Ayesa-Iturrate, E. (Eduardo)
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- Mathematical model for optimal agri-food industry residual streams flow management: A valorization decision support tool.(MDPI, 2024-09) Jaray-Valdehierro, S. (Sofía); Fernández-Arévalo, T.(Tamara); Villar-Rosety, F.M. (Fernando M.); Barasoain-Echepare, I. (Iñigo); Sancho-Seuma, L. (Luis); Zárraga-Rodríguez, M. (Marta de); Besga-Oyanarte, L. (Leire); Insausti-Sarasola, X. (Xabier); Ayesa-Iturrate, E. (Eduardo); Podhorski, A. (Adam); Gutiérrez-Gutiérrez, J. (Jesús)We present a mathematical model for agri-food industry residual streams flow management, which serves as a decision support tool for optimizing their valorization. The aim is to determine, under a cost-benefit analysis approach, the best strategy at a global level. The proposed mathematical model provides the optimal valorization scenario, namely the set of routes followed by agri-food industry residual streams that maximizes the total profit obtained. The model takes into account the complete stoichiometry of the residual stream at each step of the valorization route. Furthermore, the model allows for the calculations of different scenarios to support decision-making. The proposed approach is illustrated through a case study using a real-case network of a region. The case study bears evidence that the use of the model can lead to significant profit increases compared to those obtained with current practices. Moreover, notable profit improvements are obtained in the case study if the selling price of all the value-added products considered increases or if the processing cost of the animal feed producer decreases. Therefore, our model enables the detection of key factors that influence the optimal strategy, making it a powerful decision-support tool for optimizing the valorization of agri-food industry residual streams.
- New systematic methodology for incorporating dynamic heat transfer modelling in multi-phase biochemical reactors(IWA, 2014) Fernández-Arévalo, T.(Tamara); Ayesa-Iturrate, E. (Eduardo); Lizarralde-Aguirrezabal, I. (Izaro); Grau-Gumbau, P. (Paloma)This paper presents a new modelling methodology for dynamically predicting the heat produced or consumed in the transformations of any biological reactor using Hess's law. Starting from a complete description of model components stoichiometry and formation enthalpies, the proposed modelling methodology has integrated successfully the simultaneous calculation of both the conventional mass balances and the enthalpy change of reaction in an expandable multi-phase matrix structure, which facilitates a detailed prediction of the main heat fluxes in the biochemical reactors. The methodology has been implemented in a plant-wide modelling methodology in order to facilitate the dynamic description of mass and heat throughout the plant. After validation with literature data, as illustrative examples of the capability of the methodology, two case studies have been described. In the first one, a predenitrification-nitrification dynamic process has been analysed, with the aim of demonstrating the easy integration of the methodology in any system. In the second case study, the simulation of a thermal model for an ATAD has shown the potential of the proposed methodology for analysing the effect of ventilation and influent characterization.
- Quantitative assessment of energy and resource recovery in wastewater treatment plants based on plant-wide simulations.(Elsevier, 2017) Fernández-Arévalo, T.(Tamara); Fernández-Polanco, F. (F.); Poch, M. (M.); Puig, S. (Sebastián); Pérez-Elvira, S.I. (S.I.); Ayesa-Iturrate, E. (Eduardo); Lizarralde-Aguirrezabal, I. (Izaro); Grau-Gumbau, P. (Paloma)The growing development of technologies and processes for resource treatment and recovery is offering endless possibilities for creating new plant-wide configurations or modifying existing ones. However, the configurations’ complexity, the interrelation between technologies and the influent characteristics turn decision-making into a complex or unobvious process. In this frame, the Plant-Wide Modelling (PWM) library presented in this paper allows a thorough, comprehensive and refined analysis of different plant configurations that are basic aspects in decision-making from an energy and resource recovery perspective. In order to demonstrate the potential of the library and the need to run simulation analyses, this paper carries out a comparative analysis of WWTPs, from a techno-economic point of view. The selected layouts were (1) a conventional WWTP based on a modified version of the Benchmark Simulation Model No. 2, (2) an upgraded or retrofitted WWTP, and (3) a new Wastewater Resource Recovery Facilities (WRRF) concept denominated as C/N/P decoupling WWTP. The study was based on a preliminary analysis of the organic matter and nutrient energy use and recovery options, a comprehensive mass and energy flux distribution analysis in each configuration in order to compare and identify areas for improvement, and a cost analysis of each plant for different influent COD/TN/TP ratios. Analysing the plants from a standpoint of resources and energy utilization, a low utilization of the energy content of the components could be observed in all configurations. In the conventional plant, the COD used to produce biogas was around 29%, the upgraded plant was around 36%, and 34% in the C/N/P decoupling WWTP. With regard to the self-sufficiency of plants, achieving self-sufficiency was not possible in the conventional plant, in the upgraded plant it depended on the influent C/N ratio, and in the C/N/P decoupling WWTP layout self-sufficiency was feasible for almost all influents, especially at high COD concentrations. The plant layouts proposed in this paper are just a sample of the possibilities offered by current technologies. Even so, the library presented here is generic and can be used to construct any other plant layout, provided that a model is available.
