Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor Medium Calculation

How can I ​calculate ​the ​quantity of ​Moving bed ​biofilm reactor ​(MBBR) ​medium to ​be used in MBBR ​#Technology ?​  ​

How do I ​calculate the ​amount of ​polyethylene ​biofilm ​carriers for ​best performance ​while ​maintaining the ​most economic ​costs? ​

Which ​parameters do I ​need to ​consider for ​the evaluation?​  ​

Taxonomy

• Waste Water Technology
• Treatment
• Bioreactor
• Sludge Separation
• Sludge Management
• Sludge Drying
• Technology
• Waste Water Reclaimation
• Waste Disposal
• Waste Water Treatment
• Sludge Treatment & Management
• Biofilm Sensors
• Fluidised Aerobic Bio-Reactor
• Bio-Media

7 Answers

1. A simple tool for MBBR design calculations.

   MBBR Calculator

2. I believe someone has already wisely suggested that you contact vendors.  There are a large number of media manufacturers and the volume of media you need will depend on the type of media you select and the effective surface area of the media.  Make sure the sizing is based on BOD loading and not simply sewage flow, and ask for references.  Contact the treatment plants referenced and ask for information on the BOD/COD and ammonia loading, effluent quality, flow rates, tank sizes, proportion of media by volume, aeration capacity and system used.  The literature contains a lot of unqualified information and summaries that can be highly misleading.

3. I agree with Mr. Gerd Teunissen and I would advise to take care with the screen at the exit of the aeration system.

4. Most basic rules:

   Filling up to 60% of total volume; BOD removal capacity 4 g BOD/m2 protected area by day. Protected area is usually indicated by supplier, like total surface of filling material 850 m2/m3 of which 640 m2/m3 protected (against scraping off). Don't forget: most MBBR systems are mixed systems with still considerable activated sludge in the reactor.

   Aeration efficiency in MBBR is usually higher than in MLSS in same reactor, due to longer contact time between air and water.

5. The Filling degree is bot dependant on the media type that you use, the Screen system you use, the hydraulic loading to the tank and the type of aeration used.

    

   To high filling degree can lead to media loss, dead zones and increased head loss trough the reactor.

    

   Having worked with this Process now for more than 20 years, I can only recommend that you go to one of the renomated vendors in the market and get an offer from them.

    

   More information on potential vendors can be found in the attached file

6. Ødegaard was suggesting higher values (if I remember well up to 60%). Anyways I should start with the load of pollutants to remove. Depending on the process you have several parameters to consider (for ex Carbon and oxygen if you are removing nitrogen), from here you see the pollutant load rate (how much gram per m2 of surface per hour) and finally the amount of m2 you need. This means that with the specific surface (surface available for m3) you can see the volume you need of carriers (COST n.1). This volum should be aroud 50%-60% of your reactor, so you can design the reactor (COST n.2). Choose a carbon source if you need it (for ex. in denitrification) (COST n,3) and the aeration rate (for ex Qair = 60% Qwater), so choose the blowers (or the mixer, in denitrification) (COST n4). This is very very basic, there should be also piping, recycling pumps and so on, but it depends on the process scheme you choose

7. It should be 30% of tank volume...thumb rule

   1 Comment

   1. Your application is not fully outlined.

      Do you require COD / BOD Removal only or do you require nitrification-denitrification ?

      Loading rates vary significantly with application

      Also what is the wastewater source?

      As a general guide refer to WEF Manual of Practice No.35 - 2010