MBR Process Design Calculations - U.S.

units
User Inputs and Constants

Instructions: Enter values in blue boxes. Spreadsheet calculates values in yellow boxes

User Inputs - Wastewater Parameters/Characteristics

Design ww Flow Rate, Qo = 6 MGD Influent TSS, TSSo = 250

Influent BOD, BODo = 250 mg/L Influent VSS, VSSo = 60

sBOD, sBODo = 125 mg/L
Influent TKN, TKNo = 40
Influent COD, CODo = 500 mg/L TKN peak/ave factor , FS = 1.5
sCOD, sCODo = 250 mg/L Influent NH4-N, NH4-No = 25.0
rbCOD, rbCODo = 135 mg/L Influent Alkalinity, Alko = 100

ratio, bCOD/BOD = 1.6 Aeration WW Temp., Tww = 77

.
User Inputs - Biological Kinetic Coefficients (See typical values at right)

1. For BOD Removal:

Resid. biomass fract., fd = 0.15
Synth. Yield Coeff, Y = 0.45 lb VSS/lb bCOD Half Veloc. Coeff., Ks = 8
Temp coeff, q, for mm = 1.07 Max spec. grwth rate at 20oC, mm20 = 6
Temp coeff, q, for kd = 1.04 Endog. decay coeff. at 20oC, kd20 = 0.12

2. For Nitrification:
Synth. Yield Coeff, Yn = 0.15 lb VSS/lb NOx
Temp coeff, q, for mmn = 1.072 Max spec. grwth rate at 20oC, mmn20 = 0.9
Temp coeff, q, for kdn = 1.029 Endog. decay coeff. at 20oC, kdn20 = 0.17
Temp coeff, q, for Ksn = 1 Half Veloc. Coeff. At 20oC, Ksn = 0.5
Half Veloc. Coeff. At 20oC, Kso = 0.5
Constants Used in the Calculations

Ratio of BOD5 to BODu, f = 0.67 BODu equiv. of VSS = 1.4 lb BODu/lb VSS
 Activated Sludge Kinetic Coefficients for heterotrophic bacteria at 20oC (for BOD removal)

Coefficient Unit Range Typical Value

mm kg VSS/day/kg VSS 3.0 - 13.2 6.0

Ks mg/L bCOD 5.0 - 40.0 20.0

mg/L
Y kg VSS/day/kg bCOD 0.30 - 0.50 0.40
mg/L
kd kg VSS/day/kg VSS 0.06 - 0.20 0.12
mg/L
fd dimensionless 0.08 - 0.20 0.15
mg/L
mg/L as CaCO3 q values for temperature corrections

o
F for mm dimensionless 1.03 - 1.08 1.07
for kd dimensionless 1.03 - 1.08 1.04
for Ks dimensionless 1.00 1.00

mg/L
lb VSS/d/lb VSS
lb VSS/d/lb VSS Activated Sludge Nitrification Kinetic Coefficients at 20 oC

Coefficient Unit Range Typical Value

lb VSS/d/lb VSS mmn kg VSS/day/kg VSS 0.2 - 0.90 0.75

lb VSS/d/lbVSS
mg/L Kn mg/L NH4-N 0.50 - 1.0 0.74
mg/L
Yn kg VSS/kg NH4-N 0.10 - 0.15 0.12

lb BODu/lb VSS kdn kg VSS/day/kg VSS 0.05 - 0.15 0.08

Ko mg/L 0.40 - 0.60 0.50

q values for temperature corrections

for mmn dimensionless 1.06 - 1.123 1.07

for kdn dimensionless 1.03 - 1.08 1.04

for Kn dimensionless 1.03 - 1.123 1.053

or BOD removal)
MBR Process Design Calculations - U.S. units
Membrane Module Sizing Calculations

Instructions: Enter values in blue boxes. Spreadsheet calculates values in yellow boxes

1. User Inputs, Membrane/Membrane Module Parameters:

(values typically available from membrane manufacturer or vendor)

