Effects of air blower and pump failures on the performance of A2O processes for wastewater treatment

• Published in: Journal of environmental management Vol. 344; p. 118380
• Main Authors: Pyo, Minsu, Kim, Dongyeon, Lee, Eui-Jong, Kim, Hyungsoo, Lee, Kang Hoon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 15-10-2023
• Subjects: A2O processes; Air blower; Equipment failure; Mixed liquor recirculation (MLR) pump; Return activated sludge (RAS) pump; Air blower; Return activated sludge (RAS) pump; Mixed liquor recirculation (MLR) pump; A2O processes; Equipment failure
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118380

The unexpected failure of equipment such as pumps and fans in wastewater treatment plants can reduce wastewater treatment efficiency, leading to direct leakage of untreated wastewater into the environment. It is hence important to predict the possible consequences of equipment failure to minimize the leakage of harmful substances. This study examines the impacts of equipment shutdown on the performance and recovery time of a laboratory-scale anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic system with regard to reactor conditions and water quality. Two days after the air blowers are stopped, the concentrations of the soluble chemical oxygen demand, NH4–N, and PO4–P in the effluent of the settling tank increase to 122 mg/L, 23.8 mg/L, and 46.6 mg/L, respectively. These concentrations return to their initial values after 12, 24, and 48 h of restarting the air blowers. The concentrations of PO4–P and NO3–N in the effluent increase to 58 mg/L and 20 mg/L, respectively, about 24 h after stopping the return activated sludge and mixed liquor recirculation pumps, owing to the release of phosphates in the settling tank and inhibition of denitrification.
•The nutrient removal efficiency takes a longer time to return to normal.•Phosphates show the most serious deterioration during air blower and RAS pump failure.•A significant release of phosphate in the settling tank during RAS pump failure.•The immediate deterioration of sludge settleability due to DO concentration of 0 mg/L.