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    WET OperatorEssentials - Trickling Filters - Aug - 13

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    The document discusses trickling filters, which are devices used in wastewater treatment that use a media to grow microbial biofilms. Trickling filters work by distributing wastewater over the media to allow microorganisms to metabolize contaminants. The document covers the history, components, operation, performance expectations, and considerations for trickling filters.

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    WET OperatorEssentials - Trickling Filters - Aug - 13

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    The document discusses trickling filters, which are devices used in wastewater treatment that use a media to grow microbial biofilms. Trickling filters work by distributing wastewater over the media to allow microorganisms to metabolize contaminants. The document covers the history, components, operation, performance expectations, and considerations for trickling filters.

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    WET OperatorEssentials - Trickling Filters - Aug_13

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    The document discusses trickling filters, which are devices used in wastewater treatment that use a media to grow microbial biofilms. Trickling filters work by distributing wastewater over the media to allow microorganisms to metabolize contaminants. The document covers the history, components, operation, performance expectations, and considerations for trickling filters.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    70 views3 pages

    WET OperatorEssentials - Trickling Filters - Aug - 13

    Uploaded by

    cubodepapel
    The document discusses trickling filters, which are devices used in wastewater treatment that use a media to grow microbial biofilms. Trickling filters work by distributing wastewater over the media to allow microorganisms to metabolize contaminants. The document covers the history, components, operation, performance expectations, and considerations for trickling filters.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 3

    OPERATOR ESSENTIALS

    What every operator should know


    about trickling filters
    Greg Farmer
    Knowledge

    Principle

    Practical considerations

    History

    The technology was developed in the U.S.


    and Great Britain in the 1890s. The first U.S.
    installation was in Madison, Wis., in 1901.

    Trickling filters became the dominant secondary treatment process in the


    U.S. by the 1950s. Trickling filters fell out of favor in the 1970s when the
    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued its definition of secondary
    treatment standards activated sludge was better able to meet the new
    standards.
    Improvements in secondary clarifier design and the introduction of
    coupled processes such as trickling filter/solids contact and
    nitrifying trickling filters have led to a resurgence of the technology.

    System
    components

    Distribution system: provides for even distribution


    of wastewater over the media.

    Rotary distributors can be hydraulically or mechanically driven. Modern


    hydraulic and electric drives provide the ability to control rotational speed.

    Containment structure: provides structural support


    to contain the media within the bioreactor.

    For containment, precast concrete panels or tanks typically are used. If


    flooding ability is desired for macro fauna control, then post-tensioned
    tanks are required.

    Filter media: Rock media commonly are found in


    older trickling filters. Almost all new installations
    use plastic media.
    Rock media are more likely to plug due to smaller
    voids, which also restrict airflow. Plastic media,
    available as cross-flow or vertical, provide for better
    oxygen transfer, and are lighter than rock, so media
    can be deeper. Vertical-flow media are used in
    roughing and industrial applications.
    Underdrain: collects treated wastewater and
    creates a plenum that facilitates oxygen transfer
    throughout the trickling filter.
    Ventilation: Trickling filters for biochemical oxygen
    demand (BOD) removal and nitrification are
    aerobic processes and require air exchange to
    sustain aerobic conditions.

    Media types

    Advantages

    Disadvantages

    Rock

    Vertical flow

    Cross flow

    Longest-lasting

    Least likely to
    plug

    Redistributes
    wastewater

    Use of local
    materials possible

    Best ventilation

    Higher hydraulic
    retention time

    Poor ventilation

    Higher in cost

    High flushing
    rate necessary to
    minimize nuisance
    organisms

    Redistributes
    wastewater
    only at module
    interface

    Increase in
    density may result
    in reduced oxygen
    transfer and
    increased biofilm
    thickness

    Note: Some trickling filters have used a combination of vertical-flow and


    cross-flow media; these are referred to as mixed-flow media.
    The space between the media and the bottom of the containment
    structure is the underdrain. A larger area promotes better air distribution.
    Older trickling filter installations use passive ventilation resulting from a
    difference in ambient air temperature inside and outside of the trickling
    filter. When temperatures are near equal, air movement stops.
    Modern trickling filters are covered and equipped with forced-air ventilation
    systems using low-pressure fans to maintain air movement at all times. The
    exhaust air typically is treated in chemical scrubbers to minimize odors.

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    WE&T l AUGUST 2013 l WWW.WEF.ORG/MAGAZINE

    Knowledge

    Principle

    Practical considerations

    How it works

    The basic concept of trickling filters is to provide a


    surface on which microbial films grow.

    Wastewater containing necessary nutrients intermittently passes over


    the microorganisms to grow a biofilm on media. Nutrients diffuse into the
    biofilm and are metabolized by the stationary (fixed) microorganisms.