Module packing
density, f = 120 m2/m3 = 36.6 ft2/ft3
Spec. Aer. Demand, SADM = 0.3 m3 air/hr/m2 membrane = 0.984
(ft3 air/hr/ft2 membrane)

2. Process Design Calculations (done by worksheet)

Ave. Membrane Flux, J = 25.5 L/hr/m2 = 0.626 gal/hr/ft2

Membrane Area, AM = 399,414 ft2 Membrane Module Vol., VM = 10,920

Scouring Air Flow Required: 6552 ft3/min (ACFM) = 6442 SCFM

(This is the scouring air flow rate needed for the membrane module,
typically provided by a coarse bubble diffuser system.)
hr/ft2 membrane) Flow Diagram - Membrane Bioreactor for BOD Removal, Nitrification & Denitrification

Equations used for the calculations: (note that conversion factors are needed in some of

Design Membrane Flux: J = 0.4056Tww - 5.7278

ft3
(see equation derivation in Worksheet 9)

Am = Qo/J Vm = Am/f

Scouring Air Flow required = Am*SADM

cation & Denitrification

tors are needed in some of the equations)

MBR Process Design Calculations - U.S. units
BOD Removal and Nitrification

Instructions: Enter values in blue boxes. Spreadsheet calculates values in yellow boxes

User Inputs:
Target effluent concentrations:
BODe = 10 mg/L MLSS in Aer. Tank, XO = 10,000
TSSe = 10 mg/L MLSS in Waste Sludge, XW = 10,000
NH4-Ne = 0.5 mg/L Tank Freeboard = 1.5
DO in Aer. Tank, DOO = 2 mg/L Number of Aeration Tanks = 3

Influent TKN, TKNo = 40 mg/L Liquid Depth in Tank = 15

(value transferred from Worksheet 2) Tank L:W ratio = 1.0
Initial Estimate of NOx = 28.9 mg/L (target L:W - only used if tank is rectangular)

NOTE: An initial estimate is needed for NOx in cell C14 to start an iterative calculation
of NOx below. 80% of the influent TKN is suggested for this initial estimate.

Process Design Calculations (done by worksheet)

1. Calculate Design SRT

mmn at Tww = 1.27 lb VSS/d/lb VSS Ksn at Tww = 0.50

kdn at Tww = 0.20 lb VSS/d/lb VSS mn = 0.31
Theoretical SRT = 3.2 days Design SRT, SRT = 21.0

Note that Design SRT is a user input. A typical value

2. Calculate the Biomass Production Rate for Des. SRT is (FS)(Theor SRT) =

mm at Tww = 8.4 lb VSS/d/lb VSS kd at Tww = 0.146

bCODo = 400 mg/L S= 0.19

Biomass Production Rate, PX,bio = 3275 lb VSS/day

3. Determine the Amount of Nitrogen Oxidized to Nitrate

Calculated amount of nitrogen oxidized to nitrate, NOx = 31.6 mg/L

Difference between estimated and calculated values for NOx = -2.757 mg/L
Goal Seek Result:
 Amount of nitrogen oxidized to nitrate, NOx = Redo Goal Seek mg/L

NOTE: This is an iterative solution. You must use Excel's "Goal Seek" to find the NOx value as
follows: Place the cursor on cell G36 and click on "goal seek" (in the "tools" menu of older versions
and under "Data What If Analysis" in newer versions of Excel). Enter values to "Set cell:" G36, "To
value:" 0, "By changing cell:" C14, and click on "OK". The calculated value of NOx will appear in cell
E38 and cell G36 should be zero if the process worked properly. Note that cell C14 needs an initial
estimate for NOx in order for the iterative solution to work properly.