- A new plant-wide modelling methodology for WWTPs(Elsevier, 2007) Gracia, M.(M.) de; Vanrolleghem, P.A. (P.A.) (NO USAR); Ayesa-Iturrate, E. (Eduardo); Grau-Gumbau, P. (Paloma)This paper presents a new plant-wide modelling methodology for describing the dynamic behaviour of water and sludge lines in WWTPs. The methodology is based on selecting the set of process transformations needed for each specific WWTP to model all unit-process elements in the entire plant. This "transformation-based" approach, in comparison with the conventional "process-based" approach, does not require the development of specific transformers to interface the resulting unit-process models, facilitates the mass and charge continuity throughout the whole plant and is flexible enough to construct models tailored for each plant under study. As an illustrative example, a plant-wide model for a WWTP that includes carbon removal and anaerobic digestion has been constructed, and the main advantages of the proposed methodology for integrated modelling have been demonstrated. As a final consequence, this paper proposes a rewriting of the existing unit-process models according to the new standard transformation-based approach for integrated modelling purposes
- Diagnosis and optimization of WWTPs using the PWM library: full-scale experiences.(2017-02) Fernández-Arévalo, T.(Tamara); Maiza, M. (Mikel); Beltran-Calaff, S. (Segio); Ayesa-Iturrate, E. (Eduardo); Lizarralde-Aguirrezabal, I. (Izaro); Grau-Gumbau, P. (Paloma)Given the shift in perception of wastewater treatment plants as water resource recovery facilities, conventional mathematical models need to be updated. The resource recovery perspective should be applied to new processes, technologies and plant layouts. The number and level of models proposed to date give an overview of the complexity of the new plant configurations and provides a wide range of possibilities and process combinations in order to construct plant layouts. This diversity makes the development of standard, modular and flexible tools and model libraries that allow the incorporation of new processes and components in a straightforward way a necessity. In this regard, the plant-wide modelling (PWM) library is a complete model library that includes conventional and advanced technologies and that allows economic and energetic analyses to be carried out in a holistic way. This paper shows the fundamentals of this PWM library that is built upon the above-mentioned premises and the application of the PWM library in three different full-scale case studies.
- Struvite precipitation in wastewater treatment plants anaerobic digestion supernatants using a magnesium oxide by-product(2023) Guembe, M. (M.); García, I. (I.); Aguilar-Pozo, V.B. (V. B.); Gómez, J. (J.); Chimenos, J.M. (J. M.); Elduayen-Echave, B. (Beñat); Lopez, A. (A.); Olaciregui-Arizmendi, K. (K.); Ayesa-Iturrate, E. (Eduardo); Astals-García, S.(Sergi)Struvite precipitation is a well-known technology to recover and upcycle phosphorus from municipal wastewater as a slow-release fertiliser. However, the economic and environmental costs of struvite precipitation are constrained by using technical-grade reagents as a magnesium source. This research evaluates the feasibility of using a low-grade magnesium oxide (LG-MgO) by-product from the calcination of magnesite as a magnesium source to precipitate struvite from anaerobic digestion supernatants in wastewater treatment plants. Three distinct LG-MgOs were used in this research to capture the inherent variability of this by-product. The MgO content of the LG-MgOs varied from 42 % to 56 %, which governed the reactivity of the by-product. Experimental results showed that dosing LG-MgO at P:Mg molar ratio close to stoichiometry (i.e. 1:1 and 1:2) favoured struvite precipitation, whereas higher molar ratios (i.e. 1:4, 1:6 and 1:8) favoured calcium phosphate precipitation due to the higher calcium concentration and pH. At a P: Mg molar ratio of 1:1 and 1:2, the percentage of phosphate precipitated was 53-72 % and 89-97 %, respectively, depending on the LG-MgO reactivity. A final experiment was performed to examine the composition and morphology of the precipitate obtained under the most favourable conditions, which showed that (i) struvite was the mineral phase with the highest peaks intensity and (ii) struvite was present in two different shapes: hopper and polyhedral. Overall,
- Validation of a multi-phase plant-wide model for the description of the aeration process in a WWTP.(Elsevier, 2018) Fernández-Arévalo, T.(Tamara); Beltran-Calaff, S. (Segio); Ayesa-Iturrate, E. (Eduardo); Lizarralde-Aguirrezabal, I. (Izaro); Grau-Gumbau, P. (Paloma)This paper introduces a new mathematical model built under the PC-PWM methodology to describe the aeration process in a full-scale WWTP. This methodology enables a systematic and rigorous incorporation of chemical and physico-chemical transformations into biochemical process models, particularly for the description of liquid-gas transfer to describe the aeration process. The mathematical model constructed is able to reproduce biological COD and nitrogen removal, liquid-gas transfer and chemical reactions. The capability of the model to describe the liquid-gas mass transfer has been tested by comparing simulated and experimental results in a full-scale WWTP. Finally, an exploration by simulation has been undertaken to show the potential of the mathematical model.
- A new general methodology for incorporating physico-chemical transformations into multi-phase wastewater treatment process models(PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD., 2015-05) Brouckaert, C. (Chris); Fernández-Arévalo, T.(Tamara); Ekama, G.A. (George A.); Vanrolleghem, P. A. (Peter A.); Ayesa-Iturrate, E. (Eduardo); Lizarralde-Aguirrezabal, I. (Izaro); Grau-Gumbau, P. (Paloma); Ikumi, D.S. (David S.)This paper introduces a new general methodology for incorporating physico-chemical and chemical transformations into multi-phase wastewater treatment process models in a systematic and rigorous way under a Plant-Wide modelling (PWM) framework. The methodology presented in this paper requires the selection of the relevant biochemical, chemical and physico-chemical transformations taking place and the definition of the mass transport for the co-existing phases. As an example a mathematical model has been constructed to describe a system for biological COD, nitrogen and phosphorus removal, liquid gas transfer, precipitation processes, and chemical reactions. The capability of the model has been tested by comparing simulated and experimental results for a nutrient removal system with sludge digestion. Finally, a scenario analysis has been undertaken to show the potential of the obtained mathematical model to study phosphorus recovery.