MODELLING AND DESIGN OF

DWRF WASTEWATER
TREATMENT PLANT

David Tomy
CSU ID 830699381
Date:12/15/2017
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Approach/method
3.Results and Discussion
4. Conclusion
5. Reference
Notations:

Xa=concentration of active biomass (MxL-3)

K=concentration giving one half the maximum rate (MSL-3)
b=endogenous decay coefficient (T-1)
BOD =Biochemical Oxygen Demand
BODL1=Biochemical Oxygen Demand for a large time
f d =Fraction of active biomass that is biodegradable

K=Half-maximum-rate concentration
N10 =Available NH 4 level nitrogen for nitrification

N 20 =Available NO2 level nitrogen for the second step of nitrification

NH 4  N =Ammonia related nitrogen, mg/L

NO2  N =Nitrite related nitrogen, mg/L

NO3  N =Nitrate related nitrogen, mg/L

NO32 =Effluent NO3 concentration, mg/L

R=Recycling rate per day
R1=Ratio of recycling rate of activated sludge
R2=Ratio of recycling rate of nitrification reactor
S=Substrate concentration
S0=Influent substrate concentration
SS=Suspended solids
TKN0 =Influent Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen
q^=maximum rate of substrate utilization (MsMxT-1)
Y=true yield for cell synthesis (MxMx-1)
fs0=portion of donor electrons used for energy and other parts
Θ=Hydraulic detention time
Mean cell residence time (MCRT) or the sludge age
Θx=active biomass in the system/production rate of active biomass
Xi=concentration of inert biomass(MxL-3)
Xi0=input concentration of inert biomass
Xv=volatile Suspended solids concentration or VSS
X v = volatile suspended solids production rate
t

Introduction
It is essential to remove the nutrients present in wastewater before its released to water bodies and
to nearby reservoirs as it can pose serious threats to aquatic and marine life as well as impair the
water quality.

The goal of the project was to develop a spreadsheet tool to model the working of DWRF(Drake
Water Reclamation Facility located at Fort Collins, Colorado by using biological treatment and its
engineering design. Also the impact of centreate sidestream treatment which accounts for 15 –
40% for the nutrient load.

Microorganisms are used to achieve different treatment goals using various reactors. A mass
balance is used to determine the amount of chemicals that must be supplied to satisfy the energy,
nutrient and environmental needs of the organisms.Also, amount of end products generated can be
estimated. Example of chemicals is oxygen as an electron acceptor, nitrogen and phosphorous as
nutrients for biomass growth.Microorganisms fuel their lives by performing oxidation/reduction
reactions that generate the energy and reducing the power needed to construct and maintain
themselves.Examples of end products of importance are excess microorganisms(sludge) which is
a costly disposal problem and methane from anaerobic systems which can be a useful source of
energy.Microorganisms produces enzyme catalysts that increase the kinetics of their essential
reactions to rates fast enough to exploit the chemical resources available in the environment.
Engineers want to take advantage of these microbially catalyzed reactions because the chemical
resources of the microorganisms are usually the pollutants that engineers must control. For
example, the biochemical oxygen demand(BOD) is an organic electron donor for heterotrophic
bacteria, NH4+-N is an inorganic electron donor for nitrifying bacteria, NO3-N is an electron
acceptor for denitrifying bacteria and PO43- is a nutrient for all microorganisms.

In trying to employ the microorganisms for pollution control, engineers must recognise two
interrelated principles. First, metabolically active microorganisms catalyse the pollutant removing
reactions. The rate of pollutant removal depends on the concentration of the catalyst, or the active
mass. Second, the active biomass is grown and sustained through the utilisation of its energy and
electron generating primary substrates which are its electron donor and an electron acceptor. The
rate of production of active biomass is proportional to the utilization rate of the primary
substrates.The connection between the active biomass(catalyst) and the primary substrate is the
most fundamental factor needed for understanding and exploiting microbial systems for pollution
control. Because these connections must be made systematically and quantitatively for engineering
design and operation, mass balance modelling is an essential tool.

