Dimensioning and design

of nitrogen removal technologies

Dipl.-Ing. S. Rettig
TU Berlin, Department of Urban water management
Gustav-Meyer-Allee 25, D - 13355 Berlin
Phone: +49 / (0) 30 / 314 72356; Fax: +49 / (0) 30 / 314 72248

e-mail: stefan.rettig@tu-berlin.de

Introduction
Biological wastewater treatment: Fixed film (trickling filter, rotating disk
filter) or suspended biomass (activated sludge system)
Predominantly the activated sludge system is practiced
Municipal and industrial wastewater treatment
Basic of the activated sludge system:
Combination of aeration tank
+ subsequent sedimentation (clarifier)
+ return of the separated biomass (return sludge)

Carrier of biological treatment - activated sludge Invention of the activated sludge system 1914 (Ardern, Lockett)

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Basis of dimensioning
basic possibilities
1. Evaluation of available data (normal case)
2. Additional specific investigations (series of
measurements), if data is insufficient
3. Mathematical determination with known (exceptional
case)
Consideration of future development
(mostly with the help of characteristic values)
Demography (population development)
Residential areas
Industry
Tourism
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Cumulative frequency / Undercut frequency

Inflow rate
100

Summenhufigkeit
Cumulative
frequency[%]
[%]

90
80

COD-load, inflow

70
60

Undercut [%]

50
40
30
20
10
0
0

100

200

300

400

500

600

Qo in m /d

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Bd,COD[1000 kg/d] COD-load

Dimensioning Flows and Loads

The following values are required from the influent to the biological
reactor:

lowest and highest wastewater temperature

organic load (Bd,BOD Bd,COD), load of suspended solids (Bd,SS) and of

phosphorus (Bd,P) for the determination of the sludge production and

thus the calculation of the volume of the aeration tank

organic load and nitrogen load for the design of the aeration facility
for (as a rule) the highest relevant temperature
Loading condition: BOD/N; highest saisonal peak

maximum inflow rate with dry weather QDW,h (m/h) for the design of
the anaerobic mixing tank and the internal recirculation flow rate

dimensioning inflow rate QWW,h (m/h) for the design of the

secondary settling tanks

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Biological Standard Processes

Activated sludge processes
Elimination of: COD, BOD5, NH4-N, NO3-N, P
anoxic zone
denitrification
Influent
(primary-treated)

aerobic zone
COD-elimination
& nitrification

Effluent

Aeration
Recirclation sludge

Clarifier

Return sludge

Excess sludge

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Inhabitant-specific loads

g/(Inhabitantd)

German standard (ATV-DVWK A 131)

During biological wastewater treatment process for each kg BOD5 about 0,04-0,05 kg
Nitrogen and about 0,01 kg Phosphorus are needed for the development of biomass
and discharged in the waste sludge.
*) The share returned in the sludge liquor has to be concerned. Thus the loads in the
influent of the biological treatment stage can increase up to 20 %.
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Dimensioning
of the activated sludge process I
1. Determination of the relevant flows and loads
2. Selection of the treatment process
=> Nitrification/Denitrification

Activated sludge tank (Part 1)

Set up of a Nitrogen-balance
Selection of the treatment process
Nitrification/Denitrification; P-Elimination; Selector

Selection of the return sludge ratio;

intermitting DN time

Determination of the denitrification capacity

Determination of the required sludge age
Calculation of the sludge production
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Nitrogen balance

Influent
(primary-treated)

anoxic zone
denitrification

aerobic zone
COD-elimination
& nitrification
Effluent
aeration

Recirculation sludge

Co,TKN

Clarifier

Return sludge

N in influent:
Co,N = Co,org.N + Co,NH

Excess sludge

+
4-N

N in effluent:
Ce,N = Ce,org.N + Ce,NH

+
4-N

Co,NO

+
3-N

Ce,NO

N in sludge:
CNWS = 0,04 - 0,05 Co,BOD
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+
3-N

Co,NO

2-N

Ce,NO

2-N

5
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German effluent regulations for municipal

sewage; monitoring values

PE based on BOD
inlet
60 g BOD5/(PEd)

