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Return Sludge

Flow Control

by
R. Dale Richwine, P.E.
Richwine Environmental, Inc.

Return Sludge Flow


What is the correct return sludge flow rate?

RAS Q

Return Sludge
Whats in it?
Water and solids
Settled material
Bacteria and other microorganisms
Viable organisms

Secondary Clarifiers
Three functions:
Clarify secondary effluent
Thicken the solids
Remove floatable material

Return Sludge
Why do we return sludge?
Remove sludge from the clarifier
Seed the aeration tank

Return Sludge Flow


The correct return rate?
Optimum sludge quality
Optimum effluent quality

Control F/M and MCRT?

The F/M ratio and the SRT or


MCRT are controlled through
wasting.

Return Sludge Flow


Percentage of influent flow.

Al West Study Part 1

Al West Study
RAS concentration changed rapidly.
RAS concentration changed inversely to flow
changes.
RAS Conc. decreased as flow increased.
RAS Conc. increased as flow decreased.

Al West Study Part 2

Al West Study
The RAS Q increased from 15% to 127% with only
a small increase in MLSS concentration, 1,230
mg/L to 1,470 mg/L.
The RAS Q was reduced from 127% to 37%;
MLSS continued to rise to 2,400 mg/L.

Al West Study
Conclusion:
F/M, Sludge Age, MCRT, MLSS concentration are
not normally affected greatly by RAS Q
adjustments unless the system is badly out of
balance.

What Happens If?


Shutting off the RAS Q:
Clarifier fills up with sludge
Solids go over the weir
MLSS would decrease
BOD conversion reduced
Clarifier sludge anaerobic
Effluent quality reduced

What Happens If?


RSF up full blast:
All solids forced to the clarifier
RSC thins out
Begin pumping water
Decrease detention time in both the aeration tank
and clarifier
Effluent quality reduced

Return Sludge Flow Control


Objectives:
Maintain good settling MLSS
good effluent quality

Keep microorganisms in system longer than


water.
Maintain F/M balance
Solids balance: keep solids in aeration tank.

Return Sludge Flow Control


Objectives:
Keep blanket level low in clarifier
No solids over the weirs

Save energy on pumping

Return Sludge Flow Control


The basic ways for returning sludge to the aeration
tank:
1. Constant rate

Independent of influent flow rate

2. Constant percentage of influent flow rate


3. Varying rate

Optimize concentration
Optimize detention time

Techniques for RAS Q Control


Sludge blanket level control
Settleabilty
Secondary clarifier mass balance
Aeration tank mass balance
Sludge quality

Mass Balance
Example:
Influent flow: 2.4 mgd
Current RAS Q: 1.4 mgd
Current RAS %: 58%
MLSS: 2,400 mg/L
RAS Conc.: 8,000 mg/L

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Mass Balance by Centrifuge


MLSS, mg L x Flow to Clarifier
RAS Conc, mg L

RAS Q =

RAS Q =

2400 mg L x (2.4 +1.4)mgd


8000 mg L

Mass Balance by Centrifuge

RAS Q =

2400 mg L x (2.4 +1.4)mgd


8000 mg L

RAS Q, mgd = 1.14 mgd


RAS Q = 48%

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Mass Balance Results


Result:
Original RAS Q: 1.4 MGD or 58%
New RAS Q: 1.14 MGD or 48%

RAS Q and Sludge Quality


Goal: adjust the RAS Q in response to the actual
sludge characteristics.
Starting point: calculate RAS Q
Mass Balance
Fine tune: sludge quality
SSV/SSC curves

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RSF Tune Up
SSC curve:
Optimum: reduce
RAS Q to lowest rate
Save money on
energy
Increase detention
time in aeration tank

RAS Q Tune Up
SSC curve:
Return sludge when
it is finished
concentrating.
Save volume pumped
Save volume in
digesters

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RAS Q Balance
Balancing two opposing pressures:
Biological time sludge is in the clarifier: anoxic
Hydraulic detention time:
Aeration tank
Clarifier

RAS Q Control
As long as the MLSS stays constant (you are
wasting properly), proper adjustments in the RAS
Q will decrease the sludge blanket.
Better effluent

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General Guidelines
There is a limit to how low you can reduce the
RAS Q and still keep the sludge moving.
Always keep the sludge moving

General Guidelines
If large changes in RAS Q rate are required, make
smaller adjustments over time.
1 2 hours apart
1 2 sludge cycles

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General Guidelines
RAS Q has been reduced too low if the RAS Conc
remains constant while the clarifier sludge flow
and/or the wastewater flow rate changes
significantly.

General Guidelines
RAS Q has been reduced too low if the MLSS is
lowered substantially after the RAS Q has been
reduced.

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Return Sludge Flow Control

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