4. Determine the Production Rate and Mass of VSS and TSS in the Aeration Basin

bpCOD/pCOD = 0.800 nbVSS = 12.0 mg/L

Aeration Tank VSS Production Rate, PX,VSS = 3875 lb VSS/day

Aeration Tank TSS Production Rate, PX,TSS = 13383 lb TSS/day

Mass of MLVSS = 81,383 lb VSS Mass of MLSS = 281,043

5. Calculate Aeration Tank Volume and dimensions, Detention Time, and MLVSS
(User Input needed in Blue Cells)

Req. Aeration Vol., Vaer = 450,510 ft3 Click on green box and then on
Aer. + Membr. Vol., Vtot = 461,430 ft 3
arrow to Select Tank Shape: rectangular
Req. Vol. per tank, Vtank = 153,810 ft3 Actual Tank Width: 57.0
Calculated Tank Width = 101.3 ft Actual Tank Length: 57.0
Calculated Tank Length = 101.3 ft Actual Tank Aeration Volume = 45095
Tank Wall Height = 16.5 ft Membrane Module Vol. per Tank = 3640

Aeration Det'n time, t = 4.05 hr MLVSS, = 2896

6. Calculate F/M and Volumetric BOD Loading

F/M = 0.51 lb BOD/d/lb MLVSS Vol. BOD Loading = 92.47

7. Calculate Sludge Wasting Rate

Waste A.S. Rate, Qw = 48,187 gal/day

8. Oxygen/Air Requirement and Blower Calculations (for the Aeration Tank)

i) INPUTS (Values of "Rule of Thumb" Constants for the Calculations - See info at right)

O2 needed per kg BOD = 1.30 lb O2/lb BOD Depth of Diffusers = 14.5

O2 needed per kg NH4-N = 4.57 lb O2/lb NH4-N Standard Temperature = 68
SOTE as Function of Depth = 2.00% % per ft depth Standard Pressure = 14.7
AOTE/SOTE = 0.33 Atmospheric Pressure = 14.7
Press. Drop across Diffuser = 12.0 in W.C. Air Density at STP = 0.075
(from mfr/vendor) O2 Content in Air = 0.0173

ii) Calculations

Press. at mid depth, PD = 17.8 psi NH3-N Removal Rate = 51.1

BOD Removal Rate = 500 lb/hr AOTE = 9.6%
Oxygen Requirement = 884.0 lb/hr Air Requirement = 8899
SOTE = 29% Blower Outlet Pressure = 21.4
15360
(This is the air flow rate needed for the aeration tank,
typically provided by a fine bubble diffuser system.)

9. Calculate Alkalinity Requirement

Input: Target Effluent Alkalinity = 80 mg/L as CaCO3

Constants needed for Calculations:

Equiv Wt. of CaCO3 = 50 g/equiv. Equiv Wt. of NaHCO3 = 84

Alkalinity used for Nitrification = 7.14 g CaCO3/g NH3-N

Calculations

Alk. used for nitrification = 226.0 mg/L as CaCO3

Alkalinity needed = 206.0 mg/L as CaCO3 Alkalinity needed = 10306

Sodium bicarbonate needed per day to maintain alkalinity = 17,314 lb/day NaHCO3
cylindrical
rectangular
 mg/L
mg/L
ft

ft

Flow Diagram - Membrane Bioreactor for BOD Removal & Nitrification

ectangular)

Equations used for the calculations: (note that conversion factors are needed in some of

mnm at Tww = mnm,20 qTww - 20 Kn at Tww = Kn,20 qTww - 20

kdn at Tww = kdn,20 qTww - 20 (Tww must be in oC for these calculations)

mg/L
lb VSS/d/lb VSS mn = [ mnmN/(Kn + N) ] [ DO/(Ko + DO) ] - kdn Theroetical SRT = 1/mn
days

ser input. A typical value Design SRT = (FS)(Theoretical SRT) FS = TKNpeak/TKNaverage

4.8 days

lb VSS/d/lb VSS mm at Tww = mm,20 qTww - 20 kd at Tww = kd,20 qTww - 20

mg bCOD/L
PX,bio = QY(So - S)/(1 + kdSRT) + fdkdQY(So - S)SRT/(1 + kdSRT) + QYn(NOx)/(1 + k

