L. Rieger

New framework for standardized notation in wastewater treatment modelling.

Many unit process models are available in the field of wastewater treatment. All of these models use their own notation, causing problems for documentation, implementation and connection of different models (using different sets of state variables). The main goal of this paper is to propose a new notational framework which allows unique and systematic naming of state variables and parameters of biokinetic models in the wastewater treatment field. The symbols are based on one main letter that gives a general description of the state variable or parameter and several subscript levels that provide greater specification. Only those levels that make the name unique within the model context are needed in creating the symbol. The paper describes specific problems encountered with the currently used notation, presents the proposed framework and provides additional practical examples. The overall result is a framework that can be used in whole plant modelling, which consists of different fields such as activated sludge, anaerobic digestion, sidestream treatment, membrane bioreactors, metabolic approaches, fate of micropollutants and biofilm processes. The main objective of this consensus building paper is to establish a consistent set of rules that can be applied to existing and most importantly, future models. Applying the proposed notation should make it easier for everyone active in the wastewater treatment field to read, write and review documents describing modelling projects.

Wastewater treatment modelling: dealing with uncertainties

This paper serves as a problem statement of the issues surrounding uncertainty in wastewater treatment modelling. The paper proposes a structure for identifying the sources of uncertainty introduced during each step of an engineering project concerned with model-based design or optimisation of a wastewater treatment system. It briefly references the methods currently used to evaluate prediction accuracy and uncertainty and discusses the relevance of uncertainty evaluations in model applications. The paper aims to raise awareness and initiate a comprehensive discussion among professionals on model prediction accuracy and uncertainty issues. It also aims to identify future research needs. Ultimately the goal of such a discussion would be to generate transparent and objective methods of explicitly evaluating the reliability of model results, before they are implemented in an engineering decision-making context.

Critical review of activated sludge modeling: State of process knowledge, modeling concepts, and limitations

This work critically reviews modeling concepts for standard activated sludge wastewater treatment processes (e.g., hydrolysis, growth and decay of organisms, etc.) for some of the most commonly used models. Based on a short overview on the theoretical biochemistry knowledge this review should help model users to better understand (i) the model concepts used; (ii) the differences between models, and (iii) the limits of the models. The seven analyzed models are: (1) ASM1; (2) ASM2d; (3) ASM3; (4) ASM3 + BioP; (5) ASM2d + TUD; (6) Barker & Dold model; and (7) UCTPHO+. Nine standard processes are distinguished and discussed in the present work: hydrolysis; fermentation; ordinary heterotrophic organisms (OHO) growth; autotrophic nitrifying organisms (ANO) growth; OHO & ANO decay; poly‐hydroxyalkanoates (PHA) storage; polyphosphate (polyP) storage; phosphorus accumulating organisms PAO) growth; and PAO decay. For a structured comparison, a new schematic representation of these processes is proposed. Each process is represented as a reaction with consumed components on the left of the figure and produced components on the right. Standardized icons, based on shapes and color codes, enable the representation of the stoichiometric modeling concepts and kinetics. This representation allows highlighting the conceptual differences of the models, and the level of simplification between the concepts and the theoretical knowledge. The model selection depending on their theoretical limitations and the main research needs to increase the model quality are finally discussed. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2013; 110: 24–46.

A systematic approach for model verification: application on seven published activated sludge models.

The quality of simulation results can be significantly affected by errors in the published model (typing, inconsistencies, gaps or conceptual errors) and/or in the underlying numerical model description. Seven of the most commonly used activated sludge models have been investigated to point out the typing errors, inconsistencies and gaps in the model publications: ASM1; ASM2d; ASM3; ASM3 + Bio-P; ASM2d + TUD; New General; UCTPHO+. A systematic approach to verify models by tracking typing errors and inconsistencies in model development and software implementation is proposed. Then, stoichiometry and kinetic rate expressions are checked for each model and the errors found are reported in detail. An attached spreadsheet (see http://www.iwaponline.com/wst/06104/0898.pdf) provides corrected matrices with the calculations of all stoichiometric coefficients for the discussed biokinetic models and gives an example of proper continuity checks.

Adding realism to simulated sensors and actuators.

In this paper, we propose a statistical theoretical framework for incorporation of sensor and actuator faults in dynamic simulations of wastewater treatment operation. Sensor and actuator faults and failures are often neglected in simulations for control strategy development and testing, although it is well known that they represent a significant obstacle for realising control at full-scale facilities. The framework for incorporating faults and failures is based on Markov chains and displays the appealing property of easy transition of sensor and actuator history into a model for fault generation. The paper briefly describes Markov theory and how this is used together with models for sensor and actuator dynamics to achieve a realistic simulation of measurements and actuators.

