ABL SBR Avantage


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ABL-SBR Advantage
The ABL-SBR product incorporates: the innovative “rapid fill” mode of operation, true batch mode of operation, nutrient removal capabilities, solids excluding decanters, production of high quality effluents of near tertiary quality, complete process train including sludge inventory control, a pre-engineered, modular, packaged treatment plant, tankage of corrosion resistant fiberglass, FRP or SS or concrete, minimal operating costs, computer interface technologies and advanced monitoring instrumentation capability, and major equipment and process backup. The ABL-SBR method has a number of advantages over other treatment technologies: the influent and effluent are never directly hydraulically connected so that process short circuiting and washout of sludge is very unlikely and high effluent qualities can be consistently achieved. the settling cycle provides ideal flocculation opportunity for the solids and therefore results in better clarifying of the effluent prior to discharge. the settling cycle is isolated and quiescent so is not disturbed by velocity currents due to flow entering and leaving in an uncontrolled manner -- resulting in more efficient use of the clarifier and better effluent quality. the process results in better conditions for the culture of biological growth which allows improved, more intuitive, operator control of the sludge inventory and sludge properties. ABL recognized a need in the treatment industry for reliable, cost effective, modular, pre-engineered packaged treatment systems to meet the increasingly high standards for effluent quality. The SBR is a stable, efficient and reliable process, and it achieves these objectives through the inherent advantages of the treatment process and the innovative modifications incorporated into the ABL plant design. The product offers superior design and support, and proven reliable technology. These features result in better effluent quality because there is no chance of washout of biological solids or short circuiting in the process. The rapid fill mode of operation leads to a further enhancement of the effluent quality because the bacteria cultured by this method have better settling and flocculating characteristics. The rapid fill mode of operation results in more effective use of tankage because the fill and settling cycles can be compressed. This in turn results in lower cost for tankage and greater flexibility of operation. The ABL SBR incorporates our novel approach to SBR process design and ABL's process logic. The main innovations over other pre-engineered and prepackaged SBR technologies are the inclusion of a selector effect into the operation of the plant and the shortening of the cycle time achieved through the rapid fill regime. The rapid fill cycle, which is the basis for the selector effect, uses a batch/equalization tank to accumulate a batch for processing. The batch is pumped into the reaction tank over a very short period of time. The short fill period results in a high initial F/M ratio which creates a feast and famine regimen for the bacteria in the system. This process loading method results in a stable and efficient biological treatment process due to the cultivation of bacteria having better flocculating and settling properties. The rapid fill method causes a selector effect which results in a denser more compact sludge with more rapid settling and better clarification properties relative to direct fill activated sludge and SBR processes. This modification has other advantages over conventional SBRs which fill over a large portion of the react cycle. The batch tank also provides equalization for the incoming flows and enables the process to accommodate the high peak flows which in direct fill systems require abbreviation of the treatment cycle. This results in smaller tankage requirements and provides a competitive edge due to more efficient use of SBR tankage. However, the most important benefit of the rapid fill system is its effect on the biological culture of the process and the improved effluent quality. Our rapid fill mode of operation also has significant advantages over other SBR systems for nutrient removal because we can more easily achieve the feed control necessary. Another advantage of our system is in the sludge management system that has been incorporated in the design. Most package plants operate inefficiently due to the fact that sludge inventory control is not planned. In order to address this issue, we have incorporated automatic sludge wasting and storage in the process logic and plant design. In the ABL SBR the sludge digestion and thickening process operates on a sequential principle. This reduces the operator attention requirements without impairing the function of the plant or its effluent quality. The operator only needs to arrange the removal of sludge from the sludge holding tank when it becomes full. In developing a pre-engineered, modular packaged treatment plant utilizing this technology, ABL engineers considered the requirements of owners and operators. The tankage is constructed from low-maintenance fiberglass or other low maintenance materials such as SS or concrete. The plant can be totally enclosed and disguised. This total enclosure also allows better noise and odour control. The packaged plants are pre-engineered in modules of convenient size to reduce the initial capital cost. Capital costs are lower because selection can be made for immediate near-term needs rather than over designing for future requirements which may not be realized. Thus investment is more in tune with real requirements. When growth occurs addition of further treatment modules is easily achieved. Other savings are achieved because only the site engineering need be addressed to achieve effective installation. Installation is relatively simple and does not require a great deal of skill or time. This lowers the cost for installation by local contractors. These features which make the plant ideal for commercial and industrial applications also make the plant ideal for municipalities in the new era of fiscal restraint where subsidies are more difficult to obtain. The treatment process is controlled by reliable PLC computer controls, programmed with ABL's process logic. The use of PLC and computer VTS controls enables full automation and remote SCADA process control through telephone modem coupling. Since it is a fully automated process, daily operational demand is minimal. Operators need only perform routine house cleaning, equipment maintenance, organize sludge removal and manage the site facilities. Qualified operational support is available at ABL for the first year to assist in operator training. The PLC controls make the system ideal for use in remote communities and where skilled process operators may not be available. This design philosophy supports the potential for local job creation (rather than displacing it) because with operational support, less skill is required and a locally available unskilled operator has an opportunity to grow into the job requirements. The control logic adjusts cycles to automatically increase the throughput of the plant for extended periods of above average flow as occur in many systems during spring thaw and precipitation events. Cycle adjustment can also be used to achieve nutrient removal if required by a specific application. An enhanced monitoring package of instrumentation capable of monitoring effluent quality and sludge blanket levels is also available as an option. When the enhanced monitoring instrumentation is included, remote process monitoring in support of operational decisions becomes more direct. This enhanced monitoring package can be provided with the plant or added to the plant at any time. ABL staff can then monitor the plant operation, including liquid levels, effluent turbidity and sludge blanket levels from a remote computer and provide operator advice, training, and support as necessary. The remote monitoring capability also reduces long term operating costs because the decision to attend to the plant can be made from information available in the monitoring system. This enables more efficient use of operator time and thus reduces costs. This advanced monitoring equipment, also made in Canada by Miltronics Ltd., has only recently become available in a reliable and cost effective format. The advanced monitoring is done through a computer modem and uses (WEB) VTS software by Trihedral Engineering. Furthermore this approach utilizes the skills available within a community to the best advantage and therefore is less likely to displace the less skilled operator/maintenance person who can receive skilled support via the internet and modem.
PRODUCTS » ABL Sequencing Batch Reactor ABL-SBR Process Control System SCADA System ABL-SBR Components ABL-SBR Advantage ABL-SBR Installations

