Water & Wastewater Treatment

www.wwtonline.co.uk | WWT | ocTober 2014 | 53 In the know Research roundup T he fact a rule book is needed is not to say the industry doesn't have tried and tested rules and standards. In Germany for exam- ple, the DWA (German Association for Water Wastewater and Waste) produces an excellent set of rules and standards that are not only widely used within Germany itself but also gaining increasing international recognition. However, the guidance provided is rooted in the climatic and other conditions that prevail within a single country. The industry as yet lacks a consistent yet flexible set of design algorithms that can be used anywhere in the world. Given the international nature – and importance – of the wastewater treatment industry, that doesn't make sense on any level, business, finan- cial or operational. The EXPOVAL research project is set to fill the knowledge gap (Expor- torientierte Forschung und Entwick- lung auf dem Gebiet Abwasser–Va- lidierung an technischen Anlagen, which translates as Export-oriented research and development in the field of wastewater – validation on full-scale plants). Sponsored by the German Federal German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the EXPOVAL project brings together 11 Universities and selected companies, including GEA 2H, with acknowledged expertise in discrete areas of wastewater treatment and EXPOVAL: rewriting the international wastewater management rule book The wastewater treatment industry needs a new 'rule book' that can operate across the globe management. The expert contributors are tasked with adapting the DWA's proven de- sign rules and planning instruments for wider international use – i.e. in countries other than the leading industrialised nations and in more extreme climates. The ultimate aim is to produce a comprehensive set of validated calcu- lation algorithms which, for the first time, will include country-specific factors such as air temperature, inlet and outlet values and salinities. By the time the project concludes in late 2015, industry professionals, sup- pliers and consultants will have all the information they need to make informed decisions on every aspect of the design, build and management of wastewater treatment facilities anywhere in the world. The contributors have been di- vided into teams to focus on a specific wastewater treatment process rel- evant to their own areas of expertise: 1) Activated Sludge 2) Aeration Technology 3) Trickling Filters 4) Anaerobic Systems 5) Wastewater Ponds 6) Sludge Treatment 7) Disinfection and Reuse GEA 2H and the University of Stuttgart were asked to concentrate on trickling filters. Selecting test sites Identifying appropriate test sites has been vitally important. The research team needed test sites where the loca- tion, climate and other local condi- tions would allow them to push the existing design equations to the limit. The sites eventually selected had to offer high wastewater temperature, a history of effective operation based on previous data, and, on a very prag- matic level, access to the local opera- tor and plant. And, of course, all sites needed to be capable of supporting a RichARd MAnning Managing direcTor gea 2H WaTer TecHnologies Proposed multi-effluent trickling filter configuration including pre-treatment, anoxic tank, trickling filter 1 and 2 (BOD removal and nitrification), 2 clarifiers, (possible tertiary nitrification or P-removal) and post treatment 1: Inflow a er pre-treatment, 2: Bypass to Filter 1, 5: Mix-flow to filter 1, 10: Recirculation from filter 2, 11: Effluent from Filter 1 a er clarification (To post treatment), 13: Effluent from Filter 2 (To post treatment) Flexible trickling filter configuration for water reuse ►

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