An introduction to
Wastewater Engineering technology
Chemical Engineering
Prof. Alastair Martin
B11, Engineering Building
[email protected] So, What’s it all about?
• Treatment of wastewater to remove pollutants such
that the treated flow can be recycled or re-used or will
have a benign impact upon release into the
environment.
‒ Wastewater
• Water that has been used to provide a service to society to the
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extent that the current “owner” is un-able or un-willing to exploit
the resource further
‒ Pollutants
• Components in the waste-water which would, if released, have
a negative impact on human health and/or the environment as a
whole
What are the Chemical
Engineering Challenges?
• Availability
‒ 100% of capacity 100% of the time!
• Compare this with the rest of the chemical industry
• Less than 100% of capacity for about 95% of the time
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‒ No shut downs EVER!!
• You can’t turn off the feed
What are the Chemical
Engineering Challenges?
• Uncertainty
‒ The “feed” flow varies from hour to hour
• Due to industrial activity Daily, weekly and annual cycles
• Due to domestic activity Occasional events and Daily,
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weekly and seasonal cycles
• Due to the weather Random events and seasonal
cycles
‒ The “feed” composition varies from hour to hour and place to
place
What are the Chemical
Engineering Challenges?
• Consistency
‒ Achieving a prescribed high “product” quality whilst
processing a “feedstock” over which one has no control
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How will we address these
challenges in this course?
• Three major parts
‒ A substantial individual design project
• Designed to guide your study and support your revision
• 50% of the marks available for the course
Chemical Engineering
‒ A series of lectures designed to support your project work
‒ A series of tutorials to guide you through design and data
analysis methods relevant to specific process technologies
The design project
• Beith Valley Water
‒ Objective
• Design a wastewater treatment plant for the Beith valley
‒ This starts with archive data recording the flow and
composition of the municipal wastewater
‒ Covers the principal design stages from the outset to the
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process specification
• Data analysis to identify design point
• Development of a design and operating strategy
• Development of the process equipment designs to deliver the
strategy
• You are very strongly advised to start the coursework
tonight
The lecture series
• Technology orientated
‒ Will be adapted to some extent to address your needs and
issues arising from the project
• Technologies covered
‒ Water characterisation
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‒ Process mass balances using water characteristics
‒ Flow and load analysis for design
‒ Consent analysis for design
‒ Flow and load management
‒ Physical treatment
‒ Biological treatment
Jamestown, Ghana:
“Improved” sanitation
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Jamestown, Ghana:
“Improved” santiation
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“Engineered” open sewer
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So…
What does a
Chemical Engineering
Wastewater treatment works
look like?
Davyhulme, Manchester
Chemical Engineering
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