Design of Sewage Treatment

Plant (STP) Assignment

Assignment Objectives
This assignment aims to develop your ability to design a complete sewage treatment plant
(STP) system. You will apply theoretical knowledge of wastewater treatment processes to
calculate dimensions, verify design parameters, and present professional engineering
documentation.

Learning Outcomes:

• Apply design criteria for various STP components

• Perform hydraulic and process calculations
• Verify designs against standard guidelines (CPHEEO, IS codes)
• Present engineering calculations in professional format
• Justify design decisions with technical literature

Submission Requirements
Two files must be submitted:

1. PDF File containing:

o Excel sheet printouts (all sheets with formulas visible)

o Written report with design summary
o Nomenclature, assumptions, and references
2. Excel File containing:

o All calculation sheets with formulas

o Summary sheet with key dimensions

Design Data
Each group use your city data with the following input data:

• Current population and design period (typically 30 years)

• Water supply rate (LPCD - Liters Per Capita per Day)
 • Percentage of water becoming wastewater (typically 80-85%)
• Peak factor (typically 2.0-3.0)
• Influent characteristics: BOD, SS, VSS, ISS concentrations
• Effluent quality requirements
If any parameter is not provided, you must:

• Assume reasonable values based on standard guidelines

• State all assumptions clearly in your report
• Cite the source (textbook, IS code, CPHEEO manual, or research paper)

Design Components
The STP design must include the following six major components:

1. Bar Screen (12 marks)

Purpose: Remove large floating and suspended materials (rags, paper, plastics, etc.)

Required Calculations:

1. Design flow rate (average and peak) - 2 marks

• Calculate in m³/s, m³/hr, and MLD
• Apply peak factor to average flow
2. Dimensions of bar screen - 4 marks
• Clear spacing between bars (typically 20-50 mm)
• Number of bars required
• Width and depth of channel
• Angle of inclination (typically 60-80° from horizontal)
3. Velocity through screen - 2 marks
• Check approach velocity (0.4-0.9 m/s)
• Verify velocity through clear openings
4. Head loss calculation - 2 marks
• Calculate normal head loss
• Estimate maximum head loss (when 50% clogged)
5. Number of bars and screen area - 2 marks
• Calculate total number of bars
• Gross and net screen area
Design Criteria:

• Bar thickness: 6-10 mm for manual, 10-12 mm for mechanical

 • Clear spacing: 25-50 mm for coarse screens, 10-25 mm for medium screens
• Approach velocity: 0.4-0.9 m/s
• Velocity through bars: < 0.8 m/s

2. Grit Chamber (12 marks)

Purpose: Remove heavy inorganic particles (sand, gravel, grit) to protect downstream
equipment

Required Calculations:

1. Detention time and volume - 3 marks

• Calculate required detention time (typically 45-90 seconds)
• Determine chamber volume
2. Settling velocity of grit particles - 3 marks
• Apply Stokes' Law or Newton's Law based on Reynolds number
• Check if flow is laminar (Re < 0.5) or transitional (0.5 < Re < 10³)
• Calculate terminal settling velocity
3. Dimensions of grit chamber - 3 marks
• Length, width, and depth
• Provide for grit storage (additional depth)
• Total depth including freeboard
4. Overflow rate and horizontal velocity - 3 marks
• Calculate surface overflow rate (< 2160 m³/m²/day)
• Check horizontal velocity (0.15-0.3 m/s to keep organics in suspension)
• Verify that grit will be captured
Design Criteria:

• Detention time: 45-90 seconds

• Horizontal velocity: 0.15-0.3 m/s
• Particle size to be removed: 0.15-0.20 mm, specific gravity 2.65
• Surface overflow rate: < 2160 m³/m²/day
• Provide 2 chambers for operational flexibility

3. Primary Sedimentation Tank - Rectangular (12

marks)
Purpose: Remove settleable organic and inorganic solids (typically 50-70% SS removal)
Required Calculations:

