Paper Title
UPGRADING ACTIVATED SLUDGE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS WITH LOW ENERGY COST BY THE ADVANCED PRIMARY FILTRATION (APF) PROCESS

Abstract
Abstract - Problem Statement - Energy consumption for wastewater treatment is of great concern for all modern municipalities. Novel, low energy consumption, processes have been lately emerged, and are in the process to be adopted by Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) operators. Methods: TheAdvanced Primary Filtration (APF) process is based on the early removal of suspended solids (prior to the biological treatment), through effective primary filtration systems, providing significant benefits to overloaded WWTPs. More specifically, theAPF process consists of a self-cleaned rotating belt filter (known as microsieve) followed by a Continuous Backwash Upflow Media Filter (CBUMF) for the treatment of raw wastewater. The system may be installed upstream of the aeration tank or any other biological process. Results: Τhe APF system is capable of removing about 90% of the Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and about 60% of the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5). Due to the decreased organic load in the aeration tank, the capacity of the retrofitted WWTPsusually increases by up to 40%, while the energy requirements may be decreedup to 35%, compared to the conventional activated sludge process. In the frame of ANELIXI project (www.anelixi.tuc.gr), financed by the Interreg GR-CY program, two APF systems with maximum hydraulic capacities of 1,800 and 2,500 m3/d have been installed at the overloaded activated sludge WWTPs of Kyperounda, Limassol, Cyprus and Marpissa, Paros, Greece. The main objective of implementing the APF process to the above WWTPs is the need to increase the treatment capacity of the plants as the inlet flowrate has been increase, due to the expansion of the sewerage network. In this study a curve-fitting model has been developed to predict and validate the obtained pilot data.The predictions of the curve fitting model were largely consistent with the experimental data; however, the model will be further generalized by feeding it with additional experimental data. Conclusions - Application of theAPF process upfront of overloaded WWTPs upgrade the plant performance allowing for operation at high flowrates, at minimal energy expenditure. Keywords - Wastewater Treatment Plant; Advanced Primary Filtration; Energy Efficiency; Curve Fitting Model