Jean-Luc Vasel

Modeling and numerical simulation of secondary settlers: a Method of Lines strategy.

In this paper, attention is focused on a parabolic partial differential equation (PDE) modeling sedimentation in a secondary settler and the proper formulation of the problem boundary conditions (i.e., the conditions prevailing at the feed, clear water and sludge outlets). The presence of a diffusion term in the equation not only allows the reproduction of experimental observations, as reported in a number of works, but also makes the numerical solution of the initial-boundary value problem significantly easier than the original conservation law (which is a nonlinear hyperbolic PDE problem requiring advanced numerical techniques). A Method of Lines (MOL) solution strategy is then proposed, based on the use of finite differences or spectral methods, and on readily available time integrators. The efficiency and flexibility of the general procedure are demonstrated with various numerical simulation results.

Removal kinetic of Escherichia coli and enterococci in a laboratory pilot scale wastewater maturation pond

During the last 15 years several authors studied the disinfection in waste stabilisation pond (WSP) and several empirical models were developed. There are huge differences between the models describing this process and there is really a need to improve the design of ponds for better disinfection. This paper addresses the Escherichia coli and enterococci disinfection in a laboratory pilot scale maturation pond (1.5 l) with light intensity (0, 12 and 25 W/m(2)) under controlled pH, temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) conditions. The aim of this study is to improve modelling for a better design of disinfection in maturation ponds (MP) and to identify the key parameters influencing the process. It was found that kinetic coefficients K values for E. coli and enterococci are closely dependent on physicochemical parameters. K values increase with increasing pH, I, T and DO. E. coli disinfection depends closely on the pH and the DO and increases strongly when the pH is above 8.5. The enterococci disinfection depends essentially on DO. Two equations are suggested to calculate the kinetic coefficient K related to the environmental average state variables.

Sludge accumulation in shallow maturation ponds treating UASB reactor effluent: results after 11 years of operation

Polishing ponds are natural systems used for the post-treatment of upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) effluents. They are designed as maturation ponds and their main goal is the removal of pathogens and nitrogen and an additional removal of residual organic matter from the UASB reactor. This study aimed to evaluate organic matter and suspended solids removal as well as sludge accumulation in two shallow polishing ponds in series treating sanitary effluent from a UASB reactor with a population equivalent of 200 inhabitants in Brazil, operating since 2002. For this evaluation, long-term monitoring of biochemical oxygen demand and total suspended solids and bathymetric surveys have been undertaken. The ponds showed an irregular distribution of total solids mass in the sludge layer of the two ponds, with mean accumulation values of 0.020 m(3) person(-1) year(-1) and 0.004 m(3) person(-1) year(-1) in Ponds 1 and 2, leading to around 40% and 8% of the liquid volume occupied by the sediments after 11 years of operation. The first pond showed better efficiency in relation to organic matter removal, although its contribution was limited, due to algal growth. No simple input-output mass balance of solids can be applied to the ponds due to algal growth in the liquid phase and sludge digestion in the sludge.

Simulation of a membrane bioreactor pilot treating old landfill leachates with activated sludge model No. 1 and No. 3

Activated sludge model No. 1 (ASM1) and activated sludge model No. 3 (ASM3) can simulate correctly the behaviour of a pilot membrane bioreactor treating old landfill leachates. Both models show similar results, which are consistent with measured data. In this work, a simplified calibration procedure is applied including hydrodynamic and oxygen transfer characterization. The wastewater characterisation was based on a physical–chemical method combined with a BOD analysis for the COD fractions and on standard analysis for nitrogen forms. Default parameters were used for both models; despite this, good simulations were obtained showing the flexibility and accuracy of the well-achieved ASM family models. The sensibility analysis performed allows identification of the most important kinetic, stoichiometric and operational parameters that should be measured to confirm or replace default values. In this specific case, the simulation is most sensitive to heterotrophic yield, particularly under anoxic conditions.

Removal of E. coli and enterococci in maturation pond and kinetic modelling under sunlight conditions

AbstractBacteria, including pathogenic microorganisms are very sensitive to sunlight (solar ultraviolet radiation (UV)). Light stimulates algal photosynthesis; algae consume rapidly carbon dioxide, release oxygen and increase the pH of the water. Under high pH conditions, UV radiations are responsible for the elimination of pathogens. The aim of this study is to improve the modelling for a better design of disinfection in maturation ponds (MPs) and to identify the key parameters influencing the process. This paper addresses Escherichia coli and enterococci disinfection in a full-scale MP under Tunisian conditions. The evolution of wastewater temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH were continuously recorded using probes. The initial bacterial wastewater concentration before disinfection testing lies in the range 106–107 and 104–106 CFU/100 ml, E. coli and enterococci, respectively. Kinetic coefficients are determined on the basis of the first-order kinetic. Significant relationships between variables were de...

