Repblica Bolivariana de Venezuela

Ministerio del Poder Popular para la Educacin Superior

Universidad Martima del Caribe

M/T Teseo

Sewage Treatment
Plant

Chief Engineer: Engine Cadet:

Argenis Esparragoza Daniel Chaparro

Second Engineer:

Nelson Duque

February 2017
 MARPOL IV

The discharge of untreated sewage in controlled or territorial waters is usually

banned by legislation. International legislation is in force to cover any sewage discharges
within specified distances from land. As a result, and in order to meet certain standards all
new ships have sewage treatment plants installed.

Sewage is defined by MARPOL as all drainage and others waste that come from
toilets or urinals, drainage from medical premises, from spaces where there are living
animals or drainages with mix of waste mentioned above. The Anne x requires that ships to
which the Annex applies be equipped with either a sewage treatment plant or a sewage
holding tank. The sewage treatment plan shall be of a type approved by the Administration,
taking into account the standards and test methods developed by the Organization.

The discharge of sewage into the sea will be prohibited, except when the ship has in
operation an approved sewage plant, or Is discharging comminuted and disinfected sewage
using an approved system at a distance of more than 3 Nm from the nearest land, or is
discharging sewage which is not comminuted or infected at a distance of more than 12 Nm
from the nearest land.

Sea Area Discharge criteria outside Special Area

Within 3 Nm from nearest land
Between 3 and 12 Nm from nearest land
More than 12 Nm from land
No Discharge (1) except from an approved
sewage plant certified.
No Discharge (2) except either:
From except from an approved sewage
plant or for comminuting and disinfecting
sewage.
Discharge from either:
1 or 2 above, or sewage which is not
comminuted or disinfected. Sewage that
had been stored in holding tank or sewage
originating from space containing living
animals, shall not be discharged
instantaneously nut a moderate rate when
the ship is en route proceeding at not less
than 4knots.
 Sewage Treatment Plant System

The breakdown of raw sewage in water is effected by aerobic bacteria if there is a

relatively ample presence of oxygen, but by anaerobic bacteria if the oxygen has been
depleted. When the amount of sewage relative to water is small, dissolved oxygen in the
water will assist a bio-chemical (aerobic) action which breaks down the sewage into simple,
clean components and carbon dioxide. This type of action is produced in biological sewage
treatment plant (present on board) in which air (containing 21% O2) is bubbled through to
sustain the aerobic bacteria. The final discharge from an aerobic treatment plant has a clean
and clear appearance.

To discharge sewage in territorial waters the effluent quality may have to be within
certain standards laid down by the local or national authorities. These will usually be based
on one or more of three factors, namely the bio-chemical oxygen demand (BOD),
suspended solids content and e-coliform count of the discharge.

Bio-Chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)

The BOD is determined by incubating at 20C, a sample of sewage effluent which has
been well-oxygenated. The amount of oxygen absorbed over a 5 days period is then
measured. The test is used in this context to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment as it
measures the total amount of O2 taken up in milligrams per liter or p.p.m. as final and
complete breakdown of organic matter by aerobic bacteria in the effluent occurs. The
quantity of O2 used equates to the amount of further breakdown required.

Suspended Solids

Suspended solids are unsightly and over a period of time can give rise to silting
problems. They are usually a sign of malfunctioning sewage plant and when very high will
be accompanied by a high BOD. Suspended solids are measured by filtering a sample
through a pre-weigh pad which is then dried and re-weighed. Test results are in parts per
million or milligrams of suspended solids per liter.

Coliform Count

There are certain telltale bacteria found in human waste which originate from the
intestine. These are coliform organisms. Disinfection of the effluent at the end of the
sewage treatment process will reduce the coliform level and also the level of other
organisms which may be present such as those responsible for typhoid, dysentery, gastro-
enteritis etc. Apart from these bacteria found in raw sewage there are also viruses of the
type responsible for illnesses like poliomyelitis and infectious hepatitis.

The effectiveness of disinfection is checked by a coliform count carried out on a

sample of effluent. Results are given as the number of coliforms per 100 ml on a sample of
effluent. Results are given as the number of coliforms per 100 ml of effluent. One coliform
test consists of incubating a sample over 48 hours period at 35 C. Another test takes 24
hours to produce a colony of bacteria at an incubation temperature of 35C.

