EA4527/2016-17

UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN SESSION 2016-17

EA4527
Degree Examination in EA4527 ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

Wednesday 3 May 2017 2.00 – 5.00pm

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING

(i) You must not have in your possession any material other than that expressly permitted in the rules
appropriate to this examination. Where this is permitted, such material must not be amended,
annotated or modified in any way.

(ii) You must not have in your possession any material that could be determined as giving you an
advantage in the examination.

(iii) You must not attempt to communicate with any candidate during the exam, either orally or by
passing written material, or by showing material to another candidate, nor must you attempt to
view another candidate’s work.

(iv) You must not take to your examination desk any electronic devices such as mobile phones or other
“smart” devices. The only exception to this rule is an approved calculator.

Failure to comply with the above will be regarded as cheating and may lead to disciplinary action as
indicated in the Academic Quality Handbook Section 7 and particularly Appendix 7.1.

Notes: (i) Candidates ARE permitted to use an approved calculator

(ii) Candidates ARE NOT permitted to use Engineering Mathematics Handbook

(iii) Candidates ARE NOT permitted to use GREEN or RED pen in their exam booklet.

(iv) Data sheets are attached to the paper

Candidates should attempt ALL questions.

Each question is worth 20 marks.

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Question 1
a) The analysis of the solids in a municipal wastewater sample of 100 ml gave the following data:
- Weight of the clean and dry dish: 48.6212 g.
- The 100 ml of sample was placed in the dish and evaporated at 103°C. The weight of
the dish and dry solids was 48.6432 g.
- The dish was placed in a furnace at 600°C, then cooled down. The new weight was
48.6300 g.
- 100 ml of sample was filtered through a filter paper, and the filter and the solids
retained on the filter weighted 2.4213 g
- The filter paper was then dried at 103°C and its weight was 2.4093 g

Calculate the total, suspended, dissolved, volatile and fixed solids.

[5 marks]

b) An industry discharges 0.5 m3/s of a waste with a 5-day BOD of 500 mg/l to a river with a flow
of 2 m3/s and a 5-day BOD of 2 mg/l. Calculate the 5-day BOD of the river after mixing with the
waste.

[3 marks]

c) Biological oxygen Demand:

c.1.) Define biological oxygen demand (BOD) of water, and explain the procedure to
measure the standard BOD5 test in a laboratory.
[4 marks]

c.2) The following conditions should be met for any BOD5 test: (DO0-DOf) > 2 mg/l, and
DOf > 1mg/l. Select the appropriate answer by selecting one of the following options:
1) True
2) False
where DO0 = initial concentration of dissolved oxygen, and DOf = final concentration of
dissolved oxygen.
[2 marks]

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c.3) The analysis for BOD5 was run on a sample of wastewater. The BOD had been expected
to range from 30 mg/l to 140 mg/l, and the dilutions were prepared accordingly. In
each case, a standard BOD bottle (300 ml) was used. Determine the BOD5 of the
wastewater if the recorded data are as given in Table 1.

Table 1 (Question 1)
Bottle No. WW [ml] DO0 [mg/l] DO5 [mg/l]
1 30 8.3 1.2
2 25 8.5 2.6
3 20 8.7 3.8
4 35 6.8 0.8
5 10 9.5 6.6
6 15 9.1 5.4
7 8 9.6 8.3
8 18 8.9 4.6
9 12 9.3 6.3

where WW = wastewater sample volume used for the test, DO0 = initial concentration
of dissolved oxygen and DO5= concentration of dissolved oxygen measured after 5
days.

[6 marks]

Question 2
a) List the lakes classified by their productivity and explain their principal characteristics.
[5 marks]

b) The wastewater treatment plant for Pine City discharges 1 × 105 m3/day of treated waste to
the Pine River. Immediately upstream of the treatment plant, the Pine River has an ultimate
BOD of 2 mg/l and a flow of 9 × 105 m3/day. At a distance of 20 km downstream of the
treatment plant, the Pine River has an ultimate BOD of 10 mg/l. The state’s Department of
Environmental Quality (DEQ) has set an ultimate BOD discharge limit for the treatment plant of
2,000 kg/day. The river has a velocity of 20 km/day. The BOD decay coefficient is 0.1 day-1. Is the
plant in violation of the DEQ discharge limit?
[10 marks]
c) Draw a diagram to explain osmosis and reverse osmosis. Identify the substances that can be
removed from waste waters by applying reverse osmosis.
[5 marks]

