Document Type

Poster

Journal/Book Title/Conference

College of Engineering Senior Design Projects

Publisher

Utah State University

Location

Logan, UT

Publication Date

12-10-2018

Abstract

Wastewater treatment is an essential component to public health as it removes harmful compounds and allows for water reuse and recycle. Biological nutrient removal has entered into the public spotlight as effluent flows with high nitrogen concentrations have detrimental effects on water discharge bodies. Traditional suspended growth biological treatment methods are expensive and produce excess biomass that can reduce the efficiency of nutrient removal if not maintained. Research on the benefits of attached growth processes, namely moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) technology, presents an exciting innovation in wastewater treatment that can increase nutrient removal efficiency and reduce overall cost.

As the Logan Wastewater Treatment Plant aims to implement a $150 million project to account for nutrient removal, the MBBR system and its benefits should be considered as a potential solution. The aim of this project was to determine the necessary parameters for a tertiary, nitrifying MBBR system for the Logan Wastewater Treatment Plant and to operate a pilot-scale MBBR system. Design considerations included the Logan Plant’s maximum hourly flow rate, seasonal fluctuations in water temperature, ammonium concentration, and dissolved oxygen concentration.

Winter was determined to be the critical season for the design, as the winter parameters resulted in a larger reactor volume, increased aeration requirement, and a longer hydraulic retention time compared to summer months. This was attributed to the slower kinetic rate of nitrification and increased ammonium concentration in colder climates.

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