Wastewater Treatment & Blower Solutions

What Is Wastewater Treatment?

Wastewater treatment is the process of treating wastewater to remove or reduce contaminants before the water is discharged or reused. Depending on the wastewater source and required effluent quality, treatment may target suspended solids, organic matter, nutrients and other pollutants.

A wastewater treatment system can combine different treatment methods, including physical, biological and chemical processes. The treatment process and equipment are selected according to factors such as wastewater characteristics, pollutant load, treatment capacity and the required effluent quality.

Common Biological Wastewater Treatment Processes

Biological wastewater treatment is widely used to remove biodegradable organic matter and other pollutants from wastewater through the activity of microorganisms. Common biological wastewater treatment processes include the Activated Sludge Process, MBBR (Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor), MBR (Membrane Bioreactor) and SBR (Sequencing Batch Reactor).

These wastewater treatment processes use different biological treatment configurations, but aerobic systems generally require a reliable air supply for oxygen transfer. In activated sludge and MBBR systems, aeration supports biological treatment, while MBR systems may also require air scouring to help control membrane fouling. SBR systems use aeration during the reaction phase of the treatment cycle.

For wastewater aeration systems, the required airflow and pressure depend on the treatment process, oxygen demand, tank depth, diffuser system and operating conditions. Both Roots blowers and turbo blowers can be used for wastewater aeration, depending on the required airflow, pressure and operating range.

How to Select a Blower for Wastewater Treatment?

Selecting a blower for wastewater treatment starts with determining the required airflow and discharge pressure. These two parameters should be established based on the treatment process, aeration system, water depth, diffuser requirements and overall system resistance.

The wastewater treatment process is also important. Activated sludge, MBBR, MBR and SBR systems may have different aeration requirements and operating patterns. For example, MBR systems may require additional air for membrane scouring, while SBR systems operate through different treatment cycles.

Other factors such as operating hours, airflow variation, ambient temperature, altitude and required control range should also be considered. Based on these conditions, Roots blowers, turbo blowers or other blower technologies can be evaluated according to airflow, pressure, efficiency, operating range and maintenance requirements.

For a preliminary blower selection, provide the treatment process, required airflow, operating pressure, water depth, diffuser information, operating hours and site conditions. Zhaner can recommend a suitable Roots blower or turbo blower based on the project requirements.

What Pressure Does a Wastewater Aeration Blower Need?

The required pressure of a wastewater aeration blower is mainly determined by the water depth in the aeration tank, diffuser resistance and pressure losses in the air piping system. The blower must generate enough pressure to overcome these system resistances while delivering the required airflow to the diffusers.

Water depth is usually the largest component of aeration pressure. Deeper tanks require higher discharge pressure, while diffuser type, air piping, valves and fittings add additional pressure losses. The actual pressure requirement should therefore be determined from the complete aeration system rather than water depth alone.

For Roots blower selection, the required airflow and operating pressure should be specified together. Zhaner can recommend a suitable Roots blower based on airflow, pressure, tank depth, diffuser information and piping conditions.

Roots Blower vs. Turbo Blower for Wastewater Treatment