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Comprehensive Numerical Modeling of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Water Resource Recovery Facilities
Author(s) -
Kim Dongwook,
Bowen James D.,
Kinnear David
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.2175/106143015x14362865226671
Subject(s) - greenhouse gas , environmental science , environmental engineering , resource (disambiguation) , waste management , greenhouse , engineering , computer science , geology , biology , computer network , oceanography , horticulture
A numerical model was developed to comprehensively predict greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from water resource recovery facilities. An existing activated sludge model was extended to include a nitrifier‐denitrification process and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) as a state variable. The bioreactor model was coupled to a process‐based digester model and an empirical model of indirect CO 2 emissions. Direct emissions were approximately 90% of total GHG emissions for a plantwide simulation using the Modified Ludzack–Ettinger process. Biogenic CO 2 , nitrous oxide (N 2 O), and methane (CH 4 ) represented 10, 43, and 34% of total emissions. Simulating a dissolved oxygen controlled closed‐loop system reduced both sensitivity and uncertainty of GHG emissions. Nitrous oxide emissions were much more sensitive under different design and operating conditions compared to CH 4 and CO 2 , indicating a significant mitigation potential. An uncertainty analysis found that the uncertainty in GHGs emissions estimates could be significant. Nitrous oxide emissions dominated in both magnitude and uncertainty.