Articles and Case Studies from inCTRL Solutions Inc.

Towards advanced aeration modelling: from blower to bubbles to bulk

Abstract: Aeration is an essential component of aerobic biological wastewater treatment and is the largest energy consumer at most water resource recovery facilities. Most modelling studies neglect the inherent complexity of the aeration systems ...

Jan. 1, 2017 Amaral A.;Schraa O.;Rieger L.;Gillot S.;Fayolle Y.;Bellandi G.;Amerlinck Y.;Gori R.;Neves R.;Nopens I.

Development of a model for activated sludge aeration systems: Linking air supply, distribution, and demand. Water Science & Technology

Abstract: During the design of a water resource recovery facility, it is becoming industry practice to use simulation software to assist with process design. Aeration is one of the key components of the activated sludge process, and is one of the ...

Jan. 1, 2017 Schraa O.;Rieger L.;Alex J.

Laboratory-scale investigation of integrated biological phosphorus removal and mainstream deammonification at the Terrence J. O`Brien Water Reclamation Plant. Proceedings WEFTEC.17

Abstract: In collaboration with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC), the environmental biotechnology research group at Northwestern University (NU) is conducting a laboratory-scale investigation of enhanced ...

Jan. 1, 2017 Rosenthal A.;Roots P.;Yang F.;Kozak J.;Zhang H.;Wells G.

An innovative approach for modeling aerobic granular sludge processes. Proceedings WEFTEC.17

Abstract: An innovative biofilm model has been developed that allows modeling of a granular sludge sequencing batch reactor (GSBR) in a single tank without the need for a separate variable volume tank and a recycle stream. The model has a variable ...

Jan. 1, 2017 Schraa O.;Rieger L.;Alex J.;Miletic I.

Exploring the potential of dynamic air supply models to evaluate control strategies: the experience at the Girona WRRF. Proceedings ICA2017

Abstract: A model-based treatment performance and energy audit of the Girona WRRF in Spain was conducted using advanced and fully dynamic air supply models. The focus of the study was on the aeration system, which represents 63% of the plant’s ...

Jan. 1, 2017 Juan-Garcia P.;Kiser M.A.;Schraa O.;Rieger L.;Corominas Ll.

Predicting influent PO4 using a multivariate soft sensor. Proceedings ICA2017

Abstract: A method for implementing a multivariate Partial Least Squares (PLS) soft sensor is discussed with a focus on sensor robustness. Practical aspects of implementation are examined including handling of missing or poor input data, sensor and ...

Jan. 1, 2017 Miletic I.;Rieger L.;Schraa O.;Alex J.

Improved on-line simulations of wastewater treatment plants using time series methods. Proceedings ICA2017

Abstract: Time series analysis methods have been applied to water resource recovery facility (WRRF) data. Although time series methods are well understood, the practical aspects of their use and implementation are not often discussed. In the study ...

Jan. 1, 2017 Miletic I.;Rieger L.;Schraa O.;Alex J.

Ammonia-based aeration control with optimal SRT control: improved performance and lower energy consumption Proceedings ICA2017

Abstract: Ammonia-based aeration control (ABAC) is a cascade control concept for controlling total ammonia nitrogen (NHx-N) in the activated sludge process. Its main goals are to tailor the aeration intensity to the NHx-N loading and to maintain ...

Jan. 1, 2017 Schraa O.;Rieger L.;Alex J.;Miletic I.

Process Control Systems at Water Resource Recovery Facilities: Use of Process Simulation to Assist with Controller Design and Tuning. Proceedings ISA2017

Abstract: Process simulation is a useful tool to assist with control design and tuning at water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs). Simulation models serve as virtual WRRFs which can be used to design, tune, and test control systems. In addition, ...

Jan. 1, 2017 Schraa O.;Gray M.

Nitrosomonas europaea biofilm formation is enhanced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. FEMS Microbiology Ecology

Abstract: Biofilms are useful in biotechnology applications such as wastewater treatment, where aggregation of cells on surfaces can increase retention of slow-growing organisms such as ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB). The formation and ...

Jan. 1, 2017 Petrovich M.;Rosenthal A.;Packman A.I.;Wells G.F.