S = Ks[1 + (kd)SRT]/[SRT(mm - kd) - 1]

NOx = TKN - Ne - 0.12PX,bio/Q

NOx value as
u of older versions
et cell:" G36, "To
x will appear in cell
4 needs an initial

bpCOD/pCOD = (BODo - sBODo)/(CODo - sCODo)

nbVSS = [1 - (bpCOD/pCOD)VSSo]

PX,VSS = PX,bio + Q(nbVSS) PX,TSS = PX,VSS + Q(TSSo - VSSo)

lb TSS Mass of MLVSS = (PX,VSS) SRT Mass of MLSS = (PX,TSS) SRT

V = Mass of MLSS/MLSS
rectangular
ft
ft
ft3
ft3
detention time: t = V/Q
mg/L
F/M = QSo/V*MLVSS

lb BOD/d/1000 ft3 Vol BOD loading = QSo/V

Qw = [(V*MLSS/SRT*TSS_W)
 1. The typical AOR/SOR (or AOTE/SOTE) is 0.50 for a coarse bubble aeration system.
2. The typical AOR/SOR (or AOTE/SOTE) is 0.33 for a fine bubble aeartion system.
ft 3. The typical SOTE is 0.75% per foot (2.46%/m) of diffuser submergence for a coarse bubble system
o
F 4. The typical SOTE is 2.0% per foot (6.56%/m) of diffuser submergence for a fine bubble system
psi 5. 1 SCF of air weighs 0.075 lb/ft 3 (1.20 kg/m3) and contains 23% oxygen by weight, thus:
psi 6. Air contains 0.0173 lbm of oxygen per SCF (0.2770 kg oxygen/SCM)
lbm/SCF 7. For biological treatment with SRT from 5 to 10 days, lb oxygen required /lb BOD removed
lbm/SCF is typically in the range from 0.92 - 1.1 lb O 2/lb BOD. Higher SRT results in a higher value
of lb O2 required/lb BOD removed.
8. The oxidation of 1 lb of ammonia nitrogen typically requires 4.1 to 4.6 lb of oxygen.
lb/hr
Equations used for Oxygen/Air/Blower calculations: (note that conversion factors are n
SCFM
psia PD = Patm + g(Diffuser Depth/2) BOD Removal Rate = (Qo*(BODo- BODe)

NH3-N Removal Rate = (Qo*(NH3-No- NH3-Ne)

O2 Requirement = (BOD Rem Rate)(lb O2/lb BOD) = (NH3-N Rem. Rate)(lb O2/lb NH3-N)

SOTE = (SOTE %/m depth)(Diffuser Depth) AOTE = SOTE(AOTE/SOTE)

Air Requirement = (O2 requirement/AOTE)/(O2 Content in Air)

Blower Outlet Pressure = Patm + Press. Drop across Diffuser + g(Diffuser Depth)
g/equiv.
Equations used for Alkalinity Requirement calculations: (note that conversion factors

Alkalinity used for Nitrification = 7.14(NOx) (mg/L as CaCO3)

(mg/L
Alk. Conc. needed = Alk. used for Nitrification + Target Effl. Alk. - Alk o as CaCO3)
lb/day as CaCO3
Alk. Flow needed = Qo (Alk. Conc. needed)*8.34 (lb/day)
lb/day NaHCO3
Sodium Bicarbonate Flow needed = (Alk. Flow needed)(Equiv Wt. of NaHCO 3)/(Equiv. Wt.
 & Nitrification

tors are needed in some of the equations)

w = Kn,20 qTww - 20

for these calculations)

oetical SRT = 1/mn

peak /TKNaverage

kdSRT) + QYn(NOx)/(1 + kdnSRT)

(PX,TSS) SRT
or a coarse bubble system
r a fine bubble system
y weight, thus:

