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Troubleshooting in a full-scale wastewater treatment plant: what can be learnt from tracer tests

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Abstract

The experimental assessment of the actual reactor hydrodynamic behavior is aimed at detecting possible deviations from the design configuration, as well as suggesting corrective/improving modifications, efficacy of which can be also assessed in the aftermath. The hydrodynamic scheme can be defined by means of tracer tests (stimulus–response method) used for detecting the residence time distribution curve. This study shows the results of three hydrodynamic tests performed on a wastewater treatment plant half-line, in which a biological process (denitrification and oxidation–nitrification) is carried out. Hydrodynamic faults (in terms of dead space and/or flow bypass) were identified, and consequent actions suggested (i.e., change in submerged mixers orientation in the reactors; sinking of the final section of the sludge recirculation pipe below the free surface to avoid foaming phenomena; introduction of new mixed liquor recirculation lines). These actions, together with a careful selection of wastes to be treated, led to an improvement of the overall process performance.

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Acknowledgements

Authors wish to thank ASMia S.r.l. for giving technical and financial support to the experimental research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 1, 27100, Pavia, Italy

    M. C. Collivignarelli & S. Damiani

  2. Department of Civil, Environmental, Architectural Engineering and Mathematics, University of Brescia, Via Branze 43, 25123, Brescia, Italy

    G. Bertanza & A. Abbà

Authors
  1. M. C. Collivignarelli
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  2. G. Bertanza
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  3. A. Abbà
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  4. S. Damiani
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Damiani.

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All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Editorial responsibility: U.W. Tang.

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Collivignarelli, M.C., Bertanza, G., Abbà, A. et al. Troubleshooting in a full-scale wastewater treatment plant: what can be learnt from tracer tests. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 16, 3455–3466 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-018-2032-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-018-2032-0

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