Aerated Anoxic Principles

Arkansas Water Environment Associations 2012 Waters Worth It Specialty Conference

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Getting Started

Define: Aerated - Anoxic

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The terms can be very confusing and a considerable number of definitions arrived at Aerated-anoxic Anoxic-aeration Anaerobic-aeration Anammox bacteria

what in the world am I talking about!

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Aerated-Anoxic is not limited to Siemens aeration systems but can be included in any activated sludge aeration processes, such as: Multichannel Oxidation Ditch Aeration tanks in series Multi-pass plug flow systems

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Conventional plant designs use dedicated

anoxic and aerobic biological reactors

Influent

Anoxic Reactor

Aerobic Reactor

Secondary Clarifier

Effluent

4Q

Internal Recycle RAS No air added to the anoxic reactor Nitrification achieved in the aerobic reactor Nitrates brought back through internal recycle at 4Q
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WAS

Water Technologies

Aerated anoxic processes operate at constant

oxygen deficit in the first part of the process

Influent

Aerated Anoxic Reactor

Aerated Anoxic Reactor

Aerobic Reactor

Secondary Clarifier

Effluent

Internal Recycle RAS O2 supplied to aerated anoxic reactors is less than O2 demand No internal recycle required for total nitrogen removal WAS

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A conventional oxidation ditch with aerobic and anoxic zones is not the same as aerated anoxic reactors in series

Conventional Oxidation Ditch

O2 supply must exceed demand for complete treatment It is difficult to control aerobic and anoxic zones in a single reactor

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Aerated Anoxic Reactors Oxygen Deficit

Q: What does Oxygen

Deficit mean? Deficit Condition:
O2 Supplied < 75% of O2 Demand
100 90

Oxygen Deficit Condition

Result = 0 DO

For single reactor system It means Youre in Trouble! For systems with reactors in a series, it pertains to the conditions desired in the first reactor.

80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 O2 Demand O2 Supplied

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Aeration Tanks Complete Mix vs. Plug Flow

Complete Mix

Influent

Effluent

Plug Flow
Influent Effluent

Aeration Tanks Typical Oxidation Ditch

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Aeration Tanks Converting Plug flow to Complete Mix Option 1: Add some pipes

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Orris Albertson Control of Sludge Bulking

Discussed the history of activated sludge innovations used over 70 years ago

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Early Innovators

Wellington Donaldson 70 years ago decided to compartmentalize plug flow tanks

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Orris Albertson Control of Sludge Bulking

Phoenix 91st Avenue WWTP: Aerated-anoxic system Established that anoxic tank could be mixed with course bubble air instead of conventional mixers Anoxic tank equaled 25% of total volume

Air did not hurt denitrification.

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Aerated Anoxic Nitrification Nitrification Requirements: Adequate oxygen Alkalinity Adequate sludge age Adequate ammonia Immediate source of nitrates for denitrification Simultaneous nitrificationdenitrification takes place A short-cut nitrification/ denitrification pathway is available Advantages of Nitrification in Aerated Anoxic Reactor: Air did not hurt denitrification.

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Ive got a problem with what youre saying thats not the way I learned it!

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Where does the nitrification occur?

Q: Does all the nitrification

occur in the high DO zone? Y or N

A: Not in aerated anoxic systems

the low DO reactors are the BEST environment for the nitrifiers

0 0.5
The nitrification occurs where the majority of O2 is delivered.
Orbal DO profile in mg/l
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Aerated anoxic saves power

Majority of the oxygen is supplied at zero DO

Oxygen transfer is more efficient when supplied at zero DO (Cs C)

20% - 30% power savings

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Carey, OH WWTP Case Study Overview Challenge: Five rectangular tanks operating in parallel with nitrification problems. Ammonia level was not meeting requirements Solution: Switch operation from parallel to series. Results: Before (Two in parallel): eff. Ammonia 1.7 mg/l After (Three in Series): eff. Ammonia 0.03 mg/l

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Reactors in series improve nitrification Carey, OH WWTP case study Challenge: 5 tanks in parallel with nitrification problems
Ammonia not meeting limits

Parallel

Series

Solution: Switch parallel to series Explanation: Results :

Before Switch to series eliminated (parallel): short circuiting eff. NH3 1.7 mg/l After Reactors in series created (series): aerated anoxic conditions that eff. NH3 0.03 mg/l promote simultaneous N-D

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Unusual Titles for Papers

Lower Oxygen Delivery Can Lead to Superior Nitrification

Increasing Oxygen Delivery in Anoxic Tanks to Improve Denitrification

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INCREASING oxygen delivery in anoxic tanks to IMPROVE Denitrification

Sounds backwards, huh? Wouldnt denitrification be better with no oxygen delivery in anoxic tanks?

