Modeling and Simulation of the Sequencing Batch Reactor at a Full-Scale Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant

In this work, we attempted to modify the Activated Sludge Model No.3 and to simulate the performance of a full-scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR) plant,for municipal wastewater treatment. The long-term dynamic data from the continuous operation of this SBR plant were simulated. The influent wastewater composition was characterized using batch measurements. After incorporating all the relevant processes, the sensitivity of the stoichiometric and kinetic coefficients for the model was thoroughly analyzed prior to the model calibration. The modified model was calibrated and validated with the data from both batch- and full-scale experiments. Model predictions were compared with routine data in terms of chemical oxygen demand, NH4+-N and mixed liquid volatile suspended solids in the SBR, combined with batch experimental data under different conditions. The model predictions match the experimental results well, demonstrating that the model is appropriate to simulate the performance of a full-scale wastewater treatment plant even operated under perturbation conditions. (C) 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 55: 2186-2196, 2009