ASM1 dynamic calibration and long-term validation for an intermittently aerated WWTP

Abstract

Activated sludge models, and ASM1 in particular, are well recognised and useful mathematical representations of the macroscopic processes involved in the biological degradation of the pollution carried by wastewater. Nevertheless, the use of these models through simulation software requires a careful methodology for their calibration (determination of the model parameters' values) and the validation step (verification with an independent data set). This paper presents the methodology and the results of dynamic calibration and validation tasks as a prior work to a modelling project for defining a reference guideline destined to French designers and operators. To reach these goals, a biological nutrient removal (BNR) wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) with intermittent aeration was selected and monitored for 2 years. Two sets of calibrated parameters are given and discussed. The results of the long-term validation task are presented through a 2-month simulation with lots of operation changes. Finally, it is concluded that, even if calibrating ASM1 with a high degree of confidence with a single set of parameters was not possible, the results of the calibration are sufficient to obtain satisfactory results over long-term dynamic simulation. However, simulating long periods reveals specific calibration issues such as the variation of the nitrification capacity due to external events.