Simulation Model for Sludge Thickener Performance in Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants

This paper covers the performance of the gravity thickener for Cairo wastewater treatment plants and determines the simulation model for it with different sludge types. A pilot unit erected in Zenin WWTP. The experimental results show that the performance of the thickener is varied periodically and its efficiency versus time relation can be simulated by several equations. Efficiency equations simulate the performance by three equations due to the experimental work covered three intervals of retention time and affected by inlet sludge type. First equation simulates retention time from 0 to 61 hours, The second represent the period from 61 to 30 hours and the third covers the period from 30 to 40 hours. The produced efficiency by model equations achieved errors + 10% from the measured analysis that shows the applicability of the resulted model to use for such type of sludge treatment.