Dynamic Waste Water Distribution in Activated Sludge Plants
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Solution Overview
Problem
Activated sludge plants face inefficiencies and increased operational costs due to the need for continuous aeration and waste water distribution across all process tanks, even during periods of low load or varying waste water amounts, leading to suboptimal treatment rates and resource wastage.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a dynamic method where waste water supply is temporarily interrupted to a subset of process tanks based on actual spare capacity, allowing for adaptive operation and reducing energy consumption by adjusting aeration, stirring, and recirculation, while utilizing a control system for real-time adjustments based on measurements and forecasts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If waste water is distributed to all process tanks continuously, then sufficient feeding of micro-organisms is ensured, but operational costs increase significantly during low load periods
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the distribution of waste water based on real-time measurements of micro-organism concentration and treatment rate. The control system varies the number of process tanks receiving waste water according to actual conditions, transitioning from static continuous distribution to dynamic adaptive distribution, thereby optimizing operational costs while maintaining treatment effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters by measuring actual micro-organism concentrations and treatment rates, then adjusting waste water distribution accordingly. This involves changing the state from fixed distribution to variable distribution based on measured parameters, allowing the system to adapt to varying load conditions and reduce energy consumption during low load periods
2Productivity
If the plant is dimensioned for peak capacity, then sufficient treatment capability is available, but the plant operates below capacity for the majority of time
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic measurement of treatment rates and micro-organism concentrations to adjust waste water distribution in real-time. This allows the plant to fully utilize its treatment capability when needed while reducing operation during low-demand periods, eliminating the waste of operating at low capacity and improving overall energy efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements feedback control by continuously measuring treatment rates and micro-organism concentrations, then using this information to adjust waste water distribution. This closed-loop control ensures the plant operates at optimal capacity utilization, matching treatment capability with actual demand and preventing energy waste from operating below capacity
3Reliability
If aeration is provided to all process tanks, then micro-organisms receive sufficient oxygen for biological treatment, but energy consumption increases during low load periods
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts aeration based on measured micro-organism concentrations and treatment rates. By varying the aeration status of different process tanks according to actual conditions, the system maintains sufficient oxygen supply for effective biological treatment while reducing aeration energy consumption during low load periods or in tanks with lower micro-organism activity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach significantly reduces operational costs by optimizing resource usage and maintaining effective biological treatment, promoting bio-P bacteria growth and improved sludge settling, even during low load periods or varying conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The process tanks traditionally include a system for aeration of the tank, as the micro-organisms need oxygen for the biological treatment of the waste water
Implementation Method 2
passing it through at least one clarification tank for separation into a water fraction and a sludge fraction
Data Source
Figure 1~1a
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention provides a method for treatment of waste water in an activated sludge plant. The plant comprises a plurality of process tanks comprising activated sludge with a treatment rate being variable. Each process tank has an inlet for receiving waste water and an outlet for supplying treated water to at least one clarification tank for separation into a water fraction and a sludge fraction. The method comprises the steps of: determining an actual spare capacity indicating an amount of waste water which can be added and treated in the activated sludge plant, supplying waste water only to a first group of process tanks, the first group of process tanks being a subset of the plurality of process tanks, wherein the number of process tanks in the first group is determined based on the actual spare capacity, and automatically interrupting supply to a second group of process tanks based on the actual spare capacity.