A simplified method for the sizing of full-scale Aerobic Granular Sludge Wastewater Treatment Systems

A feasibility study for the conversion of seven real Conventional Activated Sludge (CAS) municipal WasteWater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) managed by Hera SpA (Table 1) into Aerobic Granular Sludge (AGS) WWTPs was performed. The study consisted in developing a simple (i.e. not involving advanced mathematical modeling) method to size AGS WWTPs with predefined pollutant removal efficiencies, based on data from real AGS systems. The parameters calculated included (i) biological reactor volume (Vbio), (ii) total plant volume (Vtot), (iii) total plant area (Stot), (iv) excess sludge production (Px), (v) electrical energy consumption for aeration (EEaer); (vi) electrical power installed for aeration (Paer). The results were used to (a) compare the performances of AGS and CAS in the six fields mentioned above; (b) calculate first-guess values for the sizing of AGS plants based on their capacity.