Renewable energy for the aeration of wastewater ponds
Hobus, I.; Hegemann, W.
Water Science and Technology a Journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research 48(2): 365-372
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 0273-1223 PMID: 14510232 Document Number: 553414
The application of a decentralized renewable energy supply for the aeration of waste water ponds, and the influence of an unsteady oxygen supply on the specific conversion rate and biocoenose were investigated in Berlin, Germany. With the discontinuous aeration the specific conversion rate was increased as compared to facultative ponds. The estimation of the microorganisms consortia was done with in situ hybridization techniques. A significant shift in the bacteria population with the chosen specific probes for anaerobic, sulfate reducing and nitrifying bacteria could not be detected. Waste water ponds have sufficient buffer volume to compensate for the fluctuating energy supply, but the efficiency of the energy supply of a photo-voltaic plant decreased in shallow lakes (d<1.5 m) corresponding to a high oxygen production of algae. For the layout of the individual components: photo-voltaic and wind power plant, energy management, aeration system and waste water pond, a simulation model was developed and tested. The application of renewable energy for the aeration of waste water ponds is a useful alternative for the redevelopment of overloaded ponds as well as the construction of new waste water ponds, especially in areas with an inadequate central electricity grid and a high availability of wind and solar energy.