Develop Control Strategy to Maximize Nitrogen Removal and Minimize Operation Cost in Wastewater Treatment by Online Analyzer

Washington Sanitary Suburban Commissions Seneca WWTP
Germantown, Maryland

This paper examines a full scale, real time nitrogen load and nitrogen removal profile along the aeration basin via an online analyzer at the Washington Sanitary Suburban Commissions Seneca WWTP, Md. Six months of full scale experiments provide firsthand experience with a control strategy based on DO and air flow set point, ammonia and NOx measurements and aerated swing zone volume for maximizing nitrogen removal. During the test period, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and total phosphorous concentrations were monitored instantaneously. Parallel laboratory data agrees well with online analyzer measurements. Ammonia and NOx concentrations near the head of the aerobic zone and at end of the aeration basin were critical to achieving TN below 3 mg/l. Manually controlled swing zone on/ off and air flow adjustment responded well to nitrogen load variation, resulting in overall improvement of nitrogen removal. The Seneca experience and successful application of the control strategy in European WWTPs could provide an opportunity for future process control automation based on continuous online DO and nutrients. This paper also evaluates operational data at Seneca WWTP and summarizes experiences with operation strategies and BNR process optimization gained during the last few years. Simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) was also observed based on nitrogen mass balance data which accounted for about a 53% nitrogen loss in the WSSC Seneca system. Source: WEFTEC 2009 Proceedings

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Posted: July 6th, 2010 | Filed under: Waste Water Treatment | Tags: Cost Savings, Environmental Impact, Nitrogen Removal | No Comments »

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