Biological Sewage Treatment Plant

Working Principle

Basically this consists of oxygenating by bubbling air through or by agitating the

surface. By so doing a family of bacteria is propagated which thrives on the oxygen content
and digests the sewage to produce an innocuous sludge. In order to exist, the bacteria need
a continuing supply of oxygen from the air and sewage waste. If plant is shut down or
bypassed or if the air supply fails (for more than 24 hours), the bacteria die and the plant
cannot function correctly until a new bacteria colony is generated. Change of flushing liquid
as when a ship moves from a sea water environment to fresh water, drastic change of
temperature or excess use of lavatory cleaning agents can also affect the bacteria colony.
The process of regeneration can take several days depending on the level of harm caused.

Bacteria which live in the presence of oxygen are said to be aerobic. When oxygen
is not present, the aerobic bacteria cannot live but a different family of bacteria is
generated. These bacteria are said to be anaerobic. Whilst they are equally capable of
breaking down sludge, in so doing they generate gases such as hydrogen sulphide and
methane. Continuing use of a biological sewage system after a failure of the air supply,
could result in propagation of anaerobic bacteria and processes. The gases produced by
anaerobic activity are dangerous, being flammable and toxic.

Description of Working Process

The sewage treatment plant comprises three compartments; aeration

compartment, a clarification compartment and a chlorination compartment.

The incoming sewage enters the aeration compartment. Breakdown of the waste in
the aeration compartment is induced by bacteriological organisms promoted by the
presence of oxygen. The oxygen is supplied by the air from the blowers which enters the
aeration section through a fine bubble diffuser at the bottom. The diffuser is of porous
material so that clean air is needed to prevent blockage. The Bubbles besides providing
oxygen, also create turbulence so that settlement is prevented and good mixing obtained.

After prolonged aeration, the mixed is displaced into the clarification tank where the
biological floc is formed, the setting or clarification tank is a hopper type, its sloping side
prevent the settled sludge from accumulating and direct it to suction side of the airlift tube.
Activated sludge cannot be allowed to remain in the settling tank since there is no oxygen
supplied to this area and in a very short time the collected sludge would become anaerobic
and give off offensive odors therefore it gravitates to the bottom and is continuously
withdrawn and returned to aeration tank, to mix with incoming waste. The sludge is
returned to the aeration compartment by an air lift, via a visual vinyl hose which enables a
check to be made on the sludge return. A skimmer is provided at the upper center of the
clarification tank to skim off and return surface debris back to aeration tank by way of the
same method taken for return of the activated sludge by another airlift tube.

The clear effluent overflow from setting tank to Chlorination compartment. It must
be disinfected to reduce the number of coliforms to an acceptable level. Disinfection is
achieved by treating the clean effluent with solution of calcium or sodium hypochlorite. The
plant uses chlorination tablets retained in perforated plastic tubes around which the clean
effluent flows dissolving some of the table material. At the side of the tank provided are
two level float switch to control the operation of discharge pump.

Technical Data of Sasakura-Hamworthy Sewage Treatment plant

Super Trident ST-4A

Purification Process: Activated Sludge Process

Inflow Liquid: Toilet Sewage
Treatment Capability: Max. Flow 3010 L/Day (Max. 50 persons- 60 L/Man/Day)
BOD: Below 40 ppm
SS: Below 50 ppm
Coliform: Below 200/100mL
Power Source: AC 440v/60Hz/3 Phase
 Elements of Sewage Treatment Plant On Board

Aerobic Bacteria

Currently the plant is dosing with Bioaugmentation Culture 79136 is a blend of

freeze dried bacteria and ground bran in the form of free flowing granular powder. For
reactivated the plant before of a maintenance, the amount of Biougmentation that is going
to be use, it should be 1 kg mixed with 10-15 liters of fresh water at 35C (or hand hot), left
10-15 minutes (stirring periodically) for the bacteria to activate before dosage into the tank.
Then a weekly maintenance dosage of 250 gr should be used.

Aeration Compartment

This tank consists of two set of air diffusers, two man holes in both sides and
inspection hole on the top, intakes for raw sewage, fresh water and air, a sampling cock and
two discharge from clarification air lift for recirculation. Over a period of time the quantity
of sludge in an aeration tank increases due to the collection of inert residues resulting from
the digestion process, for preventing the over accumulated of those residues a desludged
have to be done at intervals of about three months. The desludging operation entails
pumping out about three quarters of the aeration tank contents and refilling clean water.

Clarification Compartment

It is a hopper tank, it has intake from aeration tank at lower part and an overflow
discharge to Chlorination tank, in the center there is a skimmer with its own air lift tube
and air supply line. At the bottom of the tank there is the air lifts suction for recirculation
to aeration tank also has an inspection hole on the top.

