AERATION

SYSTEM DESIGN
Assoc. Prof. Neslihan Semerci

06.4.2020 ENVE 422 Wastewater Engineering Design Assoc. Prof. Neslihan Semerci1
Oxygen requirement for nitrification and
denitrification
Oxygen requirement for nitrification and
denitrification
𝑂𝑥𝑦𝑔𝑒𝑛 𝑢𝑝𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑏𝑜𝑛 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑎𝑙 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑘
• fc=
𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑑𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑦 𝑜𝑥𝑦𝑔𝑒𝑛 𝑢𝑝𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒

𝑇𝐾𝑁 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑖𝑛 2 ℎ𝑟 𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑘

• fN=
24 ℎ𝑟 𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑
Specific Oxygen Comsumption for carbon removal
Specific Oxygen Comsumption for carbon removal
Specific Oxygen Comsumption for carbon removal
Aeration System Design
• Aeration system is one of the most important unit processes at a wastewater
treatment plant.
• Its operation usually accounts up to 60–70% of the total energy consumed at
the plant.
• The design of a diffused-air aeration system involves sizing of aeration basin,
selection of diffuser layout, sizing air piping, and selection of air blowers or
compressors
Air Blowers Used in Diffused-air Aearation
System
Positive Displacement Blowers
These devices utilize positive displacement
technology by trapping a certain volume of air then
discharging or forcing it out against the system
pressure.

Two rotors (often called impellers) that are joined

together by gears surrounded by a blower casing.

Many blowers also come with a sound absorber, air

screen and other parts to improve efficiency.

https://www.blockerandwallace.com/what-is-a-positive-
displacement-blower-Blog.html
Positive Displacement Blowers
Delivers a fixed volume of air over a broad range of discharge pressure for each shaft revolution

Uses two or three-lobed impellers on each shaft at constant or variable frequency drive (VFD)

Advantages;

Low capital costs, avaliable for high discharge pressure, good turndown ratio, and simple control
scheme.

Disadvantages;

Least energy efficient, high power consumption, requires silencers for noise control, requires
VFD for variable flow, limited to small plants and maintenance intensive.

Efficiency;

45%-65%
Multi Stage Centrifugal Blowers
Delivers a wide range of flows at high discharge pressure by using a series of
enclosed impellers operating at low speed (3600-4400 rpm); uses antifriction roller
type bearings; uses inlet or discharge throttling for control

Advantages;

More efficient than PD blower, lower capital costs than Single Stage Centrifugal
blower, good to fair efficiency, lower noice than SSC blowers, and simple control
scheme.

Disadvantages;

Least energy efficient, high power consumption, requires silencers for noise
control, requires VFD for variable flow, limited to small plants and maintenance
intensive.

Efficiency;

50%-70%
High Speed Turbo Blowers
Delivers moderate range of flows at a moderate discharge pressure. It uses a single
or twin impellers operting at super high speed (typically 40,000-75,000 rpm); uses
air-foil or magnetic bearings and single or dual-point control.

Advantages;

High efficiency at low flows, efficient at low turndown flows, small footprint, easy
to install, low maintenance, low noise, low vibration, integrated VFD, no
requirement for lubrication and air cooling.

Disadvantages;

Potentially highest capital costs, requirement of filters for preventing power surge,
and lack of long-term operating experience.

Efficiency;

70%-80%
Air Blowers Used in Diffused-air Aearation System
Example for Blower and Piping Sizing
 These headers and walkways are installed over the common walls of the paired aeration
basins.

Air header pipe

Air header pipe

Air header
pipe
 These headers and walkways are installed over the common walls of the paired aeration
basins.

Air header pipe

5 vertical hanger pipes

from common header
to diffuser grids

Air header
pipe
These headers and walkways are installed over the common walls of the paired aeration
basins.
 Lateral pipes

16 tube diffuser

Three diffuser
grids are
connected to
each horizontal
lateral pipe
Summary;
• Each diffuser grid = 16 tube diffuser

• Each aeration basin = 30 diffuser grid, 480 tube diffuser

• 5 vertical hanger pipes /basin

• 2 horizontal lateral pipes /vertical hanger pipe

• 3 diffuser header pipes/horizontal lateral pipe

• 16 diffuser tube/ diffuser header pipe

Air flow in air piping systems
• Air flow per diffuser tube, Qa= 0.25 sm3/min per tube

• Total air flow in each diffuser header (Line AB); Qair,AB=0.25 sm3/min per tube×8 tubes= 2
sm3/min

• Total air flow for one diffuser grid (Line BC), Qair,BC = 2 × 2 sm3/min = 4 sm3/min

• Total air flow in one horizontal lateral pipe (Line DE), Qair,DE = 3 × 4 sm3/min = 12 sm3/min

• Total air flow in each vertical lateral pipe (Line EF), Qair,EF = 2 × 12 sm3/min = 24 sm3/min

• Total air flow for Basins 1 and 2 (Line JK), Qair,JK = 10 × 24 sm3/min = 240 sm3/min

• Total air flow for Basins 1 through 4 (Line LM), Qair,LM = 2 × 240 sm3/min = 480 sm3/min
Example of Head Loss calculations in a diffused-aeration system
Total Head Loss