Modelling is the foundation for this project.Activated sludge process is the most widely used
process for treatment of municipal and industrial wastewaters. Activated sludge process consists
of a reactor called the aeration tank, a settling tank, solids recycle from the settler to the aeration
tank and a sludge wasting line. Aeration tank is a suspended growth reactor containing microbial
aggregates, or flocs microorganisms termed the activated sludge. Activated sludge is maintained
in the suspension in the suspension in the reactor through mixing by aeration or other mechanical
means. When the slurry of treated wastewater and microbial flocs pass to the settling tank, the
flocs are removed from the treated wastewater by settling and returned to the aeration tank or
wasted to control the solid retention time(SRT). SRT is commonly used in activated sludge
systems not only to control the efficiency of wastewater treatment but also in the control of
physical and biological characteristics. Based on the kinetic theory, a longer Θx should provide a
greater degree of substrate removal.However, other factors usually are more important.Formation
and consumption of SMP(soluble microbial products) often dominate the effluent quality as
measured by BOD or COD. SRT effects SMP in a nonlinear manner.Altering SRT can lead to
changes in sludge settling characteristics. One of the major design decisions for the activated
sludge process is what the mixed liquor suspended concentration or X to select for the aeration
tank. The high value of X in aeration tank leads to smaller aeration basin which translates to lower
construction cost.

Nitrification is the biological oxidation of NH4+-N to NO2-N and NO3-N. Because of its oxygen
demand and toxicity to aquatic macroorganisms, NH4+-N removal is a mandated process for some
wastewaters.Also, wastewater treatment that involves denitrification of NO3-N frequently requires
nitrification to convert the input NH4+-N to NO3-N. Our model combines activated sludge
nitrification: one sludge nitrification, nitrification, phosphorous removal and sidestream nutrient
removal. One sludge nitrification is the process configuration in which the heterotrophic and
nitrifying bacteria coexist in a single mixed liquor that simultaneously oxidises ammonium and
organic BOD. Denitrification is a reduction of NO3- or NO2- to N2 gas. In other words, NO3- is the
electron acceptor used in energy generation.

The objective of analysis procedure is to compute the relationships among the SRT, effluent NO3-
N concentration, the influent BOD and TKN concentrations, recycle flow ratios and volume of the
system. First, stoichiometric relationships are derived for each reactor. Second, these relationships
are used to compute the effluent NO3-N, the biomass production rates and concentration, the
system volume, oxygen supply rate.

Approach/method:

There are two components to this project:

 1. Baseline Operations. First, developing a spreadsheet which estimates the effluent
concentration of BOD, NH4 +, NO3 -, and TP based on the current design and operation
of DWRF. Estimate the current aeration requirement based on this operation. Selecting an
appropriate mean cell residence time, for the optimum operation. Also, ensuring that the
existing secondary clarifiers can handle the solids concentration

Figure 1 Schematic of the tanks, volumes, flows, and concentrations used in the analysis of a
classic predenitrification system (Rittmann, 2012).

Recycling ratios identify the recycle and waste flows. R2 for the mixed liquor recycle normally
employed to return NO3-N to the first anoxic reactor, R1 for the sludge recycling from the
settler underflow and Rw for the waste sludge from the settler underflow. Total system volume
is comprised of the anoxic tank(Van), aerobic tank(Vaer) and settler(V settler). Key assumptions
made are NO3-N is completely denitrified in the anoxic reactor or (NO3-)1=0. Likewise, BODL
and TKN are fully oxidized in the aerobic reactor, making BODL2=TKN2=0, while the
maximum amount of NO3-N is generated in the aerobic reactor,(NO3)2