    Microorganisms use contaminants in wastewater


    as nutrients to sustain growth and oxygen for
    respiration.
    Expected
    performance

    Rotational
    speed/flushing
    intensity

    Most trickling filters are designed to remove


    carbonaceous BOD (CBOD) and/or nitrogen.

    Distributor-arm rotational speed regulates flushing


    intensity.
    Maintaining a relatively slow rotational speed and
    high flushing intensity offers several benefits, such
    as biofilm thickness control, macro fauna control,
    and increased wetting efficiency.
    Generally, the higher the organic loading, the
    greater the flushing intensity required.

    Carbon-oxidizing trickling filters utilize heterotrophic bacteria.


    Nitrifying trickling filters utilize autotrophic bacteria.

    Filter type

    Organic loading
    (lb BOD per
    1000 ft3 per day)

    Percent soluble
    CBOD/ammonia
    nitrogen removal

    Media
    suitability

    Roughing filters

    100220

    50% to 75%

    Vertical flow,
    mixed flow

    Carbon oxidizing
    filters

    2060

    Up to 90%

    Vertical flow,
    cross flow

    Combined BOD
    and nitrification
    filters

    520

    < 10 mg/L soluble


    CBOD
    < 3 mg/L
    ammonia

    Cross flow,
    standard
    or medium
    density

    Nitrification filters

    < 20 mg/L or
    filter will fail

    < 3 mg/L
    ammonia

    Cross flow,
    medium or
    high density

    Although many trickling filters have hydraulically driven distributors, some


    distributors are equipped with mechanical or other speed controls. As a
    result, distributors previously operated at 30 seconds to 2 minutes per
    revolution. Speed-control distributors now often allow normal operational
    speeds ranging from 4 to 10 minutes per revolution. More importantly,
    many speed-control distributors allow specifying a regular (daily or
    weekly) flushing speed that may slow the distributor to more than 60
    minutes per revolution.
    The combination of slow distributor speed and pumped flow results in
    dosing rates sometimes referred to as Spulkraft that are much
    higher than previously possible. Suggested dosing rates which vary
    with media type, depth, and loading for normal operation range from
    25 to 200 mm (1 to 8 in.) per pass; suggested flushing rates range from
    100 to 600 mm (4 to 24 in.) per pass.

    WWW.WEF.ORG/MAGAZINE l AUGUST 2013

    l WE&T

    69

    Knowledge Principle

    Practical considerations

    Macro fauna

    Many problems associated with macro fauna can be controlled by increasing flushing
    intensity. Snail-control mechanisms include filter flooding either alone or with the
    addition of sodium hydroxide to raise pH or maintaining high concentrations of
    ammonia, which is toxic to snails.

    Snails are the No. 1 reported predator


    within trickling filters.
    Detrimental effects of snail infestations
    include grazing of nitrifying biofilm and
    accumulation in aeration basins, process
    channels, and digesters. Trickling filters with
    higher organic loading rates typically do not
    undergo problems with snails.

    Some facilities have developed snail traps to contain and remove snails from trickling filter
    effluent lines and aeration tanks.

    Filter (Psychoda) and crane flies (look like


    large mosquitoes) lay eggs on the media.
    The larvae graze on the biofilm.
    Recirculation
    and hydraulic
    wetting

    The ability to recirculate flow to the trickling


    filter can be used to increase oxygen or
    ensure good wetting of the media.

    Recirculation provides the ability to maintain a consistent flow to the trickling filter during
    diurnal flow variations, provides for consistent rotation speeds for hydraulically driven
    distributor arms, and maintains proper wetting rates.

    The hydraulic wetting rate is the application


    rate of wastewater to the trickling filter,
    including recirculation, expressed as gal/
    minft2.

    Low wetting rates can result in nonuniform application of wastewater and unwetted areas
    that can attract snails and filter flies. Biofilm that is not wetted continuously and supplied
    with food from the wastewater becomes ineffective. The typical suggested hydraulic
    wetting rate range for BOD removal systems is 30 to 40 L/minm2 (0.75 to 1.0 gal/
    minft2). For nitrification systems, the range is 30 to 80 L/minm2 (0.75 to 2.0 gal/minft2).
    For speed-controlled distributors, the introduction of regular flushing of the trickling filter
    and improved wetting through high instantaneous dosing rates make past criteria for
    hydraulic wetting and recirculation of secondary or little concern. Operators should track
    the past criteria but may find better operation by establishing a good dosing program.

    Greg Farmer is a process specialist at the Littleton/Englewood (Colo.) Wastewater Treatment Plant.

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    70

    WE&T l AUGUST 2013 l WWW.WEF.ORG/MAGAZINE

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