Biological treatment technology for both municipal and industrial wastewater that allows the elimination of suspended solids, organic matter (BOD) and nitrogen (Nt) and in which the biomass is fixed in a medium that in turn acts as a filter. Advantages:

• Reduction of the space required for the treatment of the same flow rate
• Better effluent quality than activated sludge treatment
• High adaptability of the system to changes in flow rates and loads
• Elimination of sludge decanting systems
• Automatic filtration of suspended solids as fluid passes through the filter
• The combination of this process with the application of a Nitrogen removal system via Nitrite, also provides the advantages mentioned for a process of NDN via Nitrite (see below).

 BAF diptych

Technology applied in the elimination of nutrients, specifically nitrogen, from municipal or industrial wastewater aimed at controlling the process of Nitrification – Desnitrification in such a way as to allow the oxidation of ammoniacal nitrogen up to nitrite, avoiding its subsequent oxidation up to nitrate, and allowing the transformation or direct passage of this nitrite to nitrogen gas. Advantages:

• 25% reduction in electricity consumption with respect to the conventional NDN process
• 40% reduction in the organic load required to remove nitrogen compared to a conventional NDN
• The combination of this process with the application of the same in a BAF, also brings the advantages mentioned for the use of BAF

Combination of mesophilic and thermophilic anaerobic digestion processes in series to obtain the advantages of both systems together. Advantages:

• Increase in the volumetric production of CH4 (m³/m³R*d) according to the configuration of up to 70% compared to a mesophilic DA in a single step.
• Increase of the specific production of CH4 (m³/TnSV) according to the configuration of up to 50% with respect to a mesophilic DA in a single step.
• Less hydraulic retention time required, which means less digestion volume required for the same flow or, for an existing DA volume, more treatment capacity.
• Up to 25% more efficient removal of COD and SV than mesophilic DA in a single step.
• Elimination of up to 55% of SV
• Lower investment and operating costs than other processes such as Thermohydrolysis (TH)
• Reduction of the costs for sludge management due to the reduction of the amount of sludge.

 Díptico TPAD

• It allows to increase the efficiency of the process in existing plants where there is no room to build new digesters but where it is necessary to increase the flow.
• Better resistance to periods when there are overloads and inhibition phenomena.
• Reduction of the inhibiting effects by accumulation of volatile fatty acids with respect to a mesophilic DA.
• Increase in the specific production of biogas with respect to a conventional DA.
• Improved digestion process in terms of CH4 production and organic matter removal.
• Reduction of the costs for sludge management due to the reduction of the amount of sludge.

 Diptych TPAD recirculation

Technology for the drying of dehydrated sludge with an initial dry matter content of 18 – 20% to a final dryness of 90% with the contribution only of solar energy or this plus residual energy of some industrial process in the plant, by means of its use for the heating of a water circuit as radiant floor located in the floor of the greenhouse. Advantages:

• Low temperature process, which avoids the generation of explosive atmosphere on the dry sludge side with respect to technologies that require dry sludge recirculations at the dryer inlet and work at high temperatures.
• Continuous operation from the feeding of the sludge to its collection as a dry product.
• Valorisation of dry sludge as fuel. 3Tn of dry sludge at 90% MS is energy equivalent to 1Tn of coal.
• Continuous movement of the sludge in the dryer, avoiding agglomerates that can cause the development of fermentation processes, and consequently, avoid bad odors.
• Granulometry final product between 0 and 10 mm.
• Absence of dust.
• No contact with the product.
• Low maintenance level.
• Electrical consumption less than 25 kwh/Tn evaporated water.
• Possibility of using residual thermal energy from other processes and reducing the required drying surface by up to 75%.

Overall objective

The specialized technical teams of the consortium come together in this project to achieve a single overall objective: the development of an interactive digital platform for real-time monitoring of global variables that impact the operation of a WWTP, to improve its control and enable informed decision making.
The scope of the project is established in the generation of the interactive report that allows the consultation of data from different sources, such as AEMET, Puertos del Estado and the WWTP during its start-up and operation.

Scientific and technical objectives

From this general objective, a series of technical objectives that refer to specific aspects to be included in the technological platform developed, such as:

• Study and selection of the corpus of relevant data for WWTP monitoring, including data from BIM models, SCADA data from plant sensors, analytical data and other external sources such as climatology.
• Development of the data exploration structure to extract information from the dataset and transform it into an understandable structure for further use. For the correct development of this task, the Rianxo WWTP will be taken as an example. Using this model, the development of APIs and/or data dump channels within the new platform will be carried out, as well as the necessary transformation of the data for processing and consultation.
• Development of a multimedia and documentation platform for virtual consultation of all components and processes within the models, access to documentation, virtual tours and infographics.
• Development of a process platform, for the representation and work of all the parameters of the debugging process. Tool for visualization and interaction with all data in real time and its history.
• Development of a compliance platform, with a logic that is responsible for displaying alerts in case of deviation of parameters from the established ranges, as well as forecast alerts based on external factors that could affect the operation of the WWTP.
• Validation of the interactive digital tool in the operational context of the Rianxo WWTP to confirm system stability, performance and usability.

Business objectives

Likewise, the BIMTREAT01/02 project has associated business objectives. Given the nature of the COPASA GROUP, these objectives are shared by the two companies that form the consortium, since in the execution of the projects for the implementation of water treatment systems, they act as a unit. These common objectives are:

• Study and selection of the corpus of relevant data for WWTP monitoring, including data from BIM models, SCADA data from plant sensors, analytical data and other external sources such as climatology.
• Creation of new technologies that make the services of the COPASA GROUP more competitive, efficient and safe. In the current case, development of a tool that will allow better services for the start-up of water treatment plants.
• Better competitive position of the group in public tenders and bids due to its innovative and efficient component.
• Cost reduction in projects due to the reduction of incidents and improvement of monitoring and control processes.
• Establishment of the COPASA GROUP as a benchmark in the sector for its constant commitment to R&D and technological innovation with the implementation and development of digitization tools and Industry 4.0 in the civil works, infrastructure and water treatment sector.

This project is key for the COPASA GROUP to position itself as a leader in the construction and commissioning of all types of wastewater treatment projects.

BIM R+D+i Project Certificate