Automated aeration management in wastewater treatment: interest of the application to serial basins configuration

Abstract

In order to extend the range of application of an existing aeration management logic combining carbon and nitrogen removal, an advanced version was developed. This automated system is devoted to WWTP with a serial configuration of the aeration tanks. The operating strategy gives a priority to the carbon elimination in upstream aeration volumes, whereas downstream elements complete the treatment and optimize the nitrogen removal. The control and command functions of this automated management are based on the analysis of both instant value and time evolution of the oxido-reduction potential. Some setting modifications are specified for the aeration management on upstream cells. Application of this system to full-scale operating plants reveals the total adaptation of the strategy to the serial configuration units. Long-term experiences show that aeration supply is adapted to the required level of treatment, following the load variations. Removal yields are optimized and conformity of the outflows is achieved on the three presented examples. The application of this advanced version of the automated aeration management will help operators in obtaining quality and reliability of the wastewater treatment.