Dynamic Estimation of Settling Basin Performance

A dynamic parameter estimation method for the settling basin model is brought out on the assumption that a continuous-valued time-varying parameter can be approximated with a sequence of discrete-valued time-invariant parameters by dividing a time interval into short subintervals in which the parameter is allowed to be time-invariant. Employing test data, the model parameter and the effluent concentration are calculated to confirm the applicability of the method. The method is also applied to the primary settling basins in a municipal wastewater treatment facility to determine its practicability. The calculated results with both the test and plant scale data show that this method is a useful tool for the dynamic prediction of the effluent sediment concentration of settling basins.