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Question 3
a) Assume a plant flow of 12,000 m3/day. Determine the actual detention time observed in the
field of two circular settling tanks with depth of 3.5 m that were designed to have an overflow
rate not to exceed 60 m3/m2day and a detention time of at least 2 h.
[5 marks]

b) A conventional activated sludge plant aims at treating 120 × 106 l/day. After primary
sedimentation the sewage that enters into the aeration tank will have a BOD of 120 mg/l and
the final effluent is to have a BOD of 5 mg/l. Knowing that the air density is 1.2 kg/m3 and that
the air to sewage ratio is 0.02 for each mg/l of BOD removed, calculate:
b.1) The required volume of the aeration tank (in m3), if the aeration period is of 5 hours
and the fraction of returned sludge in the mixed liquor is equal to 15%.
b.2) The organic loading in the aeration tank influent sewage, in kg/day.
b.3) The air supply required for the aeration tank, in m3/s.
[15 marks]

Question 4
a) List the four characteristics identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to
consider a waste as hazardous.
[2 marks]

b) A 50 kg solid-waste sample has the composition listed in Table 2, measured on the original
wet sample. The properties of the components are also given in the table. For the original wet
waste, calculate moisture content, density and unit energy content.

Table 2 (Question 4)

Wet mass Moisture content Wet Density Unit energy

Component [% of total wet mass] [% by mass] [kg/m3] [kJ/kg]
Food wastes 40 70 290 4600
Garden trimming 20 50 100 6000
Glass 25 2 200 150
Plastics 15 25 100 18000

[9 marks]

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c) Describe the procedure for measuring the porosity of a soil sample.

[6 marks]

d) Calculate the bulk density of a rectangular soil sample with dimensions 15 cm x 7 cm x 4 cm

that has a moisture content of 15% and weighs 360 g.
[3 marks]

Question 5

a) Explain different atmospheric stability situations based on the relationship between ‘ambient
lapse rate’ and ‘dry adiabatic lapse rate’ (DALR).
[5 marks]

b) Select the correct answer to the following question and explain your reasoning: which type of
atmospheric stability will mean the worst case scenario for the dispersion of a gaseous emission
in the event of a sudden release?
1) Strongly Stable
2) Unstable
3) Neutral
[2 marks]

c) Show how the equation below can be used to solve the following problem:
Q 1 y 1 z
C ( x, y , z ) = exp[− ( ) 2 ] exp[− ( ) 2 ]
2πuσ yσ z 2 σy 2 σz

An estimation of the maximum concentration of sulphur dioxide (SO2) at ground level is

required 3 km downwind of a 500 MW coal fired power station. It is estimated that the
maximum rate of discharge of sulphur dioxide could be 1700 g/s. The chimney of the power
station is 90 m high and the wind speed at 10 m from the ground is U 10 = 7 m/s. Assume that

the source can be taken as the top of the chimney and that Turner’s stability category D applies
for which
UH H
= ( ) 0.5
U 10 10

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where H is the height of the chimney and U H is the wind speed at the top of the chimney.
Turner’s dispersion coefficients can be obtained from the accompanying Pasquill-Gifford
diagrams. Given that the maximum acceptable concentration based on an annual averaging
time (based on 24 h measurements) is 185 µg/m3, comment on your result and any action that
might be necessary.
[9 marks]

d) An abandoned ditch under a paved road has become fully packed with sand. The ditch is 10 m
long and 2 m in diameter. The sand in the ditch has a hydraulic conductivity K=3.2 m/day and an
effective porosity neff = 0.20. The water level at one end of the culvert is 5.1 m higher than that
at the other end and the entire culvert is below water. Calculate the discharge, specific
discharge and average linear velocity through the ditch.
[4 marks]

End of exam paper

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FORMULA AND TABLES

BOD:
1/ 3
t
(
y = Lo 1 − e − K1t
) ⇒   =
1
+
K12 / 3
t ⇒ x = A + Bt
 y ( K1 L0 )1/ 3 6 L01/ 3
1/ 3
t 1 K12 / 3 B 1
where: x =   , A= , B= ⇒ K1 = 6 and L0 =
 y ( K1 L0 ) 1/ 3
6 L01/ 3 A 6 A2 B

( e− k d t − e− k r t ) + Da e − k r t , when kd= kr : D = ( kd tLa + Da )e− k d t

kd La
DO Sag Curve: D =
kr − k d
v
kd ,20 = K1 + η, kd = kd ,20θ T − 20 where θ=1.135 for T∈(4-20oC), θ=1.056 for T∈(20-30oC)
H
3.9v 0.5
kr, 20 = , k r = k r ,20θ T − 20 where θ=1.024
H 1.5

