living machines - waterzuivering
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Living Machines
Background, Technical and Non Technical Considerations, Case Studies
and Design for Outdoor Lab Facility
Emily Amaya EvansScott LeachJay Shah
Brianna Shanklin
Introduction
Living Machine: Patented system that uses a biological sequence of nitrifying, denitrifying and aerobic bacteria to transform organic wastes, ammonia, and pathogens into desired nutrients supporting plant life downstream
Natural Wetlands and Conventional Wastewater TreatmentCase StudiesTechnical and Non Technical Aspects of Living MachinesDesign
Natural Wetlands and Water Purification
Natural wetlands have provided a mechanism for natural water purification for centuries.
This process capitalizes on the symbiotic interaction of several different natural components.
Conventional Wastewater Treatment: Why?
Though nature has an incredible ability to purify polluted water its ability to effectively thrive under such conditions has been taxed:• Increasingly concentrated pollutants• Increasing volume of wastewater
Conventional wastewater treatment goal: produce contaminant free effluent• Primary Treatment• Secondary Treatment• Disinfection• Tertiary Treatment
Use of Natural Systems for Water Treatment
Recognizing the simplicity and effectiveness of nature's processes, the blending of technology with natural systems may indeed create more efficient wastewater management.
• Ultimately, the communities of microbes that transform waste in the wastewater systems are the same as those used in nature
• Designed ecosystems can remove a wide range of potential pollutants with processes similar or identical to mechanically sophisticated systems, but using simpler components
Mimicking natural environments to treat wastewater is especiallyimportant where conventional treatment is not possible
• In many parts of the world, water is scarce and often polluted • Population density and the location and size of reservoirs create water
distribution problems• Inadequate wastewater facilities pour excess untreated sewage into
rivers, lakes and oceans
Case StudyAdam Joseph Lewis Center for
Environmental Studies
“Is it possible to design buildings so well and so carefully that they do not cast a long ecological shadow over the future that our students will inherit?”
--David Orr, Oberlin professor
Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies
The building was designed to:• Be powered by sunlight• To mitigate the concept of waste• To preserve biological diversity• To restore damaged ecosystem
Living Machine•capable of treating 2,470
gallons/day
Case Study
Environmental Center Living Machine
Case Study
Non-Technical Aspects of a LMBiomimicry and Systems Thinking
Process mimics nature• Recycles and reuses waste: Waste Food• Integrates natural methods with human devices• Decreases output of harmful and wasteful
material to the environment (little true “waste)
LM
Wastewater
Nutrient-enriched water
Purified non-potable
Chemical-, odor-, and noise-freeSmall ecological footprint*Aesthetically pleasingRelatively low costs*Little maintenance*Micro-finance options for developing communties
Non-Technical Aspects of a LM
Advantages Disadvantages
Can attract insects/rodentsNeed to tailor to site location• Flow rate• Climate• Flora and fauna
*Compared to traditional wastewater treatment, including operation and maintenance
Non-Technical Aspects of a LM
Supplemental Uses
Researchers currently studying remediation of various contaminants of concern (COC)• MTBE (fuel additive)
Technical Considerations and Design Procedure
LM capitalizes on natural abilities of organisms to break down macromolecules and metabolize organic nutrients typical of wastewater
Design PrinciplesMineral Diversity – Ex: rainforestNutrient Reservoirs – Nutrients in available form. Ex: nitrifying bacteria require appropriate inorganic carbon source to degrade nitrogenous waste.Steep Gradients – varying redox potentials, pH, oxygen regimes, temperature, and humic and ligand statesIncorporation of Earth Processes/ Whole Systems ThinkingMaximize Surface Area of Living Material in Contact with Waste Stream - floating aquatic plants, upwelling through aeration
Design Principles ContinuedAnimal and Plant Diversity –Four Types of Plants -
FloatingOxygenating-restrict algal growth, add DO, consume
CO2Marginal or “Emergents” – need pruningDeep Water- found in last and most deep aerobic
tankNo more than 70% plant coverage
Surface Area Requirements for Different Types of Aquatic Plants
6543211Deep Water
181614121084Marginal
1812108642Floating
302415121385Oxygenators
1501209060402515Total Surface Area
Surface Area (square feet) to be covered by plants
Design Principles Continued
Types of AnimalsSnails – aid in sludge reduction, tank maintenance, and ecological fluidized bed and marsh cleaning. Control filamentous algae.Filter Feeders – include bivalves, algivorous fish, zooplankton, protest, rotifers, sponges, clams. Remove particles from 0.1 to 50 micrometers. Clams filter up to 40 L/day.Fish – Require little O2, feed on algae, control mosquitosand pest larvae and fertilize plants. SUNLIGHT – may require greenhouse
Present Worth Comparison of LM’s and Conventional Systems
Cost Difference Less Than Twenty PercentCost Difference Greater Than Twenty Percent
$8,579,978 $1,903,751 1,207,036Conventional System
Greenhouse
$9,232,257 $1,570,246 985,391Living Machine without
Greenhouse
$10,457,542 $1,710,280 $1,077,777 Living Machine with
1 million GPD80000 GPD40000 GPDProcess
Influent and Effluent Characteristics for Domestic Wastewater
104-105 /100mL104-106 /100mLFecal Coliforms
107-109 /100mLTotal Coliforms
100-400Volatile Organic Compounds
0.1-0.57Phosphorus
1 to 100Nitrates
0.001-0.010Nitrites
0.1-125Free Ammonia
15Organic N
2 to 1240Total Nitrogen
430COD
10 to 20140TOC
5 to 20190BOD5
10Settleable Solids
5 to 20210Total Suspended Solids
500Total Dissolved Solids
720Total Solids, TS
Effluent Conc., (mg/L)Influent Conc., mg/LContaminant
CU Living Machine
PrimaryScreen
Water In-Flow
Holding/Overflow Tank
(10 Gallons)
Closed Anaerobic
Tank(30 Gallons)
Reed Bed (for wasted sludge
and option for methane re-capture)
Closed Aerobic
Tank(48
Gallons)
Anoxic Tank(12
Gallons)
Open Aerobic
Tank
Solids pumped back to closed
anoxic tank
Clarifier(36
Gallons)Ecological
Fluid Bed #1
Water Out-Flow (for gray water use)
Ecological Fluid Bed #2
ScreenAnaerobic ReactorClosed Aerobic TankOpen Aerobic Tank
Water from Clarifier
Water dishcharged to surface water and/or holding tank
Water from Clarifier
Water dishcharged to surface water and/or holding tank
Flora and FaunaBiodegradation of waste depends on a variety of microorganisms and plants• Bacteria, protozoa, snails, macroinvertebrates
Microorganisms can be taken from local sources• Nearby, mucky pond• Biofilms from pipes
Period of “natural selection”
Plants from another working LM will thrive more quickly in a new LM
Flora and Fauna
Each biological process requires a specific type of microorganism
Anaerobic process Anaerobic bacteriaAnoxic process Facultative bacteriaAerobic process Aerobic bacteria
Denitrifying/Nitrifying process Denitrifying/Nitrifying bacteria
Flora and Fauna
Biofilters are required for anoxic zone (odor-control) and closed aerobic tank (moisture control)
Open aerobic tank requires vegetation
Clarifiers need duckweed (prevents algae)
EFB needs growth medium to support microbial growth