ClarkBart
Civil/Environmental
- May 23, 2008
- 34
HI: I have been involved in several aeration system upgrades over the past few years. We always consult manufacturer's of the Diffusers and grids and manufacturer's of the blowers. Together the two parts make up the aeration system for many wastewater treatment processes. The Diffuser Mfg's provide a layout, a recommended flow and the pressure required at the inlet to the diffuser system. The Blower Mfg takes this number and makes a sizing recommendation for the blower typically based on a single operating point. This process has a few concerns for me and I was wondering if you may have some thoughts, opinions and experiences concerning this:
My problems (they are many, but, I won't go there) are:
- it appears as if this process requires that I delegate some of my design responsibility to some one who may not be a licensed professional and does not participate directly in the liability associated with the work;
- with diffuser design as far as the number/area of membrane varies widely from manufacturer to manufacturer. It appears to be due to the loading assumptions made and sometimes these are not easily found;
- when the blower Mfg uses a single design point to size a blower, there doesn't appear to be a consideration of all the loading scenarios that may be present, nor, does it appear to be able to allow the actual operation point of the blowers to be selected;
- there doesn't appear to be a great deal of cooperation between the Blower Mfg and the Diffuser Mfg.
Have you participated in this process and what are your thoughts about it?
Have you come across a concise publication that provides for guidelines for system design? The whole system not one or the other.
Are there any ASTM or other standards that go into the detail of this pairing of equipment? The typical design standard TR-16 and 10-States appear relatively vague to me.
I'll stop here even though there is a lot more. Thanks for anything you might have to say.
My problems (they are many, but, I won't go there) are:
- it appears as if this process requires that I delegate some of my design responsibility to some one who may not be a licensed professional and does not participate directly in the liability associated with the work;
- with diffuser design as far as the number/area of membrane varies widely from manufacturer to manufacturer. It appears to be due to the loading assumptions made and sometimes these are not easily found;
- when the blower Mfg uses a single design point to size a blower, there doesn't appear to be a consideration of all the loading scenarios that may be present, nor, does it appear to be able to allow the actual operation point of the blowers to be selected;
- there doesn't appear to be a great deal of cooperation between the Blower Mfg and the Diffuser Mfg.
Have you participated in this process and what are your thoughts about it?
Have you come across a concise publication that provides for guidelines for system design? The whole system not one or the other.
Are there any ASTM or other standards that go into the detail of this pairing of equipment? The typical design standard TR-16 and 10-States appear relatively vague to me.
I'll stop here even though there is a lot more. Thanks for anything you might have to say.