ABL-SBR Advantage

The ABL-SBR product incorporates:

the innovative “rapid fill” mode of operation,
true batch mode of operation,
nutrient removal capabilities,
solids excluding decanters,
production of high quality effluents of near tertiary quality,
complete process train including sludge inventory control,
a pre-engineered, modular, packaged treatment plant,
tankage of corrosion resistant fiberglass, FRP or SS or concrete,
minimal operating costs,
computer interface technologies and advanced monitoring instrumentation capability, and
major equipment and process backup.

The ABL-SBR method has a number of advantages over other treatment technologies:

the influent and effluent are never directly hydraulically connected so that process short circuiting and washout of sludge is very unlikely and high effluent qualities can be consistently achieved.
the settling cycle provides ideal flocculation opportunity for the solids and therefore results in better clarifying of the effluent prior to discharge.
the settling cycle is isolated and quiescent so is not disturbed by velocity currents due to flow entering and leaving in an uncontrolled manner -- resulting in more efficient use of the clarifier and better effluent quality.
the process results in better conditions for the culture of biological growth which allows improved, more intuitive, operator control of the sludge inventory and sludge properties.

ABL recognized a need in the treatment industry for reliable, cost effective, modular, pre-engineered packaged treatment systems to meet the increasingly high standards for effluent quality. The SBR is a stable, efficient and reliable process, and it achieves these objectives through the inherent advantages of the treatment process and the innovative modifications incorporated into the ABL plant design. The product offers superior design and support, and proven reliable technology.

These features result in better effluent quality because there is no chance of washout of biological solids or short circuiting in the process. The rapid fill mode of operation leads to a further enhancement of the effluent quality because the bacteria cultured by this method have better settling and flocculating characteristics. The rapid fill mode of operation results in more effective use of tankage because the fill and settling cycles can be compressed. This in turn results in lower cost for tankage and greater flexibility of operation.

