in a colour increasing of 42% and decreasing of total phenol, COD and BOD of 33%, 64% and 92%, respectively. The UV radiation treatment for 120 min resulted in a decrease of colour, total phenol, BOD and COD of 70%, 43%, 62% and 43%, respectively. The combined treatment promoted an expressive decrease for colour and total phenol. The UV absorption indicated a degradation of the aromatic compounds. The biological treatment did not remove chronic toxicity and after UV radiation treatment, a 10 times improving toxicity was noticed.     

活性污泥工艺模型在计算机模拟中的建立与应用

利用计算机技术模拟活性污泥生化过程是分析研究污水处理工艺的有效手段之一,模拟的有效性取决于采用的动力学模型、工艺模型、沉淀模拟以及模拟计算中的数学分析方法。其中工艺模型反映了工艺特性,是真实工艺在模拟过程中的再现。根据水力学及运行特征,可将现有主要工艺分为单池间歇式、多池间歇式、单向连续式和交替连续式。运用ASM2D动力学模型,对某污水处理厂的UNITANK工艺进行模拟,结果表明,选择的动力学模型和工艺模型是合适的。     

Automatic control for do and pH in the activated sludge process in a coke wastewater treatment plant

The objective of this study is to develop an automatic control system for dissolved oxygen (DO) and pH of the activated sludge process in a coke wastewater treatment plant. A discrete type autotuned proportional-integral (PI) controller using an auto-regressive exogenous (ARX) model as a process model was developed to maintain the DO concentration in aerators by controlling the speed of surface aerators. Also a nonlinear pH controller using the titration curve was used to control the pH of influent wastewater. This control system was tested in a pilot scale plant. During this pilot plant experiment, there was small deviation of pH and the electric power consumption of surface aerators was reduced up to 70% with respect to the full operation when the DO set point was 2 mg/1. For real plant operation with this system, the discrete PI controller showed good tracking for set point change. The electricity saving was more than 40% of the electricity consumption when considering surface aerators. As a result of maintaining the DO constantly at the set point by the automatic control system, the fluctuation of effluent quality was decreased and overall improvement of the effluent water quality was achieved.     

Aerobic granular sludge technology: an alternative to activated sludge?

Laboratory experiments have shown that it is possible to cultivate aerobic granular sludge in sequencing batch reactors. In order to direct future research needs and the critical points for successful implementation at large scale, a full detailed design of a potential application was made. The design was based on the laboratory results, and two variants of a full-scale sewage treatment plant based on Granular sludge Sequencing Batch Reactors (GSBRs) were evaluated. As a reference a conventional treatment plant based on activated sludge technology was designed for the same case. Based on total annual costs both GSBR variants proved to be more attractive than the reference alternative (7-17% lower costs). From a sensitivity analysis it appeared that the GSBR technology was less sensitive to the land price and more sensitive to a rain weather flow (RWF). This means that the GSBR technology becomes more attractive at lower permissible RWF/DWF ratios and higher land prices. The footprint of the GSBR variants was only 25% compared to the reference. However, the GSBR with primary treatment only cannot meet the present effluent standards for municipal wastewater in The Netherlands, mainly because of a too high suspended solids concentration in the effluent. A growing number of sewage treatment plants in the Netherlands are going to be faced with more stringent effluent standards. In general, activated sludge plants will have to be extended with a post treatment step (e.g. sand filtration) or be transformed into Membrane Bioreactors. In this case a GSBR variant with primary treatment as well as post treatment can be an attractive alternative.     

活性污泥法脱氮除磷工艺设计方法探讨

对活性污泥法脱氮除磷工艺的设计方法进行探讨,提出以泥龄为主进行控制,采用活性污泥数学模型与经验方法相结合,并以COD为计量单位,对不同种类有机物进行分类.简述了不同有机物测定方法和设计过程.     

活性污泥数学模型在污水处理中的研究和应用进展

阐述了国际水协会（IWA）推出的活性污泥1号（ASMI）、2号（ASM2）、2D号（ASM2D）、3号（ASM3）模型各自的机理和功能,介绍了ASM数学模型的改进及应用,最后分析讨论了模型研究与应用中存在的问题,并针对以上困难指出了模型在我国的发展前景。     

Theoretical and practical identifiability of a reduced order model in an activated sludge process doing nitrification and denitrification

This paper deals with the structural identifiability and the identification of the parameters of a reduced order model used for control of a single reactor activated sludge process doing nitrification and denitrification. This reduced order model is splitted into two submodels, one 3-dimensional state submodel in aerobic conditions and one 2-dimensional state submodel in anoxic conditions. The identifiability analysis is based on on-line oxygen and nitrate concentrations data. It has been shown that the reduced order model is structurally identifiable. The parameter identification has been carried out by using the simplex method of Neider and Mead. Simulation results performed over a range of six hours (two aerobic/anoxic cycles), show that there exists a good fit between the simulated solution and the actual behavior of a lab scale pilot plant.     

