The activated sludge process is the most important biological process in water treatment. It enables this process to be demonstrated.
A pump delivers raw water contaminated with dissolved organic substances (organic matter) into the aeration tank. Aerobic microorganisms (activated sludge) in the aeration tank use the organic matter as a source of nutrition, biodegrading it in the process. Since aerobic microorganisms need oxygen, the raw water is aerated in the aeration tank. The activated sludge is mixed with the raw water by stirring machines. In the secondary clarifier the activated sludge is then separated from the treated water by sedimentation. A portion of the activated sludge is returned to the aeration tank (return sludge). The treated water is collected in a tank.
Learning Objectives And Experiments
- Learning the fundamental principle of the activated sludge process
- Functional principle of nitrification and pre-denitrification
- Creation of a stable operating state
- Identification of the following influencing factors
- Return sludge ratio
- Reflux ratio of the internal recirculation
- Sludge age
- Sludge loading
- Volumetric loading
- oxygen concentration, pH value and temperature
- Efficiency of the pre-denitrification
Specification
- Biological wastewater treatment
- Aeration tank with 3 stirring machines
- Secondary clarifier
- Nitrification and pre-denitrification
- Separate supply unit with 2 stirring machines
- All relevant flow rates adjustable
- Control of temperature, pH value and oxygen concentration
- Measurement of flow rate, temperature, pH value and oxygen concentration
- Software for data acquisition via USB under Windows 7, 8.1, 10
- Software with display of the operation states
- visual inspection with webcam on PC
Technical Data
- Aeration tank
- capacity nitrification zone: approx. 34L
- capacity denitrification zone: approx. 17L
- Tanks
- secondary clarifier: 30L
- raw water tank: 200L
- treated water tank: 80L
- Flow rates
- raw water pump: max. 25L/h
- return sludge pump: max. 25L/h
- circulation pump: max. 25L/h
- Speeds (stirring machines)
- secondary clarifier: max. 45min-1
- all others: each max. 600min-1
- Measuring ranges
- flow rate:
- 2…25L/h (raw water)
- 50…550L/h (compressed air)
- temperature: 0…40°C
- pH value: 0…14
- oxygen concentration: 0…10mg/L
- 230V, 50Hz, 1 phase
- 230V, 60Hz, 1 phase; 120V, 60Hz, 1 phase
