Challenges in WWTP modeling, following the GMP protocol, Case study: Carousel - Oxidation ditch system

Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) models have many applications in industry and for research purposes. However, due to the complexity of the WWTP system, it is challenging to model it, and modelers usually need guidelines to help them reduce calculation time and cost. In recent years, several protocols such as STOWA, BIOMATH, WERF and GMP have been proposed for this issue. The GMP (Good modeling practice) protocol is the most recent among these protocols and is a unification of the other protocols. This research investigates the experiences gained while building a WWTP model for a carousel based treatment plant using GMP protocol. The parts of WWTP that are modeled in this study include a primary clarifier, an activated sludge unit with a carousel-oxidation ditch system, and a secondary clarifier. This research aims to highlight the areas in the GMP protocol that require more explanation and detail based on the challenges encountered while using it. Multiple remarks have been proposed for different stages of modeling, including project definition, data collection and reconciliation, plant model set-up and calibration and validation. This experience can be beginning of other researches that can help modelers in developing precise and accurate models for WWTPs.

Keywords:

WWTP modeling , Calibration , GMP protocol , carousel-oxidation ditch