Simple Rule-Based Algorithm for Optimizing Volatile Fatty Acids Production in Primary Sludge Fermentation Schemes
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 132, Issue 11
Abstract
In this paper, a model-based algorithm for optimizing the primary sludge fermentation process design and operation is described and evaluated. This is a recently used method to obtain the volatile fatty acid (VFA), needed for the enhanced biological phosphorus removal process, directly from raw wastewater. The proposed algorithm consists of a heuristic reasoning algorithm based on the expert knowledge of the process. Only effluent VFA and the sludge blanket height have to be set as design criteria, and the optimization algorithm obtains the minimum return sludge and waste sludge flow rates which fulfill those design criteria. It has been evaluated by simulating different temperature and sludge volume index (SVI) influent conditions in order to evaluate the algorithm performance under different conditions, as well as its sensitivity with respect to temperature and SVI, which are the most important parameters in these systems. The same tendencies observed by simulation were observed afterward in pilot plant experiments.
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Acknowledgments
This research project has been supported by the Spanish Research Foundation (CICYT, project PPQ2002-04043-C01), which is gratefully acknowledged. Also, the writers would like to express their sincere thanks to the Entidad de Saneamiento de Aguas Residuales de la Comunidad Valenciana and the companies SEAR S.A. and AQUAGEST for their technical support.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 132 • Issue 11 • November 2006
Pages: 1439 - 1446
Copyright
© 2006 ASCE.
History
Received: Dec 14, 2004
Accepted: Mar 13, 2006
Published online: Nov 1, 2006
Published in print: Nov 2006
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