COD

BOD5

NH4-N *)

Ntot anorg.

tot P

mg/l

mg/l

mg/l

mg/l

mg/l

< 1.000

150

40

1.000 bis < 5.000

110

25

5.000 bis < 10.000

90

20

10

10.000 bis < 100.000

90

20

10

18 **)

> 100.000

75

15

10

13 **)

Size
Category

PE: population equivalent

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Abwasserverordnung
(AbwV vom 2004)
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Nitrogen removal procedures (DWA-A 131e, 2000)

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Return Sludge Ratio I

The operating conditions in aeration tank and secondary
settling tank are influenced through
Mixed-liquor suspended solids concentration in the influent to the
secondary settling tank SSEAT

Mixed-liquor suspended solids concentration of the return sludge

SSRS

Return sludge ratio RS = QRS/Q.

Suspended solids mass balance (neglecting XSS,EST)

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Return Sludge Ratio II

Influent QWW,h

Effluent

Recirculation sludge
Return sludge

QRS = 0.75QWW,h
max.QRS = 1.0 QWW,h

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Denitrification capacity

(DWA-A 131e, 2000)

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Important design parameter

for activated sludge system
Sludge age tSS:

[d]

Average retention time of activated sludge in the activated sludge system

tSS =

Amount of sludge in the aeration tank

Removed amount of sludge

tSS = 1/(SPdBSS)

tSS = 1/max

MLSSAT VAT
QES MLSSES + Q MLSSE

tSS ..10 to 12 days

MLSSAT: Total amount of solids (MLSS) (measured)

[g/l or kg/m3]

MLSSES: Total amount of solids in the excess sludge

Enough time for the growth of microorganisms
Dimensioning sludge age in days dependent on the treatment target and the
temperature as well as the plant size (intermediate values are to be estimated)
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Required Sludge Age (DWA-A 131e, 2000)

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Sludge production SPd

SPd = SPd,BOD + SPd,P
SPd,BOD= SPC,BOD * Bd,BOD,ZB

(DWA-A 131e, 2000)

SPd,P [kg/d] = Qd [m/d] (3 XP,BioP + 6,8 XP,Prec, Fe + 5,3 XP,Prec,Al)/1000

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Dimensioning
of the Secondary Settling Tank
1. Selection of the sludge volume index
2. Selection of the sludge thickening time tTh; dependent on the biological process
selected
3. Determination of the return sludge suspend solids concentration (SSRS)
4. Selection of the return sludge ratio (RS) and estimation of the permissible
suspended solids concentration of the activated sludge in the biological reactor
(SSAT).
VAT reduces with increasing SSAT.
AST and tST rises with increasing SSAT.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Determination of the surface area of the scondary settling tank (AST) from the
permissible surface overflow rate qa or the sludge volume loading rate qav
Determination of the depth of the secondary settling tank from partial depths for
the functional zones and other sepcifications
Dimensioning of the sludge removal (scraper)
Verification of the selected thickening time by the sludge removal (scraper)
performance
Dimensioning of the return sludge and excess sludge pumps
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Transfering: SS-content

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Characteristic parameters
Mixed liquor suspended solids MLSS:
Content of biomass
Common values: 3 - 6 g/l

Sludge volume SV:

Volume of sludge after 30 min. settling of 1000 ml activated
sludge

Measured value > 250 ml dilution the sample (factor)

Common values: 200 600 ml

Sludge volume index SVI:

Quotient of sludge volume and liquor suspended solids

SVI = SV / MLSS
Common values: 75 - 180 ml/g
Bulking sludge SVI > 150 ml/g

Departement of urban water management

(Steinke, 2009)
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Standard values for the sludge volume index

= MLSS

Approximate values for the

MLSS concentration in the
biological reactor dependent on
the sludge volume index for
SSRS = 0.7SSBS

(DWA-A 131e, 2000)

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Settlement in horizontal flow tanks

(Austermann-Haun, 2011)
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Permitted Thickening Time (tTh)

Type of wastewater treatment

Thickening time tTh [h]

Activated sludge plants without nitrification

1.5 - 2.0

Activated sludge plants with nitrification

1.0 - 1.5

Activated sludge plants with denitrification

2.0 - (2.5)

An exceeding of the thickening time of tE = 2.0 h requires a

very advanced denitrification in the biological reactor.

