Optimizing Operations

May 25, 2010

A decentralized Aqua-Aerobic membrane bioreactor (MBR) system is being field tested at the Colorado School of Mines' Advanced Water Technology Center to treat one of the campus' housing community domestic wastewater sources (about 400 apartments). The objective is to optimize biological nutrient removal (BNR), membrane operation and process adjustment for constant and seasonal flow patterns to achieve reuse quality effluent and minimize energy consumption.


The SBR-MBR has been mechanically optimized and evaluated.

Design and Installation

The system consists of a full-scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR), coupled with a full-scale MBR and complementary bench-scale conventional MBR (10 to15 gal per hour) which operates as needed to compare performance between various treatment schemes. The SBR utilizes two alternating adjacent batch reactor trains with a flow capacity of 6 to 12 gal per minute (gpm). Each MBR is fitted with one Koch PURON 30-sq-meter hollow-fiber membrane module. The membrane has a single header design consisting of a self-supporting mounting frame, side baffles and permeate and air scour headers. The SBR-MBR system is equipped with a full complement of instrumentation joined with a SCADA system for online monitoring and control.

The goals for the onsite SBR-MBR system are to maintain continuous stable unit operation and to establish a baseline system performance by monitoring such parameters as influent and effluent organics, nitrogen, phosphorus and turbidity values. Reactor mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) and mixed liquor volatile suspended solids (MLVSS) values, transmembrane pressure (TMP), chemical cleaning requirements and flux stability are also being evaluated.

Typical Influent Loads and Target Operating Conditions

Design Flow (gal per day): 7,600
Design Flow Type: Constant
COD (mg/L): 450
DOC (mg/L): 70
Total N (mg/L): 60 to 80
Total P (mg/L): 8 to 12
pH (units): 6.5 to 7.0
Alkalinity (as mg/L CaCO3): 220 to 280
MCRT (day): 20
Permeate Flow (calculated: gpm): 5.27
SBR Cycle Duration (minutes): 120
Mix Fill Duration (minutes): 10
React Fill Duration (minutes): 50
React Discharge Duration (minutes): 60
RAS rate (per tank: gpm): 12
SBR MLSS Low Water Target (gal/L): 8.6 to 10.7
Membrane Tank MLSS Target (gal/L): 10.0 to 12.0

Operating Strategy

The operating strategy for the two-basin SBR portion of the plant consists of Basin 1 receiving flow for one hour while Basin 2 discharges. Each basin is equipped with timers to create desired aerated and non-aerated events. Hydraulic mixing is provided by a submerged pump fitted with two directional nozzles. The time-based SBR provides the ability to relax the membranes for permeate withdrawal if the influent flow is less than design. In addition, it can be sized to provide some equalization for flow events in excess of design average; the membrane flux rate is automatically adjusted for permeate peak flow if the influent flow is higher than the design average.


Aqua-Aerobic MBR system at Colorado School of Mines.

The decentralized system was seeded with SBR activated sludge on Feb. 9, 2009, with initial MLSS concentration in each basin approximately 1,000 mg/L. The system achieved a steady-state 8,000 mg/L design MLSS concentration on April 1, 2009, and superior removal efficiencies were met quickly. Over the past year the SBR-MBR has been mechanically optimized and evaluated under a variety of operating and weather conditions. Thus far it has demonstrated average DOC/COD percent removals of 91% and 95%, respectively. Total nitrogen removal averaged 95% with permeate nitrogen predominantly as nitrate. Stable permeate total phosphorous concentrations were less than 0.6 mg/L. Bacterial yield has been below 0.09 (MLSS/COD per day) during normal operation, which is beneficial for decentralized treatment and reuse applications. Energy efficiency has averaged 26.2 kWh per 1,000 gal for production of high-quality water and will increase with use of the optimization model. Previous to optimization modeling, associated transmembrane pressures during normal operation were below 1 psi.

By optimizing the SBR-MBR facility to achieve specific water qualities at minimal energy consumption, the overall sustainability of the process for wastewater reuse will be increased, and operational settings and conditions more easily predicted.

About the Author

Aqua-Aerobic Staff

Sponsored Recommendations

Blower Package Integration

March 20, 2024
See how an integrated blower package can save you time, money, and energy, in a wastewater treatment system. With package integration, you have a completely integrated blower ...

Strut Comparison Chart

March 12, 2024
Conduit support systems are an integral part of construction infrastructure. Compare steel, aluminum and fiberglass strut support systems.

Energy Efficient System Design for WWTPs

Feb. 7, 2024
System splitting with adaptive control reduces electrical, maintenance, and initial investment costs.

Blower Isentropic Efficiency Explained

Feb. 7, 2024
Learn more about isentropic efficiency and specific performance as they relate to blowers.