In the anoxic reactor, denitrification occurs to the maximum degree possible.NO3-N is driven
to zero when BOD is in excess, or BODL is driven to zero when NO3-N is in excess. The
electron donor is input BOD which we represent as complex organic matter C10H19O3N.
 C10H19O3N is oxidized as the electron donor for anoxic heterotrophs, we can write down donor
reaction, and NO3-N to N2 as acceptor reaction and NH4+ to C5H7O2N synthesis reaction.
Three half reactions combined R=-Rd+feRa+fsRc if fs and fe are known. We can compute fs
and fe if we choose an SRT for pre-dentrification system.

 fs and Yn(den) for denitrification decreases with increasing Θx

 ratio of NO3-N consumed, g NO3-N/g BODL systematically increases as Θx goes up
 The ratio of g BODL/g NO3-N is the reciprocal of g NO3-N/g BODL and is very
useful for determining whether BODLor NO3-N is limiting denitrification.
 The ratio gN2/g BODl tells what portion of the N is denitrified, versus synthesized
into heterotrophic biomass
 Ratio g NH4+-N/g BODL indicates whether or not the organic N present in the influent
organic matter satisfies the cells need for nitrogen for cell synthesis

Table of stoichiometric ratios for denitrification of complex organic matter is attached

to the excel sheet
Nitrification and aerobic BOD oxidation occur simultaneously in the aerobic reactor. TKN that
passes through the anoxic reactor is fully oxidized to NO3-. Any BODL not utilized in the anoxic
reactor aerobically. For nitrication, the computed yield is
Yn(nit)=8.07fs/2.5+fs
fs0 and b values are 0.127 and 0.05
For aerobic BOD oxidation,
Yn(aer)=0.706fs
In which donor is BODL and units of Yn(aer) are gcells/g BODL
The nitrifiers in the aerobic tank consume all of the input TKN that passed through the anoxic
reactor, except for the N synthesized into heterotrophs
(ΔXv/Δt)(nit)=Yn(nit)[QTKN0-[((ΔXv/Δt)(aer)+ (ΔXv/Δt)(den) ))]0.124
(ΔXv/Δt)(aer)=Yn(aer)Q(1+R1+R2)BODL1
(ΔXv/Δt)(den) = Yn(den)Q(BODL0-(1+R1+R2)BODL1
(ΔXv/Δt)(den) =net mass production rate for denitrifiers in the anoxic reactor
(ΔXv/Δt)(nit) =net mass production rate of nitrifiers
(ΔXv/Δt)(aer)= net mass production of aerobic heterotrophs
NO   Q  R Q1  R Q Q  TKN
 2 0  X   X   X  
  v    v    v    0.124
gN 

 t  aer  t  nit  t  den 
3 2 1
 gVSS 

Effluent NO3-N controlled most strongly by the mixed liquor recycle ratio R2. To achieve a
lower (NO3-)2 R2 must be increased.
BODL leaving the anoxic reactor

BOD L0  R 2  R1 NO3   gBOD L / gNO3  N 

2

BOD  1

1  R 2  R1
L

Above four equations are solved simultaneously for the influent quality, influent flow(Q),
selected SRT, and selected recycle ratio(R2 and R1).
R1 is obtained from the nitrification spreadsheet.
Solving equations:
1. (NO3-)2 value is assume to be 10 mg/l
2. BODL1 is generated for each mean cell residence time using above equation
3. (NO3-)2 is computed using the equation relating R1 and R2
4. (NO3-)2 computed is replugged back to assume values and process is iterated till assumed
and computed values are same
Total sludge loss is then computed
(ΔXv/Δt)(tot)= (ΔXv/Δt)(nit)+ (ΔXv/Δt)(aer)+ (ΔXv/Δt)(den)+QXi0

Mixed liquor volatile suspended solids concentration(Xv) is computed from

Xv=(Θx/ΘQ)(ΔXv/Δt)tot
Rw=(Θ/Θx)*(Xv/Xvr)
The required oxygen supply rate to satisfy aerobic BOD oxidation and nitrification
(ΔO2/Δt)=(Q+Q1+Q2).BODL1+QXi0.1.98+4.57(Q.TKN0-((ΔXv/Δt)(aer) +(ΔXv/Δt)(nit)+
(ΔXv/Δt)(den)))0.124-1.98((ΔXv/Δt)(nit)+ (ΔXv/Δt)(aer)+ QXi0)

