Bio-Bubble has made a significant impact with the high quality, exceptionally low sludge waste production and odourless operation of their Advanced Aeration process. This, besides the long-term cost effectiveness coupled with simple, infrequent operational and maintenance requirements plus an exceptionally long asset life, is all becoming very apparent with major Water Utilities.

Advanced Aeration
Advanced Aeration imparts enhancements to both effluent and sludge treatment within a single reactor. This has the consequential benefit of producing a consistent high quality effluent discharge - which is unmatched by any other biological process - whilst significantly reducing and stabilising sludge waste production.

Exceptionally Low Energy Input and Carbon Emissions
Energy consumption is low on average and fits comfortably within the capabilities of other processes. However, it will become apparent that the overall energy input will be exceptionally low when compared to conventional effluent treatment and sludge disposal routes: that is from sewage and sludge collection and treatment, through to sludge thickening, dewatering, then to the final disposal routes. Therefore, capital and operational expenditure will in fact be far less than other conventional approaches.

High Quality Exceptionally Stable Effluent Discharge
A low sludge loading promotes very favourable environmental conditions to stimulate a healthy, naturally selected micro-organism proliferation. Established plants will continue to operate with high efficiency producing a guaranteed final effluent quality of 15: 10: 2 (TSS: BOD: NH3) at 95 % compliance. An overall respective quality of 5: 3: 0.5 allows higher consents to be applied with minimum or no requirements for tertiary treatment. This cannot be readily achieved by other systems.

Low Sludge Waste Production – Lower than any other Process
Dynamic conversion of volatile matter to solid residue improves sludge stability and significantly reduces sludge waste. Moreover, a long sludge age further reduces suspended solids by oxidation, erosion and solubilization by prolonged submerged retention. The average sludge waste production rate is 0.1 kg SS/ kg BOD removed per day. The maximum being produced from a municipal application is under 0.4 kg SS/ kg BOD per day whilst numerous small domestic installations achieve reductions under 0.05 kg SS/ kg BOD per day.

Sludge Disposal to Agriculture
A further advantage of a long sludge age also extends to a significant reduction in pathogenic bacteria. Typically, sludge removed will have none to negligible pathogens or virus numbers and, by transferring the sludge to Bio-Bubble Sludge Thickening; it can be treated to meet the most stringent UK and EU agriculture disposal routes by the simplest available and most economic method.

Odourless Operation
Advanced-Aeration requires no odour treatment for either secondary treatment or sludge thickening - even under full load during the hottest summer periods; odour will not be an issue. Advanced-Aeration has been applied to odour sensitive municipal applications where olfactory odour concentrations of 3 OU/m3 have been applied. Evaluation of these installations has verified that odour levels are not easily detected within the works perimeter let alone at the works boundary.
Further information regarding the workings of Advanced-Aeration may be obtained by contacting Bio-Bubble.

SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESS FACILITIES

Balance Tank with Integrated Storm Tank
The upstream balance tanks employed by Advanced-Aeration may also incorporate the storm tanks. Seeing that separate storm tanks may only be in operation for approximately 5 to10% of their life, this facility will ensure good utilisation in addition to reducing the required mechanical and electrical equipment including supplementary controls applied for separate storm tank operation. The system can be designed to operate as a blind tank process or to other stipulated requirements for storm tank operation.

The advantages of integrating the Storm Tanks include:
•   No need for separate storm tank construction
•   Reduced works footprint and civil construction capital costs
•   Lower mechanical & electrical equipment outlay i.e. no sludge return pumps, separate mixing equipment, instruments, valves or scraper systems
•   Less risk from failures due to long periods of M&E equipment under-usage
•   Elimination of difficult to remove drying sludge
•   No odours from retained sludge
•   Lower operation, maintenance and power costs

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