Case Study: Hammonton, NJ WWTP Increasing O2 delivery in aerated anoxic tanks improves denitrification
By increasing O2 delivery in outer channel NO3-N dropped from 2.8 mg/l to 1.6 mg/l!

175

O2 Supply Before O2 Supply After O2 Demand

150

O2 Demand, lbs/hr

125

100

75

50

25

0 Outer
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Middle Channel

Inner Water Technologies

Hammonton, NJ WWTP Nitrogen Balance

Q: With 0.3 mg/l nitrate, how much denitrification is due to recycle? Influent N to be nitrified @ 200 lbs/day N denitrified @ 197 lbs/day N in recycle @ 13 lbs/day N denitrified due to simultaneous N-D @ 184 lbs/day A: More than 93% is denitrified due to simultaneous N-D!

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University of Wisconsin F.I.S.H. Study

Compared nitrifiers from: 1. Orbal plants with aerated anoxic reactors 2. Nitrification plants with conventional upfront non-aerated anoxic tanks

Found different types of nitrifiers for two different types of plant:

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NITROSOMONAS typical ammonia oxidizer for most nitrification plants, including those with non-aerated anoxic reactors NITROSPIREA dominant ammonia oxidizer for plants with aeratedanoxic reactors NITROBACTER dominant nitrite oxidizer
Water Technologies

University of Wisconsin F.I.S.H. Study

Dormant Nitrifiers
NITROSPIREA: The dominant ammonia oxidizer in systems where there is simultaneous nitrifcation-denitrification A nitrifier that is very good at going dormant There are a lot of dormant nitrifiers in our BNR designs

Staging with aerated anoxic reactors in front is a good way to increase (even double) the nitrifier population. Nitrifier population does not exclusively depend upon the amount of ammonia entering the plant. Under typical conditions: 10,000 units 50% active 50% inactive With increased dormant population: 25,000 units 20% active 80% inactive
Water Technologies

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Nine Springs WWTP: Madison, WI Conventional FB plant with upfront anaerobic tank

Anaerobic

Aerobic (fine bubble)

Operates at a 10 day SRT side by side test with one side being aerated anoxic Loading MLSS eTN eP CFM/lb of BOD Conventional: 14 2800 15 0.4 1100 Aerated Anoxic: 26 4100 11 0.2 673

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Denitrification Shortcut Pathway 5-step pathway: Ammonia nitrite nitrate nitrite nitrogen gas Explains lack of nitrite oxidizers in Orris Albertsons Phoenix study

3-step Shortcut pathway (in aerated anoxic tanks): Ammonia nitrite nitrogen gas
Requires 33% less carbon

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Aerated Anaerobic

It sounds too odd But works in designs with LARGE aerated anoxic tanks and limited oxygen

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McMinnville, Oregon WWTP

Two 3-channel Orbal Basins

1st channel operates as aerated anaerobic channel 2nd channel operates as aerated anoxic channel

1.52 m.gal. Aeration Volume per basin Four 50 hp Drives 0.07 mg/l eff. P required Designed for 8 day sludge age 0.5 mg/l eff. ammonia required Only 18% of total basin volume is aerobic

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McMinnville, Oregon WWTP P-removal Performance Typical Municipal Plant Operates first channel with discs at 29 rpm less than 10% of the total oxygen (aerated anaerobic) Second channel operates with 70% of the air and a zero DO (aerated anoxic) Effluent ammonia at 0.2 mg/l (with 8 day sludge age) Sol. P from Orbal/FC is 0.03 mg/l Total P from Orbal/FC is 0.1 mg/l
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Comparison of Two Identical Aeration Systems System A

