Passive Aeration Systems, Pumped Flow Biofilm Reactor (PFBR), Wastewater Treatment Technology, Batch Biofilm Reactor, AQUASIM, Biofilm
The Pumped Flow Biofilm Reactor (PFBR) is a new biofilm-based passive aeration system (PAS)
that is an example of a complex biofilm system. The PFBR is a two reactor technology that employs a unique
hydraulic regime and enables aerobic, anoxic and anaerobic conditions to be sequenced. Biofilm, growing on
plastic media modules within the two reactors, is aerated passively as wastewater is moved alternately
between the reactors during an aeration sequence. Thus as the two reactors empty and fill a number of times
during a typical aeration sequence, the biofilm is exposed, in turn, to atmospheric air and wastewater. Thus
the system, while simple to design and operate, provides a particular challenge to modellers. Given its
complexity, due to the passive aeration system achieved using a unique hydraulic flow regime; previous
models have only been concerned with simulating the effluent from the PFBR. To date, models for the PFBR
technology have not focused on the cycle performance of the PFBR, biofilm thickness or biofilm
composition. It is proposed to model the PFBR using the modelling package AQUASIM in order to study the
PFBR at a micro-scale level; this will enable the study of cycle performance, biofilm thickness and biofilm
composition.