The ABL SBR incorporates our novel approach to SBR process design and ABL's process logic. The main innovations over other pre-engineered and prepackaged SBR technologies are the inclusion of a selector effect into the operation of the plant and the shortening of the cycle time achieved through the rapid fill regime. The rapid fill cycle, which is the basis for the selector effect, uses a batch/equalization tank to accumulate a batch for processing. The batch is pumped into the reaction tank over a very short period of time. The short fill period results in a high initial F/M ratio which creates a feast and famine regimen for the bacteria in the system. This process loading method results in a stable and efficient biological treatment process due to the cultivation of bacteria having better flocculating and settling properties. The rapid fill method causes a selector effect which results in a denser more compact sludge with more rapid settling and better clarification properties relative to direct fill activated sludge and SBR processes. This modification has other advantages over conventional SBRs which fill over a large portion of the react cycle. The batch tank also provides equalization for the incoming flows and enables the process to accommodate the high peak flows which in direct fill systems require abbreviation of the treatment cycle. This results in smaller tankage requirements and provides a competitive edge due to more efficient use of SBR tankage. However, the most important benefit of the rapid fill system is its effect on the biological culture of the process and the improved effluent quality. Our rapid fill mode of operation also has significant advantages over other SBR systems for nutrient removal because we can more easily achieve the feed control necessary.

Another advantage of our system is in the sludge management system that has been incorporated in the design. Most package plants operate inefficiently due to the fact that sludge inventory control is not planned. In order to address this issue, we have incorporated automatic sludge wasting and storage in the process logic and plant design. In the ABL SBR the sludge digestion and thickening process operates on a sequential principle. This reduces the operator attention requirements without impairing the function of the plant or its effluent quality. The operator only needs to arrange the removal of sludge from the sludge holding tank when it becomes full.

In developing a pre-engineered, modular packaged treatment plant utilizing this technology, ABL engineers considered the requirements of owners and operators. The tankage is constructed from low-maintenance fiberglass or other low maintenance materials such as SS or concrete. The plant can be totally enclosed and disguised. This total enclosure also allows better noise and odour control.

The packaged plants are pre-engineered in modules of convenient size to reduce the initial capital cost. Capital costs are lower because selection can be made for immediate near-term needs rather than over designing for future requirements which may not be realized. Thus investment is more in tune with real requirements. When growth occurs addition of further treatment modules is easily achieved. Other savings are achieved because only the site engineering need be addressed to achieve effective installation. Installation is relatively simple and does not require a great deal of skill or time. This lowers the cost for installation by local contractors. These features which make the plant ideal for commercial and industrial applications also make the plant ideal for municipalities in the new era of fiscal restraint where subsidies are more difficult to obtain.

The treatment process is controlled by reliable PLC computer controls, programmed with ABL's process logic. The use of PLC and computer VTS controls enables full automation and remote SCADA process control through telephone modem coupling. Since it is a fully automated process, daily operational demand is minimal. Operators need only perform routine house cleaning, equipment maintenance, organize sludge removal and manage the site facilities. Qualified operational support is available at ABL for the first year to assist in operator training. The PLC controls make the system ideal for use in remote communities and where skilled process operators may not be available. This design philosophy supports the potential for local job creation (rather than displacing it) because with operational support, less skill is required and a locally available unskilled operator has an opportunity to grow into the job requirements. The control logic adjusts cycles to automatically increase the throughput of the plant for extended periods of above average flow as occur in many systems during spring thaw and precipitation events. Cycle adjustment can also be used to achieve nutrient removal if required by a specific application.

An enhanced monitoring package of instrumentation capable of monitoring effluent quality and sludge blanket levels is also available as an option. When the enhanced monitoring instrumentation is included, remote process monitoring in support of operational decisions becomes more direct. This enhanced monitoring package can be provided with the plant or added to the plant at any time. ABL staff can then monitor the plant operation, including liquid levels, effluent turbidity and sludge blanket levels from a remote computer and provide operator advice, training, and support as necessary. The remote monitoring capability also reduces long term operating costs because the decision to attend to the plant can be made from information available in the monitoring system. This enables more efficient use of operator time and thus reduces costs. This advanced monitoring equipment, also made in Canada by Miltronics Ltd., has only recently become available in a reliable and cost effective format. The advanced monitoring is done through a computer modem and uses (WEB) VTS software by Trihedral Engineering. Furthermore this approach utilizes the skills available within a community to the best advantage and therefore is less likely to displace the less skilled operator/maintenance person who can receive skilled support via the internet and modem.

PRODUCTS » ABL Sequencing Batch Reactor

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