Respirometry-based on-line model parameter estimation at a full-scale WWTP

This paper describes part of a project to develop a systematic approach to knowledge extraction from on-line respirometric measurements in support of wastewater treatment plant control and operation. The paper deals with the following issues: (1) test of the implementation of an automatic set-up consisting of a continuous laboratory respirometer integrated in a mobile trailer with sampling and dosing equipment, and data-acquisition and communication system; (2) assessment of activated sludge/sewage characteristics from sludge respirograms by model parameter estimation; (3) comparison of the parameter estimates with regular plant data and information obtained from supplementary wastewater respirograms. The paper describes the equipment and some of its measuring results from a period of one week at a large-scale wastewater treatment plant. The measurements were evaluated in terms of the common activated sludge modelling practice. The automatic set-up allowed reliable measurements during at least one week. The data were used to calibrate two different version of the model, and independent parameter estimates were obtained.