Pre-ozonation in the activated sludge process: fate of nitrogen species

The objective of this research was to include ozonation prior to an activated sludge treatment and investigate the effect on the nitrogen species, their fate and the consequences of this oxidation upon the biomass. Three parallel treatment systems were used: the base system, where feed went directly to the activated sludge reactor, and two others, where the influent was ozonated at two different dosages, 15 and 25 mg/L of influent, prior to the biological reactors. The results from the ozonation chamber show a high oxidation capacity of the entering ammonia and organic nitrogen, proportional to the ozone dose. The oxidation product was nitrate. No de-nitrification was expected because a high oxygen concentration (4 mg/L) was maintained in the reactors. The reactors receiving ozonated influent showed a lower assimilation of nitrogen by the biomass. The sludge nitrogen content resulted in 11, 9.3 and 7.4% dry-weight corresponding to no-ozone, low ozone and high ozone dosages, respectively. In spite of the lower ammonia available in the ozonated flows, the corresponding reactors showed a higher specific nitrification rate. The ozonated system also performed better in terms of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) removals, besides showing a higher true biomass yield coefficient.     

烟酸对毛纺废水活性污泥处理系统的影响

烟酸是合成辅酶的原料,也是许多微生物生长所必需的维生素之一。以静态试验得出的烟酸最佳投加浓度为依据,采用连续流的实际毛纺废水活性污泥试验及对照系统,进行连续投加烟酸的试验,维持曝气系统内烟酸浓度1mg/L。在16d的投加期间,投加组的平均CODCr去除率为对照组的1.3倍,活性污泥平均总脱氢酶活性和平均内源呼吸脱氢酶活性分别为对照组的1.34倍和1.44倍。     

Fundamental nonlinearities of the reactor-settler interaction in the activated sludge process

The activated sludge process can be modelled by ordinary and partial differential equations for the biological reactors and secondary settlers, respectively. Because of the complexity of such a system, simulation models are most often used to investigate them. However, simulation models cannot give general rules on how to control a complex nonlinear process. For a reduced-order model with only two components, soluble substrate and particulate biomass, general results on steady-state solutions have recently been obtained, such as existence, uniqueness and stability of solutions. The aim of the present paper is to utilize those results to formulate some implications of practical importance. In particular, strategies are described for the manual control of the effluent substrate concentration subject to the constraint that the settler is maintained in normal operation (with a sludge blanket in the thickening zone) in steady state. Such strategies contain how the two control parameters, the recycle and waste volumetric flow ratios, should be chosen for any (steady-state) values of the input variables.     

活性污泥法的工艺参数控制(下)

2 污泥沉降比(SV30) 2.1 理论定义及实际应用上的理解 SV30是指曝气池混合液在量筒静止沉降30 min后污泥所占的百分体积.     

活性污泥法的工艺参数控制(上)

活性污泥法的工艺控制是通过各工艺参数的控制来实现的,有些运行参数的控制要求还因污水处理要求和运行模式而异.只有正确理解各运行参数的涵义,了解不同工艺及相同工艺下不同运行模式的控制要求,才能通过科学管理控制好工艺运行状态,使处理系统高效低耗地运行.主要介绍了活性污泥法的工艺运行参数在实际应用中的理解和控制方法,阐述了一些书面定义和观点与实际应用时情况不相符的原因,提出了各控制参数与其他因素的关系及相关方面的一些综合分析思路,以期对运行管理有一定的参考作用.     

Phosphorus and polyhydroxyalkanoates variation in a combined process with activated sludge and biofilm

This study investigates variations of phosphorus and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) in a combined activated sludge - biofilm process, operating under various sludge retention times (5, 10 and 15 days) and different dissolved oxygen conditions (0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/l in aerobic stage). Experimental results indicate that phosphorus uptake closely corresponds to utilization of PHAs during anoxic and aerobic stages. Moreover, the sludge in the anoxic stage exhibits a higher PHAs utilization efficiency with respect to phosphorus uptake than sludge in the aerobic stage, when it is under low COD-SS loading conditions. The values of r_P/PHA, representing sludge capacity on phosphorus uptake, range from 0.1–1.0 mg P/mg PHAs. In addition, analyzing the distribution of 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB), 3-hydroxy-2-methylbutyrate (3H2MB), 3hydroxyvalerate (3HV) and 3-hydroxy-2-methylvalerate (3H2MV) reveals that 3HB and 3HV are the major components of PHAs. The values of 3HB/PHAs and 3HV/PHAs vary with COD-SS loading of the process. When F/M ratio increases, 3HV/PHAs value increases and 3HB/PHAs value decreases simultaneously. This phenomenon implies that more bacteria accumulated 3HV as storage matter under high COD-SS loading conditions. The kind of bacteria population shift would intensify the competition of “G bacteria” with polyphosphate accumulating organisms, possibly causing process deterioration during phosphorus removal.