Wastewater Treatment Design

Aeration in Biological Systems

Solubility of oxygen in wastewater and the consequent low rate of oxygen transfer
means that sufficient air or oxygen and large exchange surfaces must be provided or
generated for the transfer. The air can be provided in the form of bubbles in wastewater
treatment plant aeration is accomplished by dispersing air bubbles in the liquid through
membrane diffusers. Gas transfer from gas to liquid is dependent on the extent of
saturation of the gas in the liquid and is typically modeled using the two-film theory

The mass transfer of a gas to a liquid phase is given by:

r =
dC
= K ( C s − C)
dt
where dC/dt = rate of change of the liquid phase concentration (mg/L/time)
K = Overall mass transfer coefficient (1/time) and is given by KLa
Where KL is the mass transfer coefficient (mass/time) and is the
specific surface area (area/volume)
Cs = saturation concentration (mg/L) at a given temperature
C = liquid concentration (mg/L)

The α factor is expressed as the ratio of process to clean water conditions, as follows:
((𝐊 𝐋 𝐚) 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫
∝=
(𝐊 𝐋 𝐚) 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫
Factors affecting the mass transfer are as follows:

(1) Effect of Temperature on Oxygen Transfer

K is dependent on temperature. Van't Hoff-Arrhenius equation is typically used:
KT = K20 θ T-20
θ = constant (usually 1.024)
T = temperature o C

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(2) Effects of wastewater characteristics

Differences in oxygen solubility due to constituents present such as salts and
particulates require a correction for the wastewater characteristics (also
known as the salinity-surface tension correction factor, β,
Cs,ww = β Cs,tw
CSTW = average dissolved oxygen saturation concentration in clean water in
aeration tank at temperature T and altitude H,

(3) If the application is at a different altitude, correction must be made for the
saturation concentration.

Cs,alt = Cs [1 - (altitude (m)/9450)]

(4) Evaluation of oxygen transfer coefficients of aeration systems are conducted in

clean water. In this procedure, oxygen in tap water is depleted using excess
sodium sulfite and the temperature is kept at 20o C. Air is bubbled and the
change in oxygen is measured. The overall mass transfer coefficient in clean
water may be different from in the wastewater.

Typically a correction factor is used: Kww = α KTW

Putting all of these together, we have

rww = Kww(Cs,ww - C)
= α KT,TW (β Cs,TW - C)
= α K20,TW θ (T-20) (β Cs,TW - C) (1)

Standard Oxygen Transfer Rate (SOTR)

SOTR in tap water at 20 o C and zero dissolved oxygen, kg O2/hr.

The SOTR is related to the actual conditions by using the factors above.

r 20,TW = SOTR = K20, TW (Cs,20 - C)

With C = 0 mg/L, then we have SOTR = K20, TW Cs,20 (2)

Divide (1) by (2)

𝒓𝒘𝒘 ∝ 𝑲𝟐𝟎,𝑻𝑾 𝜽(𝑻−𝟐𝟎) (𝜷𝑪𝒔,𝑻𝑾 − 𝑪) ∝ 𝜽(𝑻−𝟐𝟎) (𝜷𝑪𝒔,𝑻𝑾 − 𝑪)

= =
𝒓𝟐𝟎,𝑻𝑾 𝑲𝟐𝟎,𝑻𝑾 𝑪𝒔𝟐𝟎 𝑪𝒔𝟐𝟎
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Where F = fouling factor (0.65 - 0.9)

Change in Atmospheric Pressure with Elevation

The following relationship is used to compute the change in atmospheric pressure with
elevation

𝒈𝑴(𝒁𝒃−𝒁𝒂)
𝑷𝒃 −
=𝒆 𝑹𝑻
𝑷𝒂

Where P =Pressure, 1.01325 x 105 N/m2

g =9.81 m/s2
M =mole of air = 28.97 kg/kg-mole
Z =Elevation, m
R =Universal gas constant = 8314 N.m/kg-mole.K
= 8314 Kg.m2/s2.Kg-mole.K
T = Temperature, K (Kelvin) = 273.15 + oC

Density is the ratio of the mass to the volume of a substance:

ρ = m/V [1]

where ρ = density, units typically [kg/m3]

m = mass, units typically [kg]
V = volume, units typically [m3]

Specific weight is the ratio of the weight to the volume of a substance:

γ = (m * g)/V = ρ * g [2]

where
γ = specific weight, units typically [N/m3] ]
m = mass, units typically [g]
g = acceleration due to gravity, units typically , 9.80665 m/s2
V = volume, units typically [cm3]
ρ = density, units typically [g/cm3]

