Fermentation: Unleashing the Power and Making it Work

摘要

The Douglas L. Smith Middle Basin Treatment Plant (DLSMBTP) wasupgraded in 2008 to full biological nutrient removal (BNR) capabilities to meeteffluent goals of 1.5mg/L of total phosphorus (TP) and 8 mg/L of totalnitrogen (TN). Data had shown that the influent quality was low in solublebiochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and subsequent BioWin modelingdemonstrated that the plant was carbon limited. A batch test demonstrated thatsufficient volatile fatty acids (VFAs) or readily biodegradable chemical oxygendemand (COD) could be liberated through the fermentation of primary sludge.The treatment plant site was severely restricted and fitting the fermenter ontothe site was difficult. Integrating the fermenter with the site hydraulic profile,odor control system, and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA)system posed a number of unique challenges. While the fermenter did improvebiological phosphorus removal (BPR), mechanical issues interfered withfermenter operability.