1. Tank dimensions (Length, Breadth, Depth) - 4 marks

• Calculate surface area based on overflow rate
• Determine length using L:B ratio (typically 3:1 to 5:1)
• Calculate breadth and liquid depth (typically 2-5 m)
• Verify L:D ratio (5:1 to 15:1)
2. Detention time - 3 marks
• Calculate at average flow (typically 1.5-2.5 hours)
• Verify acceptable range
3. Overflow rate - 3 marks
• Calculate for average flow (30-50 m³/m²/day)
• Calculate for peak flow (80-120 m³/m²/day)
• Verify both are within acceptable limits
4. Weir loading rate - 2 marks
• Calculate weir length required
• Verify weir loading < 300 m³/m/day
Design Criteria:

• Detention time: 1.5-2.5 hours at average flow

• Overflow rate: 30-50 m³/m²/day (average), 80-120 m³/m²/day (peak)
• L:B ratio: 3:1 to 5:1
• Depth: 2-5 m
• Weir loading: < 300 m³/m/day
• Provide 2 tanks for operational flexibility

4. Activated Sludge Process (ASP) (18 marks)

Purpose: Biological oxidation of organic matter using aerobic microorganisms

Required Calculations:

1. Volume of aeration tank - 4 marks

• Calculate using F/M ratio method
• Calculate using SRT (Solids Retention Time) method
• Take higher of the two volumes
• Determine tank dimensions (length, width, depth)
2. Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT) - 3 marks
• Calculate actual HRT (typically 4-8 hours)
 • Verify within acceptable range for conventional ASP
3. Food to Microorganism (F/M) ratio - 3 marks
• Calculate F/M ratio
• Verify within range (0.2-0.5 kg BOD/kg MLSS/day for conventional ASP)
4. MLSS concentration - 2 marks
• Assume or calculate MLSS (typically 2000-3500 mg/L)
• Calculate MLVSS (typically 70-80% of MLSS)
5. Oxygen requirement - 3 marks
• Calculate BOD removed in aeration tank
• Estimate O₂ requirement (typically 0.8-1.2 kg O₂/kg BOD removed)
• Apply correction factors (alpha, beta, temperature)
• Calculate aerator capacity required
6. Return sludge flow rate and ratio - 3 marks
• Calculate return sludge ratio (typically 0.25-1.0)
• Use SVI (Sludge Volume Index) if provided (typically 80-150 mL/g)
• Determine return sludge flow rate (Q_r)
Design Criteria:

• HRT: 4-8 hours for conventional ASP

• F/M ratio: 0.2-0.5 kg BOD/kg MLSS/day
• MLSS: 2000-3500 mg/L
• SRT: 5-15 days
• Return sludge ratio: 0.25-1.0
• Depth: 3-5 m (max 6.5 m for surface aerators)
• Provide 2 tanks for operational flexibility

5. Primary Settling Tank - Circular (8 marks)

Purpose: Alternative to rectangular PST, often used in smaller plants

Required Calculations:

1. Diameter of circular tank - 3 marks

• Calculate surface area from overflow rate
• Determine diameter from area
• Round up to practical dimension
2. Overflow rate - 3 marks
• Check for average flow (30-50 m³/m²/day)
 • Check for peak flow (80-120 m³/m²/day)
3. Detention time - 2 marks
• Calculate actual detention time
• Verify within acceptable range (1.5-2.5 hours)
Design Criteria:

• Same as rectangular PST for overflow rates and detention time

• Depth: 2.5-5 m
• Hopper bottom with slope 1:12 to 1:8
• Provide peripheral weir with weir loading < 185 m³/m/day

6. Secondary Settling Tank (SST) - Circular (10

marks)
Purpose: Separate activated sludge from treated effluent

Required Calculations:

1. Diameter of SST - 3 marks

• Calculate area based on overflow rate criterion
• Calculate area based on solids loading criterion
• Take larger of the two areas
• Determine diameter
2. Overflow rate - 2 marks
• Check for average flow (typically 16-32 m³/m²/day)
• Check for peak flow (typically 40-48 m³/m²/day)
3. Solids loading rate - 3 marks
• Calculate solids loading for average flow (< 120 kg/m²/day)
• Calculate for peak flow (< 200 kg/m²/day)
• Verify both within limits
4. Weir loading rate - 2 marks
• Calculate peripheral weir length
• Verify weir loading < 185 m³/m/day for average flow
• Check if double-sided weir needed
Design Criteria:

• Overflow rate: 16-32 m³/m²/day (average), 40-48 m³/m²/day (peak)

• Solids loading: < 120 kg/m²/day (average), < 200 kg/m²/day (peak)
• Weir loading: < 185 m³/m/day
 • Depth: 3-5 m (side water depth)
• Provide 2 tanks minimum

7. Sludge Calculations (10 marks)

Purpose: Estimate sludge production and handling requirements

Required Calculations:

1. Sludge production rate - 3 marks

• Calculate excess sludge from ASP using observed yield (Y_obs)
• Y_obs = Y / (1 + k_d × SRT)
• Calculate total sludge mass (kg/day)
2. VSS (Volatile Suspended Solids) - 2 marks
• Calculate VSS removed in primary clarifier
• Calculate VSS in waste activated sludge
• Total VSS production
3. ISS (Inert Suspended Solids) - 2 marks
• Calculate ISS removed in primary clarifier
• Calculate ISS in waste activated sludge
• Total ISS production
4. Sludge volume - 3 marks
• Calculate volume based on solids concentration (typically 1-4%)
• Specific gravity of sludge (typically 1.01-1.03)
• Daily sludge volume (m³/day)
Design Criteria:

• Primary sludge solids content: 4-8%

• Waste activated sludge solids content: 0.8-1.2%
• VSS/TSS ratio: 0.6-0.8 in primary sludge
• Y (yield coefficient): typically 0.4-0.6 mg VSS/mg BOD
• k_d (decay coefficient): typically 0.05-0.1 per day

Design Assumptions and Justifications

(4 marks)
Engineering judgment and documentation:
 1. Design criteria stated (2 marks)
• Clearly state the source of all design parameters
• Reference IS codes, CPHEEO manual, or textbooks
• Example: "Overflow rate for PST taken as 40 m³/m²/day as per CPHEEO
Manual, Table 5.8"
2. Justification of choices (2 marks)
• Explain any assumptions made (population growth rate, peak factor, etc.)
• Justify selection of specific values within acceptable ranges
• Discuss any deviations from standard criteria with reasoning

Important Guidelines
1. No Plagiarism: All work must be your own. Copying from other groups will result in
zero marks for all involved parties.
2. Design Standards: Refer to the following standard references:
• CPHEEO Manual on Sewerage and Sewage Treatment
• IS 2296: Septic Tank Design
• IS 2490: Code of Practice for Activated Sludge Process
• Metcalf & Eddy: Wastewater Engineering Treatment and Reuse
• Davis & Cornwell: Introduction to Environmental Engineering
3. Units: Use SI units throughout. Common conversions:
• 1 MLD = 1000 m³/day = 41.67 m³/hr = 0.0116 m³/s
• 1 LPCD = 0.001 m³/capita/day
• 1 mg/L = 1 g/m³ = 0.001 kg/m³
4. Significant Figures: Report dimensions to 2-3 significant figures. Round final
dimensions to practical values.
5. Reality Check: Verify that your design makes physical sense:
• Velocities should be in reasonable range (not too high or too low)
• Dimensions should be practical (not too large or too small)
• Detention times should be physically achievable
• All design parameters should be within standard ranges
6. Excel Tips:
• Use named ranges for important constants
• Lock cell references appropriately ($A$1 for absolute, A$1 for row-locked)
• Add comments to cells for clarification (right-click → Insert Comment)
• Use data validation for input cells to prevent errors
7. Common Errors to Avoid:
 • Inconsistent units (mixing m³/s with m³/hr)
• Forgetting to apply peak factor where required
• Using peak flow for detention time calculations (use average flow)
• Not providing multiple units for operational flexibility
• Incorrect rounding causing significant errors

Sample Input Data

Example data for one group (your data will be different):

• Current population (2023): 131,936

• Design period: 30 years (2053)
• Water supply: 150 LPCD
• Wastewater generation: 80% of water supply
• Peak factor: 2.0
• Influent BOD: 250 mg/L
• Influent SS: 400 mg/L
• VSS: 60% of SS
• ISS: 40% of SS
• Required effluent BOD: 20 mg/L
• Required effluent SS: 30 mg/L