Oxygen transfer prediction in aeration tanks using CFD

In order to optimize aeration in the activated sludge processes, an experimentally validated numerical tool, based on computational fluid dynamics and able to predict flow and oxygen transfer characteristics in aeration tanks equipped with fine bubble diffusers and axial slow speed mixers, is proposed. For four different aeration tanks (1;1493;8191 and 29, 313 m(3)), this tool allows to precisely reproduce experimental results in terms of axial liquid velocities, local gas hold-ups. Predicted oxygen transfer coefficients are within +/-5% of experimental results for different operating conditions (varying pumping flow rates of the mixers and air flow rates). The actual bubble size must be known with precision in order to have a reliable estimation of the oxygen transfer coefficients. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.