Domestic Wastewater Treatment Mobilization Construction - AskTOP

EM 1110-3-17211 May 84Nonporous diffusers such as ejectors, impingement plates, jet-airdiffusers, helix-type diffusers, and nozzles are used for aeratingmixed liquor in activated sludge processes . Many of these diffusersrequire as much as 50 percent more air than porous diffusers .(2) Provisions for cleaning . Selection and design of diffusersystems must include provisions for cleaning the diffusers and forcleaning the air supply to minimize clogging disruptions of theactivated sludge processes .Blowers and piping .(1) Blowers . The supplying of air by blowers for the activatedsludge process constitutes a major power requirement . Blowers will beprovided in multiple units, with arrangement and capacities to meet themaximum oxygen demand with the largest unit out of service .Positive-displacement rotary and centrifugal blowers are acceptable .Centrifugal blowers will be permitted only when unit capacityrequirements call for free air flows equal to or greater than 15,000cfm . As a conservation measure, sludge-digestion gas can be moreefficiently used as fuel for driving positive-displacement blowers thanfor driving electric generators . The type, size, and number of blowersrequired will be' determined by the anticipated maximum, peak, average,low, and minimum oxygen demands .(2) Piping . Air mains will be designed so that pressure losswill be negligible and so that uniform air flow through I each squarefoot of distributed surface is attained .' The air diffusion piping anddiffuser system will be capable of delivering 200 percent of the normalair requirements . It is essential that the interior of the air pipesremain free from corrosion and scaling that might cause clogging of thediffusers . Expansion and contraction joints should be part of thepiping design . Blower discharges and air delivery' to aeration tanksshould be metered by orifice or Venturi-type flow meter's .d . Mechanical aerators .(1) surface and turbine . Surface aerators may be fixed orfloating devices with hjgh speed, low-'speed, ; two-speed, orvariable-sp,eed`'mot ors . "~loaiing aerators are applicable for use wherethe water eleva'tion'fluctuates,'or where rigid support would beimpractical . Slow-speed' surface aera'tors'are considerably moreexpensive'than'high-speed units despite'ihe fact both units haveessentially the same oxygen transfer efficiencies ; however, low-speemechanical surface aerators are more reliable' and provide better 'mixing . Turbine aerators are not as efficient as §urface aerators butare`useful where basin area limitations` will not permit the use ofmechanical aerators . Afi`advIntage of mechanical aeiation ; overdif'fu'sed=air' aeration lies in the relative `simplicity of` mechanicalequipment . Mechanical aetators'in'common use are"'proprietary devicesI J-1