Analyses of activated sludge processes consisting of a plug-flow reactor and a non-ideal settler

An activated sludge process (ASP) consisting of a plug-flow reactor (PFR) and a non-ideal settler is modelled and analysed. One soluble substrate component and one particulate biomass are assumed. The biomass growth rate is described by a Monod function. The settler model includes hindered settling and compression. A model describing the steady-state behaviour of the ASP is derived which constrains the settler to work with a fixed sludge blanket height in the thickening zone. The model provides new understanding for these types of ASPs and may be used for novel design schemes. The numerical example suggests that the steady-state solutions of the ASP give a one-parameter family ofsolutions, where the parameter is the recycle ratio 푟.