SBR-MBBR Water Treatment System for Compact Nitrogen Removal
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing biological treatment methods for water, such as SBR and IFAS-SBR reactors, face challenges including large reactor volumes, limited processing performance, high sludge age, and energy inefficiency due to lengthy aeration steps, which result in oversized installations and increased energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A method combining a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) with a moving-bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) for parallel operation, utilizing predominantly anoxic conditions in the SBR for denitrification and aerobic conditions in the MBBR for nitrification, with continuous recirculation of effluents to optimize carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorous treatment, decoupling dephosphatation and nitrification processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional SBR or IFAS-SBR reactors are used for biological treatment, then treatment capacity is achieved, but reactor volume becomes large and installation size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The biological treatment system is segmented into two distinct functional units: an SBR reactor dedicated to denitrification and an MBBR reactor dedicated to nitrification. This segmentation allows each reactor to be optimized for its specific function, enabling more compact design while maintaining overall treatment capacity. The SBR reactor can operate with smaller volume since it only needs to perform denitrification, while the MBBR reactor provides efficient nitrification in a compact footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-reactor system to a multi-reactor system operating in parallel, adding a dimensional aspect to the treatment process. By distributing different treatment functions across separate reactors that receive parallel influent streams, the system achieves better space utilization and reduces the volume required for each individual reactor while maintaining total treatment capacity.
2Productivity
If lengthy aeration steps are used for nitrification in conventional systems, then nitrogen treatment is achieved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The nitrogen treatment process is segmented into two separate stages performed in different reactors: nitrification in the MBBR reactor and denitrification in the SBR reactor. This segmentation allows the energy-intensive aeration step to be confined only to the MBBR reactor, while the SBR reactor operates under anoxic conditions without aeration, thereby reducing overall energy consumption for nitrogen treatment.
Solution Approach 2:
The MBBR reactor provides continuous nitrification through the presence of attached growth biomass on carrier media, eliminating the need for prolonged aeration cycles required in suspended growth systems. The continuous contact between biomass and substrate in the MBBR reactor enables more efficient nitrogen oxidation with reduced energy input.
3Productivity
If high sludge age is maintained for nitrification in conventional SBR, then nitrogen removal is achieved, but system complexity and operation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the nitrogen removal function into two specialized reactors: MBBR for nitrification and SBR for denitrification. This segmentation allows the MBBR reactor to maintain a stable, high-sludge-age nitrifying biomass on carrier media, while the SBR reactor operates with conventional sludge ages for denitrification. The separation simplifies operational control compared to attempting to maintain both functions in a single reactor.
Solution Approach 2:
The MBBR reactor acts as an intermediary that produces nitrate-rich effluent which is then fed to the SBR reactor for denitrification. This intermediary role allows the system to decouple the sludge age requirements of nitrification and denitrification, enabling each reactor to operate under optimal conditions without increasing overall system complexity.
4Productivity
If decoupling dephosphatation and nitrification is implemented, then treatment performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments phosphorous and nitrogen treatment into different functional zones: dephosphatation occurs in the SBR reactor under anaerobic/aerobic cycling conditions, while nitrification occurs in the MBBR reactor under continuous aeration. This segmentation improves treatment performance by allowing each process to operate under optimal conditions without interference, while the parallel reactor configuration manages complexity through functional specialization.
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 enables efficient, energy-competitive, and compact biological treatment of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorous, reducing sludge age, installation size, and energy consumption while maintaining high treatment performance.
Implementation Method 1
Biological treatment under anoxic conditions enables the elimination of the nitrate ions (NO3−) in diatomic nitrogen gas (N2) (denitrification) through a denitrifying heterotrophic biomass.
Implementation Method 2
Biological treatment under aerobic conditions enables the degradation of the carbon as well as the conversion of ammonium (NH4+) into nitrate ions (NO3−) (nitrification) through a specific nitrifying biomass.
Implementation Method 3
continuous recirculation of the first and second effluents between the at least one sequencing batch reactor and the moving-bed biofilm reactor
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention concerns a method for biological treatment of carbon, nitrogen and optionally phosphorus in water, in a reactor system (1) comprising a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) (2) and a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) (3). The method comprises a step (10) of filling said SBR reactor (2) with water to be treated (5), a step (20) of anoxic/aerobic biological treatment in said reactor system (1) and a step (30) of discharging treated water (35) from said SBR reactor (2). The anoxic/aerobic biological treatment step (20) comprises: a biological treatment (210) under largely anoxic conditions in the SBR reactor (2), producing a first effluent (215), a biological treatment (220) under aerobic conditions in the MBBR reactor (3), producing a second effluent (225), and a continuous recirculation of the first and second effluents. The present invention also concerns a corresponding facility.