Análisis Económico de un Proceso Basado en Reactores Discontinuos Secuenciales (SBR) para la Reducción de Nutrientes Biológicos de Aguas Residuales

Abstract

This paper presents an economic analysis of a cyclic batch process for removal of organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewaters by activated sludge systems. The process is of sequential batch reactors type with external nitrification. The operation costs and investments for two alternative configurations are evaluated and compared by simulation for different design flow rates that meet the imposed discharge limits. The treatment scale (design flow rate) leading to the minimal specific annual total cost was found for each examined configuration. From an economic point of view, it is concluded that it is more convenient for treating large effluent flow rates to install small plants in parallel operating at the nominal flow rate that determines the minimal specific annual total cost than a large-size treatment plant.