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Suspended Solids Concentration

in the bottom sludge
Achievable suspended
solids concentration in
the bottom sludge SSBS
can be estimated
empirically in
dependence on the SVI
and tTh

(DWA-A 131e, 2000)

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Surface Overflow Rate and

Sludge Volume Surface Loading Rate
The surface overflow rate qA is calculated from the
permitted sludge volume loading rate qSV and the diluted
sludge volume DSV as:

(DWA-A 131e, 2000)

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Dimensioning of the Secondary Settling

Tank

QWW,h (m/h) - Max. inflow rate

SVI (l/kg) - Sludge volume index
SSEAT (kg/m) - Suspended solids
concentration in the influent to settling tanks

Effluent

QRS
Return sludge

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Settling Tank Surface Area

The required surface area of the secondary settling tank
results as follows:

(DWA-A 131e, 2000)

For vertical flow secondary settling tanks the effective

surface area at the mid-point between inlet aperture and
water level is to be set
With this the geometry of normal tank shapes is taken into
account

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Horizontal flow circular secondary settling

tanks

Settling Tank Surface Area

(DWA-A 131e, 2000)

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Dimensioning
of the activated sludge process II
Takeover: concentration of SS

Activated sludge tank (Part 2)

Calculation of the volume of the biological reactor
Dimensioning of aeration (O2-demand; daily peak)
Dimensioning of circulation units; design of circulation pumps
Type of biological reactor
Checking of acid capacity and pH

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Volume of the Biological Reactor

Required mass of suspended solids in biological reactor:
MSS,AT = tSS,Dim SPd [kg]

Usual values of MLSS,AT: 2 - 6 g/l

The volume of the biological reactor is obtained as follows:

As comparative figures the BOD5 volume loading rate (BR) and

the sludge loading rate (BSS) can be calculated:

Bd = BOD5 Qo

Nitrification BR =0,35 kg BOD5/(md)

Nitrification BSS= 0,10 kg BOD5/(kgSSd)

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Design of recirculation
Influent QWW,h
Effluent

Recirculation sludge
Return sludge

RC
with

S NH 4 , N
S NO 3, AN

S NH 4 , N C N ,O S orgN ,e X orgN , BM

therefore :
Q
Q
RC RS RZ [ ]
Qt
Qt

Q RC Qt * RF Q RS

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bzw .

Q
Q RZ
RF RS
Qt
Qt
30

Dimensioning of aeration (O2-demand)

Oxygen consumption for C-Elimination
OUd,C [kg O2/d] = OUC,BOD,spez Bd,BOD,I
Specific oxygen consumption OUC,BOD [kg O2/kg BOD5, valid
for CCOD,IAT/CBOD;IAT 2.2

(DWA-A 131e, 2000)

Oxygen consumption for Nitrification

OUd,N [kg O2/d] = Qd * 4,3*(SNO3,D SNO3,IAT + SNO3,EST)/1000

Oxygen consumption for Denitrification (+)

OUd,D [kg O2/d] = Qd * 2,9 * SNO3,D / 1000

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Dimensioning of aeration (Daily peak OUh)

OU h [kgO2 / h]

f C * (OU d ,C OU d , D ) f N * OU d , N
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with fC and fN = Peak factors for load peaks (appear at

different times)
Load cases:
I fN = 1 with fC = x

Sludge age in d

II fN = x with fC =1

10

15

25

fC

1.3

1.25

1.2

1.2

1.15

1.1

fN for BC,BOD,I 1.200 kg/d

2.5

2.0

2.0

1.8

1.5

fN for BC,BOD,I > 6.000 kg/d

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Summary
The calculated tank volumes are highly influenced by the
correct evalution of the loads (Q, COD, BOD, N- and P-load)
Design based on sludge age
Design of denitrification: capacity of denitrification
Design of secondary settling tanks based on sludge volume
load
Simple calculation according to A 131
Computer-based models according to A 131 or equivalent
approaches

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