1 k  k − kd  
The critical point: t c = ln  r 1 − Da r  ,
kr − k d  k d  k d La  

1  Da 
when kd= kr t c = 1 − 
kd  La 

Equilibrium concentrations of dissolved oxygen (mg/l) as a function of temperature

Temperature oC DOs (mg/l) Temperature oC DOs (mg/l)

9 11.59 20 9.17
10 11.33 21 8.99
11 11.08 22 8.83
12 10.83 23 8.68
13 10.60 24 8.53
14 10.37 25 8.38
15 10.15 26 8.22
16 9.95 27 8.07
17 9.74 28 7.92
18 9.54 29 7.77
19 9.35 30 7.63

Enrichment ratio
0.3
Ero = + 1.08
% soil organic matter

Potency factor: po = % soil organic matter × Ero

Modified Dulong formula: E =337 C + 1428 (H - O/8) + 9 S

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The concentration of an air pollutant at any point P(x,y,z) located downwind from a point of
release:

  y  
2
 1  z 2
Q  1 
C( x , y , z ) =  
exp −   exp −   
2π u σ y σ z  2σy    2  σ z  
 
Corrections:
A) Average wind velocity:

a
 z 
U z = U 10  
 z10 

B) Emission concentration at average times different than 10 minutes:

0.1.65
 10 
C t = C10  
 t 

Holland stability function and averaged exponent values for every atmospheric stability class
Atmospheric Stability Class Stability Avg. Values of dT/dz
Stability Function, Exponent, in ˚C/m
Ks a
Very Unstable A 1.2 0.141 -1.9
Unstable B 1.2 0.176 -1.9 to -1.7
Slightly unstable C 1.1 0.174 -1.7 to -1.5
Neutral D 1.0 0.209 -1.5 to -0.5
Slightly stable E 0.9 0.277 -0.5 to 1.5
Stable F 0.8 0.414 1.5 to 4.0

Plume height above the source:

vs D   Ts − Ta 
∆h = 1.5 +  2.68 × 10 −5 p D 
u   Ts 

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Turner’s standard deviation of horizontal plume concentration, σy, based on the Pasquill classes

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Turner’s standard deviation of vertical plume concentration, σz, based on the Pasquill classes

