Oxygen transfer rate estimation in oxidation ditches from clean water measurements

• Published in: Water research (Oxford) 2001-06, Vol.35 (8), p.2058-2064
• Main Authors: Abusam, A., Keesman, K.J., Meinema, K., van Straten, G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: aeration; afvalwaterbehandeling; Applied sciences; beluchting; Biological and medical sciences; Biological treatment of waters; Biotechnology; carrousel; Environment and pollution; Exact sciences and technology; Fresh Water - analysis; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General purification processes; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Kinetics; KLa; Models, Theoretical; Netherlands; overdracht; oxidatiesloten; oxidation ditch; oxidation ditches; Oxidation-Reduction; oxygen; Oxygen - analysis; oxygen transfer rate; Pollution; Sewage - analysis; transfer; waste water treatment; Wastewaters; Water - standards; Water treatment and pollution; zuurstof
• ISSN: 0043-1354; 1879-2448
• DOI: 10.1016/S0043-1354(00)00451-6

Standard methods for the determination of oxygen transfer rate are based on assumptions that are not valid for oxidation ditches. This paper presents a realistic and simple new method to be used in the estimation of oxygen transfer rate in oxidation ditches from clean water measurements. The new method uses a loop-of-CSTRs model, which can be easily incorporated within control algorithms, for modelling oxidation ditches. Further, this method assumes zero oxygen transfer rates (KLa) in the unaerated CSTRs. Application of a formal estimation procedure to real data revealed that the aeration constant (k=KLaVA, where VA is the volume of the aerated CSTR) can be determined significantly more accurately than KLa and VA. Therefore, the new method estimates k instead of KLa. From application to real data, this method proved to be more accurate than the commonly used Dutch standard method (STORA, 1980).