Instrumentation, control and automation in wastewater - From London 1973 to Narbonne 2013

Key developments of instrumentation, control and automation (ICA) applications in wastewater systems during the past 40 years are highlighted in this paper. From the first ICA conference in 1973 through to today there has been a tremendous increase in the understanding of the processes, instrumentation, computer systems and control theory. However, many developments have not been addressed here, such as sewer control, drinking water treatment and water distribution control. It is hoped that this review can stimulate new attempts to more effectively apply control and automation in water systems in the coming years.

The difference between energy consumption and energy cost: Modelling energy tariff structures for water resource recovery facilities.

The objective of this paper is to demonstrate the importance of incorporating more realistic energy cost models (based on current energy tariff structures) into existing water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs) process models when evaluating technologies and cost-saving control strategies. In this paper, we first introduce a systematic framework to model energy usage at WRRFs and a generalized structure to describe energy tariffs including the most common billing terms. Secondly, this paper introduces a detailed energy cost model based on a Spanish energy tariff structure coupled with a WRRF process model to evaluate several control strategies and provide insights into the selection of the contracted power structure. The results for a 1-year evaluation on a 115,000 population-equivalent WRRF showed monthly cost differences ranging from 7 to 30% when comparing the detailed energy cost model to an average energy price. The evaluation of different aeration control strategies also showed that using average energy prices and neglecting energy tariff structures may lead to biased conclusions when selecting operating strategies or comparing technologies or equipment. The proposed framework demonstrated that for cost minimization, control strategies should be paired with a specific optimal contracted power. Hence, the design of operational and control strategies must take into account the local energy tariff.

Potential of in-situ sensors with ion-selective electrodes for aeration control at wastewater treatment plants

A pilot-scale activated sludge wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) operated with nitrification and pre-denitrification was monitored with a set of on-line sensors for over 3 years. Wet-chemistry ex-situ analyzers, UV and UV-Visible in-situ sensors and in-situ sensors based on ion-selective electrodes (ISE) were used. New ISE sensors for ammonium, nitrate and nitrite, adapted to water and wastewater matrices, have been released in recent years, With adequate quality control they proved to be highly accurate and reliable in WWTP influents and activated sludge (AS) reactors even at the end of the biological treatment zone, working at low ammonium concentrations (1-2 mgN/l). The ammonium measurement was used to test several feed-forward and feed-back aeration control strategies. The first aim was to keep inorganic nitrogen compounds, i.e. ammonium, nitrate and particularly nitrite, as low as possible in the effluent, and within Swiss national standards (<2.0 mgNH(4)-N/l, <0.3 mgNO(2)-N/l, 24 h average). All the strategies were successful at keeping ammonium low and subsequently at gaining denitrification capacity to significantly reduce the total nitrogen discharge. Some control strategies however generated temporary peaks of ammonium or even accumulation of nitrite.

monEAU: a platform for water quality monitoring networks

Continuous monitoring of water quality creates huge amounts of data and therefore requires new concepts to guarantee high data quality and to prevent data graveyards. Monitoring stations commonly used in practice today suffer from insufficient flexibility and a lack of standardization. That is, although a lot of monitoring tasks are comparable and should lead to robust and powerful platforms, most monitoring stations are case specific developments. In this paper the underlying ideas of a new generation of monitoring networks is described. First a problem analysis of monitoring stations typically seen in current river monitoring practice is outlined, then the monEAU vision on monitoring networks will be discussed together with an overview of a planned system set-up with innovative data evaluation concept.

Inhibition of biological phosphorus removal in a sequencing moving bed biofilm reactor in seawater.

A new process was developed to achieve denitrifying biological phosphorus removal in wastewaters containing high levels of nitrate and phosphate with a low level of organic matter. This could particularly be useful in recirculating systems such as aquariums or fish farms to prevent accumulation of nitrate and phosphates and to avoid regular cost extensive and polluting water replacement. Phosphorus (P) was removed from the influent in a sequencing moving bed biofilm reactor, stored in the attached biomass and then cyclically removed from the biomass by filling the reactor with anaerobic water from a stock tank. Phosphate was accumulated in the stock tank which allowed for use as fertilizer. The feasibility of the experimental design was demonstrated by using the activated sludge model No. 3 (ASM3) complemented by the EAWAG Bio-P module implemented in the WEST simulation software. A pilot scale experiment was conducted in two identical reactors in two runs: one to treat water from a marine mesocosm, the other to treat a synthetic freshwater influent. No biological phosphorus removal was achieved during the seawater run. During the freshwater run, average P removal efficiency was 20%, of which 80% was attributed to biological removal and 20% to chemical precipitation. The absence of efficiency in seawater was attributed to the high concentration of calcium.