UNIVERSITY OF MAURITIUS

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

SECOND SEMESTER EXAMINATIONS

MAY 2015
PROGRAMME

B.Eng (Hons) Civil Engineering

MODULE NAME

Wastewater Engineering

DATE

Tuesday

MODULE CODE

CIVE 3223(5)

12 May 2015
TIME
NO. OF
QUESTIONS SET

13.30 15.30
4

DURATION
NO. OF QUESTIONS
TO BE ATTEMPTED

2 hours
4

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
Answer ALL FOUR (4) questions.
Question 1 carries 40 Marks. The other three (3) questions carry 20 marks each.

WASTEWATER ENGINEERING CIVE 3223 (5)

Answer ALL FOUR (4) questions
All questions carry equal marks

Question 1
(a)

Activated sludge is one of the main biological processes in wastewater treatment.

With the aid of an illustration, prove that the return sludge ratio (R) in an
activated sludge process can be related as follows:
X = XR [R/(1+R)]; where X and XR refers to the sludge concentration in the reactor
and the return sludge line respectively.
(3 marks)

(b)

Design a complete-mix activated sludge system given the following data:

Average design flow: 0.32 m3/s
Peak design flow: 0.80 m3/s
Raw wastewater BOD5: 240 mg/l
Raw wastewater TSS: 280 mg/l
Effluent BOD5< 20 mg/l
Effluent TSS< 24 mg/l
Design Mean Cell Residence Time (sludge age): 10 days
Design MLVSS= 2400 mg/l
VSS/TSS=0.80
TSS in Return Activated Sludge= 9300 mg/l
Y= 0.5 mg VSS/mg BOD5
Kd= 0.06 /day
BOD5/ultimate BOD=0.67
The sludge age takes into account the sludge wasted as well as the solids removed
in the clarified final effluent.
Assume a convenient BOD5 and TSS removal in the primary clarifier.
Assume the specific gravity of the primary sludge is 1.05, and the sludge has 4.4%
of solids content
Assume oxygen consumption is 1.42 mg per mg of cell oxidized
(Continue next page)
Page 1 of 3

WASTEWATER ENGINEERING CIVE 3223 (5)

(Question 1 continued)
Compute the HRT, reactor volume, dimensions of rectangular aeration tanks,
quantity of sludge wasted daily, recycle ratio, F/M ratio, Oxygen requirements
and volume of air required.
(22 marks)
(c)

Design secondary clarifiers using the data in 1(b) and the following MLSS settling
test results:
MLSS(mg/l)
1200
Initial settling 4.1
velocity, m/h

1800
3.1

2400
2.1

3300
1.2

4000
0.77

5500
0.26

6800
0.13

8100
0.06

(15 Marks)
Aide memoire: 1/c

= [Y(So-S)/ X ] - Kd
(Total 40 marks)

Question 2
(a)

Design an aerated grit chamber installation for an average wastewater flowrate of

0.438 m3/s and peaking factor 3. The average depth of the grit chamber is 3 m, the
width to depth ratio is 1.5:1, and the detention time at peak flow is 4.0 min. The
aeration rate is 0.4 m3/min per meter of the grit chamber length. Determine the
dimensions of the grit chamber (assume two chambers will be used) and the total
aeration air required.
(7 marks)

(b)

Explain why the Surface Overflow Rate (SOR) is the most significant design
parameter for primary sedimentation tanks.
(5 marks)

(c)

Design a primary clarification system for a design average wastewater flow of

7570 m3/day with a peak hourly flow of 18,900 m3/d . Assume a convenient
Surface Overflow rate(SOR) and a length to width ratio of 4:1.
(8 marks)
(Total 20 marks)

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WASTEWATER ENGINEERING CIVE 3223 (5)

Question 3
(a)

Write Short Notes on

(i)
(ii)
(iii)

Rotating Biological Contactor

Sequencing Batch Reactor
Extended Aeration Activated Sludge System
[12 Marks]

(b)

Draw a schematic diagram of a wastewater treatment plant which is capable of

significantly reducing the levels of nitrogen and phosphorous. Give reasons for
your selection of unit processes.
[8 marks]
(Total 40 marks)

Question 4
(a)

A 9m diameter by 3m side wall depth gravity thickener is concentrating a primary

sludge. The sludge flow is 300 L/min( litres per minute) with an average solids
content of 4.4%. The thickened sludge is withdrawn at 125 L/min with 6.8%
solids. The sludge blanket is 1 m thick. The effluent of the thickener has a TSS
level of 660 mg/l. Determine (1) the sludge detention time (2) whether the blanket
will increase or decrease in depth under the stated conditions.
(8 marks)

(b)

Outline one process available for the stabilization of sludges from domestic
wastewater treatment plants.
(6 marks)

(b)

Explain why sludge thickening and dewatering are important in sludge treatment
and disposal operations and describe one method of sludge dewatering in
common use.
(6 marks)
(Total 40 marks)

END OF QUESTION PAPER

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