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EFFECTS OF FLOW EQUALIZATION ON THE OPERATION AND PERFORMANCE OF AN ACTIVATED SLUDGE PLANT
Citation:
Foess, G., J. Meenahan, AND D. Blough. EFFECTS OF FLOW EQUALIZATION ON THE OPERATION AND PERFORMANCE OF AN ACTIVATED SLUDGE PLANT. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/2-77/138.
Description:
A plant-scale research program was carried out for more than a year to evaluate the impact of flow equalization on the 14,000 cu m/day (3.7 mgd) upgraded activated sludge plant at Ypsilanti Township, Michigan. Process streams were characterized under both equalized and unequalized flow conditions with respect to BOD, COD, TSS and forms of nitrogen and phosphorus. The equalization system was effective in leveling influent diurnal flow variations but was limited in its ability to dampen variations in wastewater concentration and mass flux. Some biochemical action apparently occurred in the equalization basin, although BOD removal was marginal and inconsistent. Analysis of secondary effluent indicated that plant performance was similar with and without equalized flow, suggesting that the theoretical advantages of flow equalization may not be achieved in manually controlled plants. An examination of theoretical power costs for equalized and unequalized flow conditions indicated that the use of flow equalization did not result in power cost economies.