Chlorination Compartment

the last stage when the income clean effluent is sterilized passing through the
chlorinator, it comprises rectangular chlorinator body and three cylinders for filling the
tablets, at the bottom of the filling cylinder several cuts are provided to bring the flowed
in fluid contact with tablets placed in the cylinder, and the required amount of chlorine is
dissolved. At outlet of the chlorinator is a control weir arranged so that as the effluent
flow increases the level rises and more tablets come into contact with the effluent.

Discharged Pump

One pump is mounted on the sewage treatment plant. The pump is a centrifugal
non-clog type direct coupled to the motor. Usually, the pump automatically discharges the
treatment water during operation and with a manual operation taking out the sludge from
each compartment is enable during the cleaning of the tank inside.
Air Compressor

One air compressor is mounted and its function is continually supply air for water
oxygenation and create turbulence by air diffusers and also supply compressed air to air
lift tubes in order to help lifting of sludge. Currently the air compressor is out service, the
sewage treatment plant also has an intake air from air service line for solve this problem

Float Switch

Three float switches, high level, low level and high alarm level switch are fitted on
the chlorination compartment. The High level and Low level switch are using for start and
stop the discharge pump.

Flow Meter

A fresh water flow meter with a range 15-150 l/h allows to keep the water contain
into the sewage plant higher than raw sewage. This is because bacteria require water
medium for living and do the oxidation process and the plants efficiency is going to be
considerably affected by if the level of the raw sewage is higher than water. Also in
compensating of any water leak. The flow meter should be adjusting at 100-105 l/h.

Operation

Before Operation

Check that the control structures and the related portion have no damages and no
looseness at the fitting portion.
Make sure that air compressor and discharge pump are free from any sticking and
rotation direction.
Operation Procedure

Turn the power switch to ON and set the select switch of the discharge pump at
AUTO.
Close Chlorination tank and Setting tank valves, and open the Sea Water Fill up valve
(from G/S pump) and Aeration tank valve. Fill the tank with water until the water
flows through the chlorinator. You will note this when the airlift from skimmer starts
to recirculate.
Close the Sea Water Fill Up valve, Setting tank valve and Aeration tank valve and
open Chlorination tank and Discharge pump valves.
Open the lid of the tablets feed tube to fill it with tablets. Usually, only one tube out
of the three shall be filled.
Fully open all valves of air feed line and set the air incoming from air service line at
0.1-0.5 Kg/cm2.
 Make sure that the fluid is being sent back through the sludge return vinyl hoses at
the upper part of the aeration tank. Since the airflow for sludge return is previously
adjusted by the plug cock in the factory, do not change the adjustment. If the plug
is changed by error, adjust the opening so as the water in the sludge return vinyl
hose is kept ay about a half level.
Now the plant is ready to work, open the sewage inlet valve (from sewage collecting
tank) to flow sewage into the device.
Set fresh water flow meter at 100-105 L/H. In order to always keep water content
higher than raw sewage.
Recommendations
For achieve the best performance of the sewage treatment plant the following
recommendations should be applying it:

Always keep in mind that plant works with bacteria so that they need some
condition for live such as:
1. A supply of nutrients for growth: Nutrients available from effluent include nitrogen,
hydrogen, Sulphur, nitrogen and phosphorus.
2. The presence of water: Effluent normally always contains some water but also it is
necessarily to constantly supply source of fresh water for their oxygenation and
habitat.
3. The correct temperature: Survival temperature is typically 30 to 38 C. Higher
temperatures will kill them but a lower only slows growth.
4. Bacteria breed: usually from 10 days to one month, though can be varied depending
upon the operating circumstances before the aerobic bacteria start to breed
5. Air supply: if the operation is suspended for more than 24 hours, the efficiency
would be affected due to decreased or die out bacteria caused by lack of oxygen and
nutrition.
6. Domestic cleaner: using domestic cleaner on the system or on toilet might destroy
the aerobic bacteria.
The dosage of new bacteria should be directly to aeration tank or into the nearest
toilet and taking some consideration about that sewage pass thought the collection
tank before get into the system. Always following the recommendation of
bacterias manufacturer. For normal operation the dosage should be one bacteria
bag (250 gr) and after maintenance about 1-1.5 Kg and for a quick repopulation
could be use max. 5kg of bacteria.
Weekly drain and check the gas vent pipe.
At intervals of about three months, the aeration tank must be desludged by
pumping out about three quarters part of the tank and check the aeration tank and
clarification tank if the internal screens are soiled, clean them with fresh water or
sea water, and then refills with water.
The chlorinator must be cleaned periodically, as in the chlorinator, calcium
hypochlorite tablets are dissolved with the treated water, which leaves undissolved
stuff deposited inside or stuck to the inner surface of the unit.