/lb BOD removed

in a higher value

b of oxygen.

hat conversion factors are needed in some of the equations)

te = (Qo*(BODo- BODe)

Rate)(lb O2/lb NH3-N)

SOTE(AOTE/SOTE)

Diffuser Depth)

note that conversion factors are needed in some of the equations)

(mg/L as CaCO3)

t. of NaHCO 3)/(Equiv. Wt. of CaCO3)

MBR Process Design Calculations - U.S. units
BOD Removal Nitrification, & PreAnoxic Denitrification
This worksheet makes the design calculations for preanoxic denitrification basin(s) to
go with the Aeration Tank(s) designed for BOD removal and Nitrification in Worksheet 4.
(The wastewater parameters/characteristics and biological kinetic coefficients entered
on Worksheet 2 will also be used in this worksheet.)

Instructions: Enter values in blue boxes. Spreadsheet calculates values in yellow boxes

Inputs - Additional Design Parameters

Mixing energy
Nitrate conc. in RAS = 4.2 mg/L for anoxic reactor = 0.38
Effl. nitrate conc. Ne = 4.2 mg/L Design % Excess
Temp. Coeff for SDNR = 1.026 Nitrif. Capacity = 2%
Prelim. est. of det. Time, tan: 0.687 hr Liquid Depth in Tank = 15.0
Tank Freeboard = 1.5 ft Tank L:W ratio = 1.0
Number of Anoxic Tanks = 3 (target L:W - only used if tank is rectangular)

NOTE: A preliminary estimate for anoxic detention time is needed in cell C14 to start an
iterative calculation of minimum anoxic detention time below.

Calculations - Preanoxic basin design for denitrification

1. Calculate RAS ratio and Anoxic Tank Active Biomass Concentration

RAS ratio, RAS = 6.53 Aer. Tank Active biomass, PXb = 2,214
Aeration tank active
Anox. Tank MLSS, MLSSAN = 8673 mg/L biomass Fraction, Xaer,b = 0.1655
Anoxic tank active
biomass Conc., Xan,b = 1435 mg/L

2. Calculate feed rate of NO4-N to anoxic tank and anoxic tank volume

Flow rate to anoxic tank = 39.2 MGD NOX rate to anoxic tank = 1,373
(RAS flow containing nitrate)
Anoxic tank volume, Van = 22,972
(based on detention time value in cell C14)
3. Calculate the F/M ratio

Anoxic tank F/M ratio = 6.0836 lb BOD/d/lb MLVSS

 4. Calculate the SDNR

rbCOD/bCOD ratio = 0.338 Next lower rbCOD/bCOD value from table:

Next higher rbCOD/bCOD value from table:

SDNR for rbCOD/bCOD = 0.3 is equal to: 0.48959

SDNR for rbCOD/bCOD = 0.4 is equal to: 0.51645

SDNR for rbCOD/bCOD = 0.3375 is equal to: 0.4997 lb NO3-N/day/lb biomass (at 20oC)

at Tww, SDNR = 0.5681 lb NO3-N/day/lb biomass (at Tww)

5. Calculate the Anoxic Tank Volume, Dimensions and Detention Time

(User Input needed in Blue Cells)

NO3-N reduction capacity = 1,168 lb/day % Excess Nitrif. Capacity: -14.9%

Difference between Design and Calculated % Excess Nitrification Capacity = 0.169
Goal Seek Result:
Anoxic Tank min. Vol., Van = Redo Goal Seek ft3 min. Anox. Det. Time, tan = #VALUE!

NOTE: This is an iterative solution. You must use Excel's "Goal Seek" to find the V an vand tan
values as follows: Place the cursor on cell H58 and click on "goal seek" (in the "tools" menu of
older versions and under "Data What If Analysis" in newer versions of Excel). Enter values to
"Set cell" H58 "To value:" 0, "By changing cell:" C14, and click on "OK". The calculated values
of Van and tan will be in cells C60 and H60. Cell H58 should be zero if the process worked properly.
A preliminary estimate for tan is needed in cell C14 in order for the iterative solution to work.

