Predicting wastewater treatment plant performance during aeration demand shifting with a dual-layer reaction settling model

Demand response (DR) programmes encourage energy end users to adjust their consumption according to energy availability and price. Municipal wastewater treatment plants are suitable candidates for the application of such programmes. Demand shedding through aeration control, subject to maintaining the plant operational limits, could have a large impact on the plant DR potential. Decreasing the aeration intensity may promote the settling of the particulate components present in the reactor mixed liquor. The scope of this study is thus to develop a mathematical model to describe this phenomenon. For this purpose, Benchmark Simulation Model No.1 was extended by implementing a dual-layer settling model in one of the aerated tanks and combining it with biochemical reaction kinetic equations. The performance of this extended model was assessed in both steady-state and dynamic conditions, switching the aeration system off for 1 hour during each day of simulation. This model will have applications in the identification of potential benefits and issues related to DR events, as well as in the simulation of the plant operation where aerated tank settling is implemented.