Field application of a planted fixed bed reactor (PFR) for support media and rhizosphere investigation using undisturbed samples from full-scale constructed wetlands

This study presents a novel method for investigations on undisturbed samples from full-scale horizontal subsurface-flow constructed wetlands (HSSFCW). The planted fixed bed reactor (PFR), developed at the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research (UFZ), is a universal test unit for planted soil filters that reproduces the operational conditions of a constructed wetland (CW) system in laboratory scale. The present research proposes modifications on the PFR original configuration in order to allow its operation in field conditions. A mobile device to obtain undisturbed samples from real-scale HSSFCW was also developed. The experimental setting is presented with two possible operational configurations. The first allows the removal and replacement of undisturbed samples in the CW bed for laboratory investigations, guaranteeing sample integrity with a mobile device. The second allows the continuous operation of the PFR and undisturbed samples as a fraction of the support media, reproducing the same environmental conditions outside the real-scale system. Investigations on the hydrodynamics of the adapted PFR were carried out with saline tracer tests, validating the proposed adaptation. Six adapted PFR units were installed next to full-scale HSSFCW beds and fed with interstitial liquid pumped from two regions of planted and unplanted support media. Fourteen points were monitored along the system, covering carbon fractions, nitrogen and sulfate. The results indicate the method as a promising tool for investigations on CW support media, rhizosphere and open space for studies on CW modeling, respirometry, kinetic parameters, microbial communities, redox potential and plant influence on HSSFCW.

Performance comparison between two equal stabilization ponds operating with and without sludge layer.

Stabilization ponds are a highly appropriate system for treating sewage in small to medium size communities. However, sludge accumulation at the pond bottom occurs with the passage of time, reducing the net pond volume, which, in principle, could affect its performance. The objective of this paper is to compare the behaviour of two equal ponds in parallel treating the same flow of municipal wastewater from an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor in Brazil. Each pond treated a population equivalent of around 125 inhabitants. One pond had approximately 40% of its net volume occupied by sludge after 11 years of operation, while the other pond had previously undergone complete desludging. The study covers the removal of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), suspended solids (SS), nitrogen fractions and coliforms. Owing to the presence of a sludge layer, the theoretical hydraulic retention time (HRT) was lower in the pond without sludge. For BOD, COD, SS and Escherichia coli there were no significant differences (Wilcoxon matched-pairs test) between both ponds. The pond without sludge had significantly better removal efficiencies in terms of total Kjeldahl nitrogen and ammonia-N. The sludge layer probably allowed the occurrence of removal mechanisms that compensated for the reduction caused in the HRT.

Development of a simple model for anaerobic digestion based on preliminary measurements of the bacterial sulphur activity in wastewater stabilization ponds

The present study was undertaken to develop a simple and practical model for anaerobic digestion, encompassing sulphate reduction and sulphur oxidation, in a waste stabilization pond. The basic microbiological phases of the model consisted of four processes, namely acidogenesis, methanogenesis, sulphate reduction and sulphur oxidation. It also incorporated multiple reaction stoichiometry and substrate utilization kinetics. The study also aimed to investigate the mutual interaction between sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and photosynthetic sulphur bacteria (PSB) in an anaerobic sludge consortia using batch reactors. The results revealed that for an initial concentration of sulphate ranging between 250 and 2800 mg.l−1, SRB activity ranged between 20 and . The gVSS−1.d−1 and PSB activity varied between 60 and .gVSS−1.d−1, and PSB activity was noted to be twice as high as that of SRB. PSB can, therefore, be used effectively in the fight against odors. The most important environmental factors affecting the sulphur cycle in the waste stabilization pond were likely to be the availability of sulphate and light for SRB and PSB, respectively.

Robust control of the activated sludge process

In this work, a robust control strategy is proposed for maintaining the oxygen concentration in the aerobic tank and the pollutant, i.e., ammonium, nitrate, nitrite, concentrations at acceptable levels in the effluent water at the outlet of the activated sludge process. To this end, the Activated Sludge Model no. 1 (ASM1) is first reduced using biological arguments and a singular perturbation method, and a simplified model of the secondary settler is included. In contrast with previous studies that make use of piecewise linear models, an average operating point is evaluated using available data (here data from the COST Action 624) and the reduced‐order model is linearized around it using standard techniques. Finally, a H2 robust control strategy acting on the oxygen injection and the recirculated flow rate is designed and tested in simulation.

Classical models of secondary settlers revisited

Secondary settlers, which ensure the separation of the activated sludge from the treated effluent, are described by distributed parameter models taking temporal and spatial variations into account. Over the years, a number of mathematical models have been proposed, including Kynch, Takacs and Hamilton models. The objective of this study is threefold: ( a ) to highlight the influence of the model formulation on the numerical solution procedure, ( b ) to propose a modified expression of the settling velocity, which avoids sharp spatial variations reported in the literature, and ( c ) to develop a numerical solution procedure following a method of lines strategy rather than the classical “tanks-in-series” approach.