Click on green box and then on

Min. Vol. per tank, Vtank = #VALUE! ft 3
arrow to Select Tank Shape: rectangular
Calculated Tank Width = #VALUE! ft Actual Tank Width: 23.0
Calculated Tank Length = #VALUE! ft Actual Tank Length: 23.0
Tank Wall Height = 16.5 ft Actual Tank liquid Volume = 7935.0
(Pre-Anoxic Tank Volume)
Anoxic Det'n time, t = 0.71 hr

6. Recalculate the oxygen/air requirement due to the nitrate reduction oxygen credit
 Oxygen credit = 3928 lb/day = 163.7 lb/hr

O2 Utilization Rate = 720 lb/hr Req'd air flow rate, SCFM = 7,251
Blower Outlet Pressure = 21.4

7. Recalculate Alkalinity Requirement

Alkalinity produced = 98.0 mg/L as CaCO3

Alkalinity needed = 108.0 mg/L as CaCO3 Alkalinity needed = 5403

Sodium bicarbonate needed per day to maintain alkalinity = 9,077 lb/day NaHCO3

8. Calculate Anoxic tank mixing power needed

Anoxic Tank Mixing Power = 9.0 hp

9. Calculate Sludge Wasting Rate

Waste A.S. Rate, Qw = 49,404 gal/day

cylindrical
rectangular
 hp/103 ft3 Flow Diagram - Membrane Bioreactor for BOD Removal, Nitrification & Denitrification

Equations used for the calculations: (note that conversion factors are needed in some of the equat
ft

RAS Ratio: RAS = (NOx/Ne) - 1.0

s rectangular)

Anoxic Tank MLSS, MLSSAN = [RAS/(RAS +1)]*TSS_W

Aer. Tank Active biomass: PXb = QoY(So - S)/(1 + kd(SRT))

Aer. Tank Active biomass fraction: Xaer,b = PXb/Px,TSS
Anoxic Tank Active biomass fraction: Xan,b = MLSSAN/Xaer,b

Recycle `Flow rate to anoxic tank: Qanox = RAS(Q)

lb/d NOx feed rate = (Qanox)(NOXRAS)

Anoxic volume: Vanox = t Qo ( t = estimated detention time )

F/M = QSo/XV (Qo*Y*(bCODo-S)*(1/1000)/(1+(kdatTww*SRT)))

Rate at which NO3-N can be reduced: NOr = Vanox(SDNR)(MLVSS)

Coefficients for SDNR Equation

lb/day
ft3 rbCOD/bCOD bo b1
e in cell C14)
0.1 0.186 0.078
0.2 0.213 0.118
0.3 0.235 0.141
 0.4 0.242 0.152
0.5 0.27 0.162

0.3 0.30 0.2350 0.1410

0.4 0.40 0.2420 0.1520

Equations for SDNR as a function of rbCOD/bCOD and F/M

For F/M < 0.5, SDNR = 0.24*F/M (at 20oC)

biomass (at 20oC)
For F/M > 0.5, SDNR = bo + b1[ ln(F/M) ] (at 20oC)

Temperature Correction: SDNR at Tww = (SDNR at 20oC)(1.026Tww - 20)

(with Tww in oC)

hr

V an vand tan
ools" menu of
er values to
ulated values
worked properly.
n to work.

rectangular
ft Oxygen credit for nitrate reduction = 2.86 Qo(NOx - Ne)
ft
ft3
 Alkalinity produced by nitrate reduction = 3.57(NOx - Ne)

SCFM
psi

lb/day as CaCO3

lb/day NaHCO3

Sludge Wasting Rate:

Qw = [((Vaer*MLSS + Vanox*Xb)/SRT)]/(TSSw)
ation & Denitrification

eded in some of the equations)