2. Impact of Centrate Side Stream Treatment. In WWTPs, centrate from anaerobic digesters
is recycled and combined with wastewater influent. While this only accounts for 1% of the total
influent flow, it can account for 15-40% o the nutrient load. Based on current operating
conditions (i.e., mean cell residence time and RML as determined by Part 1), evaluate the impact
the effluent concentration of BOD, NH4 +, NO3 -, and TP resulting from the following nutrient
removal scenarios from centrate:
a. 30% removal of NH4 + and 0% removal of P in centrate
b. 60% removal of NH4 + and 0% removal of P in centrate
c. 90% removal of NH4 + and 0% removal of P in centrate
d. 0% removal of NH4 + and 50% removal of P in centrate
e. 0% removal of NH4 + and 75% removal of P in centrate
Also, understand the impact of aeration rates and resulting energy required and solids production

Results and Discussion:

Qw(liters/d) vs thetaX(d)
600000

500000

400000

300000

200000

100000

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

Fig2:

Xvr(mg/l) vs theta x(d)

18000
16000
14000
12000
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
Fig 3

O2 vs theta x
1.8E+10
1.6E+10
1.4E+10
1.2E+10
1E+10
8E+09
6E+09
4E+09
2E+09
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

Fig4:

NO3- vs theta x
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

Fig5
 BOD vs thetaX
0.7

0.6

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

Fig:6

power vs thetax
800000000

700000000

600000000

500000000

400000000

300000000

200000000

100000000

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

Fig 7:
 P vs thetaX
0.5
0.45
0.4
0.35
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

Fig 8:

NH4+- vs thetax
0.6

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

Fig 9:
 MLSS vs theta x
30,000.00

25,000.00

20,000.00

15,000.00

10,000.00

5,000.00

-
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

Fig 10

ideal mean cell residence time was chosen to be 11

Sludge production, Xvr, O2 production, phosphorous removal, effluent NO3- and effluent
NH4+was compared as a function of Θx . Chosen cell mean residence time meet the effluent
standards for phosphourous, NH4+ and NO3-. No significant lowering in oxygen consumption
rate in the range 5-11.

Table1: Impact of centrate sidestream treatment

case1: case 2: case3: case4: case 5

30% NH3+
sidestream removal 0%P 60%NH3 +0%p 90%NH3+0%P 0%NH3+ 50%P 0% NH3+75%P
BOD 0.379224505 0.379224505 0.379224505 0.379224505 0.379224505
NO3- 6.698655555 5.973615784 5.248579349 7.423689561 7.423691958
NH4+ 0.17365152 0.17365152 0.17365152 0.17365152 0.17365152
TP -0.37757593 -0.37757593 -0.37757593 -1.252654526 -1.690193823
aeration rates 14616764213 14287260624 13957740025 14946267802 14946267802

power 3.4603E+11 3.38229E+11 3.30428E+11 3.5383E+11 3.5383E+11

MLSS 20,123.55 20123.55464 20123.55464 20123.55464 20123.55464
Conclusion: The goal of the project was to understand the relationship between SRT, effluent
NO3-N, influent BOD and TKN concentration, recycle ratios. Stoichiometric relationships are
derived for each reactor and relationships were used to compute the biomass production rates and
concentration, the system volume and oxygen supply rate.
SRT of 11 was chosen comparing O2 production, sludge wasting rate and mixed liquor recycle
concentration.
 References
(1) Rittmann, Bruce E., and Perry L. McCarty. Environmental Biotechnology: Principles and
Applications. Tata McGraw Hill Education Private Limited, 2012.
(2) DR. SYBIL SHARVELLE. “Cive 540.” Class lecture notes, Advanced Bioilogical Wastewater
processing, Colorado State University, Fort Collins,