Metabolic modelling of full-scale biological nitrogen and phosphorus removing WWTP's

This paper evaluates the experiences with modelling Full-scale biological p hosphorus and nitrogen removing wastewater treatment plants. For the simula tion. we used a metabolic phosphorus model integrated in ASM2d, further ref erred to as TUDP-model. It was round that the metabolic model For bio-P rem oval can be applied for modelling full-scale wwtp's, without extensive para meter adjustments. A stepwise modelling approach was proposed. Only three s pecific parameters were calibrated. Two parameters, the inert fraction in t he influent and the actual anoxic sludge fraction will need calibration for all systems. parameter sensitivity analyses showed that the sensitivity of operational data. often considered as known input data, is high. The model kinetics were round less sensitive. This a ill in general be the case for all low-loaded wwtp's recorded in their pseudo-steady state. Based on mass balance calculations, operational data and measurements were evaluated. Sin ce all term on a phosphorus balance can be measured, errors in operational data (e.g. SRT and flow rates) become very apparent in P-removal models (AS M2d, TUDP). We suggest using the P-balance in general for wwtp modelling. a s a check on data consistency. This study showed that considering operation al data per definition as known input data is not justified. Therefore, ope rational data should he evaluated. or considered in model calibration over the use of kinetic and stoichiometric parameters. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.