Improving wastewater treatment plant performance by applying CFD models for design and operation: selected case studies

Hydrodynamic simulation (CFD: computational fluid dynamics) is one of the major tools for planning the reconstruction and operation of the structures in wastewater treatment plants, and its routine use is commonplace because of the cost savings and efficiency gains that can be achieved. This paper p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water science and technology 2021-07, Vol.84 (2), p.323-332
Main Author: Patziger, M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
aeration
Aeration tanks
Aerodynamics
Air intakes
Biogas
Carbon
Case studies
Chambers
Chemical oxygen demand
Computational fluid dynamics
Computer applications
Design
Design optimization
Ditches
Efficiency
Energy
Fluid dynamics
Geometry
grit chambers
Hydrodynamics
Mathematical models
mixing
Nutrient removal
operation
Oxidation
Oxidation ditches
Particle size
return sludge control
Sedimentation & deposition
Sedimentation tanks
Settling tanks
Sludge
Storage tanks
Storms
Tanks
Velocity
Wastewater treatment
Wastewater treatment plants
water resources recovery
Water treatment
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Summary:Hydrodynamic simulation (CFD: computational fluid dynamics) is one of the major tools for planning the reconstruction and operation of the structures in wastewater treatment plants, and its routine use is commonplace because of the cost savings and efficiency gains that can be achieved. This paper provides examples of how CFD can contribute to substantial improvements in the overall efficiency of wastewater treatment plants.The case studies presented in the paper include rarely investigated issues, such as the operation of aerated grit chambers, performance of primary settling tanks, mixing performance in oxidation ditches and return sludge control. The results show that: (1) air intake rate can be strongly decreased in most of the grit chambers, (2) optimization of the inlet geometry design of primary settling tanks is crucial, especially at high loads caused by storm events, (3) mixer performance design based on current design guidelines is often of an unnecessarily high capacity, (4) sludge recirculation rate should be optimized by CFD investigations based on secondary settling tank performance.
ISSN:0273-1223
1996-9732
DOI:10.2166/wst.2021.019