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Tables of Error Function

X ERF X ERF X ERF X ERF X ERF X ERF
0.01 0.0113 0.51 0.5292 1.01 0.8468 1.51 0.9673 2.01 0.9955 2.51 0.9996
0.02 0.0226 0.52 0.5379 1.02 0.8508 1.52 0.9684 2.02 0.9957 2.52 0.9996
0.03 0.0338 0.53 0.5465 1.03 0.8548 1.53 0.9695 2.03 0.9959 2.53 0.9997
0.04 0.0451 0.54 0.5549 1.04 0.8586 1.54 0.9706 2.04 0.9961 2.54 0.9997
0.05 0.0564 0.55 0.5633 1.05 0.8624 1.55 0.9716 2.05 0.9963 2.55 0.9997
0.06 0.0676 0.56 0.5716 1.06 0.8661 1.56 0.9726 2.06 0.9964 2.56 0.9997
0.07 0.0789 0.57 0.5798 1.07 0.8698 1.57 0.9736 2.07 0.9966 2.57 0.9997
0.08 0.0901 0.58 0.5879 1.08 0.8733 1.58 0.9745 2.08 0.9967 2.58 0.9997
0.09 0.1013 0.59 0.5959 1.09 0.8768 1.59 0.9755 2.09 0.9969 2.59 0.9998
0.10 0.1125 0.60 0.6039 1.10 0.8802 1.60 0.9763 2.10 0.9970 2.60 0.9998
0.11 0.1236 0.61 0.6117 1.11 0.8835 1.61 0.9772 2.11 0.9972 2.61 0.9998
0.12 0.1348 0.62 0.6194 1.12 0.8868 1.62 0.9780 2.12 0.9973 2.62 0.9998
0.13 0.1459 0.63 0.6270 1.13 0.8900 1.63 0.9788 2.13 0.9974 2.63 0.9998
0.14 0.1569 0.64 0.6346 1.14 0.8931 1.64 0.9796 2.14 0.9975 2.64 0.9998
0.15 0.1680 0.65 0.6420 1.15 0.8961 1.65 0.9804 2.15 0.9976 2.65 0.9998
0.16 0.1790 0.66 0.6494 1.16 0.8991 1.66 0.9811 2.16 0.9977 2.66 0.9998
0.17 0.1900 0.67 0.6566 1.17 0.9020 1.67 0.9818 2.17 0.9979 2.67 0.9998
0.18 0.2009 0.68 0.6638 1.18 0.9048 1.68 0.9825 2.18 0.9980 2.68 0.9998
0.19 0.2118 0.69 0.6708 1.19 0.9076 1.69 0.9832 2.19 0.9980 2.69 0.9999
0.20 0.2227 0.70 0.6778 1.20 0.9103 1.70 0.9838 2.20 0.9981 2.70 0.9999
0.21 0.2335 0.71 0.6847 1.21 0.9130 1.71 0.9844 2.21 0.9982 2.71 0.9999
0.22 0.2443 0.72 0.6914 1.22 0.9155 1.72 0.9850 2.22 0.9983 2.72 0.9999
0.23 0.2550 0.73 0.6981 1.23 0.9181 1.73 0.9856 2.23 0.9984 2.73 0.9999
0.24 0.2657 0.74 0.7047 1.24 0.9205 1.74 0.9861 2.24 0.9985 2.74 0.9999
0.25 0.2763 0.75 0.7112 1.25 0.9229 1.75 0.9867 2.25 0.9985 2.75 0.9999
0.26 0.2869 0.76 0.7175 1.26 0.9252 1.76 0.9872 2.26 0.9986 2.76 0.9999
0.27 0.2974 0.77 0.7238 1.27 0.9275 1.77 0.9877 2.27 0.9987 2.77 0.9999
0.28 0.3079 0.78 0.7300 1.28 0.9297 1.78 0.9882 2.28 0.9987 2.78 0.9999
0.29 0.3183 0.79 0.7361 1.29 0.9319 1.79 0.9886 2.29 0.9988 2.79 0.9999
0.30 0.3286 0.80 0.7421 1.30 0.9340 1.80 0.9891 2.30 0.9989 2.80 0.9999
0.31 0.3389 0.81 0.7480 1.31 0.9361 1.81 0.9895 2.31 0.9989 2.81 0.9999
0.32 0.3491 0.82 0.7538 1.32 0.9381 1.82 0.9899 2.32 0.9990 2.82 0.9999
0.33 0.3593 0.83 0.7595 1.33 0.9400 1.83 0.9903 2.33 0.9990 2.83 0.9999
0.34 0.3694 0.84 0.7651 1.34 0.9419 1.84 0.9907 2.34 0.9991 2.84 0.9999
0.35 0.3794 0.85 0.7707 1.35 0.9438 1.85 0.9911 2.35 0.9991 2.85 0.9999
0.36 0.3893 0.86 0.7761 1.36 0.9456 1.86 0.9915 2.36 0.9992 2.86 0.9999
0.37 0.3992 0.87 0.7814 1.37 0.9473 1.87 0.9918 2.37 0.9992 2.87 1.0000
0.38 0.4090 0.88 0.7867 1.38 0.9490 1.88 0.9922 2.38 0.9992 2.88 1.0000
0.39 0.4187 0.89 0.7918 1.39 0.9507 1.89 0.9925 2.39 0.9993 2.89 1.0000
0.40 0.4284 0.90 0.7969 1.40 0.9523 1.90 0.9928 2.40 0.9993 2.90 1.0000
0.41 0.4380 0.91 0.8019 1.41 0.9539 1.91 0.9931 2.41 0.9993 2.91 1.0000
0.42 0.4475 0.92 0.8068 1.42 0.9554 1.92 0.9934 2.42 0.9994 2.92 1.0000
0.43 0.4569 0.93 0.8116 1.43 0.9569 1.93 0.9937 2.43 0.9994 2.93 1.0000
0.44 0.4662 0.94 0.8163 1.44 0.9583 1.94 0.9939 2.44 0.9994 2.94 1.0000
0.45 0.4755 0.95 0.8209 1.45 0.9597 1.95 0.9942 2.45 0.9995 2.95 1.0000
0.46 0.4847 0.96 0.8254 1.46 0.9611 1.96 0.9944 2.46 0.9995 2.96 1.0000
0.47 0.4937 0.97 0.8299 1.47 0.9624 1.97 0.9947 2.47 0.9995 2.97 1.0000
0.48 0.5027 0.98 0.8342 1.48 0.9637 1.98 0.9949 2.48 0.9995 2.98 1.0000
0.49 0.5117 0.99 0.8385 1.49 0.9649 1.99 0.9951 2.49 0.9996 2.99 1.0000
0.50 0.5205 1.00 0.8427 1.50 0.9661 2.00 0.9953 2.50 0.9996 3.00 1.0000

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