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A consistent modelling methodology for secondary settling tanks in wastewater treatment

Bürger, Raimund ; Diehl, Stefan LU and Nopens, Ingmar (2011) In Water Research 45(6). p.2247-2260
Abstract
The aim of this contribution is partly to build consensus on a consistent modelling methodology (CMM) of complex real processes in wastewater treatment by combining classical concepts with results from applied mathematics, and partly to apply it to the clarification-thickening process in the secondary settling tank. In the CMM, the real process should be approximated by a mathematical model (process model; ordinary or partial differential equation (ODE or PDE)), which in turn is approximated by a simulation model (numerical method) implemented on a computer. These steps have often not been carried out in a correct way. The secondary settling tank was chosen as a case since this is one of the most complex processes in a wastewater treatment... (More)
The aim of this contribution is partly to build consensus on a consistent modelling methodology (CMM) of complex real processes in wastewater treatment by combining classical concepts with results from applied mathematics, and partly to apply it to the clarification-thickening process in the secondary settling tank. In the CMM, the real process should be approximated by a mathematical model (process model; ordinary or partial differential equation (ODE or PDE)), which in turn is approximated by a simulation model (numerical method) implemented on a computer. These steps have often not been carried out in a correct way. The secondary settling tank was chosen as a case since this is one of the most complex processes in a wastewater treatment plant and simulation models developed decades ago have no guarantee of satisfying fundamental mathematical and physical properties. Nevertheless, such methods are still used in commercial tools to

date. This particularly becomes of interest as the state-of-the-art practice is moving towards plant-wide modelling. Then all submodels interact and errors propagate through the model and severely hamper any calibration effort and, hence, the predictive purpose of the model. The CMM is described by applying it first to a simple conversion process in the

biological reactor yielding an ODE solver, and then to the solideliquid separation in the secondary settling tank, yielding a PDE solver. Time has come to incorporate established mathematical techniques into environmental engineering, and wastewater treatment modelling in particular, and to use proven reliable and consistent simulation models. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Thickener, Clarifier, Continuous sedimentation, Partial differential, equation, Simulation model, Numerical method
in
Water Research
volume
45
issue
6
pages
2247 - 2260
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • wos:000288638500009
  • scopus:79951950171
  • pmid:21334042
ISSN
1879-2448
DOI
10.1016/j.watres.2011.01.020
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
2855585e-78b9-461b-8b52-e3a54c7956c7 (old id 1790649)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 15:05:46
date last changed
2022-03-22 03:31:02
@article{2855585e-78b9-461b-8b52-e3a54c7956c7,
  abstract     = {{The aim of this contribution is partly to build consensus on a consistent modelling methodology (CMM) of complex real processes in wastewater treatment by combining classical concepts with results from applied mathematics, and partly to apply it to the clarification-thickening process in the secondary settling tank. In the CMM, the real process should be approximated by a mathematical model (process model; ordinary or partial differential equation (ODE or PDE)), which in turn is approximated by a simulation model (numerical method) implemented on a computer. These steps have often not been carried out in a correct way. The secondary settling tank was chosen as a case since this is one of the most complex processes in a wastewater treatment plant and simulation models developed decades ago have no guarantee of satisfying fundamental mathematical and physical properties. Nevertheless, such methods are still used in commercial tools to<br/><br>
date. This particularly becomes of interest as the state-of-the-art practice is moving towards plant-wide modelling. Then all submodels interact and errors propagate through the model and severely hamper any calibration effort and, hence, the predictive purpose of the model. The CMM is described by applying it first to a simple conversion process in the<br/><br>
biological reactor yielding an ODE solver, and then to the solideliquid separation in the secondary settling tank, yielding a PDE solver. Time has come to incorporate established mathematical techniques into environmental engineering, and wastewater treatment modelling in particular, and to use proven reliable and consistent simulation models.}},
  author       = {{Bürger, Raimund and Diehl, Stefan and Nopens, Ingmar}},
  issn         = {{1879-2448}},
  keywords     = {{Thickener; Clarifier; Continuous sedimentation; Partial differential; equation; Simulation model; Numerical method}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{6}},
  pages        = {{2247--2260}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Water Research}},
  title        = {{A consistent modelling methodology for secondary settling tanks in wastewater treatment}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2011.01.020}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.watres.2011.01.020}},
  volume       = {{45}},
  year         = {{2011}},
}