Comparing the resistance, resilience, and stability of replicate moving bed biofilm and suspended growth combined nitritation−anammox reactors. Environmental Science & Technology

Abstract: Combined partial nitritation−anammox (PN/A) systems are increasingly being employed for sustainable removal of nitrogen from wastewater, but process instabilities present ongoing challenges for practitioners. The goal of this study ...

Jan. 1, 2017 Wells G.F.;Shi Y.;Laureni M.;Rosenthal A.;Szivak I.,;Weissbrodt D.G.;Joss A.;Buergmann H.;Johnson D.R.;Morgenroth E.

A Comprehensive Aeration System Model for WRRF Design and Control. Proceedings WEFTEC.15

Abstract: During the design of a water resource recovery facility (WRRF), it is becoming industry practice for process engineers to use simulation software to assist with the design of the plant and its aeration system. The aeration process is one ...

Jan. 1, 2017 Schraa O.;Rieger L.;Alex J.

Model-Supported Design, Testing, and Implementation of Process Control Strategies. in: Smart Water Utilities: Complexity Made Simple

Abstract: Advanced process control has the ability to allow the full performance potential of your wastewater treatment plant to be realized by taking advantage of existing but unused capacities. In plants that are nearing their capacity limits this ...

Jan. 1, 2016 Rieger L.;Alex J.;Schraa O.

Towards advanced aeration modelling: from blower to bubbles to bulk. Proceedings WWTmod2016

Abstract: The complexity of the whole aeration system (blowers to bubbles to bulk) has been neglected for far too long in the modelling of Water Resource Recovery Facilities (WRRF). We still use simplistic basis models extended with empirical ...

Jan. 1, 2016 Amaral A.;Schraa O.;Rieger L.;Gillot S.;Fayolle Y.;Bellandi G.;Amerlinck Y.;Gori R.;Neves R.;Nopens I.

Development of a model for activated sludge aeration systems: Linking air supply, distribution, and demand. Proceedings WWTmod2016

Abstract: During the design of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), it is becoming industry practice for engineers to use simulation software to assist with process design. Aeration is one of the key components of the activated sludge process, and ...

Jan. 1, 2016 Schraa O.;Rieger L.;Alex J.

Morphological examination of nitrifying biofilms in a moving bed biofilm reactor using optical coherence tomography and fluorescence in situ hybridization. Proceedings WEFTEC.16

Abstract: We present an imaging and image analysis approach to quantify both the overall morphology and the spatial distribution of nitrifying guilds in mixed-culture, nitrifying biofilms enriched on K1 carriers. For image acquisition we used ...

Jan. 1, 2016 Rosenthal A.F.;Balogun O.;Wells G.F.

Coupling SRT Control with Aeration Control Strategies. Proceedings WEFTEC.16

Abstract: A new control strategy has been developed that integrates dynamic SRT control with ammonia-based aeration control. In this strategy, feedback control of dynamic SRT is employed which is shown to provide the most appropriate means of ...

Jan. 1, 2016 Schraa O.;Rieger L.;Alex J.

Comparison of Fine-Bubble Aeration Control Concepts with Respect to Energy Efficiency and Robustness. Proceedings WEFTEC.16

Abstract: The presented study analyzes and compares four standard aeration control concepts for air supply and air distribution in terms of energy savings, controller performance and robustness. Realistic results were achieved by the use of ...

Jan. 1, 2016 Alex J.;Rieger L.;Schraa O.

Quantitative image analysis of mesoscale biofilm structure with optical coherence tomography. Proceedings WEFTEC.15

Abstract: The metabolic processes supported in a biofilm are often determined by a biofilm’s mesoscale structure (10-4-10-2 meter scale), and mesoscale structure is in turn shaped by the interplay between microbial metabolism and detachment. ...

Jan. 1, 2015 Rosenthal A.;Yi, J.;Zhang H.F.;Balogun O.;Wells G.;Wells G.

A novel integrated approach for designing, testing and implementing WRRF process control solutions. Proceedings WEFTEC.15

Abstract: This paper describes an integrated approach for designing, testing and implementing process control solutions for Water Resource Recovery Facilities (WRRFs) using a novel simulation platform. The user-friendly modeling and simulation ...

Jan. 1, 2015 Ogurek M.;Alex J.;Rieger L.;Schraa O.;Sch?tze M.;Schutze M.

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