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Density of Air at Other Temperatures in SI Units

The following relationship can be used to compute density of air ρa

ρa = 𝑷𝑴
𝑹𝑻
Where P = atmospheric pressure = 1.01325 x 105 N/m2
M = mole of air = 28.97 Kg/Kg -mole
R = Universal Gas Constant = 8314 N.m/Kg-mole.K
T = Temperature, K (Kelvin) = 273.15 + 0C
For example, at 200C, the density of air is

ρa200c
(𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟑𝟐𝟓 𝐍/𝐦𝟐)( 𝟐𝟖.𝟗𝟕 𝐊𝐠/𝐊𝐠 −𝐦𝐨𝐥𝐞)
= = 1.204 Kg/m3
(𝟖𝟑𝟏𝟒 𝐍.𝐦/𝐊𝐠−𝐦𝐨𝐥𝐞.𝐊) [(𝟐𝟕𝟑.𝟏𝟓 +𝟐𝟎)𝐊]
𝐂𝐬( 𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫)
𝛃=
𝐂𝐬( 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫)

Maximum Dissolved Oxygen Concentration Saturation Table

Temperature DO Temperature DO
(degrees C) (mg/L) (degrees C) (mg/L)
0 14.60 23 8.56
1 14.19 24 8.40
2 13.81 25 8.24
3 13.44 26 8.09
4 13.09 27 7.95
5 12.75 28 7.81
6 12.43 29 7.67
7 12.12 30 7.54
8 11.83 31 7.41
9 11.55 32 7.28
10 11.27 33 7.16
11 11.01 34 7.05
12 10.76 35 6.93
13 10.52 36 6.82
14 10.29 37 6.71
15 10.07 38 6.61
16 9.85 39 6.51
17 9.65 40 6.41
18 9.45 41 6.31
19 9.26 42 6.22
20 9.07 43 6.13
21 8.90 44 6.04
22 8.72 45 5.95

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SOLUBILITY OF OXYGEN AS A FUNCTION OF TEMPERATURE

This graph shows how solubility changes with temperature. The warmer the water, the lower the
solubility.

SOLUBILITY OF OXYGEN AS A FUNCTION OF TEMPERATURE

As shown below, water with a DO level of 9.1 mg/l would be saturated at 20 ºC, but only 80%
saturated at 10 ºC, and it would be supersaturated at 30 ºC

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AOTR - SOTR
Oxygen Transfer Rate in Wastewater Units Value
1 Alpha α = KLa(wastewater)/KLa(tap water) 0.4 - 0.8 0.80
2 β = Salinity Surface Tension factor, Cs (WW)/Cs (CW) 0.7 - 0.98 0.90
3 C = Oxygen concentration in Aeration Tank mg/L 3.0
4 Design Temperature Deg C 30
5 Cs20 = Oxygen Concentration at 20o C mg/L 9.08
6 Elevation of Hyderabad m 505
7 CsTW = Oxygen concentration at Hyderabad, at 30 deg mg/L 7.123
8 Θ = Temp Correction factor 1.014 -1.040 1.024
9 Temp Correction factor, θ^ (T-20) = 1.024(20-30) 0.789
10 CSTW - C mg/L 4.123
11 β (CSTW - C) 3.710
12 F, Fouling Factor - Diffusers 0.65 - 0.9 0.80
13 β (CSTW-C) x alpha Temp Correction x F 2.3416
14 AOTR/SOTR ratio 0.2579
15 SOTR/AOTR ratio 3.87
16 Temperature deg C 30
17 Relative pressure with elevation
18 Pb/Pa = exp - (gM(Zb-Za)/RT)
19 g, Gravitational force0 m/s2 9.81
20 P = Pressure N/m2 1.01325 x 105
21 Density of air ρa 20 deg C, Kg/m3 1.240
22 M = Mole of air Kg/Kg - mole 28.97
23 Z = elevation of Hyderabad m 505
24 R= Universal gas constant N.m/Kg -mole-K 8314
25 T = Temperature, K (Kelvin) = 273.15 + 30 deg C deg K 303.15
26 A = (gM(Zb-Za) =9.81 x 28.97 x (Elevation-0) 143519
2520389
27 B= RT = 8314*(273.15 + Temp)
28 A/B r 0.0569
29 Pb/Pa = e-A/B r 0.94552
Cs = Oxygen saturation concentration
30 mg/L 7.54
at 30 deg, 760 mm mercury
31 Oxygen concentration at 30 deg at Elevation mg/L 7.1226
32 Cs,alt = Cs [1 - (altitude (m)/9450)] mg/L 7.1370
AOTR, Actual Oxygen Transfer Rate at
33 Kg O2/hr
field conditions
SOTR, Standard Oxygen Transfer Rate in
34 Kg O2/hr
tap water at 200C and zero DO
CSTW = average dissolved oxygen saturation
35 concentration in clean water in aeration tank at
temperature T and altitude H, mg/L

