The Odenthal wastewater treatment plant is a plant with approx. 17,500 PEs, which was expanded between 2000 and 2003. It now stands out due to a very flexible process concept: three aeration tanks are connected in series, whereby these tanks are, in addition, charged, in parallel, with the feed from the primary sedimentation phase. In addition, the tanks can be aerated individually or run as denitrification zones. The problem with the plant comes in the form of the shock loads that arise which are caused mainly at the weekend by heavy tourist activity.
The GECO►C team was charged with producing a simulation model of the plant and designing a new control concept. The intended aim was the optimised handling of the shock loads occurring as well as greater plant efficiency for the purposes of saving energy and observing outflow limiting values.
The simulation model included in the commission was developed with the aid of Simba (ifak). To that end, a suitable control concept based on state-recording machines was designed. The concept included elements that were extracted from the measurement data such as specific information relating to the outflow volume (dryness, rain, shock load etc.), and used this information, on the other hand, to set specific modes of operation at the plant in motion. Thus, it has been possible to reach a point where the plant can be run in line with the current situation.
In addition, the internal control loops were synchronised and matched to the situation as classified. This led to the situation whereby the plant – depending on the given situation – is operated in the best possible way. The results achieved showed a clear improvement in the outflow values as well as a considerable reduction in energy consumption.
The simulation model included in the commission was developed with the aid of Simba (ifak). To that end, a suitable control concept based on state-recording machines was designed. The concept included elements that were extracted from the measurement data such as specific information relating to the outflow volume (dryness, rain, shock load etc.), and used this information, on the other hand, to set specific modes of operation at the plant in motion. Thus, it has been possible to reach a point where the plant can be run in line with the current situation.