WWTP Process simulation software

[RickardFornell]

I have a question regarding process simulation of WWTP with for example HySys or ProII or equivalent. Is this possible and if so what does it require? I have been trying to find information about this but have yet not succeded, so any help would be appreciated.

Best Regards
Rickard (Msc Chemical Engineering)

 

[cub3bead]

Try

http://www.hydromantis.com/

 

[kchayfie]

I did a bit of modelling work a number of years ago and in my experience the typical chemical engineering packages like HySys and Aspen can't handle the biological aspects of wastewater treatment. Dedicated biological modelling software such as GPS-X (from Hydromantis - see cub3bead's link) or others (Biowin rings a bell as an alternative) are more suited to modelling WWTPs.

 

[RickardFornell]

Thank you for your help!
Do you have any experience in using GPS-X? I wonder how well it functions compared to a "normal" process simulation software (ie how accurate the models are), is it usable for optimizing WWTP´s for example? I downloaded the demo but you can´t run any simulations with it, so it´s hard to see how well the results correlate to "real" values.

 

[kchayfie]

The modelling work I did was way back in the early days of my career so I didn't really have the background to understand the veracity of my results. The experienced engineers looking over my shoulder checking up on me seemed to have faith in the biological bits of the model, (i.e. the activated sludge stuff) but they were less conviced by the physical stuff (i.e. the settling models in the clarifiers). It worked pretty well when we modelled the effects of returning sludge liquors over different timescales to check the total nitrogen in the effluent but it wasn't so good when we were trying to decide whether an additional primary tank was worth the additional cost.

I don't have any numbers to put on the accuracy of the models but obviously, as with all modelling software, it depends on the quality of the data you have to base your model on anyway. The variability of wastewater is also a big problem in comparison to other process modelling work I have been involved in.

I can say the people at Hydromantis were really helpful when trying to set the models up. It might be worth giving them a call to discuss the accuracy of the models. Their development work may make my earlier statements out-of-date anyway and I'm sure you are capable of cutting through the sales speak to interpret the information for your own purposes!

 

[RickardFornell]

I´ve initiated communication with Hydromantis regarding my WWTP. It seems they are more focused on municipal WWTP´s and I work at an oil refinery, but hopefully something good will come out of this. They seem to be flexible and up for new challenges..
Thank you for your help once again, it has been much appreciated.

Regards
Rick

 

[danfodio]

Worth looking at is PetroWin, from Envirosim - see Envirosim.com.

If you are going down the route of paying for customisation, also consider STOAT - solutions@wrcplc.co.uk. I work on STOAT, and (a) have used it for modelling oily waste at a refinery, (b) would be delightedt o enhance it further.

However, for speed of response, I would sugget that you go for the off-the-shelf PetroWin.