The goal of this research is to evaluate Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for modeling UV-initiated AOPs that will ultimately help professionals in research, regulatory, consulting, and treatment facilities better analyze, design, and operate UV/AOP systems.  As part of this objective several steps will be taken that include the development of a dynamic UV/H₂O₂ advanced oxidation CFD model that can be combined with complex kinetic pathways for characterizing the degradation of various water supply contaminants, the evaluation of non-ideal reactor hydraulics on the degradation of contaminants using the UV/H₂O₂ AOP, and the evaluation of design parameters, including the effects of lamp type, lamp age, lamp failure on the overall efficiency of the AOP system.

The proposed research project will investigate ways to improve grease interceptor performance through novel experimental and numerical techniques.  The experimental work includes field measurements of FOG from active grease interceptors located at different food service establishments (FSE).  Data from these field tests will be used to develop a synthetic FSE wastewater that will be used to perform pilot scale grease interceptor tests.  Along with influent and effluent measurements, FOG and solid measurements will be performed spatially within the pilot scale grease interceptor.  The data from these pilot scale measurements will be used to validate 3-D three-phase numerical models of the grease interceptor process.  More information can be found at the website.

The specific objectives of the project are:

1. To determine the effect of floc structure (floc size and shape) on microbial activity rates, activity diversity, species diversity, relative numbers, and spatial arrangement of microorganisms involved in nitrogen removal
2. To determine the impact of bioreactor macro conditions (DO, substrate type and loading) on floc size, shape, and function
3. To characterize the carbon and nitrogen interactions of ammonia-oxidizing, nitrite oxidizing, and denitrifying bacteria within a floc
4. To develop a macroscale model of nitrogen and carbon removal in activated sludge that incorporates microscale processes in flocs.

This research program proposes to use CFD to

1. develop and evaluate alternative disinfection models for the prediction of effluent microbial inactivation through continuous flow systems
2. assess the impact of disinfectant injection methods and multiple disinfectant injection points on microbial inactivation and DBP formation.

The educational plan involves the development of a CFD disinfectant training module.  The CFD disinfection-training module will be designed around a graphical user interface (GUI) that will be the primary mode of communication between the user and the CFD model.  The training module will be composed of three sections:

1. power point/video-based disinfection process-lecture series
2. solved disinfection problems and simulated tracer tests
3. team-based disinfection design problems.