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Design Dissolved Oxygen Concentration

Aeration systems are designed to maintain a specific DO concentration in the process fluid. The
design DO typically ranges from 0.5 mg/L to 2.0 mg/L, depending on the flow and load
conditions and the process employed. Under low and average load conditions, Aeration systems
have historically been designed to maintain DO concentrations around 2 mg/L. Lower DO
concentrations (i.e. 0.5 mg/L) during peak load conditions are generally acceptable, but may
lead to system upset such as film and bacteria growth [1]. Advanced aeration control, allowing
operation at lower DO concentrations, is becoming more prevalent.

Table 1 – Aeration Equipment - SOTR

Standard Transfer Rate

Diffused Aeration Devices
kg O2/kW*h.
Fine Bubble 1.2 - 2.0
Medium Bubble 1.0 - 1.6
Coarse Bubble 0.6 - 1.2
Tubular System or Static Tube 1.2 - 1.6
Jet 1.2 - 2.4
Aspirator Jet 1.5 - 2.5
U-tube 1.3 - 2.4

Mechanical Aerators

Surface low-speed 1.5 - 2.1

Surface low-speed with draft tube 1.2 - 2.8
Surface high-speed 1.1 - 1.4
Submerged turbine with draft tube 1.2 - 2.0
Submerged turbine 1.1 - 2.1
Submerged turbine with Sparger 1.2 - 2.0

Horizontal rotor 0.9 - 2.2

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Summary of Correction Factors used in Oxygen-Transfer Equation

CF Name Description Typical

The α (“alpha”) factor adjusts the oxygen transfer rate to account for
variations in wastewater characteristics, aeration tank layout, and
aeration system equipment. Aeration equipment, such as diffusers, are
Wastewater
typically tested in clean water to determine the oxygen transfer rate
Correction
and efficiency of specific equipment. Since the oxygen transfer
α Factor for
efficiency is greater in clean water, the α factor is applied to account
0.3-1.0
Oxygen
for lower transfer efficiency in wastewater. The α factor applied to
Transfer
systems with diffused aeration is typically on the low end of the range,
while the α factor applied to mechanical aeration equipment is
typically on the higher end of the range.

The fouling factor accounts for the loss of oxygen transfer efficiency
that results from buildup or scaling of biological and/or chemical film
or deposits on the surface of aeration equipment. Fouling is most
Fouling
F Factor
commonly experienced on the surface of fine-pore diffusers. The 0.5-1.0
typical fouling factor ranges from approximately 0.5 to 1.0 [1] for fine-
pore diffusers. Mechanical aeration systems or coarse bubble diffusers
typically have a fouling factor of 1.0 due to their resistance to fouling.

Combination When selecting an α factor, potential fouling should be considered.

of Alpha
αF and Fouling
Therefore, α is then referred to as αF (alpha-F). αF is site specific and
0.11-0.79
Factors ranges with a mean of < 0.5 [5].

Wastewater
The solubility of oxygen in wastewater depends on the concentration
Correction
of salts and particulates in the process liquid. The β correction factor
β Factor for
accounts for the reduction in oxygen transfer efficiency that results
0.95-0.98
Oxygen
from the presence of these constituents in the wastewater.
Solubility
Temperature
Accounts for variations in oxygen transfer efficiency as a result of the
Correction
θ Factor for
process liquid temperature. The typical temperature correction factor 1.024
applied to the SOTR calculation
Oxygen

Temperature The τ value allows for a correction of oxygen transfer efficiency to

Correction account for fluctuations in oxygen saturation concentration that result
τ Factor for from variation of wastewater temperature. τ is calculated by dividing 0.7–1.6
Oxygen the oxygen saturation at the current temperature by the oxygen
Saturation saturation at 20°C. DO saturation.

The Ω factor accounts for variations in oxygen transfer efficiency that

Pressure result from dissolved oxygen saturation as a result of atmospheric air
Correction pressure. Ω is calculated by dividing the barometric pressure at the 𝑃𝑏
Ω Factor for site by the standard atmospheric pressure. The barometric pressure is 14.7𝑝𝑠𝑖
Oxygen a function of average elevation and temperature compared to standard
Saturation pressure [1].

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