CIVE / CBE 540

Activated Sludge

Sybil Sharvelle
Review

SC
Aeration Tank
(Biological Reactor)

QR

QW

QR - recycled activated sludge

QW - waste activated sludge
Review

Recycle Activated Sludge

Desired Cell Concentration in Reactor
SDI Sludge Density Index
Food to Microorganism Ratio
F Q0S 0

M VX
Mean Cell Residence Time
Thinking Question

What are different ways that oxygen may be

supplied to an activated sludge reactor?
Lecture Objectives
Describe activated sludge process
Operational considerations
Process Types
Design

5
Flow Scheme

Plug Flow or Dispersed Plug Flow

Lower volume
Completely mixed (MORE POPULAR)
Maximum equalization of oxygen distribution
Dampening of shock loads
Reduction of toxics produced

6
Process Types

Plug flow and dispersed plug flow

Conventional equal oxygen supply throughout
reactor
Tapered aeration lower oxygen supply at end of
reactor where BOD is lower

Q Q

7
Process Types

Plug flow and dispersed plug flow

Step Aeration step loadings of flow to aeration tank
Evens out oxygen demand

Q
1/4Q 1/4Q 1/4Q 1/4Q

8
Process Types

Plug flow and dispersed plug flow

Extended aeration
Low F/M ratio
Minimize waste activated sludge production provide large
endogenous decay of sludge mass
Oxidation ditch

9
Process Types

Plug Flow and dispersed plug flow

Modified Aeration
Lower aeration time
Lower treatment (60-75% Removal of BOD5)

10
Process Types

Completely Mixed
Conventional
High Rate Aeration
Maintain high cell concentration 4,000 10,000 mg/L MLSS
High Aeration Rate
Pure oxygen
When oxygen demand is very high

11
Design

13
Design

Reactor volume
Sludge production (mass dry weight solids/day)
Oxygen Requirements (mass/day)
Recycle Activated Sludge (volume/day)
Secondary Clarifier Design

14
Step 1

Define Influent characteristics:

Step 2

Define kinetic and stoichiometric parameters

q
K
Y
b
fd
When not available, use values in Table 3.1
(typical)
MAY NEED TO ADJUST FOR TEMPERATURE
Step 3

Identify Design Criteria

Effluent concentration of BOD and SS
Step 4

Compute delimiting values

min
x lim
Yq b
1 Economical, with safety factor

S min Kb xmin lim
How low can concentration go
before reactions are limited?
Step 5

Choose a design SRT

Choose safety factor (Table 6.2)
Typically choose on low end, ranges are conservative

x SF min
x
lim

Ensure within normal range (Table 6.2)

Round to nearest day
Can not control better than that
Step 6

Compute effluent concentration

For CSTR
1 b x
SK
x (Yq b) 1
Step 7

Choose MLVSS, compute hydraulic detention

time
Table 6.2, 1,000 3,000 mg MLSS/L
MLVSS = 0.8 0.9 MLSS
Choose 2,000 mg MLSS/L (choose different for
different situations)
1600 - 1800 mg MLVSS/L
So 1700 mg MLVSS/L typical
Step 7

Xv Xi Xa

Solutions for Xi and Xa , board notes

Step 8

Determine Volume, Xa, and Xa/Xv

V=Q

x Y (S 0 S )
Xa
1 b x

If biomass in settling tank is active, V = reactor volume

+ settling tank volume
Many times, biomass in settling tank is assumed to not
be highly active
V = Vreactor
Step 9

Estimate MLSS
Inorganic solids associated with MLSS
MLVSS = 0.8 0.9 MLSS
Inorganic content, 10-20%
Inorganic solids in influent
Typical = 20 mg/L
Increased by solids concentration factor
20*(x/)
MLSS = Xv + Xv(10/90) + Inorganic Solids in influent
Inorganic portion of MLVSS
Step 10

Determine Solids Loss Rates

Mass per time rate at which solids leave system
Definition of solids retention time
Board notes
Step 11

Estimate Sludge Recycle and Effluent Solids

Concentration
When adequate settling takes place in secondary
clarifier, Xve ~ 15 mg VSS/L
Recycled VSS ~ 10,000 mg VSS/L
Is effluent solids concentration met?
Xae = Xve *(Xa/Xv)
Xsse = Xve * (Xss/Xv)
Design

Reactor volume
Sludge production (mass dry weight
solids/day)
Oxygen Requirements (mass/day)
Recycle Activated Sludge (volume/day)
Secondary Clarifier Design
Thinking Question

What are different ways that oxygen may be

supplied to an activated sludge reactor?