Abstract |
This report describes five fine pore diffuser evaluations conducted at three different wastewater treatment plants located in the greater Los Angeles area. The overall goal of the study was to evaluate the performance of fine pore diffusers using selected cleaning methods for extended periods of time at selected treatment plants. The major part of this study was conducted at the Whittier Narrows Water Reclamation Plant, which is operated by the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts. This study evaluated fine pore ceramic disk and dome aeration systems using Hcl acid gas cleaning and a dome aeration systems without acid gas cleaning over a 25-month period. A second study, smaller in scope and effort, was conducted at the Valencia Water Reclamation Plant (also operated by the Districts). This study evaluated fine pore plastic disk diffusers over a 13-month period. A third study, also smaller in scope and effort than the Whittier Narrows study, was conducted at the Terminal Island Wastewater Treatment Plant, operated by the City of Los Angeles. In this study, the performance of two membrane tube diffusers was evaluated over a 12-month period. This report summarizes the performance of six different aeration systems. The principal indicator of performance was oxygen transfer efficiency, as measured through off-gas analysis. For the Whittier Narrows study, changes in diffuser characteristics are also reported. |