GPS X Analysis

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Water & Wastewater Treatment | Hydromantis

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Analyzer
What is the Analyzer?
The Analyzer module allows you to automatically perform steady-state or dynamic sensitivity analyses on model parameters, which will save you a
significant amount of time and effort. The Analyzer module has several applications, such as:
Evaluating how changes in process and operating parameters (e.g. SRT setpoint, DO setpoint, temperature, etc.) effect various measures of plant
performance.
Determining the relationship between the nitrification rate and temperature of the plant.
Examining how the MLSS concentration in the aeration tank affects the effluent ammonia concentration.
Identifying critical parameters for plant calibration.

Steady-State Analysis Example


The GPS-X analyzer tool can determine the sensitivity of a nitrifying plant to
wastewater temperature. GPS-X performs successive steady-state simulations for
a range of conditions (wastewater temperatures in this example) and plots the
effluent ammonia as it is calculated.
Figure 1 shows effluent ammonia (Y-axis) as a function of wastewater
temperature (X-axis). In this example, partial nitrification can be established at
around 14 C, and full nitrification can be established for a wastewater
temperature of 20C and above.
Steady-state analysis is useful when you don't need the extra complexity of
dynamic changes. However, if dynamic changes are of interest, the analyzer
module allows you to incorporate them into your sensitivity analyses.

Figure 1. Automatic Steady-State Sensitivity Analysis Effluent


Ammonia vs. Wastewater Temperature

Dynamic Analysis Example


An example of a dynamic sensitivity analysis is shown in Figure 2.
In this case, GPS-X runs a one-day dynamic simulation with diurnal influent flow
rate. This one-day run is repeated for a number of different wastewater
temperatures (three in this example), and the results are plotted on the same
output graph.
In this type of analysis, each line on the graph corresponds to the level of
ammonia in the final effluent at a different wastewater temperature.

Observe the effect of plant performance measures, such as:

Effluent concentrations
Nutrient removal efficiency
Pollutant load to receiving waters
Plant operating variables (e.g. MLSS, DO)
Sludge production

Dynamic analysis can be performed on:

Figure 2. Automatic Sensitivity Analysis Effluent Ammonia vs. Time


(for three different temperatures)

Influent or sidestream (supernatant, etc.) flow rate or loading


Tank sizes
Storm flow management (bypass, storage)
Wasting, recycle, air flow and chemical dose rate
Automatic controller setpoints and tuning parameters
Kinetic and stoichiometric parameters
Settling parameters (e.g. SVI)

Monte Carlo Analysis


A robust Monte Carlo Analysis Tool allows users to evaluate plant performance when not all of the model inputs are
well-known.

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27/7/2016

Water & Wastewater Treatment | Hydromantis

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Users can now run simulations using a typical distribution of values, rather than being forced to choose a single value,
and observe a range of model outputs.
For example, users can predict a range of effluent ammonia concentrations given the typical range of nitrifier growth
rates, even though the true actual growth rate isn't known.
The Monte Carlo Analysis Tool is a valuable addition to the GPS-X toolkit, and provides users with a way to bring the uncertainty of real life into their
models.

Optimizer
What is the Optimizer?
The Optimizer module is an extremely powerful tool that can save you a significant amount of time and effort. The Optimizer module has two main
uses:

Model Calibration: used to automatically find parameter values (e.g. kinetic coefficients, settling parameters, etc.) that minimize the difference
between measured data and modeled results.

Process Control Optimization: used to find the best design and process control parameter values (e.g. tank sizes, flow rates, etc.). The
Optimizer module uses a robust multi-dimensional search routine that can easily handle multi-variable optimizations.

Model Calibration Example


Figure 1 shows an example of using GPS-X for calibrating kinetic parameters
based on the results of a lab-scale batch experiment.
The small +s represent measured filtered COD, while the continuous lines are
the simulated results of the batch experiment as GPS-X repeatedly searches for
the appropriate coefficient values.
In this case, the GPS-X optimizer is searching for the heterotrophic maximum
specific growth rate and the half saturation coefficient that will minimize the
difference between simulated results and actual lab data. The resulting
parameter values will provide a close fit to the data.
A similar calibration exercise using the optimizer can also be based on
measurements from a full-scale wastewater treatment facility. For example, the
optimizer could be used to find nitrifier growth rates using measured effluent
ammonia data.

Figure 1. Kinetic parameter optimization showing successive


guesses getting closer to the measured data points as the GPS-X
optimizer automatically calibrates the model.

Process Control Optimization Example


The GPS-X Optimizer can be used to find appropriate control methods to
minimize effluent concentrations from an activated sludge process.
The plant shown in Figure 2 is designed for biological nutrient removal. Under
current operating conditions, this plant has an effluent total nitrogen (TN) of
10.0 mg/L.
In this example, the optimizer was used to vary the RAS flow, the WAS flow
and the mixed-liquor internal recycle (MLIR) flow to meet a more stringent
effluent TN objective of 7.0 mg/L.
The objective of this optimization is to minimize the effluent TN
concentration by finding the best combination of the three flows, while
ensuring that the maximum installed pumping capacities at the plant are not
exceeded.
This optimization required 70 iterations to converge.
The table in Figure 3 shows the results of the optimization. The iteration
number and the three optimized parameter values are shown along with the
associated effluent TN concentration.
Figure 2. Example GPS-X layout for the process control optimizer
runs.

It can be seen from the results of this optimization that the plant can meet
an effluent TN objective of 7.0 mg/L, if the current operating conditions are
modified to the values determined by the GPS-X Optimizer.

http://www.hydromantis.com/GPSX-analyzer-optimizer.html

27/7/2016

Water & Wastewater Treatment | Hydromantis

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Figure 3. Optimized Process Control for Minimizing TN

Automated model calibration


Use the optimization module to find model parameter values that provide the best fit between measured and simulated data.
Multi-parameter optimization ensures that when multiple parameters impact the same variable, the best set of parameter values can be
determined.

Evaluate Design and Process Control Options

Use for plant optimization by finding new control option combinations to maximize the use of existing plant infrastructure.
Determine the best trade-off between multiple process design options.
Optimize SBR cycle settings to maximize biological nutrient removal.
Find the most cost effective operating strategy by using the optimizer to minimize total annual operating cost.

http://www.hydromantis.com/GPSX-analyzer-optimizer.html

27/7/2016

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