(64c) Development of Process Operating Policies and Control Using Flowsheet Simulators, Plant SCADA, and CFD

Computational fluid dynamics models and flowsheet simulations have been developed for process control and operation of the Valrico Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant in Valrico, FL. Using plant SCADA data, oxidation ditch models were created with Ansys Fluent to analyze nitrification-denitrification reaction kinetics and solid residence times--as well as abstract information on dead-zones and regions of mass transfer limitations--in order to generate and tune theoretical reactor models in BioWin software for flowsheet simulation. Plant operation was further expounded by simulating influent and operating conditions (e.g., recylce and aeration rates) for the entire plant to accurately model current effluent behavior and compositions. Lastly, historical influent SCADA data was used to evaluate model performance and develop operating policies for irregular flow periods and non-traditional plant operation and maintenance.