SAE @ 3 lbs/hp-hr DO levels 0 - 2 - 4 alpha @ 0.9 power draw @ 544 hp

System B
SAE @ 3 lbs/hp-hr DO levels 0 - 2 - 4 alpha @ 0.9 power draw @ 444 hp

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Case Study @ Little Lower Miami, OH Adding more O2 at Zero DO saves power DO
Aerated Anoxic Optimization Recommendations
800 700 Add more O2 where absorption rate is greatest Add less O2 where absorption rate is less Add less O2 where absorption rate is less

Oxygen Delivered, lbs/d

600

Total O2 Supplied (lb/hr)

500 400 300 200 100 0

O2 absorbed from aerators (AOR)

Actual For AOR For FCF Total Power Use

Actual Optimized

Optimized 1000 322 1322 444 HP

Optimized

Difference

1050 583 1633 544 HP

Actual

Unabsorbed O2 from aerators (FCF)

22.5% less 22.5% less

Actual Optimized

Aerated Anoxic Zone 0 mg/l DO 0.9 FCF

Aerobic Zone 1 2mg/l DO 0.7 FCF

Aerobic Zone 2 4mg/l DO 0.5 FCF

Operating Conditions: DO levels and alpha/FCF same

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Anammox Bacteria
Nitrogen Removal Efficiency at Centralized Domestic

Wastewater Treatment Plant in Bangkok, Thailand VLR @ Nongkhaem: I E BOD 32.8 3.8 N 11.8 6.7

Of the several plants (8) in the study, Anammox type bacteria was only present at the Nongkhaem plant

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Anammox Bacteria
2.5 mgd Orbal plant with primaries Ratio of BOD:N@ 3.5:1 (105 mg/l BOD 30 mg/l TKN) Effluent ammonia @ 0.1 mg/l Effluent nitrate @ 2 mg/l

Anammox Pathway: 50% of the ammonia oxidized to NO2-N 50% of the ammonia uses NO2-N for oxygen supplier

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Where do we go from here?

Blending Aerobic With Anaerobic

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50,000 gpd Pilot Study in Singapore

Roof Installation

Roof with Canvas

Gas Holder Installation

Digester with Gas Holder

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With DAFT and Anaerobic Digestion

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BOD Extraction and Digester Recycle

Plant main gate

Construction Temporary Access

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Prime Float Normal Loading Conditions

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Prime Float High Solids Loading Conditions (Simulate Captivator)

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Test Plans and Summary for High Solids Loading Conditions

BOD = 320 mg/L TSS = 210 mg/L Primary Clarifier Contact Tank Directly To Aeration Tanks Q R = 6 gpm, TSS = 6000 mg/L Q = 18 gpm FeCl3, 0 - 10 ppm DAF Influent QDAF = 18 gpm, DAF System DAF Effluent, to Aeration Tanks BOD = 50 mg/L, TSS = 35 mg/L DAF Float Sludge, 3.5%

Influent Flow Q Inf = 30 gpm, BOD = 400 mg/L TSS = 375 mg/L

Biosolids Flow, TSS Source

High Solids Loading Conditions Base Case Base Case +10 ppm FeCl3 Base Case + 5 ppm FeCl3

Biosolids TSS Loading /Influent BOD Loading Targeted 2.7 2.7 2.7 Actual 3.5 3.1 3.1 TSS 98 99 97

DAF performance, Removal Efficiencies, % BOD 93 95 97 COD 96 96 96

Half of raw influent was treated by combined primary clarifier and contact tank (CT) + DAF: DAF effluent BOD = 50 mg/L with total removal of 88%: 20% removed by clarifier and 68% removed by CT + DAF DAF effluent TSS = 35 mg/L with total removal of 91%: 44% removed by clarifier and 47% removed by CT + DAF Estimated reduction in aeration required = 0.5*Q*(320-50)/(Q*320) = 42% based on BOD balance
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Sand Island WWTP, Hawaii Currently no secondary treatment Upgrade cost estimate: $1.2 Billion Power Cost: $0.21/kW Limited land area for upgrade

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Aeration Energy Reduction/Biogas Production Conventional Mode 2700 kW 1800 kW Energy used Energy recovered BE/DR 1300 kW 4800 kW

Total revenue gain of $8M/year Total surplus of $6M/year

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Remembering Wellington Donaldson He had great ideas. But for the most part they were: ignored neglected forgotten not used Maybe now we are finally back on the right course

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