LECTURE 8 MEAN CELL RESIDENCE TIME, or SOLID RETENTION TIME, or SLUDGE AGE • This is the average time in days for which biomass or biological solids are retained or remain in the biological reactor. • It is measured as the biomass of the reactor per unit of mass of solids removed or wasted from the reactor every day. • At steady-state operation, the mass of biomass wasted is equal to the mass of cells produced in the reactor. • For a system without return of sludge to the reactor, MCRT is equal to HRT. When a fraction of sludge is recycled to the reactor and a part is wasted from the sludge return line, then MCRT is defined as the ratio of the biomass maintained in the reactor to the sludge wasted per day. MEAN CELL RESIDENCE TIME, or SOLID RETENTION TIME, or SLUDGE AGE 𝑏𝑖𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 • MCRT = θc = 𝑏𝑖𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟
(𝑽) (𝑿) (𝑽)
• θc = = = HRT (𝑸) (𝑿) (𝑸) MEAN CELL RESIDENCE TIME, or SOLID RETENTION TIME, or SLUDGE AGE • For system with recycle
(𝑽) (𝑿) • θc = 𝑸𝒘 𝑿𝒓 + 𝑸𝒆 𝑿𝒆 • Where parameters are as defined MEAN CELL RESIDENCE TIME, or SOLID RETENTION TIME, or SLUDGE AGE • MCRT or SRT must be maintained at a level greater than the maximum generation time of microorganism in the system to prevent washout of biomass with the effluent. • MCRT indirectly measures the efficiency of SST, and separation of sludge from wastewater and affects the F/M ratio. • Example 10, For the activated sludge process system given, compute the MCRT and recirculation ratio R for the given data – Daily average flow of wastewater, Qavg=Qo= 10MLD – Effluent flowrate of wastewater, Qe=9.92MLD – Sludge wasting rate, Qw= 0.08MLD – Hydraulic retention time, HRT=6 Hours – Active biomass concentration in reactor, X=3000mg/L (MLVSS) – Biomass concentration in effluent, Xe= 20mg/L – Biomass concentration in return line, Xr= 9000mg/L QUIZ A plant that has a flow of 2.5 MLD has a MLVSS of 2850mg/L. The biomass concentration in an activated sludge process is maintained by returning the sludge, RAS. The current RAS, TSS concentration (TSSras) in return activated sludge is 6580 mg/L. TSS concentration (TSSinf) in the influent is small and ignored. First draw the process flow diagram and then calculate (a) the return rate of sludge (Qras), and (b) the flow ratio of RAS to influent. HYDRAULIC LOADING • The hydraulic loading refers to the daily quantity of wastewater applied to each unit surface area of the treatment basin. • It helps in determining the surface area of the treatment units when the flow of wastewater is known. • Numerically hydraulic loading is equal to SLR • Example 11, Assuming hydraulic loading rate of 25.0m3/m2-d, determine the surface area and diameter of a basin treating 0.5 MLD flow of wastewater. BASIN GEOMETRY LENGTH:BREADTH: DEPTH RATIO • Laboratory studies and field experiences have shown that the ratio of length to breadth of a rectangular tank affects the hydraulic performance of rectangular treatment units. • When the ratio is not proper, hydraulic short- circuiting takes place between the inlet and outlet channels, and dead pockets may form at the corners of the tank. • In order to eliminate or control the hydraulic short- circuiting of flow and the formation of dead pockets in the tank, it is necessary to consider the design criteria published or determined for ratios of length to breadth for rectangular tanks by lab or pilot study. HYDRAULIC FLOW DIAGRAM, HFD • Another important consideration from the practical point of view is the preparation of hydraulic flow diagrams or hydraulic profiles. • HFD shows the details of the water levels at the average and peak flows. • It shows the reduced levels or elevations of wastewater surfaces and the top surfaces of all units of a treatment plant, levels of other significant features like weirs, tops and bottoms of units, and foundation levels of pumps. HYDRAULIC FLOW DIAGRAM, HFD HFDs are necessary for the following reasons:- – They provide the hydraulic gradients from which it can be ensured whether the gradient is sufficient for the flow of wastewater from one unit to another by gravity – Hydraulic profiles help to check against the backflow of wastewater from succeeding units to preceding units, particularly at peak flows HYDRAULIC FLOW DIAGRAM, HFD HFDs are necessary for the following reasons:- – Help to ensure that no backflow or flooding of units takes place when final effluent is disposed into natural streams, especially in the rainy season when streams usually get flooded. – Are useful in computing the required heads for the pumps during the design calculation of pumping stations. – Are useful for checking hydraulic losses between the units HYDRAULIC FLOW DIAGRAM, HFD Normally, the layout of a treatment plant is designed in such a way that wastewater flows from the preceding unit to succeeding units by gravity by providing appropriate hydraulic gradients Home work 1. A community treatment plant is designed to discharge its final effluent in a natural perennial stream. What are the considerations that you would suggest for its effluent discharge point? 2. Explain the significance of the surface loading rate in the design of the PST. 3. What is the significance of settling velocity and surface overflow rate in sizing the treatment units? Explain with suitable examples how they can be used to determine the size of treatment units. GENERAL PROCEDURE FOR DESIGN CALCULATIONS The steps to be followed in general, to carry out the design calculations for rectangular and circular units. I. Compute the present and future average daily wastewater flow rate.(maximum for some units) II. Compute the capacity or volume of the treatment unit. • Assume HRT, then Volume = HRT x Flow rate III. Compute the surface area and cross-sectional area of the treatment unit. • Assume SLR and since flow rate is known, then from relation SLR = Q/Surface area of a unit • Having flow rate and assuming flow through velocity, the cross-sectional area of a rectangular unit can be determined GENERAL PROCEDURE FOR DESIGN CALCULATIONS IV. Compute dimensions of treatment units. a) Computation of net depth of a treatment unit. Calculated from settling velocity = depth/retention time Or from SLR as is equal to settling velocity b) Computation of length and breadth of rectangular tank From flow through velocity = Length/retention time and assuming a suitable L : B ratios GENERAL PROCEDURE FOR DESIGN CALCULATIONS Example, Assuming suitable design criteria, compute the net and overall dimensions of rectangular and circular settling basins for a wastewater flow of 1000m3/d. SOLUTION Assumptions – Surface loading rate, SLR = 40m3/m2.d – Hydraulic retention time, HRT = 2hrs – Length to breadth ratio, L:B = 2.5 : 1 – Free board as 0.3m and sludge zone depth as 0.7m for rectangular and 0.5m for circular – 10% of net length (diameter) for each inlet and outlet zone (width of outlet channel) GENERAL PROCEDURE FOR DESIGN CALCULATIONS Solution, for rectangular – Compute surface area, then length and width – Compute depth of tank – Compute overall dimensions • Depth total = net depth + free board + sludge zone depth • Length total = net length + length of inlet zone + length of outlet Solution, for circular – Compute surface area, then diameter – Compute depth of tank – Compute overall dimensions • Depth total = net depth + free board + sludge zone depth • Diameter total = net diameter + width of the outlet channel • Overall dimensions are used to estimate the cost of treatment units
